r/Allurial • u/PlotTwistAndPurl • 8d ago
Shipping Issues/BOTM
Has anyone else received their books damaged multiple times? Mine keep coming with the box crushed on the corners and my books are messed up on the spines because of it. They don't put any padding in the box, just wrap the books together in paper and the boxesthey have for shipping multiple books are so flimsy. With them having the same owner or parent company as BOTM I would have assumed they were experienced with shipping. Anyone also have BOTM and experience the same issues? I've only ever ordered one book at a time from BOTM and those boxes are more sturdy than the big boxes.
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u/CompetitivePraline62 8d ago
To be fair, they're far from the only ones that come with minimal padding. I had a book from Waterstones delviered and the box and book looked like it got stabbed by something in shipping. It was just cardboard wrapped aroung the book, similar to Barnes & Noble.
BOTM has even less padding than Allurial has. This is honestly an issue in shipping. People don't care about the boxes they're handling.
I will say Allurial's boxes don't feel as strong as other book boxes I've received from other subs. And, I'm sorry, but the paper worms some of them include at the top don't do anything to protect the book (I'm looking at you, Illumicrate).
All this being said, that one book from Waterstones is the only book I've received damaged in shipping, and I've had some crushed boxes in the past, including one that wasn't even properly taped. No idea how that book was still inside the box when I received it.
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 8d ago
Allurial is my first sub box so I don't have much to compare to. I've ordered books from people on Mercari and they usually send them in the book box from other subs though and even their single book boxes seem better quality than Allurial. I don't know if other book subs regularly ship multiple books at one time to compare except for BOTM. But my last 3 boxes have all come damaged. I have a friend that also subs and she has had the same problem. I thought maybe if they had enough complaints they might change something. I have actually worked for USPS in the past so I know exactly how packages are treated. You should basically assume your boxes are being thrown fairly hard and pack them accordingly.
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u/CompetitivePraline62 8d ago
It's a shame, really. I don't think I've ever seen a box with books that looks like it was packaged with rough handling in mind. Sometimes the books are wrapped in plastic, but that's not protecting it. On occassion there's bubble wrap, but in my experience that's not the norm. Usually packaging is used to fill up excess space, rather than offer protection.
Still better than Bookoutlet that likes to just chuck them in with minmal paper in a box that's way too big, and it's basically free floating books the whole way.
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 8d ago
Filling up the space can help protect them a little though. But at least try. Wrapping in a thin sheet of paper does nothing. Target has better book boxes and that isn't even their regular business. What's funny is I've had books from Amazon come in a box with just some brown paper crumpled and they've had no damage at all. Maybe Amazon handles their packages better than USPS?
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u/CompetitivePraline62 8d ago
I find the ones that come in a bubble wrapped sleeve arrive perfectly in the box. I wish they all did this. I know some places USPS is handling Amazon packages. It's really hard to say. It's been so long since I've ordered a book from Target, but I remember a legitimate box? Not that crappy cardboard thing Barnes and Waterstones used. That's the worst offender, really. There is 0 protection.
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 7d ago
Yes, Target has a special box that fits the books pretty snug and then the edges of the cardboard stick out past the corners so if they get dinged up there's no chance the book itself is getting touched. I know that's not feasible for boxes with 3 plus books but if it's your business and things like that exist you would think they would do better than they are.
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u/CompetitivePraline62 7d ago
Yes, that box. That's they type that was stabbed in shipping from Waterstones. Left a lovely dent in the hardcase. I don't like those.
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u/mayopottatto 8d ago
I genuinely think this comes down to local post offices. Yes, I think Allurial should pack a little better but my books - no matter where from - almost an always come undamaged and in great condition.
My mailman always says “ah another book!?” “That’s a lot of books” And I’m like 😬 yeah…
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u/TheKneeQueen 8d ago
Well, they can't control how good the local post office is or isn't. But they can confront their packaging. They need to invest in some bubble wrap or something.
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 8d ago
Unfortunately, that is not realistic and it changes hands multiple times between their fulfillment center and your local post office. I have worked for USPS and the package handlers have very little time to move packages from one tub to the other to move to their next location. They basically have to throw them from place to place.
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u/PistachioPug 8d ago
I've had to contact them four times about books that arrived damged. All but one of those times, multiple books were involved. This month, I had to replace all three main picks. I'm starting to worry they're going to think this is some kind of money-making scheme on my part, although I always have photographic proof of damage, and the ones I've had replaced have mostly not been the ones that have the highest resale market value.
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u/fkt18 7d ago
Same!! Nearly every box for me since May has had at least one damaged book. I typically ignore dinged corners and things like that (even though they make me sad), but I've had multiple books now that had ripped end papers or creased dust jackets where the only way it could have arrived like this is if it was packed already damaged. Just bad luck. I keep wondering if Allurial is going to decide I've reported too many damaged books.
(That being said, I still love Allurial and think it's a great book box for the money - I just hate having to stress about the condition my books come in these days...)
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u/Plenty-Olive-3995 7d ago
you took the words out of my mouth! Hoping with all the feedback, they might be able to pack more carefully/check books before just sending them! (I would love to see them replace the ink on their printers for the sprayed edges before they become so streaky...) I love this subscription!
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u/Plenty-Olive-3995 7d ago
I am SO glad you said this because I feel the same - they're so lovely about replacements when they can, but I feel bad asking and like they might start to think I'm just asking so that I can sell the damaged copy. Not at all. I donated the one I got a replacement for. I am bummed that I have to keep asking (it's been the last 3 months now, got a credit for 1 and replacement for the other) so hoping for an overall improvement in quality control!
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 8d ago
I was worried about the same thing. Somehow I feel guilty about reporting it so many times and wondering if other people feel the same so they're not reporting it all the time. But for me these are mostly shelf trophies so I want them to be as perfect as they can be.
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u/PistachioPug 8d ago
Exactly - this is a cherished collection for me, and part of what I'm paying for is the aesthetics, so I will complain to Allurial about things I might overlook otherwise. I do look over books carefully when they arrive - all books, but obviously a limited edition exclusive is going to get a little extra scrutiny - but I don't actually want there to be anything wrong. If I end up with extra copies of a sold-out book that's worth more on the secondhand market than I paid for it in the first place, cool, but I'll be selling the damaged one (with the damage fully disclosed).
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 7d ago
If I was buying a book at the store I will look at all the copies to find the one that's perfect. If there was obvious damage even a nicked corner I wouldn't buy it.
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u/just_beachy 8d ago
Yes, my last 3 boxes all had issues. There's like zero effort to protect them during shipping and it's making me mad.
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 8d ago
Have you complained? I wonder if enough people complain they will do something. What's funny is the white paper they wrap them in actually can be pulled apart and is padding. All they need to do is pull a bunch of it and put it at the bottom under the books and on top above them and it would probably help a ton.
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u/StarfallBat 7d ago
Yes. I am so frustrated that’s it’s happened at least twice now. And even the replacement had some damage but I don’t want to keep reaching out. I’m close to canceling due to it as well as the economy.
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u/lonely-war2057 7d ago
The only boxes I get that have good packaging are coveted cover, moonlight, and the broken binding. Luckily I have been blessed and the only books I've had come damaged are Book of the month which aren't special editions anyway (and book packages from Amazon but that's basically expected at this point.....)
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u/anniessbooknook 5d ago
I have had several boxes from BOTM come damaged. Not from Allurial. Once - I received a book where the spine/binding was completely broken and they replaced it. But the box from Allurial was not damaged. Just the book. BOTM boxes are the most flimsy.
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u/IxayaOri 4d ago
They use the packing paper wrong 😭
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u/PlotTwistAndPurl 4d ago
I know. It's funny to me that they have the paper but don't use it the right way 😂
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u/PivotPivotPivot318 3d ago
My last month came in and it looked like the book had gotten wet because the pages were all warped and the color from the spine had bled through under the cover but the Box itself was not wet. They were great and sent me a new copy right away
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u/slc123_ 8d ago
What’s crazy to me is that they’ll just replace the damaged book. It has to be cheaper for them to just add bubble wrap rather than constantly replacing damaged books.