N Pre-orders Re-visited

[Philip H]

I didn't preorder the baggage car because I don't run old fashioned passenger trains. Now I see a similar car in MOW use . . . And don't have the coin to buy one. That's not anyone's fault except mine . . .

[muktown128]

I'll pre-order or place a reservation for something if I really want it and don't want to miss out.  In some cases, when it is finally released I can find it cheaper.  BLI hoppers are a good example.  Sometimes I miss out if I don't reserve.  The first run of the ESM well car is a good example.  I understand why and have adjusted.  Live and learn.

Scott

[coosvalley]

I have never pre-ordered anything, and I doubt I ever will....I have not had a problem finding anything I wanted.....Make it and I will buy it, unless it has issues.....

[davefoxx]

I've never preordered anything either, as (1) my LHS (MBK) doesn't take preorders, and (2) MBK is good about ordering enough inventory that I generally get what I'm seeking.  I don't recall missing out on something that I ever had to have.  I also don't mind stalking the site every day or so to check for new releases.

I will admit that Intermountain has cancelled a few projects that I would have liked to have seen, e.g., FP7/F7 decorated for the Seaboard System, but, let's face it, I'm sure that a preorder by me wouldn't have made any difference on those going to production.

DFF

[thomasjmdavis]

I do have preorders in on a few things I don't want to miss out on, but most frequently, and this would be the case with the Rapido baggage cars, I put in for an email notification from MBK.  Over the years, I've bought most of what I was notified about, which I imagine they track, although I don't know it for a fact. That way, when they notify me it is in, I can buy it or not, depending on my current finances, and can add to the order, so I don't get stuck with a $7 or $10 shipping fee on one item, which has happened to me on some "pre-orders."

I am not a fan of pre-orders, I think that they present several issues at the manufacturer/distributor end that the producers are not taking into account.  Chief among those is that a manufacturer is tempted to list too many options.  Let's say they take pre-orders on an F7, and list 20 road names.  Only 8 roadnames make it over the "magic number" and get produced.  Anyone who ordered other road names sees their order cancelled.  But they won't get their second choice (one of the 8 roadnames that were produced), because those were "made to order" and are already spoken for.  So, the manufacturer has lost sales.

My original, pre-edit, post contained what I had hoped would be taken as advice on how best to market to modelers like me.  Unfortunately, I did not word it well enough, and from the response was not taken as I had intended it, so I have edited it out.  It was not my intention to "flame" Rapido, I own a number of their cars, and they make a high quality product.  I will leave their marketing to them.

[Puddington]

I don't want to engage in a flame war about "Jason's HO comment" so I'll say my piece and shut up.  We try and communicate openly and honestly and we feel that we do a pretty good job. How many times have I seen rants here on TRW about how some companies put the "cone of silence" down when it comes to updating the status of projects and products become vapourware for months/years on end with no information given to the modelling community? I've seen it frequently. We choose to go the other way; we have a almost monthly newsletter and we publically talk about status, screw ups, victories, defeats, rumours and everything else under the sun.... often in a humourous and silly manner.... and that puts some people off.... there are a very small cadre of modellers who have had a their sense of humour surgically removed - sorry; I am no sympathy for them if they don't like us having fun.

Now; while we try and be open and honest we are not stupid; we're not going to reveal sensitive business information like costs, factory minimums, production details..... for what its worth there are again a small group of n scale commentators who think they have the inside track on stuff like costs and the like; you'd be surprised the number of times those of us in the industry smile at their inaccurate or out of date commentary. Ford doesn't tell you how much your new car costs, why should your model train supplier? So; Jason used an HO comparison to try and add perspective....

Please let me be clear: He wasn't slagging, looking down upon, making fun of, hating, bullying, being critical of, showing disrespect of/for, making a mockery of or in any way, shape or form, being negative about N scale..... It was simply a random point of comparison.... nothing more..... really....

I have never been someone who felt compelled to defend N vs. HO - some people are quite obviously sensitive to any reference to HO when it is being used in any way to compare to N scale. Personally I don't get it but ok; different strokes for different folks. For the record Jason doesn't hate N scale; he's an HO modeller but he admires all scale modelling (Hey; he's been more than complimentary in public about the new layout my son and I are building and is looking forward to operating on it) If he had an issue with N scale then way would he have entered the N scale market eight years ago? Why put the capital in? Why hire an N scaler like me? He's not against N scale, he was just tring to give a simple comparison.

Ok; that's it from me. This was my personal response, not on behalf of Rapido and I'll stand  by it. I'm proud of our attempts to communicate; enjoy the humour and want to see us be able to make more N scale products as we move forward - we'll make the baggage car as soon as we can; and we'll keep telling everyone how the sales efforts are coming..... if that offends you; I guess we'll all just have to live with that unfortunate fact but from my personal perspective, try getting over the HO envy and enjoy this Golden age of N scale..... 'cause it's never been better for us N guys!

That's it from me.

[jjb62556]

AMEN!

[rrjim1]

...unless the time from preorder to production is so long that in the meantime your credit card expires, and you move too.  Then you can wait for it forever and the item you wanted so much never arrives.  It has happened....
 

You need to pick a better shop to pre-order from, the ones I pre-order from will sends an email if your C.C. has expired. I don't sit around worrying/waiting for an item, if it gets released, fine, it's not the end of the world. If one moves then you should know enough to update all your information with any place you use your C.C.     

[djconway]

I have 9 items on pre-order and am getting sick and tired of waiting for years for products that most likely never reach my LHS. 
BLI has seen my LA ST pre-order as much as I  want the M1 I will not pre-order another pair.  8 plus years is too long to tie up my money.
IM and their PRR F7's reserved when announced 2+ years ago, and all I am hearing is they are re-engineering the frames,  that should have been done before they wear announced. And by the way where are the PRR F9's announced in 2008?  Makes me wonder why i'm still in this hobby or at least in N scale.

Yes I want some things, but if I'm going to have to wait I might as well wait for it to show up in the used market.

[CNscale]

The baggage car looks really good and I'm tempted, but I missed out on the coaches (my fault -- just wasn't thinking about passenger operations back then) and I don't see much point in having a baggage car without at least a couple of coaches to go with it.

The only item I've ever pre-ordered was Rapido's GMD-1, and the price spiked just before delivery. I'm not complaining, they're great locomotives, but I probably would have ordered fewer had I known what the final price would be. Based on that experience, I'm more inclined now to wait until a model actually exists and then decide how many I can afford. If I miss out, tough luck -- I've still got other toys to play with.

[Chris333]

and I don't see much point in having a baggage car without at least a couple of coaches to go with it.

 

[Chris333]

One item I never thought would sell out so soon. Bluford corn fields. 

[craigolio1]

A hobby store will plan to put "X" amount on their shelves.  They will take pre-orders as well, numbering "Y".  Their total order is X+Y.  If there are no pre-orders and the manufacturer still makes the product, availability will still be "X".  They won't order even more in hopes we'll be wooed into the store.  If after some time, the "X" models don't sell they will be discounted and sold for less to free up money and shelf space for more new stock.  Or they will not be discounted and they will sit there until they rot.

If you want it immediately upon release, and want this availability guaranteed, pre-order.  If you want it upon release and don't need a guarantee, go to the LHS or hit the web when it comes out.  If you want it for a bargain basement price, wait for it to go clearance if they are still around.

I don't understand how people can expect to get a discount off of MSRP the day a product comes out.  Why?  As a small business owner this blows my mind.  Sure sure stores will sell for a little less and this is why we shop around, but to expect a massive discount for ordering ahead of time?  Sure maybe the manufacturer makes their profit.  Likely not as much as you think.  The LHS takes bath though, and then they close and you are left with nothing but e-tailers.  If I can't afford a model, or a number of models I don't pre-order, if I can then I do. 

Margins are so tight, people demand such high quality now, with out the guarantee of some purchases I doubt any models would come to market.  There is too much risk.  These companies, the manufacturers, the wholesalers, the LHS, all do this to make money.  Just like we go to work everyday to make money.  To expect them to give product away is silly.

Craig

[nickelplate759]

I usually pre-order with my local hobby shop, and they do offer a modest discount for pre-orders.   I try and only preorder things I know  I will want.   The only major (and expen$ive) disappointment was the ConCor Aerotrain - a nice effort, but in the end not quite good enough to be worth the price.

As for the Rapido baggage car - for me it's just the unusual (if you don't model Canada) prototype that keeps me from ordering one.
I am hoping for the 6-wheel trucks as a separate part though!

Regards,
George

[Puddington]

I am hoping for the 6-wheel trucks as a separate part though!

Regards,
George

They most certainly will be George, as will all our trucks and metal wheel sets very soon.