Level 67 and over 800 hours logged...........and I'm still waiting for a courier to deliver me the message from Quintis to start "Repairing the White Phial".

Part 1 - "The White Phial" was done around 200 hours in.

Got full access to Throat of the World around 500 hours in.

No Briar Hearts in my inventory or any of those other quest breaking glitches I've read about.

It just simply never triggered and the courier never came.

I've played for a few weeks after finishing everything in the game in hopes of it eventually triggering. And still nothing.

I'm completely done with everything I can do in the game. I even spent a week just decorating all my houses. It's just not happening.

Bethesda......PLEASE FIX THIS ISSUE SO THE COURIER WILL DELIVER THE MESSAGE FROM QUINTIS!!
I'll even send you my file again if you want. I was only around 400 hours and didn't have full access to Throat of the World when you requested my save file the 1st time.

Gstaff? Nick? Anyone?

I'm reluctant to say this but I think it needs to be said.

Whatever condition for this quest hasn't triggered is now part of your save file and therefore likely can't be fixed. With all previous Bethesda RPGs the general rule on patches fixing quest bugs has been prevention rather than cure, so for this they'll identify something that might stop the courier and then fix that so he can't be stopped but they won't add new conditions to spawn a courier for those who have already met the conditions but not gotten their visit.

If you really want to play this quest I fear it's going to need a restart, I very much doubt Bethesda will release a retroactive quest fix, they've never done it before to my knowledge.

Not true they did fix totems of hircine quest and that worked great retroactive, although it was a very hideous error that left me stuck with Aela for weeks with no NPC interaction possible prior to the patch. As for the courier, I did get mine even with the briar hearts error(I have 14 in my inventory right now) I believe he came during season unending. Also, have you tried talking to the old dying alchemy codger in his bed (whats his name) in Windhelm as that may also be necessary to trigger the quest.

Haven't done the totems quest so wasn't aware of an issue or even a fix, I try to stay away from quest issue threads for quests I haven't done/started because not everyone here understands the concept of spoilers.

Generally speaking though, most aren't retroactive, I guess it depends on what they find to be broken.

Yes, I've done everything. Whenever I go up to the old guy I get a message saying he's sleeping and dying. I've tried stabbing him, I've used the Wabbajack on him, Magic, etc. Nothing ever happens.
One strange thing is that when I'm downstairs speaking to Quintis or buying potions, the old guy still speaks. He says crap to me about loitering. But when I go upstairs, he's asleep and dying.

And no, I'm not going to start a new game after already putting 800 hours into this one. I shouldn't have to. The game should work right the 1st time.
I'd have to play the entire main quest just to get this one. I'm not doing that.

you may have to just not care and move on and consider you now have a bugged quest. join the club.

Don't sweat this too much, the white phial isn't really that good anyway