Advanvce Order -- Pre-order ???

[DMUinCT]

A warning!!! 

An item I pre-ordered from Lionel (dealer) was listed on-line by Lionel for September 2006 shipping.  They changed it to Jan. 2007, and then finally shipped it in May 2007.

A locomotive and 4 passenger cars I ordered from MTH (dealer) was listed on-line by MTH for shipment in Nov.2006. It changed to Jan. 2007 and I received the locomotive only.  The cars shipping was changed to May 2007 and has now been changed to July 2007! If I decide to cancel, it will cost me the 10% deposit for the cars and a loss to sell the locomotive.

The good?  I finally received the MTH "G" gauge NYC observation car from the 2004 catalog this month.

I, for one will NEVER pre-order!

[fifedog]

Went thru this too.  Manufacturers are 10-18 months behind their posted schedules.

Try thinking of it as a Toy Train "lay-away" program.

[traindaddy1]

Been there, done that!  Tried only once. Will try it again if "time" is not essential.  The '$' savings (for me) was well worth the wait.

[Big Walnut Railroader]

yea, same problem waiting for the MTH OSU Buckeyes Boxcar awhile back, man that was a LONG wait.

but, for all the bad things about it, preordering at least promises that one will get the product...albeit eventually. what piece did u order from lionel?

[DMUinCT]

Sorry Big Walnut, not so!

No wonder Hobby Shops are closing.

  Try to order the MTH Providence & Worcester or Susquehanna Dash-8s from the 2005 "G" scale catalog.  Dealers took orders but not enought to justify production, so they canceled them.  I could give you a list of canceled catalog items.  Today's catalog must be looked at as a "Wish Book", wish they would make it.

When the dealer finally gets the item, before he ships, he must contact you as the Credit Card's date has expired in the years between order and production.

I'm 72 and would like to get the trains while I'm still young enough to play with them. I collect "O" (TCA for 35 years) and operate "G".

[sir james I]

I don't like preorder either but the mfg.'s use it to decide if they will make an item or not. So it becomes a do I or don't I.

[phillyreading]

I had to wait six months so far on an item listed in the Lionel 2007 catalog, Super Streets by K-Line.

Lionel and MTH are not the only companies that make you wait, GarGraves does it too for some of their track items.

It would be nice if a company would offer a discount for making you wait longer than three months.  And like DMUinCT mentioned it is like a wishbook catalog, companies waiting for demand in order to be produced!!!

Lee F.

[Jumijo]

 

Hi, Philly.  Staying out of the hot sun?

Jim 

[phillyreading]

 

Hi, Philly.  Staying out of the hot sun?

Jim 

Yes Jimbo, I am trying to stay out of the sun here in south Florida. Friday I got soaked at work as Tropical Storm Barry drenched south Florida.

Going along with the rest of this post; I called the local hobby shop in Jupiter FL and was told I will have to wait until June 25 2007 to find out if my order from Lionel comes in or not.  The shop owner called Lionel and was told that Lionel is shipping some more stuff on June 20 2007, he will see what if anything comes in to his supplier by June 23 2007 and what the supplier has sent to him by June 25 2007.

After this experiance with pre-orders I will use Choo Choo auctions to buy stuff from, at least the stuff is made and being able to be shipped within a week to ten days after the auction listing closes.  Good stuff at reasonable prices and no waiting for production!!  www.choochooauctions.com

Lee F.