"The Belgian Air Service"

[Fokker Ace]

I have a question for Jack - I'd like to know if you ship the books in a box? I only ask as I worry about damage with such a large book. I've had some bad experiences with people throwing beautiful books into paper bags and then the post ruining them!

Also, I see it on Amazon only from other sellers and not direct from them. Probably best to order direct from Aeronaut Books?

[Frederic Mason]

Howdy - FWIW; I plan to order the book direct from Aeronaut shortly. In the past I've had bad results with Amazon's skimpy wrappings with DVDs and books. Mostly I like Barnes&Noble's sturdy shipping packages of both items. Remember when you order from Borders you're getting the DVD&book from Amazon?? Movies Unlimited seems to have even skimpier wrappings. Any outfit that uses postal bags rather than boxes has a no future vote here. IMHO; FM

[ONEALM]

Mine came in a carboard cover/box without and dents, dings or scratches. The Navarre volume - which is also a treat - made in in good shape as well, htough I don't recall if it was in a box, bag or envelope.

[dpolglaze]

My order was fulfilled through Aeronaut, and was well packed in a box and arrived undamaged. The Belgian book was plastic wrapped, and the Navarre book was paper wrapped inside the box.

Dan

[stevedrew]

My copy arrived all the way to Australia in perfect condition courtesy of Aeronaut Books. Excellent protection was provided for a valuable book.

[Mystère]

I received 12 boxes of eight books, which were shipped from New York to Antwerp. Not a single book (each wrapped in plastic) was damaged, neither were the boxes.

Mystère

[Fokker Ace]

Good to know - each time I order something I care about, especially from unknown Amazon sellers, it's like a crap shoot these days.

[Nieuport pilot]

Are there any photos of Coppens' cobalt blue Hd.1 machine in the book? I have never seen any photos of this Hanriot and am looking for details for a replica.
Rick Bennett

[Mystère]

I have some 3,000 photographs of that period, but NONE of Coppens' blue HD.
In fact I've actually have to come across the first photo concerning this a/c

nevertheless: feel free to buy the book :-)

Mystère

[JackH]

Guys,

First, sorry for the tardy reply, but just got my computer back today after 8 days in the shop. Now I'm back in business.

When you go to Amazon to purchase the Belgian Air Service book, you are really buying it from me! Amazon forwards the order to me and I ship it in the exact same way I would ship it if you purchased it from my website. The difference is Amazon takes a 16% commission.

When I ship the Belgian book, it is packaged in a cardboard 'book wrap', which is a special cardboard box with ends that is adjustable in size for different size books. If you order a Navarre book at the same time, it goes in the same book wrap.

I ordered the books from the printer individually shrink-wrapped and packaged in a cardboard book wrap (Belgian book) or Tyvek envelope (Navarre). I got them without packaging, although the Belgian book was individually shrink-wrapped. When I complained, the printer immediately sent the book wraps.

I also had the printer ship books directly to buyers who had taken advantage of the pre-publication offer with the intention of getting the books to them quickly. Apparently about half those books haven't arrived, so I'm now personally shipping replacement books to customers who contact me. I've contacted many customers myself but do not have everyone's email address to contact them.

Being in business has its challenges, especially when your vendors do not perform as expected! No doubt things will go smoother from now on.

Meanwhile, I expect to send the book on Russell Smith's WW1 aviation art to the printer (a different one!) in the next 6-8 weeks for an in-print date of May/June. Stay tuned for an announcement as we finalize the book and know the details for certain. Retail price looks like $49.95 despite all the color throughout the book.

Cheers,
Jack Herris