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PCM Union Pacific TTT 6/7 2-10-2
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[quote user="Daniel1975"][quote user="Safety Valve"] <p>Let this be a lesson to engine makers. Announce and then MAKE the engine.</p><p>I see Athearn Genesis, Atlas, Kato and (Proto) Walthers merrily moving along making engine after engine.</p><p>If they dont want to make an engine then at least update the website and scrap the information and put a note saying "Sorry we dont feel that there is a demand" Maybe then they will get buried in demand by motivated buyers who has quietly waiting for that pre-order that may never come.</p><p>Some of you people pre order everything in sight without regard to financial arrangements. There are some who work with wages that are not quite supportive of this activity and must choose one or several locomotives a year like I do and cannot enjoy the luxury of just telling the Local Hobby Shop... pre-order this for me will ya?</p><p>2 years later that UPS truck drops off the boxes and they call you up saying your 5 pre-orders just came in, will you pick them up.. the total is 1500- or whatever. I believe one order I heard of on these forums where someone actually passed on (Died.) leaving the LHS owner holding the bag.</p><p>Some of those engines cannot be accepted back once they get out of the factory with some producers.</p><p>[/quote]</p><p> </p><p>Announce and then make the engine? That is a sure way to bankruptcy... you can't simply announce everything and make it in large quantities (to cover the cost of production) without first testing the market! Base the demand on pre-orders is a sure thing and will guarantee the sale. </p><p>I think you are lifting Athearn Genesis, Kato, Atlas to far up on the Olymp; they really haven't announced much new engines but mostly re-runs. I mean where is the Genesis MP15AC? According to your philosophy that model should be out for a long time already!</p><p>Yes, I do pre-order a lot of stuff and actually I'm counting on some delays. There will be some very expensive months ahead but I already save money for that and I will get me the models I've pre-ordered. Of course something can happen (knock on wood) but that really is not my problem and I'm sure the stores where I order from could survive that.</p><p>I'm sorry that you can't afford everything you want but should I feel bad now and cancel some of my orders only because not everyone can afford the same stuff? I can't afford a Ferrari but I'm happy for everyone who does... no reason to be jealous! </p><p>[/quote]</p><p>No jealousy here.</p><p>The stores sometimes order items and they get left on the shelf by the customer. These items cannot be returned in some cases. That leaves the store putting a price tag on it and wait until someone buys it. That is not being a good customer.</p><p>Alot of the hobby has been driven by deadlines for rolling stock, engines etc. If your order is not in by a date, you will probably not get the item. In fact, BLI is increasingly stressing that products are made to order.</p><p>FDT comes along and screws up everything, bypassing and nuetering the distributors, hobby shops and other pricing. One does not need to pre order anything. Simply wait a year and get the item at half price MSRP. Heck, I might just buy TWO engines then.</p><p>Athearn and the other manufactors deserved to be praised for thier consistent service. I dont have any where NEAR the issues with them as I do with BLI or PCM. Yes I missed out on a few engines but boo hoo, I did not know about them until the deadline has passed. No worries, I managed to find a few on ebay.</p><p>I ordered some Covered Hoppers from Athearn about 5 months ago. They say it should be about Janurary or Feb when they will be released. Precisely about that time an email arrives from the LHS stating that my special order has arrived.</p><p>BLI's engines I have three that I am waiting on. I have been assured that they will arrive at the LHS at some point in the future DESPITE FDT's new appearance because these engines have been on order for about 9 to 12 months now. They are a pair of NW switchers and a light mike.</p><p>There is no possible test of the market. Witness the Big Boy. Everyone and thier kin makes a copy of the Big Boy in HO scale. Has been that way for a LONG time. The market is LOADED with BIG BOYS.</p><p>Now is the time to get engines that have never been made in plastic thier fair day in the sun. If it can be made and imported in brass, they should stamp a few copies out in plastic or the so called hybrid. There is always a core group that will buy an engine. A few hundred? A few thousand? As long your X cost is less than what you actually sell the copies for you are making a profit.</p><p>I was intrigued by the PCM UP TTT Mountain, NYC's Mowhawks, and other engines that are coming out or due to come out they have been the subject of lively discussion on these forums. Even the Blue Line series starting with the SD-40 has been accepted.</p><p>My position is this. They announce an engine and then go on to produce very expensive Brass engines which apparently has the focus of the company. Never mind the few that does not have permission to actually be built at the factory despite being announced 6 months, one year or even close to TWO years ago.</p><p>In the mean time we learn from others that BLI has gone through changes, people changes, selling changes distribution changes etc etc etc.</p><p>I hope that pre-order eventually arrives that is somewhat close to what I thought I was ordering way back when. If not? I'll find someone else's engine to cover the missing roster gap.</p><p>I am also pondering generating a budget with a montly cash set aside to go ahead and buy Brass engines because the ones I am looking at including the WM Potomac 4-8-4 and the B&O Bay Window Caboose in the Wagontop configuation is availible RTR in brass, painted and assembled no less.</p><p>It will cost me roughtly twice what I pay for these overdue, late and possible not produced plastic engines. It will save me the trouble of waiting.</p>
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