Hi guys,
So, we have managed to cut through the red tape. The books are going out and we have used the time to make some improvements to our distribution system, especially to the US. Hopefully more will come soon!
We luckily were already registered for VAT in Poland, so this was not a problem. But we needed an EORI number. We quickly registered for one, but the original paper, from which the scan had been taken from, had to go to Poland. It was stuck forever in customs, due to Covid protocols. It arrived Tuesday and by Friday we were approved.
All orders has thus been sent out and are on the way!
Great, you can progress to publishing books. It looks from Forward Chess your two March releases are scheduled for March 17 in physical form.
Yes, unless something goes wrong
Congrats, excellent news.
Now you can get back to the 2021 Publications PDF that we are all waiting for with bated breath.
Excellent and I am very much looking forward to the Caro-Kann and Axel Smith books.
Axel’s only in hardcover so will probably wait. Paid for the two hardback Gelfand books but only as it saved on postage as ordered them with other books rather than waiting till they were released in paperback and paying postage again but not sure I saw the added value though others may differ in opinion (built in bookmark for keeping place like Informator books would maybe make itaq worth it). Not sure of the logic of releasing hardcover versions only rather than giving the buying public a choose except as a money making exercise. If that’s the case why is Lars’ book available in both formats immediately?
@JB
Releasing books in hardback initially, followed by paperback after a delay, is absolutely standard in the wider publishing industry. We therefore decided it was logical to make this our default position.
With opening books, they are more time-sensitive because of how quickly opening theory can advance, so we make an exception to the above rule.
If we only made opening books available in the more expensive format initially, *that* would be a cash grab.
@Andrew Greet
This maybe the case in the wider book publishing industry but the other 3- I think- chess publishing houses who do hardbacks make the paperback available at the same time. But I’m not complaining! Absent the exposed corners-which are not post friendly-your hardbacks are a wonderful product available for a very modest premium over the paperback and I choose them every time.
Thanks for the kind words about the hardcovers Paul.
Other chess publishers can do things any way they see fit, but that was our reasoning.
It’s your choice and I presume it makes business sense for you overall but is a pet peeve when you have customers like myself who don’t want hardbacks….., it’s usually worth the wait though and they are definitely not overpriced but I’d still rather have the paperback and I’m sure it’s meant you have missed a few sales as it means the tile lose its freshness and drops off the ‘wanted’ booklist as you have to wait so long.for it to finally appear .eg I don’t have the second Gelfand book which I’m sure I’d have snapped up if immediately available on paperback. Also I usually buy your books from Chess Direct and they always give a discount if you pre-order. Of course as the hardback is always published you don’t get the discount any more once the paperback is published. Annoying but guess I’ll have to live with it ?
@JB
I have no problem with that and if it is a book I will rely on, then more than happy to buy hardback. Also as a thanks to the QC team.
Do you have copies (hardback, ideally) of ‘The Soviet Chess Primer’ in stock and ready to go? It seems to be unavailable with the likes of Amazon, Waterstone’s, Blackwell’s etc.
Thanks.
The Soviet Chess Primer is back in stock, yes. Hardback too, for the first time.
I understand JB’s reasoning. Regarding Chess Direct and discount for pre-orders on paperbacks. I think if you talk to them, they will want your sale.
Jacob
@Jacob Aagaard
Many thanks. That’s terrific. I’ll place an order very soon.
When can we expect the calendar for 2021, last time you said February 🙂
What happened to “Analysing the Chess Mind”?
Is it possible that the Caro-Kann book is available in stock in some chess shops before the 17th?
@Paul
The leaflet has been up for a whlie now.
@Guey
No. Only on Forward Chess
@Rafael
Still coming. Just limited space on the leaflet.
Happy to see Playing the Caro-Kann being available on Forward Chess before announcement!
I paid for the new Caro Kann book a few days before the 17 March publication date but I haven’t received any notification that my copy is on its way. What is the situation with mailings of this book please?
@Jacob Aagaard
The link to the leaflet is not visible on mobile devices by default, as pointed out earlier on the comments. You may want to fix that to avoid, or rather reduce number of future questions about it.
You are right. Will have to look into why that is.
Do you still have the free book offer, if you buy 3 books or take up one of the special offer packages?
Happy birthday Quality Chess!
I know you’ll probably not answer this, but could you give rough estimate on the QGA book?
Many thanks
@The Doctor
We are probably looking at the later part of the year. As you know, we stopped giving estimated publication months for future books on the blog, and at this stage it would be something of a stab in the dark anyway.
@Tim Harding
Tim, sorry, but the world situation is still causing horrible delays on shipments to us (covid and new brexit customs combining badly). The new books (Caro-Kann and Street Smart Chess) have still not reached us in Glasgow. So we can’t send on to you. Mainland Europe got the books on or close to the pub date (March 17) but the British Isles are adrift and isolated, it would appear.
We are also trying to reply to all who ask about delayed books in email, but understaffed on that, due to some private health issues.
Yes, we do, for deliveries to normal easy-to reach EU type places (for example, not some remote islands).
The exception is the Tibor Karolyi special offer which does not get an extra free book, as it has an extra free book already included. The following old blog post explains more:
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/blog/7496
Getting my Caro book in Scotland tomorrow according to Royal Mail so maybe the delay won’t be long ?
@John Shaw Thanks for the reply but I had expected the book might be posted direct from Poland to Ireland, bypassing Brexit. I might have been better ordering from New In Chess who announced it last week.
The term “British Isles” is not well regarded in the Republic of Ireland.
@Jacob Aagaard
WP feature. Different resolutions may use different custom menus. It seems the link wasn’t added to the mobile one. Been there when maintaining WP sites back in the days…
@Tobias
Thanks for the tip!
@Tim Harding
Tim
Hope your book arrived by now. Had mine a few days now and it’s very comprehensive as far as variations goes so still just started, though you’ll need to know your endgame as many of the choices aim for endings rather than complex middlegames….not necessarily a bad thing as they have a bit of play. It’s a great time to be a Caro player and even though I thought the Gambit book and the L’ Ami Chessable course would be too much overlap I think it’s worth having all three as there’s enough variation to give you some alternatives and they have a slightly different emphasis for each…QC strong on details, Gambit on planning and strategy, Chessable for the learning format. despite what Benny from the Queen’s Gambit thinks, lockdown has turned everyone onto the Caro Kann (there’s also a couple of recent Thinkers Publishing books too I don’t have) ?
So I see that “A Matter of Technique” has become “A Matter of Endgame Technique”. Is this becoming multiple books? Is it known how many books will be in the “Grandmaster Knowledge” series, and are they all “A Matter of XXXXXX Technique” where XXXXXX is different each time (Endgame for the first one)?
Hi Patrick, as a matter of fact, “A Matter of Technique” has now become “A Matter of Endgame Technique” and “A Matter of Middlegame Technique”.
The same thing happened to Jacob when he was writing the latest Gelfand book “Technical Decision Making in Chess”. In the end, it had to be split in two; “Technical Decision Making in Chess” and “Decision Making in Major Piece Endings”.
Many times while working on a book you see things that make you realise that you have two books after all, with completely different thematology.
I estimated my notes were covering 1400 pages, once finalised. Although not everything would be used, it is still too much for a single book. It will be two books and I am closing in on the first. When it will find a space in our editing queue is another matter. Endgame books have a tendency to come out at the end (pun intended).
Any idea when “A Matter of Technique” series will be released?