Our long T-shirt nightmare is drawing to a close.: seanan

Our long T-shirt nightmare is drawing to a close.

Yesterday I mailed the last of the international shirts. Of the original order, only two packages have not been mailed: both are slated for hand-delivery, and aware of their status.

Today I packaged the shirts that were not included in our initial delivery from the printer. These will go out sometime in the next few days.

Tomorrow...who knows?

If you have any issues with your shirt (wrong size, wrong color), please drop a line to the merch address by June 24th to let us know. Why June 24th? Because that's the day after the date that everyone in the world should have their shirts, regardless of how far away they live from the me-centric starting point. This will give us some time to deal with any shipping issues before we hit July, and I go into convention season hell.

Now, the common questions.

Why did this take so long?

There were several factors. This was the third time we'd done this particular design, and the demand was so much higher this time than either of the previous two that we were honestly caught flat-footed. We didn't expect to need this sort of infrastructure, and because the people who help with this are all volunteers, we really didn't have the resources.

There was also the matter of, well. The more people show up, the more people will assume that I am a corporation, and not a girl who is likely to be making these updates in her pajamas. Several folks were very rude to my merch team. Several people did not pay until months after our initial deadline, which put the whole project behind schedule. These may seem like small problems, but they killed a lot of our enthusiasm for stuffing shirts in mailboxes, and slowed the whole process down.

Ouch. Will you be doing this again?

No. This was our last bespoke shirt run, for the reasons given above.

Are there any shirts left over?

Yes, a few. I'll be selling them at conventions, once we're absolutely sure that everyone's shirt issues have been ironed out and that everybody is happy.

Will you sell them via mail?

Probably not. Postage is expensive, and I'm tired of mailing things. If you're in desperate need of a backup or replacement, feel free to send me an email; if I have your size, we may be able to work something out.

And that is all. Thank you all for your patience.

We are almost done.

klwilliams

June 9 2015, 22:45:06 UTC 2 years ago

New comment

Thank you very much for doing this. I'm delighted with both my shirts, and wear them often.

seanan_mcguire

June 13 2015, 16:40:05 UTC 2 years ago

I am so very glad.

fallconsmate

June 10 2015, 00:04:52 UTC 2 years ago

congratulations in being almost done! and while i would have liked a shirt...

well, i didn't find out about such things till later. so it's all bad on *me*, and no one's fault*. i AM really sorry that people were unkind and not understanding of the whole process, though, that's horribly distressing.

here, have hugs. *hugs and hugs* :)

(*obviously not asking for any special favors, because that sort of thing is for personal friends. and although you are a lovely internet presence in my life, and i am grateful for your presence there...i am not your personal friend. it's something to be cherished for those who are, but it's not where i am. and that's ok too!)

June 13 2015, 17:12:58 UTC 2 years ago

Depending on where you live, I may be coming to a convention near you, and can pack shirts for sale at said con.

2 years ago

ladypoetess

June 10 2015, 00:10:31 UTC 2 years ago

I love my shirt and am so happy to have been able to get one. Thank you and your friends/volunteers who made this possible, truly.

June 13 2015, 17:14:03 UTC 2 years ago

You are very welcome.

ladymondegreen

June 10 2015, 00:22:57 UTC 2 years ago

I am so pleased that this is almost done. For all the joy it has brought people, this has been a long road.

June 13 2015, 17:16:45 UTC 2 years ago

Yessssss.

_dante_sparda_

June 10 2015, 02:08:30 UTC 2 years ago

I'm so sorry to hear that people were dicks to your precious volunteers. There aren't enough loose Legos for that kind of assholery. >:l

June 13 2015, 17:17:13 UTC 2 years ago

I know, right? I don't like people being dicks to me. Being dicks to my people is just unforgivable.

silverkiiri

June 10 2015, 05:37:37 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you so much for doing all this hard work for us. I'm sorry some people were rude and inconsiderate. I was super happy with the shirt I got, and i imagine I will be just as happy when I receive the second one. I'm glad I was able to get in on this order, and, once again, and so thankful to you and the others who helped with the order. You're all wonderful!

June 13 2015, 17:17:40 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you. <3

listicath

June 10 2015, 07:19:00 UTC 2 years ago

That does sound like a nightmare.

Given the popularity of this run, is the demand enough that you could outsource to a company to handle the ordering, packing & dispatch?

But being rude to your volunteers is just not on. You've been completely up front on here as to the problems you've experienced, and kept everyone updated with progress. I don't understand how people think that being obnoxious will help matters.

It's probably a good job I've never worked in retail...

June 13 2015, 17:18:36 UTC 2 years ago

No.

There is literally no currently operational outsource company that has the flexibility and diversity of options for plus-sized people that these shirts require. I would rather no shirts than yet another shirt that says "hey, fat girls, your money's no good, go wear a tent."

reedrover

June 10 2015, 09:37:43 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you again for the shirts. I think you and your friends are wonderful to do this, and I know that you have spread a little more joy and chaos into the world because of it. I'm sorry that people contaminated your air with their entitlement attitude, and I sincerely hope that your fabulous brain and generous heart can recover from the stink.

June 13 2015, 17:34:37 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you.

cypherindigo

June 10 2015, 12:41:51 UTC 2 years ago

I received mine, and it has made appearances at various Cons, including this past Balticon.. I hope to be able to get you to sign it at Chessie Con in November.

June 13 2015, 17:50:16 UTC 2 years ago

Yay!

childe

June 10 2015, 13:42:28 UTC 2 years ago

"once we're absolutely sure that everyone's shirt issues have been ironed out"

I see what you did there. :)

June 13 2015, 17:50:24 UTC 2 years ago

*curtsey*

amanda_nye

June 11 2015, 04:06:52 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you, and thanks to your volunteers. I love my shirts.

I know you are never doing this again, but I second the suggestion of fulfillment centers like the ones that help successful Kickstarters with actually delivering on all the things. makethatthing.com has been used by several that I've contributed to.

June 13 2015, 17:50:58 UTC 2 years ago

Again, none of those fulfillment centers have offered sufficient plus-sized options, especially in fitted shirts. I do it myself or I don't do it at all.

Absotively

melchar

June 11 2015, 11:43:01 UTC 2 years ago

I also missed the T-shirt thang, but would *never* either be mean to you because of -my- mistake, nor would I try to push you around to do more than you already do. You are writing books and stories I love to read. You are singing songs I love to hear. You are *hopefully* being happy ... and in need of a chorus of Aeslin mice to sing your praises!

June 13 2015, 17:51:14 UTC 2 years ago

kyrielle

June 13 2015, 01:34:51 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you for doing this. I am so sorry it was unpleasant and stressful for you. I adore my shirts, and I will cherish them.

And I am so glad you are getting out from under this finally!

June 13 2015, 17:51:25 UTC 2 years ago

Yes!

bethan_b_bad

June 14 2015, 01:32:09 UTC 2 years ago

My shirt turned up (to the UK) this morning!

Just got home and tried it on and I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

It's absolutely perfect. I'm so glad I ordered it - it was a lot more than I would normally spend on fandom shirts, but it's worth every penny and then some.

Thank you so, so much for doing this - it sounds like it pretty much sucked as an experience. I'm so sorry people were massive dicks about it - at the end of the day, after a, it's *just* a t-shirt.

A really, really freakin' AWESOME t-shirt, but still.

Next time you're in the UK, I am totally buying you a drink. :D

June 23 2015, 18:40:52 UTC 2 years ago

Hooray!

notalwaysweak

June 18 2015, 12:23:02 UTC 2 years ago

My glorious purple and red armour has arrived in the Land of Poison and Flame and, clad in one of the four variations I bought, I shall venture forth tomorrow to do battle against the Evil Red Squiggly Underlines in my current round of edits.

June 23 2015, 18:41:04 UTC 2 years ago

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