More customer relations stuff here:
http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=97373
I've been leery of jumping on the beta testers in recent months, but it does seem like they are very vocal in this thread. The first reply (post #2) is actually very helpful. But it goes downhill from #4:
O, my god the world is going to end because it is plastic instead of steel
Haven't seen the box yet so can't comment. I won't be using it to protect my games from bullets or shellfire, so steel or plastic is probably irrelevant. Nonethess, I have to admit I was also expecting the same construction that my Band of Brothers or SPR DVDs came in. It's not about the actual box, I think customers have a right to express concern about BFC's ongoing reputation for customer service, going back to the flawed mousepads (with the wrong data printed on it) or the CMBB strategy guide that was so messed up they had to reissue it at their own expense. It's nothing I'm angry or twisted about, it's just one of those "that's too bad" moments that they seem to have a lot of.
Someone posted (Rule_303) a couple days about about publishers and "straight talk" with their customers. This was Steve's response to the thread:
Stingray,
I'm sorry to see the new padded envelopes didn't stop one of the gorillas from breaking your box. I had a UPS forklift drive a PC tower into a loading dock (or something like that) many years ago and the damage was "impressive". So I sympathize!
I've forwarded this thread to Moon. However, if you sent an email to sales that will get to him too.
Quick note... the spine also has a little strip of steel on it.
As someone who has some knowledge of where steel prices have gone over the past few years (for example, my steel roof on my house!) I shudder to think what a 100% steel box would cost! Thank God copper has at least come down in price some. Don't get me started on Gold and Silver prices. Thankfully I don't do home renovations with those metals
I think if he had said "we thought they were steel, too" it might have gone down easier than a lecture on gold prices.
For the record, I was never expecting actual steel - cheap tin or aluminium or whatever stamped metal they actually use. And so thin you can bend it with your hand. They make disposable cookie tins out of them, figured this would not be a challenge or break the bank for anyone. And hey, if you can't afford to offer to sell it - don't sell it. Or at least, investigate what it is you're selling before you line up your customers and advertise it.
Life goes on.