tl;dr, everyone will have orders in hand by end of June, reach out to New Titan if you have questions about packages ([email protected]), and if you never did your survey, please do it! Please be patient with New Titan, they have a labor shortage and may need a few days to get back to you.
The Wooden Boxes
Second, our wooden boxes are on the move! As I've noted before and in the FAQ, the 3-deck wooden box is coming separately. I mentioned it a while back actually, that they were going to take longer and that we're shipping them separate at no cost to you or me-- New Titan is taking it on and being the best.
That means that, yes, the boxes are all done.
To say the least, I am SO FREAKING EXCITED. I can't wait to have one in hand. This was my most ambitious design to date for a wood box, and I've already begun working on a much harder one haha. Can't wait to make just an impossible box for a future project.
Shawn, our contact with New Titan (and the owner!), has told me that they are leaving China at the end of June, and will be arriving to the US end of July, then out to backers in August. For obvious reasons, PLEASE reach out to New Titan ([email protected]) if you got one and will be in a new location by the time they ship. I'll send another reminder closer to them shipping.
From the Alley
The Alleyman has done so much, and brought so much into the world! From the original deck, to these Alleyway Oracles, to the Alleyman Podcast, and now to the Alleyman Pinsets and the decks live for funding right now, today, this has been an amazing experience.
If you loved the Queen of Bombs from the Alleyman's Tarot, you can join in right now to fund the Hot Housewives Tarot, the home for that very card. It's a lambasting of 50s American Exceptionalism, but it still follows a great deal of traditional tarot structure, while having some extra interesting elements! This is funding the creation of it, entirely from scratch and the start. And it only just launched today! We're quickly nearing $20k, and that's amazing considering I'm not running any ads!
If you loved the Bogeyman from the Alleyman's Tarot as well, funding the creation of that deck at the same time is happening right now as the $80k stretch goal on the Hot Housewives project! So come check it out, then join after it completes as I do weekly and monthly updates on the decks progress, research, design, and guidebook writing!
We have three of the Deaths from the Alleyman's, a fun rendition of the Sun, Moon, and Star from across my projects (Sun from the oracle dice, Moon from The Alleyway Tarot, and Star from the Alleyman's Tarot!), then the Queen of Bombs, The Final Tarot Card, and The Bogeyman! There's also a bonus Justice card featuring the sword from the Knight of Judgement from my Oracle Dice set.
Then of course there's the Alleyman's Tarot logo, the Alleyman himself, the Alleyway Oracle coming in at a massive 3.5" tall, and a Struck Alleyman pin, with the Alleyman being shot from his tarot card frame by glow in the dark blue arrows!
(And ZOETROPE, WHAT WE POSSESS, and TAKE ME TO THE DARK pinsets too!)
I'm really excited for all of this-- The Alleyway Oracles entering people's hands right now, the pins about to ship in a week, and now the Queen of Bombs and Bogeyman seeking their original decks. Once this has all come to fruition, the last piece I want to do is complete the Alleyway Podcast, and then I don't know! I think the Alleyman might have reached his conclusion.
So thank you for your time, your support, your attention. All of this could only happen thanks to your help. Thank you!!
7DA
your pub gob
Happy June! | North American Packages are Free!
3 months ago
– Mon, Jun 10, 2024 at 06:44:34 PM
North American Packages Free!
Hello friends!
As always, I hold off on making updates until I have the information in hand to share. As of yesterday, I got that information! So let's check out what's happened:
While our ship did arrive more or less on time (a couple days late), it couldn't dock or unload for a few days because the ports were so clogged. Then, for reasons we still don't have answers for, our container ended up in a no-go area. No access was available for us to get the container or move it. That was from the 20th of May until just June 7th, over two weeks, and they wouldn't explain or give us a date.
But as of Friday, that June 7th mentioned, we got the container and got North American packages moving out! This was in LA, and 740 orders are already shipped out from there! Today many of you received notifications from that, with tracking numbers going out.
Another batch is heading to Texas, and another is going to New Jersey, where they will go out into the mail from those spots in New Titan Warehouses over the course of the month, which will be done by the end of June. Apologies again for the delays, but such is transportation in a world "after" COVID.
FAQ
As a result, I'm updating the Terms and Conditions deadlines, since our container was kidnapped by the port for so long. So our FAQ:
TRACKING?: North American and US orders get those in emails before items reach them. International orders SHOULD get them before the items arrive, but I keep hearing from people that they get the items then the tracking info goes out to them that day or the next day. Not sure why, apologies!
NO ADDRESS CHANGES FOR WAVE 1: Addresses cannot be updated for Wave 1 (anyone who got their info in and shipping paid prior to mid April.) It's been impossible since April, I'm sorry. I know many moved, but that doesn't change that we can't change the address. We will reship if it bounces. Set up mail forwarding please. Sometimes it works for packages, sometimes it doesn't.
REFUNDS: Refunds were offered until July 16th 2023. No more are offered after that no matter the reason.
SURVEYS: People who never paid shipping, or who didn't do their survey, should be advised they will only get their items if they pay it or do their survey. You can check to see if you did your survey here.
WAVE 2: Wave 2's deadline to get their survey in and then get shipping paid is July 10th. That's a month from today. I will slowly add shipping and charge it week to week. You will not be left behind if you get your info in before July 10th but haven't gotten shipping, you'll have a window to get the shipping taken care of after that. Anyone who doesn't get their surveys done by July 10th will have their order canceled without refund.
Damagedor Missing Items, Lost or Misdelivered Packages: You will have 30 days after your package arrives to you to report to [email protected] if you need replacement items or have missing items in your order. For packages that go missing, you will have 45 days after the item is sent (60 for international packages) to report lost or misdelivered packages to have us resend or follow up on the items. Loosely, this is July 10-20th for US Orders for missing items, and July 25th for International Orders for missing items. Then it's July 25th for US Orders, and August 10th for International Orders for missing packages.
REMINDER: Wooden Boxes are going separately yet, Alleyman's Tarot items shipped separately already, and Hit Point Press's Animated Tarot shipped separately!
WHO TO CONTACT?: New Titan is our manufacturer and shipper. Reach out to them please! I can't help with missing or lost packages, or things missing items. I'd love to, but I have no ability to. So reach out to them at the email below, thank you!
And I know lots of your international folks have been getting your items! PLEASE, please share your goods! Your first readings! Your box openings! Your reviews! You can tag us on socials in so many places!
Lots of @PublishingGoblin or @PublishGoblin! I love to see it, and especially on this project it means the world to see it all out there in your hands. These last handful of projects have been very tight financially and I'm working a job to make ends meet since December. So, seeing the art finished, in your hands, means the world and keeps me going with the whole Pub Gob experience.
As always, my other projects are in their pre-order phases and pre-launch phases!
And that's all for now once more. Now I'll try to get some of your comments and messages and emailed answered before I clock out for the day and get some dinner! : )
7DA
your pub gob
Wave 1 Is Moving | Wave 2 Deadline Set
3 months ago
– Mon, May 27, 2024 at 09:42:36 AM
Hello my dear Alley folk,
As of today (or tomorrow), International orders in Wave 1 have been sent. Some will have gotten tracking right away if they are near China, otherwise please be on the lookout for your tracking number to be emailed to you when your package is scanned in your destination country by your local post. We found that to be the case in the past as well.
At the same time, North American packages should be heading out to people in the next week/two as well. Because of this, I am starting our deadline timers.
Reminder of the Terms and Conditions and Deadlines!
We are past the point where refunds of any kind are offered. That ended July 16th 2023.
Remaining backers (those who didn't get shipping paid yet, or who didn't do a survey) who are now in Wave 2, as well as the community copy recipients, have until June 27th to get their surveys in and pay shipping now. If they get it done after that time, or never do it, their pledge is considered forfeit, and funds paid into the project are considered donations to the project. As already noted, no refunds will be offered for such cases. **This obviously doesn't include people already in-talks with me about any problems, or people who did their things on time and had a lost package.
A reminder that I can only add shipping costs to your pledge AFTER you do your survey. So the sooner you do that, the sooner I can get shipping costs added.
Damagedor Missing Items, Lost or Misdelivered Packages You will have 30 days after your package arrives to you to report to [email protected] or [email protected] if you need replacement items or have missing items in your order. For packages that go missing, you will have 45 days after the item is sent (60 for international packages) to report lost or misdelivered packages to have us resend or follow up on the items.
Loosely, this is June 30th for US Orders for missing items, and July 15th for International Orders for missing items. Then it's July 15th for US Orders, and July 30th for International Orders for missing packages.
What Now?
We twiddle our thumbs in anticipation! I haven't been told that the North American items are moving yet from the ship, not 100% sure if the customs nonsense is done yet. I'd imagine the weekend+Memorial Day are slowing that process. But it's just a matter of days now!
So then, what more is there to do? Well...
As always, my other projects are in their pre-order phases and pre-launch phases!
People have asked, but Wave 1 vs Wave 2 just means people who got their survey done any time in the last year up to April and people who didn't. The vast majority of people did their surveys last year. 4,527 people are in Wave 1, and 60 or so are in Wave 2 at the moment, though there are 260 people who just never filled out their surveys. If they do so, they'll join Wave 2, but they are running out of time.
The cargo container with North American backers orders arrived to the US more or less on time, but the ports were really congested and we had to wait until yesterday to dock. We submitted all the forms to customs but for some reason they're saying there's a high chance we will be subject to an open-container exam.
Long story short, it's here in the US but it may take another few days for it to be off the ship and start its journey to folks. I will do a small update when packages are heading to people and y'all should be seeing tracking numbers!
Thanks for your patience,
7
The Items, Alive! | Shipping Timeline
4 months ago
– Thu, May 09, 2024 at 10:18:10 AM
Hello my alley folk. It's been a minute, but last week, all of my Alleyway Oracle goodies finally arrived! And wow, they are INCREDIBLE. I can't stress it enough, this was a GOOD project and we made something amazing together. Scroll down for shipping updates, then down once more to see all the pictures of the cool stuff!
I have everything BUT the wooden 3-chamber box. I'm sad to not have that still, but I've been told production is finishing in the next two weeks on those, so that's good news.
Quick FAQ!
Alleyman's Tarot items from the original project were noted to be shipped on their own. That's happened now or already-- I did share in an update, but many seem to have missed it. No big deal, just wanted to address the emails/comments.
Animated Tarot/Fablemakers Tarot sets are also shipping separate. Those are going out in the next week!
And a reminder that because wooden boxes were taking longer, and due to size/weight, they are shipping separately on New Titan's dime.
Everyone will receive an emailed tracking number when their package goes into the mail system. US and abroad the same.
Wave 1 North American Packages are heading out in the back half of this month. US should arrive before May ends, Canada/Mexico may take into the first weeks of June. Customs is sometimes tricky.
Due to labor shortages at the factories in China, international packages are starting to go out this week, may take a few weeks to get them all out. Thanks for your patience!
Anyone in North America whose packages were packed/labeled and on the way to the states now (arriving to the states on the 14th) CANNOT change your shipping address. It's not possible. Set up forwarding if possible or reach out to your old address's residents and ask if they can inform you when it arrives so you can get it or have it shipped up to you. I've done it before, it's not as awkward as it sounds!
Reach out to me: [email protected] or New Titan: [email protected] if you need help with your order, if it arrives damaged, missing items, or if it gets lost AFTER you get the tracking number.
Once Wave 1 items are done shipping, the timer will start for Wave 2 people to get their info in and shipping paid to get their items. I will update when that begins, and when that time is coming to an end is when Wave 2 will ship. Will be in late June/mid July.
I was waiting until I had additional info on hand to share first before I posted an update, and I have some of that info now. At this moment, the cargo ship with our US, Canadian, and Mexican packages is set to arrive on the mainland on the 14th. This means packages will head to three warehouses when they arrive, one by the port, and the other two in the other corners of the States. It has historically taken a few days for the ship to offload its containers, so I'd say by around the 17th or 18th the local port warehouse will have its items, and by the 24th lets say the other warehouses will have their items. They will then go out into the mail directly from the warehouses, as all the packages are already packed and labeled! That means rapidly from there, US backers should get their items.
By the end of this month, most US backers should have their items in hand. At worst, assuming delays, it could be the first week of June. So this update is a nice preview of what you're about to get! Canadian backers should potentially also get their items yet this month, hard to say with US to Canada shipping though. Sometimes it arrives in two days, others it takes 2 months to survive customs. Mexico will be much the same, shouldn't be too much longer, may be shorter, hard to say.
INTERNATIONAL BACKERS: I have a bad habit of acting like I'm the only person in the world sometimes. I assumed that as soon as our North American orders went into the cargo ship that yours would be sent, but that would assume New Titan has no other customers. China is seeing large labor shortages, especially in relation to international customers/orders. Many factories, including those tied to New Titan, have had big layoffs in this time. Besides taking care of other clients, they also just haven't had the workers to handle projects this big that well. That said, international packages are starting to be sent out this week. I don't have a time table for whose are going when, but with the smaller size of this project compared to some previous ones, we shouldn't be too long. Look for your tracking emails in the next few weeks. Thanks for your patience!
The Goods
In the video update I'm showing some of these items in motion as well, but here are pictures!!
Here you can see the three decks! They each have their own, unique style of box. The Alleyway Tarot has a book-open style box, the Oracle of Play is like a lego set and opens to pull the drawer out, while the Oracle of Secrets has a two-part box with a lid that lifts off, with a gorgeous holographic stripe on the side that you can see in the video.
Here you can see how the decks and add-ons arrived, all neatly packed in one box. The decks and guidebooks on their sides, the bags and boosters on the side. It's a fantastic box to receive, and smaller than I expected. Then you can also see some of those extras-- the boosters, and the contents of the Tulsa Bag that I didn't get in the first round of add-on bags! The Alleyman miniature in orange. This miniature is TOUGH! It arrived with no packing around it, and I immediately dropped it on the floor. New Titan tried many materials until they found one that survived being THROWN at the floor, and it WORKS. It's a tough miniature! I also got the dice and the tarot-sized cards with the dice meanings. And yes-- of course-- the Alleyman 8" statues! You can see them beside the miniature and with cards slotted into its base. I am so in love with it, it's truly amazing. And it came in its own box, very well wrapped in bubble wrap and tissue and styrofoam. I have 0 worries about these statues arriving safely to people.
I feel that I'm always running from project to project to make ends meet, it can make it hard to sit down with anything I've made to really appreciate them... but... this is amazing. These decks, the books, the add-ons... They're fantastic. My only regret is not having the funds and time to make the second season of the podcast actually come to life alongside this project. It'll happen one day yet, but for now, I hope these artifacts of its story entice you into their world. Can't wait for later this month when you can all hold these for yourselves!
As always, my other projects are in their pre-order phases and pre-launch phases!
I really do hugely depend on all of your support on my projects to keep my bills paid, to keep my projects coming, and to generally stay alive. It means the world to me to have your help, financial, sharing on social, and your kind words and reviews of things as they come to pass. My biggest goal now is to setup items, games, tools, and decks that can be reprinted so I have a base of passive income from long-standing products. Love the Alleyman things, but I can't reproduce or make later earnings on those. So thank you for joining in on this journey, friends!
