TB Anticipation Syndrome

[dirkhaun]

Interesting, I wonder if this is only for some colors? I am signed up for email notices for the Aubergine/Marigold combo, and have not gotten an email. I put a note on my calendar to check the product page at 10am and see if it is there!

That was the regular TB Newsletter, not notifications from the product page.

[Meglet]

That makes sense, I did a newsletter purge a while ago so I don't get those any more.

[G42]

That makes sense, I did a newsletter purge a while ago so I don't get those any more.

Depending, they also sometimes announce on Twitter and Insta (neither of which I am on)

[dirkhaun]

Do we know if the old "all orders for the same address that come in until xxx o'clock are being merged" is still in place with the revamped ordering system? I've placed an order for a Side Hustle and after that went through, the email notification for the Mars Red EC showed up ...

I guess I'm going to find out

[k_p]

Do we know if the old "all orders for the same address that come in until xxx o'clock are being merged" is still in place with the revamped ordering system? I've placed an order for a Side Hustle and after that went through, the email notification for the Mars Red EC showed up ...

I guess I'm going to find out

Yes, I just emailed them to ask. The two orders will be combined and one shipping cost refunded. I had to do the same thing... looks like we're expecting similar packages!

[dirkhaun]

Yes, I just emailed them to ask. The two orders will be combined and one shipping cost refunded. I had to do the same thing... looks like we're expecting similar packages!

Yep, just got a refund notification for the second shipping charge, yay.

[Meglet]

Surprise! I was waiting somewhat impatiently for the shipping notice on the Side Hustle I ordered on Thursday, and thinking that it was taking a surprisingly long time to ship. Then I came home yesterday to a TB box on my porch, it turns out my SH shipped but the order status didn't update correctly! (I've sent an email to the fantastic customer service folks with the order number and tracking number so they can mark it and not ship a duplicate.)

So that was a nice end to my Saturday, and now I've taken measurements, added the Mini SOS strap, and am working on an order for the bits necessary to use it as a slim camera bag for my mirrorless system.


Tom Bihn Side Hustle by Meghan, on Flickr

[Meglet]

Pop Totes are back in stock, and I have an Aubergine one on the way! I have and love my gray (NWS? Maybe Cloud? I've lost track) Pop Tote, and I have and love my Aubergine Swift, but for a certain scenario I have been waiting for the Aubergine Pop Totes to come back in stock, because I want to use a zipped purple tote bag. And they restocked just in time that I should be able to use it for my appointment next week!

[G42]

My Cerise/Seafoam/Mystery Pouch order hasn't shipped yet, but the swatches I requested of the two new halcyons are out for delivery!

[tchen04]

As I impatiently check my order’s UPS delivery status, I sadly seem to be stuck with a “Due to operating conditions, your package may be delayed” status. The shipping notification arrived on Monday. It’s Friday now, and the package still seems to be in Tacoma. (I’m in Vermont.) Anyone else experience this before? Curious what operating conditions they are referring to.

[G42]

Hey tchen04
It could be anything from broken trucks to labor shortages to the package falling out of a bin. Major system delays are published and I only see the Ukraine one... Sometimes small ones just don't seem to get posted.
Usually things clear up within a few days.
If you hit 5-7 days with no update, you can contact UPS.

The most common thing I've seen however, with all the carriers (only a sample size of my shipments mind you), is that the package is actually moving through the system, it just missed a departure scan.
It will suddenly show up in your arrival hub after a few days. Since it's shipping by truck xcountry, there are often no interim physical scans, just virtual ones based on truck location, but only if it was actually scanned at departure.

Hopefully that's what's going on and it 'phones home' soon!


So... What did you get?

[tchen04]

Thanks G42! Here's hoping it's just a blip in the system and that it'll get here soon!

As for what I got -- it's quite a large haul, but I don't expect to keep everything. The main thing is the Addax 31, which I've had my eye on for a while now. I feel like I haven't seen as much discussion lately about the Addax bags, and it sounds like they may be on the verge of getting archived and/or paused in order to give them another design iteration. I've had a Synapse 25 in black Cordura for about 8 years. It's still going strong but has started feeling a bit too small for what I need to pack sometimes, and the expandable possibilities of the Addax seemed just right. I'm particularly excited about trying out the X-Pac material, and I saw the "Only a few left..." message and decided to pull the trigger. I think I may have got the last one because it disappeared from the available options as soon as I ordered it. However, I was also really digging the burnt orange ballistic version, so I got that too in order to compare them side by side before choosing one.

Beyond that... well maybe it's easier to just share a screenshot . I'm hoping that the Snake Charmer will be a better way to carry my cables and chargers. I have a Peak Design Tech Pouch now that I just never use because it is too heavy and has too much internal organization for my needs. Also going to see if the Spiff Kit is a better fit than my current Sea To Summit toiletry kit. Ghost whale and Q-kit will be for some of my daily carry things. Got a few more things to try out too and will see whether they fit my needs although somehow I suspect it will be hard to send them back once I've laid my hands on them

[G42]

Nice haul tchen04 !

The Addax is going into a pause for a while, per MikeV post here along with the Zeit and Cambiata. It's a big burly bag - it will be good to hear what you think of it and your thoughts on the X-Pac RX30 vs Ballistic - we now expect a full report

The Q-Kit is moving to the Design Vault (ie, taking a break) as well, per that same post, so I'm glad you grabbed one to try out. They are useful for all sorts of random things and tuck into all sorts of spaces in the bigger bags. I often pack them zipper side down in the space between two packing cubes for instance. Even better, they're made of scrap fabric, so less goes to waste.

I only use Snake Charmers for all the assorted cables & charges, small mouse, etc. Mostly I use a Small, but if I'm carrying work & personal laptops, a mouse, and every possible other device I have (ie, on combined work/personal trips) I do lean towards the Large. It all fits in a small but takes a wee bit more maneuvering, so it's easier to have a slightly less full Large than a stuffed Small, if you get what I mean. I hear you on organizers that are a little too organized - it's why, after trying several times, I'm not using the Handy Little Things for anything.

The Small Snake Charmer is also my toiletry bag of choice, as I have a travel rechargeable toothbrush that is a bit too long for other TB bags... all my 'dry' stuff goes into a SSC and the liquids go into a clear 3DOC (I have Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check, but it's good to be prepared plus containment if a primary package fails). Another option to contemplate vs the Spiff and your other kit. The Grab Bag (not currently available) is also the same size/aspect ratio of a traditional Dopp kit.

If the VPC doesn't work for you in the Addax, try it out in your Synapse main compartment... the vertical/portrait nature of it makes it a natural (to me) for the main section of my packs. The horizontal/landscape orientation of the 3DOC I prefer for the chin pocket of the Synapse... if my SSC isn't already there. And yes, either bag could turn the other way, but sometimes I leave the VPC unzipped inside the bag, acts like a pocket basically.

Here's hoping UPS updates & delivers soon, can't wait to hear what you think once you get the box 'o goodies!

[Meglet]

tchen04 I'm not far from Tacoman (and thus the TB factory!) and the delay this past week must have been something internal to UPS, because we don't have any weather issues going on. Unfortunately now it is likely to be further delayed, because the ground truck route heading east (I-90) is closed on the other side of the state due to wild fires. I can't remember if UPS still ships Ground packages via rail instead of truck, hopefully either way the fires are under control soon and the road opens back up.

I'm glad you were able to pick up a Q-kit before they get archived, that's one of my favorite and most used small pouches (along with the Ghost Whale Mini.) I'll be interested to hear your opinion on the Spiff Kit, I keep thinking of switching to that but I'm not actually traveling anywhere at the moment so I can't really justify the order. (Beyond the whole "they might not be in stock/in the color I want when I need one" issue.)

[tchen04]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions G42 and Meglet! It looks like the package has arrived in my area and should be delivered tomorrow! I'm guessing maybe they just didn't scan it after it left Washington state until it reached my local area. Will report on my goodies once I get a chance to dig in