Did your FLGS preorder any copies?
If not then they would have to order from their distributor(s) after the release.
Distributors often order only "so many" above and beyond preorders, often dependent on the history of the company and particularly within the last month or so (aka, how well their inventory moves). Distributors also often have some sort of agreement with the publisher that either they can not reorder for 60 days or that reorders may not be filled for 60 days or more if within the initial release period, which is arranged to encourage the distributor to preorder a higher figure. This is important for the publisher because they need to know how many to print and often preorders account for up to 90% of anticipated sales (for some it maybe 70% or less, but those tend to be established lines with a more "word of mouth" clientelle). Because of this distributors are often caught "flat-footed" by games that show a strong popularity surge AFTER immediate release.
I was reading the Dresden Files RPG official website and had my suspicions confirmed ... one guy wearing multiple hats is processing all the orders as well as multi-tasking a number of other things. That and he mentions 1600+ preorders (which may or may not include distributor preorders). Even if it does the initial distributor batches would tend to go out the 1st couple of days, then the rest would tend to take days if not weeks to process, particularly with Origins hitting at nearly the same time (taking 1-2 weeks to set up for, a week there, then half a week recovery time) which would tend to slow things down a LOT.
How do I know all this? I used to work in the industry, help with shipping, and worked the conventions. The shipping guy also tends to be one of the main convention organizers so I saw first hand what he went through twice a year and have heard the same thing repeated by others in the industry.
Hope that helps people understand the whys a bit. From what I have been hearing it is about typical and understand, they are almost certainly processing things as quickly as possible.
Yes, they did, at my urging in fact. I was the one who told them about the pdf/pre-order deal through Evil Hat. And I do have my pdfs from the store. In fact, at least 5 copies of both books were pre-orders, if not more (I'm positive on at least 5).
They have contacted the distributor (repeatedly when I call up and say "Is it in, or am I still disappointed this week?" )who says they did place the order w/ Evil Hat, and that they are looking into why they have not gotten their shipments yet. Other than that, all I have to go on is the hope method - keep hoping every week that the books show up.
And I can appreciate the fact that Fred is working hard, and that the warehouse can only do so much, I really can. But the fact still remains that I have paid my $$$ for the books, and other countries are getting their copies, and I still can't get mine? ARGH!
The drawbacks of living in the digital age and the instant gratification of today's society.
And honestly, if there are online stores (Leisure Games?) that will send me a copy, why in the world would I wait 60 days for it to get here, when I can order from them and get it in 1 - 2 weeks? In fact, if it were not for the fact that I am friends with the owners of the FLGS, I would probably do so.
And the only other situation I can compare this to is the 4E D&D "launch". I pre-ordered the 3 book box set and got it the day it was released, when other places couldn't. I understand that is not a fair comparison either, that WotC has a much bigger presence distribution wise than Evil Hat, but to the consumer, does that really matter?
