Continued problems with Airmail Worldwide shipping of Black Hook Press Books- Goddammit!!

  Hello Everyone,

Firstly, I hope everyone is safe and taking the necessary precautions to avoid catching Covid-19. Stay safe and protect
everyone with continued vigilance.

Black Hook Press ships its books worldwide to both individuals and bookstores/shops/cinemas/galleries. The beginning of 2020 was our most successful Spring since we started in 2014 with strong direct sales and super strong sales
to bookstores and comic stores, particularly to West coast USA, with a number of new stores picking up and re-ordering titles. 

And then Covid happened and now lots of businesses are suffering, Black Hook Press included.

Our business model relies on fast, reliable, cheap, international airmail being easily available.
Japan Post is the only service that can offer these things and specifically to publishers (the service is called PRINTED MATTER post and it is immeasurably cheaper than all other services.)

For the last 6 months (since Covid) Japan Post's Printed Matter Service, and also its other international services, have been in constant turmoil. Restrictions and rules have changed on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. 
Added to this is the limited amount of air traffic to and from Japan, the increased amount of parcels being delivered internationally, and the time required to send international mail increasing.

Due to these things out of our control Black Hook Press has seen a big increase in returns after shipping, a great number of missing parcels (lost/stolen), insurance claims, and frustrated customers wanting books but not being able to get them, especially in the Americas and other countries with high rates of infection. These things have badly affected Black Hook Press, they have been both financially crippling and time consuming. And as many of you know, time and money don't grow on trees.

While things have been improving (and then again not) I am not sure when the situation will get back to normal but I know that until the turmoil subsides I can't continue to lose money and time as I have done these last few month. I also don't like the continued uncertainty of books not reaching their readers. These uncertainties have made me very anxious and very unhappy these last few months.

With this in mind I am beginning to go through past orders and contact purchasers to find out those that have had issues
 with shipments. I've been  giving full refunds to lost in transits. I am also going to put a hold on all sales until things are back to normal.  I am so sorry if you've contacted me about a shipping issue and my response has been tardy, I'm sorry,  the whole thing has been a complete BALL-ACHE, GODDAMMIT!

Thank you for supporting Indie Publishers and please stay safe!

James,
Black Hook Press