Hi,

If I'm wanting to buy anything that is a future release then it gets pre-ordered. With the limited runs that manufacturers do these days, you can't guarantee that you will be able to get a hold of the model otherwise.

Cheers, Mark.

Quote from: Vonzack on May 03, 2016, 03:43:30 PM
Hi,

If I'm wanting to buy anything that is a future release then it gets pre-ordered. With the limited runs that manufacturers do these days, you can't guarantee that you will be able to get a hold of the model otherwise.

Cheers, Mark.

Hi

Trouble is that doesn't always guarantee you'll actually get the model on release. Twice now I have lost my preordered model because of issues with my credit card neither of which was my fault. I contacted the shop within 10 minutes of receiving their email to be told that it was now sold out.

Cheers

Paul

Yeah, I've had problems too with pre-orders, I will tend to place orders when items are announced, so there may be several items on the order and they may be released at different times. I nearly got caught out with the Dapol TGSs as somehow my order had been set to be fulfilled when everything was in stock and there's now way that would have happened. Luckily I rang up to see where my order was and managed to get it sorted. I did have to buy the Blue Grey TGS from another supplier though, otherwise I would have missed that one.

It pays to stay up to date with what's being delivered and check that your order is going to be fulfilled.

Hi Graham, if you are ordering from Hornby then you have to place an order to have a better chance of actually receiving the items. If a particular item becomes popular then you take your chances of getting it from them. Same goes for Bachmann they too can sell out very quickly.
Have you considered ordering from A B Gee who sell in singles?

Quote from: Widnes Model Centre on May 03, 2016, 05:48:53 PM
Have you considered ordering from A B Gee who sell in singles?

You still have the same availability problems unfortunately. These days there is no guarantee of getting all or, unless you are a big player, most of your order for some items.

Personally I don't take pre-orders.
I don't want to disappoint customers if the item doesn't turn up when it is supposed to - or even at all.
I don't want to be left with a model that I have had delivered but the customer no longer wants.
I certainly don't want to tell customers that I've had to put the price up again on the model that they have been waiting for for a couple of years.

Quote from: Ian Morton on May 03, 2016, 09:43:58 PM

Quote from: Widnes Model Centre on May 03, 2016, 05:48:53 PM
Have you considered ordering from A B Gee who sell in singles?

You still have the same availability problems unfortunately. These days there is no guarantee of getting all or, unless you are a big player, most of your order for some items.

Personally I don't take pre-orders.
I don't want to disappoint customers if the item doesn't turn up when it is supposed to - or even at all.
I don't want to be left with a model that I have had delivered but the customer no longer wants.
I certainly don't want to tell customers that I've had to put the price up again on the model that they have been waiting for for a couple of years.

Hi Ian, you have put in all the points I considered inserting in my post but left for the OP to decide. I agree with you on every one.
Hornby Exeter springs to mind on the first point.
Customers who order and then change their mind can be very costly. Why is it always the loco's that you would never order for the shop?
We do pre-orders but with the caveat that we cannot guarantee any price until published by the manufacturers. We always advise customers that any prices they may see on other sites are at best guesses. We have certainly had this problem with the new Limited Edition Pullman which we stated would be a LOT more than the price guide on larger sites. The customer went along with our advice and was therefore happy when it came at at lot higher price than the "guesses". He has started to pay it off in installments.

Quote from: Widnes Model Centre on May 03, 2016, 05:48:53 PM
Hi Graham, if you are ordering from Hornby then you have to place an order to have a better chance of actually receiving the items. If a particular item becomes popular then you take your chances of getting it from them. Same goes for Bachmann they too can sell out very quickly.
Have you considered ordering from A B Gee who sell in singles?

I applied for an account with ABG once before but never got a reply.

Now I have a physical shop and not just an internet presence it may be worth contacting them again.

I'm wary of Pre-Orders becuse a little voice in my mind says that Hornby are more likley to let down the little guy than the big box shifters, but looking at their latest availability list it would seem that you have to have crystal ball and get ahead of the game anyway

Hi Graham,
Hornby would never put the big boys first 

There is a debate going on at the moment on RM Web as to whether it is Hornby selling off stock or Hattons, R of S and Kernow clearing their shelves and price matching sale items. Also put into the pot was the fact it could be AB Gee selling off their stock.

The sale items were never offered to other Retailers. They were sold by Hornby to those three retailers. I know because I asked the question of Hornby and that is what I was told. I am not a member on RM Web so cannot add this to the debate. I am still waiting for a written explanation as I suspect are others.

I had to look at your website to see Test Valley. I couldnt find out where you are located. I then saw a scrolling picture with your shop opening on Saturday and it was in PE11. Had to google PE11 to discover where you are. Can I suggest that of all the info on your home page you need your location and contact details. Good luck with your new shop. Better get some early nights in 

Quote from: Widnes Model Centre on May 03, 2016, 11:00:10 PM
Hi Graham,
Hornby would never put the big boys first 

There is a debate going on at the moment on RM Web as to whether it is Hornby selling off stock or Hattons, R of S and Kernow clearing their shelves and price matching sale items. Also put into the pot was the fact it could be AB Gee selling off their stock.

The sale items were never offered to other Retailers. They were sold by Hornby to those three retailers. I know because I asked the question of Hornby and that is what I was told. I am not a member on RM Web so cannot add this to the debate. I am still waiting for a written explanation as I suspect are others.

I had to look at your website to see Test Valley. I couldnt find out where you are located. I then saw a scrolling picture with your shop opening on Saturday and it was in PE11. Had to google PE11 to discover where you are. Can I suggest that of all the info on your home page you need your location and contact details. Good luck with your new shop. Better get some early nights in 

Now added to the footer so it appears on every page

PE11? SP11 surely...? 

Hi
I have never per-ordered anything --- even a new car. Certainly won't  ever for a model railway item as I have always thought the Farish and Dapol promised lists were just dreams. Now I do admit that some promises eventually come true and I have missed the odd popular item  but not because I did not pre-order but because I did not order quick enough when they were in stock.
I have registered an interest on some items and been e mailed with expected delivery dates (not often achieved) and in stock info from a well known retailer that offers this service.

The pr-order lists on web sites do let you know what might turn up eventually and of course they do provoke those dreams.  Ah!! ..... That Dapol West Country Pacific ........ Now that's a 4 years+ dream and the promise was it would be only one!!

Cheers

Mac

I've pre-ordered in the past as various new locos I've wanted (Dapol Pannier) have been likely to sell out before I can get one. However the time between announcements of new locos and their actual delivery has got so long now, I've been put off doing it. The manufactures seem to be using it more as a kickstarter type scheme to see if there's enough demand before actually committing designers to a project and if they're not honouring pre-order prices there's nothing in it for the customer other than a surprise credit card bill in 2-3 years time.

Quote from: njee20 on May 04, 2016, 05:31:01 PM
PE11? SP11 surely...? 

I did notice the typo 

Quote from: Graham Walters on May 04, 2016, 06:00:57 PM

Quote from: njee20 on May 04, 2016, 05:31:01 PM
PE11? SP11 surely...? 

I did notice the typo 

I didn't :PE isn't that Peterborough? Easy mistake as when I lived in Grately there were no Post Codes. We used to get mail addressed to to The House with the gravel drive, opposite the Plough pub, Grately, Nr Andover. Hants. Even just my name and Grately.The postie found us.

Quote from: Widnes Model Centre on May 04, 2016, 06:16:19 PM

Quote from: Graham Walters on May 04, 2016, 06:00:57 PM

Quote from: njee20 on May 04, 2016, 05:31:01 PM
PE11? SP11 surely...? 

I did notice the typo 

I didn't :PE isn't that Peterborough? Easy mistake as when I lived in Grately there were no Post Codes. We used to get mail addressed to to The House with the gravel drive, opposite the Plough pub, Grately, Nr Andover. Hants. Even just my name and Grately.The postie found us.

Sounds like Gerald to a T, he's been doing the Grately round since Adam was a boy