Special Message from the Folks at DG
17 comments | PermalinkThe sale has generated so much traffic to the checkout process in our store that the DG server is at its limit. In fact, the traffic is so high that even two servers couldn't handle it. There are some solutions we can implement (namely, optimizing the code in the checkout process), but none that could be implemented by tomorrow.So here is a different idea: Let's divide the traffic to the DG site into two sources: (1) People that are reading this post and (2) people that aren't. If everybody reading this post waits until tomorrow to order (I'm so sorry to ask this of you!), then there might be enough processing power for all the other people that don't know what's happening. Perhaps enough of that group will place their orders tonight, and tomorrow everyone else will make it through. And, obviously, the more you spread the word about this post, the more the people in group 1 increases, and the more likely this is to work.
Again, I'm so sorry to even mention this idea--our aim is to make your lives easier, not harder. And of course we don't even know if this will work--but it seems worth a try. If you have other ideas, respond in the comments and let us know. We'll keep trying to think of ways we can serve you in the midst of this.



17 Comments:
sorry guys
i had a feeling this was going to happen. My daughter's choir entered a competition hosted by the BBC (biggest UK TV network) and the server crashed so often they cancelled the contest. You are victims of your own popularity!
Hopefully this works ... they could always add an extra day to the sale :)
I am extremely thankful that I am on the west coast and was able to get my order in last night.
Thanks for the heads up
I'm also on the west coast and I placed my order 1:30am...it will be interesting to see how this pans out.
Matt,
An idea: Do a one-day sale for a series of zip codes, breaking up the USA into, say, groups of five. So, everyone in the USA would only have one (not two) days to enjoy the $5/book price. The next day, another 20% of the USA would get their chance. Make two of those five days open for international folks.
You may need to be strategic even here. Go through your DG site statistical data to see what countries give you the most traffic. For example, Monday and Tue for Australia and New Zealand. Wed and Thurs for Eastern Europe and Africa. Etc. Yes, international folks have two days, not one (according to this plan), but presumably there are not as many of them.
Some iteration on the above might work.
Thank you again for your courageous generosity!
Alex
What a wonderful problem to have!!
For those who still agree with price caps on gasoline, please see this post. This is supply and demand worked out in real life. There are economists out there dying over this lack of equilibrium!!
I just tried before I thought to check this site for some info and it looks like there are still server problems. Maybe I'll try setting my alarm to wake up in the middle of the night! This is awesome!
Good on you desiringgod. Without this I won't be able to stock up books to give away. :)
Yes! Just finished my order (2:15am central). I hope no one gets left out...
My dilemma is the $10 international postage... which cancels out the benefit of using this deal on all but the most expensive titles... since I can get most for $15 or less in the UK.... but it's a great deal for the US.
Ahhhhh, yesterday I tried to order two ESV hardcover Bibles. They were $5 each. Today they're still in my cart but now they cost $17.24.
What's up with that?
Just got my order placed (6:30 CST) and the load times were quick.
A healthy problem indeed!
I am from Asia and I ordered the books at what should be 3 am (UST). No problems at all.
Altogether, 90 books in total. I will be re-selling them without profit to my church members. Gonna be a blast! :)
To "thebluefish": DG's international freight charges are high! I am using Comgateway (www.comgateway.com) to ship my stuff back. Not too sure if you have somethig similar on your end of the world.
I anticipated the verload to be a problem so I attempted to place my order Tuesday night at 11:45pm. The good news was that the sale was up and running on the website and had no wait time whatsoever. The bad news was that the "proceed to checkout" button was an invalid link so I was unable to process the order. As of yet, I have not been able to get back into my "cart" of 100+ books!!
Indeed, this is a great problem to have and I am thankful for the EXTREME generosity of DG. As a BookStore manager and buyer of books (at wholesale), you will not find new books anywhere cheaper than this!
Desiring God has to be one of the most generous ministries I have ever heard of. Praise God for the leadership of John Bloom, Bill Walsh, John Piper, and others along with the numerous donors who make this possible. What a blessing to the body of Christ!
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