You're looking at it as if there was some minimum order requirement PER CUSTOMER. There was not. There is, like for any of the decorated schemes, a minumum TOTAL order requirement, but if anyoen ever has stated what that number is - it would be Rapido. Maybe not on all projects, but in some of their update videos, Jason has mentioned an approximate number of orders needed to make a prject a reality.
There are two choices - make enough to sell at the announced price, or if fewer people order, make it anyway and jack the price up.
I don't see anything wrong here, other than disappointment. But it's hardly Rapido's fault not enough people wanted to buy an undecorated model from them. I guess not enough people are into the "modeling" aspect these days.
As for the car analogy - car companies kill off options or color combos all the time when they don't sell. Oh, you wanted the Azure Blue? Sorry, not available, out of all the cars of this model we sold, les than .1% were ordered in that color, so we stopped making them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
mlehmanIt's not about minimum order quantity with Rapido when this happens. Rather it's about large enough run to be economically viable. It may be that number was as low as six. perhaps it was more. There could have been one other person who wanted a single PA and the minimum is a dozen, too. The fact that Rapido is willing to go to these lengths to satsify the needs of modelers doesn't always mean these things work out. I know Jason at Rapido regularly announces new locos and the versions he'd like to build, if enough order come in to make specific marginal roadnames (I would include undecs in that categtory these days), Rapido will gladly do it. The UPs and Pennsylvanias, etc generally get included in runs because demand will require it. But ecionomic realizties mean they really can't build runs as small as one, which may be what happened with the undec PAs
I know Jason at Rapido regularly announces new locos and the versions he'd like to build, if enough order come in to make specific marginal roadnames (I would include undecs in that categtory these days), Rapido will gladly do it. The UPs and Pennsylvanias, etc generally get included in runs because demand will require it. But ecionomic realizties mean they really can't build runs as small as one, which may be what happened with the undec PAs
As much as people disagree about some things, Mike points out the fundemental issues or realities here. Rapido is a business and Jason doesn't want to offer products in cases that may represent red ink.
Jason is a fair and decent guy and well, if he can't make a fair deal in this case, then them's the apples. I know Rapido isn't perfect but I admire the company and the products they offer. I am only disappointed they offer mostly products I don't need, products that are primarily aimed at the Canadian and northeast US. When Rapido does offer something I want, I plan on patronizing them. Examples: Flexi-flow hopper, Amtrak F40PH's, SW1200 etc.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
As I view the Rapido web site this morning, it mentions undecorated PA/PB sets but unlike the decorated road names, there is no pricing info or "Pre-order" button to click on.
Rich
Alton Junction
mlehman I think this requires somewhat less rigid thinking than in the past, although I can see your point, too. I think this was likely a case where Rapido was going to build , for example, 240 units total and offered a variety of roadnmaes. Depending on the quantities ultimately ordered, it may have been that one or more names were over subscribed. In other words, Rapido knows it can make and sell all those units. The factory process may be that minimum runs of a specifid name must be a specific size in order to cover set-up costs, Thus when Kevin wants a single undec, that will mean Rapido may ewns up aetting on 5 undec units untol someone buys them in a year or two. That's not a good business practice either, esepcially for an item like a PA that is likely to see re-runs. Maybe Kevin finds some others wanting undecs or finds he actually does need a gaggle of them. That's a lot to compact into fine print. iof you think it needs explained in marketing copy. Based on past experience with these annoucements, I'm sure there was some statement included to the effect that actual production dpeneds on pre-orders. And there's likely no way to tell in advance exactly how large a pre-order needs to be to be viabls.
I think this requires somewhat less rigid thinking than in the past, although I can see your point, too.
I think this was likely a case where Rapido was going to build , for example, 240 units total and offered a variety of roadnmaes. Depending on the quantities ultimately ordered, it may have been that one or more names were over subscribed. In other words, Rapido knows it can make and sell all those units.
The factory process may be that minimum runs of a specifid name must be a specific size in order to cover set-up costs,
Thus when Kevin wants a single undec, that will mean Rapido may ewns up aetting on 5 undec units untol someone buys them in a year or two. That's not a good business practice either, esepcially for an item like a PA that is likely to see re-runs. Maybe Kevin finds some others wanting undecs or finds he actually does need a gaggle of them.
That's a lot to compact into fine print. iof you think it needs explained in marketing copy.
Based on past experience with these annoucements, I'm sure there was some statement included to the effect that actual production dpeneds on pre-orders.
And there's likely no way to tell in advance exactly how large a pre-order needs to be to be viabls.
Again, I have to disagree. Only fools and model railroaders apparently honor a business practice like this. If your car dealer tells you that you can get the car of your choice in the color of your choice only if you order 6 of them, well, I´ll bet you will change the brand!
Let´s rest the case here! I don´t think we will come to an agreement.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
I think this requires somewhat less rigid thinking than in the past, al;though I can see your point, too.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike, I kindly disagree.
If Rapido advertises an undecorated version to be available at some point in time, they need to tell the customer about a minimum order quantity for this item, if they don´t intend to sell them piece by piece. If runs less than 6 are economically not viable, why advertise them at all?
Good business practice is something else.
Ulrich,
I have to disagree. Kevin's inquiry yielded a personal reply about how to make this happen with the PA/PB loco (and I suspect the same with the NP car.)
The reality is that Kevin was probably one of at best a handful of modelers on the planet, maybe even the only one, who wanted an undec PA. Rapido advised how to make that happen, instead of just announcing a cancellation.
It's not about minimum order quantity with Rapido when this happens. Rather it's about large enough run to be economically viable. It may be that number was as low as six. perhaps it was more. There could have been one other person who wanted a single PA and the minimum is a dozen, too.
The fact that Rapido is willing to go to these lengths to satsify the needs of modelers doesn't always mean these things work out. I know Jason at Rapido regularly announces new locos and the versions he'd like to build, if enough order come in to make specific marginal roadnames (I would include undecs in that categtory these days), Rapido will gladly do it. The UPs and Pennsylvanias, etc generally get included in runs because demand will require it. But ecionomic realizties mean they really can't build runs as small as one, which may be what happened with the undec PAs.
I find Rapido´s homepage misleading in this instance. A minimum order quantity is nowhere mentioned.
Not very customer friendly.
I placed my reservation for a set of Alco PA2/PB2 locomotives, undecorated, directly with Rapido trains a few weeks ago.
They finally made something I wanted, and I was excited to add these to my roster.
Today they sent me an email saying that if I really wanted the models undecorated, I would need to order six of them. Well, I have no use for six, and I never will.
I cancelled the reservation. I guess the STRATTON AND GILLETTE will never have a Rapido locomotive.
They did the same thing on the NORTHERN PACIFIC undecorated boxcars and required me to order four of those.
-Kevin
Living the dream.