Not Happy with ShipIt

[Al Gordon]

On 7/19/05, theturner <ulist at gs1.ubuntuforums.org> wrote:
> You get what you pay for. I got my Ubuntu CDs today (ordered them in
> April), and I think there's nothing to complain about here.

I'd like to clarify my original post.  My disappointment with ShipIt
isn't based on the fact that I don't have shiny new CDs sitting on my
desk right now, it's that expectations set by ShipIt aren't being met
(4-6 week delivery), and there seems to be no one to talk to at ShipIt
to talk to about this problem, or even a tracking number to confirm
that the CDs I ordered are even on the way.

Unlike people who have ordered one or two CDs for themselves and/or a
few friends, I am ordering CDs for Ubuntu Linux advocacy, trying to
arrange to have media for an installfest. People in the user group
that I am a member of are asking where the CDs are that I should have
already received and distributed to them.  Each time we have a
meeting, and I say, "The Ubuntu CDs still aren't here," their
estimation of Ubuntu's ability to deliver (literally and figuratively)
is diminished.  Every time the CDs are mentioned, people are
disappointed instead of excited.  That's the opposite of advocacy.

A concern is that if Ubuntu can't fulfill their promise for this thing
(delivery of CDs), how do we know that they will meet their other
promises (always free, prompt security updates, supported for 18
months, etc.).  This isn't so much *my* concern, per se, but one that
I will have to address while advocating Ubuntu to others.  Especially
if I'm NOT handing them the professionally pressed CD I told them that
Ubuntu provides.

Concerning setting expectations: The site said 4-6 weeks (and in some
cases, substantially more quickly).  Now, I'm hearing people say 2-3
months.  If the lifecycle of an Ubuntu distro is 6 months, and it
takes 3 months to deliver CDs, there's an obvious disconnect there.

I realize that there are issues inherent to international shipping. 
However, I'm sure that these problems can be addressed in order to
improve how ShipIt works, and allow Ubuntu to deliver on their
promises.  Every problem that's internal to the distribution (ie.
"code") seems to be viewed as something to be addressed and fixed or
improved.  How about the ShipIt process?  Rather than just saying
"International shipping has problems", is someone working to address
those problems?  Is there even some way that we can help as a
community, by setting up a form of re-distribution?  That sort of
thing.

As Vincent mentioned, an option where people could pay for shipping
would be nice.  Open Source is all about options.  I don't like that
my only option right now is that I shouldn't complain, because the CDs
are free.

-- 

  -- AL --