Universal Exports - Development Log #533

Michi is taking the week off of devlog writing. So Martin has to take over and tell you all about the "perk fulfilment fun" they had last week...

Martin

Last time I made an appearance in an issue of the devlog was in week 529 and the topics are exactly the same. So let me cover the key points in the same order, too:

Firstly, I implemented exclusive download access for digital perks. Since last Thursday, supporters at the Galaxy tier and above should see a download button on the perk info page that allows them to download the secret soundtrack uncompressed and in high definition. As stated in issue #529, everyone else will be able to stream the soundtrack on all the usual platforms starting September 1st.

Secondly, Michi and I got together at simulogics HQ to pack and ship the 80 to 90 packages of the final batch of physical perks. Even though we upgraded our setup from "manually fighting the DHL online store" to "hacking together scripts talking to a shipping SaaS's API", this process did come with a few of challenges:

1. Needless to say, the...uhm..."change in policy style" in the US made shipping there incredibly more complicated and costly compared to last time. Apologies to anyone for whom this is causing trouble on your end. We tried our best to get everything in order, but it's a bit of a gamble and we can't really do much about the import fees charged by UPS/FedEx. Kudos to the people at the FDA helpdesk I had to call Friday night, though: They were really friendly and helpful ;-)
2. Apology number two goes out to our backers from the UK: Brexit means we get the worst of both worlds in that there are now customs checks (and duties) and EU-style bureaucracy. While the packages are ready, I'll have to apply for a UK VAT and EORI number before I can label and ship them...
3. We did actually run out of inventory towards the end of packing boxes because yours truly apparently has difficulty counting. For the less important items we packed a replacement instead. For the bigger ones Michi and I will be in touch with the affected supporters soon to discuss options. So...apology number three, I guess?

Anyway, I am glad this chapter will be closed soon. And finger's crossed I won't receive too many additional emails from customs agencies around the world!

As always, we'd love to hear what you think: join us on Discord or the forums!

Happy trading!