c55

[Nilmadic]

I am surprised to see that email from Mr. Millenbach, as when I was in China in October, the factory told us that the schedule for Code 55 shipments was going to be March and April, meaning it would arrive in the US in April and May.  Now that the factories have returned from the Lunar New Year holidays, we are trying to update the schedule.  This time of year is always chaotic in China as it is not uncommon for a factory to lose from 1/3 to 1/2 of their workers after the holiday break.

I will try to keep you posted as we get information.

Hey Paul, Thanks for the reply! It's very cool of you to weigh in on the topic. My intent, although it may not seem that way at times, is not to harass you guys, merely letting off steam. I have to remind myself sometimes this is not a place for that. Apologies to all for not keeping myself in check.

I have no doubt that everyone at Atlas is working hard to get the products on the shelves, and we all appreciate that.

[C855B]

That seems odd to me... Were they fired, killed, eaten, imprisoned, ... ?

Serious answer - they go home to visit family over the extended holiday and then stay. Many, maybe most Chinese factory workers are migrants from rural areas. They go to the cities with the factories to earn hard currency, and either earn enough for the moment or find being away too much of a hardship.

[The Beer Baron]

Now that the factories have returned from the Lunar New Year holidays, we are trying to update the schedule.  This time of year is always chaotic in China as it is not uncommon for a factory to lose from 1/3 to 1/2 of their workers after the holiday break.

That seems odd to me... Were they fired, killed, eaten, imprisoned, ... ?

Try hungover Cody. New Year celebrations tend to have that effect on people.

[tom mann]

You do realize that this isn't the Atlas forum, and that Atlas employees don't use this as an official communication means, right?

...I will try to keep you posted as we get information.

Ed:  maybe this is the Atlas Forum now?

[VonRyan]

Try hungover Cody. New Year celebrations tend to have that effect on people.

I would expect that but at a "loss" of 1/3 to 1/2, i doubt that it's just a hangover. Paul makes it out to sound like they just up and quit.

-Cody F.

[Zox]

I would expect that but at a "loss" of 1/3 to 1/2, i doubt that it's just a hangover. Paul makes it out to sound like they just up and quit.

That's pretty nearly what they do. China's hinterlands are big enough that it can take someone a week or so to get home from their job, and another week or so to return, not counting the time they actually spend with their families.

Imagine if Thanksgiving was the only holiday you got every year, and your family lived 300 miles east of Perth (or 300 miles north of Montreal, for those of you who actually live near Perth)... 

[VonRyan]

That's pretty nearly what they do. China's hinterlands are big enough that it can take someone a week or so to get home from their job, and another week or so to return, not counting the time they actually spend with their families.

Imagine if Thanksgiving was the only holiday you got every year, and your family lived 300 miles east of Perth (or 300 miles north of Montreal, for those of you who actually live near Perth)... 

True. I forgot to figure in the fact that a lot of China's factories have the whole "company town" thing.

-Cody F.

[Erik W]

Ed:  maybe this is the Atlas Forum now?

Oh man.     Don't even joke about that . . .

Erik

[peteski]

Oh man.     Don't even joke about that . . .

Erik

Too late! You let us in! 

[eric220]

Oh man.     Don't even joke about that . . .

Erik

 

[sizemore]

Too late! You let us in! 

Go back!


The S.

[peteski]

Go back!


The S.

I wish I could!   
But seriously, I often do go back as there is lots of very useful info archived in the locked forums. I hope that Atlas keeps it online.

[fifer]

They have been a Model Railroad staple for decades and they (Atlas) are certainly in a financial struggle as well.
As much as it hurts I think we just need to be patient and hope they can pull through this disaster.
 
IMHO

Mike

[unittrain]

I use ME code 55 on my whole layout except for switches which are Atlas.

[mcjaco]

Let's all repeat:

This is a hobby.  Take a deep breath.  Track shortages mean very little in the scheme of things.  It will come to pass.