Was your copy of Harry Potter delayed by fiendish ghouls?

No. I have absolutely no interest in the HP fad so I haven't even glanced a book, much less purchased one.

I ordered a copy off of amazon for a friend and she has yet to receive it, I did get the refund but its status still says in transit. WTF HELP!

I notice that Jason is from Manhattan. My sister also lives in Manhattan and she did not received her copy from Barnes and Noble. She ordered the book online with shipping through UPS. Or so she thought. The book was being shipped by a company called laser ship.

As of now she still does not have her copy. I know there was HUGE volume for this book but why wouldn't companies be prepared like it is Christmas or something?

i pre-ordered the book to my house and it didnt come. So i called amazon and they are sending it out for free now. i dont know if it was UPS's fault or amazon's but amazon was great in dealing with me so no complaints.

UPS even offloaded some of the volume to the USPS for "last-mile" delivery.

I know that in places where UPS doesn't deliver on Saturday they got the USPS to do it. It came up in the forum. I haven't gotten the second copy I ordered but I'm not gonna panic yet.

My copy from bn.com arrived Saturday, but the UPS tracking page still says it's "IN TRANSIT TO FINAL DESTINATION." So... I don't know.

I ordered from Amazon and I knew that UPS was handing it over to USPS. I got my book on Sat afternoon but the packaging was DESTROYED. The box was open, the dust jacket was folded over and smushed, and the hardcover itself was damaged. Boo on Amazon for using this delivery method...

My Amazon purchase was actually delivered on Saturday by the post office. It was in the mailbox Saturday afternoon even though we were sitting in the house anxiously awaiting the brown truck. My tracking number also still shows IN TRANSIT TO FINAL DESTINATION.

UPS/Amazon listed my copy as "in transit," not "out for delivery," which made me anxious, but the USPS must have delivered my copy -- I found it in my mailbox late Sat. afternoon.

I've noticed that tracking doesn't get updated sometimes when carriers are overwhelmed (holidays), and some carriers are better than others. That said, delivery services had MONTHS to prepare for this -- preorders also gave Amazon and BN.com a good idea of what to expect well before Sat.

UPS delivered them to USPS for saturday delivery(as they don't have that many saturday drivers), and can't directly track them afterwards. But no super chicanery is involved.

Mine didn't come on the right day either, which is quite sad, perhaps it will have come today. I suspect the hand off was kind of glitchy.

I got my copy via USPS, will have to check the box to see if it was from UPS originally. But I never received a tracking number.

I am thinking that UPS is having some issues with updating the status online. I bought a LCD from Amazon and received the tracking number. Everything looked good for a delivery on the 19th of this month. The status was last updated on the 18th to show that it was in transit to Greensboro, normal shipping path I guess, with an expected delivery of the 19th. I kept checking the site all day on the 19th and the status did not change. It wasn't until about 5pm (UPS delivers in my neighborhood between 5 and 7) that the status updated to show that it went out for delivery around 6 that morning.

@mopar_man: So why the hell are you even posting here?

Oh, to show us all that you're too cool to read Harry Potter. Color me impressed.

My copy was delivered by USPS at around 10 am, at least two hours before the mail arrived. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

I had thought my 2 copies would be delivered by UPS. I had a tracking number and everything. I was unformed at 6:16am that my copies had been delivered (I live in a large building), and been signed for at the dock. So at around noon, I went downstairs, and my copies Harry Potter were being delivered by the United States Postal Service.

I really don't know how that works...

I preordered my copy of HP7. I never received an email of anything to say that I would not be receiving my copy on Saturday as Amazon had guaranteed. I checked my email on Saturday and Amazon had emailed me at 1:00am. That's right. One hour AFTER the book had been released and said that I would not be receiving it today. Thanks for the heads up. Then later on Saturday, around 4:30pm I get another email from Amazon saying my order had just shipped and the anticipated delivery date was July 27. That's right. 6 DAYS LATER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazon did refund the cost of the book as promised, but I would have much rather have actually gotten the book when they had guaranteed. I might be a little more sympathetic if they had maybe told me on Wednesday or Thursday, so I could make other arrangements, but to wait until 1:00am on Saturday is just UNACCEPTABLE!!!

I live in the middle of nowhere, so I wasn't expecting my copy from amazon.com to be in on time. I received mine via USPS's 'last mile delivery' - but I wasn't made aware this was how my package would be handled. When I phoned amazon Saturday after the 'deadline', the explained that while it might have been delivered through my regular post, because it wasn't delivered to my doorstep by 7PM. I was awarded a full refund - thanks amazon! I don't blame anyone - I literally live in the middle of nowhere.

Big picture-wise, it wouldn't shock me if UPS said whatever they had to in order to keep Amazon's business -- that's got to be a pretty huge account. They've certainly lied to me, even when there wasn't a great deal of money at stake.

My Harry Potter experience: I'm not into Harry Potter, but I had at least 2 opportunities to get the book very easily this weekend. I was in WalMart on Saturday, and there was a big display by the registers -- not mobbed with people at all, and plenty of copies available. Then yesterday I was in the grocery store (Big Y - a New England chain). Every week they have some sort of special sale item that's prominently displayed at registers (for impulse buyers), and often cashiers will ask you if you're interested ("Would you like some Entenmann's Donut Holes today?") Apparently, this week's special was the new Harry Potter book.

So I'm bewildered by the idea of anyone having trouble getting their copy.

FYI, I didn't go anywhere near a bookstore late Friday night.

I didn't bother to pre-order the book. Sat AM I got up around 7am, got donuts, then went to Target and picked up a copy. Shelf full of books, no lines. Less than $20 and I've got my copy.

If 7am sounds early to get up on a Saturday: I work 5am-2pm so 7am is sleeping in.

UPS dropped the HP 7's to the post office (USPS) as UPS does not deliver on saturdays. I was actually pissed that my book didn't come in on july 20th when it was shipped on july 18th via 2 day delivery (amazon prime). I guess Amazon signed a deal w/ publishers that the book by all means should not be delivered earlier than the 21st. Oh wait it says that right on the box that I got :P

@mopar_man: Well, that's one way to contribute to the discussion: exempt yourself. Classy.

Anyway, things of note:
1. The poster went ahead and bought another copy of the book, which made me kind of wonder why they pre-ordered it in the first place.
2. As far as I can tell, it's not sold out anywhere, or at least if it is it probably isn't across town. So while the demand wasn't enough to sell out the books, it WAS enough to bring down UPS. Kind of funny, really.
3. The poster got his book (for those too lazy to click through)
No word from Amazon yet, but the USPS (not UPS) delivered my book Monday morning. It had a UPS sticker on it with instructions to the Post Office to deliver it to me. No update on the UPS tracking page that its been delivered.
4. Manhattan? No wonder.

I received mine via USPS after "In transit to final destination" appeared on the UPS tracking page. No problems with my book, however..

This has happened more than once with UPS. They say delivery was attempted, and I was home, so I know it wasn't. About 50% of the time, a slip was left, but the rest of the time there was no evidence of anyone ever even trying. No knock on my door, no message, no nothing. Just the usual "delivery attempted, rescheduled.." on the tracking page. It got to the point where I had to actually leave a note by my mailbox indicating to the UPS driver that I was expecting a shipment and I was there to receive it to have any sort of an assurance that he'd actually make the extreme effort to get out of his truck and press the buzzer.

Those UPS SOB's lie all the time. If it's getting late and their last deliveries are out of the way or they forget to deliver your package while they were in your area, they just mark them down that the customer was not home and then head back. When the only incriminating evidence is a loose post it note attached to your door, you really have no recourse.

A few times I've schedule delivery to occur on days when I've been home. I'll check the UPS website and the status will be "On Truck for Delivery" or whatever and no UPS truck shows up. This has occurred multiple times. The one time I spent the entire day at home, in front, landscaping my yard and not one UPS truck came by. I'm on a cul-de-sac, I'd have seen it. Then I check on the UPS site the next day and it says "First Delivery Failed".

Bunch of lying bastards if you ask me.

First Hermione and Ron die, and now this!!

Note: just kidding. I didnt read it, so chill out. It's a joke. Dont hurt me!

Holy crap, Wegmans had like a ton of these on a table by the door. It seems to me like for once supply has met and exceeded demand. I bet the people who camped out feel silly.

Well, I do happen to work for UPS. And that is weird, as down here in Texas, they had drivers come in on Saturday to deliver all the copies (there were somewhere around 1200) or so. So while I don't know the problem with that general area, it does seem a bit off, as they had it all organized under the header "Harry Potter Day" (and no, I'm not kidding, that's the actual header on the list of drivers/loaders they had come in).

I'm not sure about the delivery of the HP books, but my experiences with UPS in most everything else is that they most assuredly *DO* lie to cover their asses. They have on more than one occasion told the shipper they attempted delivery when I know for a fact they did not (1) because I was home during the delivery timefrane, and (2) because there wasn't a post it note informing me of attempted delivery. UPS is just like any other corporation...they lie, cheat, steal and obscure the facts to protect their bottom line. That's SOP for *any* business.

I have never read the Harry Potter series and have no interest in doing so, other than reading them to my son (but he's only 2 right now). I would reccomend works by Howard Phillip Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard, or Jack Vance for tales of the fantastic and strange. These writings are timeless.

When my copy had not arrived with my regular mail and it was mid afternoon, I checked the UPS tracking info and found this message - "THE RECEIVER REQUESTED A HOLD FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY DATE. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON DATE REQUESTED / DELIVERY RESCHEDULED" I called pretty peeved because as the receiver, I certainly did not request a hold. I called UPS and was told that it would be delivered by USPS with my regular mail. I said I got my regular mail hours before and no book. They put me to a manager. Manager says the message is certainly misleading, but the hold was due to the publisher not the receiver and the book should still arrive. Happily, UPS delivered a few hours later. Interestingly, while running errands on Saturday, I must have passed 5 different UPS trucks out making deliveries.

The last three HPs I just bought at target or wherever I happened to be the day of release. I agree that they understand the demand of the new book and make sure they have enough on hand. No need to pre-order and wait for someone to screw up your delivery.

@remthewanderer:
Lasership is the same-day/next-day provider for B&N in NYC.

I bought my copy in person, with cash. It took 5 minutes.

Two points

First, for those wondering about the need to preorder - I did it purely for convenience and price. Took me 30 seconds to order from Amazon and no trip to the store.

Second, it is always a good idea to get in the good graces of your UPS delivery person. They don't usually deliver until after I get home in the evening. If I'm expecting something, I usually listen for the truck and walk out to the truck usually getting to it just as they fish the box out of the back. Saving them 30 seconds walking to the door at the end of the day always seems like a little thing that helps them out.

@Starfury: Ditto. I got up at 8am, bought it at Target, bought a delicious Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit from McDonalds, and read with some interruptions until 6:30pm.

I absolutely did not trust Amazon, UPS, USPS, Fed-Ex, or DHL to deliver on the release date and I had no problem obtaining two books. I knew there was no way I could sit around until 7:00pm waiting for my book to come.

Yeah everywhere I was this weekend had a huge pile of them. But UPS does lie a lot, and the bastards cant even knock when they do leave a package. I ordered over 1k of computer parts and I was home the whole day no kock nothing. I asked for signiture conf. I think they just scribbled on the pad and said it was me....sumbitches..

lasership screwed up my sister's order but I think they get bonus points. I just talked to her and she got the book Sunday morning.

@Nemesis_Enforcer: oops Knock not kock..I really don't want them to do that.

I've gotten burned in past year with delivery, so this year I just bought mine on Saturday morning. Much less anxiety! And I only paid about $3 more than the Amazon super discount.

My girlfriend had her copy shipped to me and being paranoid, I wrote a note for the UPS guy insisting that I was home and to leave the book if there was no answer at the door. Then a USPS guy comes around 10:30am to drop it off. I actually know for a fact that UPS is delivering in my area (a friend was getting tons of overtime working for UPS that day) but I guess they still couldn't handle the volume here.

Picked up my copy on Sunday at Borders. Then again I wasn't in any hurry; I read the leak last Monday to avoid being spoiled by the internet like I was with the last book.

Was your copy of Harry Potter delayed by fiendish ghouls?
Yes.

Amazon.ca didn't even say that it was ready to be picked up by Canada Post until July 21st. They had a notice on their website saying that Canada Post was going to deliver on Saturday and to be patient because it could be as last as 6pm.

At 6:55pm pst, I got Amazon.ca on the horn. I had confirmation from the person who bought the book for me that yes, it had not been shipped yet. The CSR on the phone confirmed that it was a gift, that it had indeed not been shipped and then double checked my post code.

I won't even go into the kids begging us for a copy at every single display on Saturday...

Anyway, guess what? I was one digit off the area that they were guaranteeing delivery, but because the book was bought back in March before they had finalized the delivery areas, they had screwed up. Basically, we live in a suburb of a major centre in Canada, but the post code changes from V3 to V2 where we live. V3 were being delivered, but V2 weren't.

So, Amazon.ca CSR did the only thing possible: Refund the money on the purchase. The giver has confirmed that the refund was given.

It still hadn't showed today. The tracking number shows that its in the big depot a hundred klicks from here. It says it will be delivered between the 25th and the 27th. If it doesn't show by then, I plan on having words with them again.

If I had known that they weren't going to deliver, I would have used Indigo.ca or even prepaid for it at my local bookstore.

@mopar_man:
Wow, I can't believe I never made the connection before! Harry Potter fans don't deserve adequate customer service from UPS! Thanks, mopar_man!

UPS actually sent the packages to USPS for delivery. Probably due to the time sensitive date. So UPS's site would show delivery to the area (meaning your local PO) but it would be the mail carrier that would put it in your mailbox.

In other words, this article is uninformed and pretty sensationalist. BTW you could have picked it up at Walmart for about the same price and not had to pay shipping. There were pallets of them.

@DeeJayQueue: I bet they don't since most people who get their books at midnight aren't doing it because they expect them to run out.

I bought a copy for a friend from Amazon because I'm a prime member. She got it with her regular mail delivery Saturday morning at around 10:45 est. No worries here. I've never had a problem with Amamzon.

My wife got her copy on Saturday morning at 10:30am. Delivered by USPS. She has finished it already.

@mopar_man: Awww, look who's the coolest commenter on Consumerist!

It's not a secret, UPS and FedEx both lie about attempted deliveries all the time.

For Book 6, I preordered from Amazon, since I'd never had problems in the past. I hadn't lived in Brooklyn before, though, and didn't realize that USPS wouldn't even attempt to delivery any Amazon packages on the Harry Potter release day. We watched the package delivery guy walk up and down the block, putting package notices in several mail slots and decided we'd never preorder again.

@3drage:
There are those of us out there who don't like doing business with Walmart. Applying an overused conceit:
Book: $17.99.
Shipping: Free.
Avoiding the mall and a 40-minute drive: Priceless.