Read the trainorders discussion below before you think the Daylight train is really in production.
They need more orders. This is a problem since most of the dealers are not giving reservations to BLI/PCM. Blowout sales are now causing problems.
That doesn’t surprise me at all. A manufacturer can’t continually sell directly for the same price they charge their dealers and expect to continue getting orders. Then BLI really shot themselves in the foot by over producing the CZ cars.
I personally had not yet decided if I was going to get a Daylight train or not. I will probably have to see one.
I like the daylight train and would purchase several of the cars if they had the later lettering. PCM has advertised the early 1941 train and displayed the small Souther Pacific Lines, which is era dated from 1941 to 46.
They published a great book with great pictures and details, but were just fishing to see if they could get the orders. I hope they actually get the orders and make the train.
It’s my understanding that Broadway Limited and Precison Craft have changed their marketing strategy and have decided to produce only pre-ordered items.
Broadway Limited’s full-page advertisement in the April 2007 issue of Model Railroader magazine about their BlueLine products states, “BlueLine products are built based on pre-orders. We request that you place a pre-order with your favorite hobby dealer for your BlueLine locomotive. This helps us to gauge production quantities and to deliver the product in a more timely manner.”
I think this new policy applies to BLI and PCM overall, and not just the BlueLine.
This will be another case where people want the models but do not make any pre-orders; then when they get delayed and delayed they get angry!
I have both put in my orders for the PCM Steam & Diesel Daylight locos and also for the cars (both trains).
However unlike the poster in the trainorders forum I didn’t have to pre-pay my orders… there are enough dealers out there accepting a pre-order without any financial obligation.
Maybe you have noticed back in November/December they had a little ad on the PCM website stating that a later date Daylight will be announced soon… I simply guess now that this announcement will be delayed together with the already announced models.
So, PCM wants to do more Daylight cars from different years but they simply need enough orders to get the thing started to begin with… I only hope enough modelers will put in orders and simply skip those dealers who are not willing to deal with BLI/PCM.
Thanks for the update on the later version. I missed that detail but that is the only version I would want. I already have several GS4’s and GS5’s so the proper cars are needed to replace the Athearn Daylight so called cars.
After the latest blow out of models that did not sell, I agree with you that most all of their next models will have to be reserved ahead of time. The Dealers that are holding back their orders have caused this reserve numbers problem to be more critical now than ever before.
The BLI Zephyr cars were so successful for them, they imported too many of those also.
I’m not the kind of person to pre spend money on something that might be produced someday.
Having been in retail for many years, I understand the concept they present. This is a fickle hobby and I have seen locos and RS boxes that are shelf worn at the LHS. I also understand that not everyone out there who is in MRR want the same stock.
I’ve seen their ads. They seem vague on when I can actually hold it in my hands. That makes me far less inclined to even bother. Someone else may manufature it sometime with more accurate dates of issuance. If there aren’t enough orders, they wont bother. But, it costs a lot to manufacture items that won’t sell.
Pre-orders are fine IF there is no monetary outlay required. I refuse to pay for something that may be produced “sometime this year”, or perhaps “well, maybe next year”. If I don’t like the final product when I see it, I also reserve the right to not purchase at all. There have been threads about a web-retailer who charges up front and is not good on delivering the goods that are manufactured and available.
People may get angry when it’s delayed, but the manufacturer needs to issue a “due date”–and stick to that date. It can offer a “make-up” date or additional “final order date” for the later comers or undesiders.
I for one like to see what I’m getting, before I pay for it. A pretty picture doesn’t help. I know pictures are staged, airbrushed, enhanced, magnified, orientated and such to make it as “drooling”, "captivating&
I pre-ordered a Daylight PA/PB/PA set with sound and DCC from PCM. Originally it was supposed to be released last October, and now they (PCM) are saying May. Every month, the delivery date is getting pushed back, and it has been frustrating. I am beginning to wonder if, as stated above, they aren’t now waiting for enough advanced reservations before production is started for the PAs.
No, from what they told me a few days ago the PAs are already in production and he then said late April… now it’s May and I also hope they will hold that date.
Still it’s not 100% certain and if they delay it again I don’t care… I will get them when they are released.
That is too bad, because they will lose all my business. Everytime I have pre-ordered something I’ve gotten burned … badly.
Thanks for the update. I was going to give them a shout myself pretty quick, but that saves me a call. It is great to hear that they are in production. I am REALLY looking forward to getting my hands on them. They will look great heading up my Sunset Limited.
I am glad to hear the PA’s are in production and not just a TBD like the Daylight train and GS4.
I read the FA sets sounded good, but have not heard them. The PA’s will probably have the same sound as the FA’s.
Does anyone have the FA units so you can comment on the sound??
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Hmmm, from what I’ve been reading here, my neat Balboa GS-4 will have to just make do with those Athearn “Daylight” painted cars.
Too bad, too. Was hoping that I could get a Daylight train worthy of the locomotive.
Oh, well–
Tom
Folks what ever happened to good old waiting for the item to hit the street?
The required pre-orders and following blow out pricing by FDT and others really shoots the hobby in the foot BAAAAD. No one knows if the item is going to be made and if they do they wont open up big mouth about it and render the advertising money in-effective. Imagine knowing everything about a product before the next Issue of MR hits your mailbox… ho,… humm,.
Being an N scale type, I have waited patiently for the H3a hoppers that were offered at the same time as the Pennsy M1’s. Both are sill TBD. I have since cancelled my preorder for the 8 sets of hoppers that were offered in N&W.
The initial excuse of a delay offered was that they changed factories, but now they say there are not enough preorders. My question is: which excuse was the lie??? I do not need anymore Sunshine piped up my butt. The $1000.00 that I committed were held back in the event that these models were produced. When I commit to purchase, I reserve the funds to cover said commitment. I believe that a deal is a deal, but if you change the major details (such as delivery date), then all parties are open to the same latitude in changing the transaction details (such as weather you do business or not)
With the freed up funds, I purchased an Athearn Challenger, a pair of Atlas H15/44’s and a bunch of BLW special run 33’ hoppers.
I have patience for any honest manufacturer, but will not deal with a pack of liars! We are not talking about our livelyhood here, it’s just a hobby. For those that make their livelyhood based on our hobby take heed; The smoke you blow up my backside may backfire and I guarantee delivery!
Bob
I did get me the UP FAs and they really sound extremely well. Of course I never saw FAs live but from all my sound-models this is one of the best.
I also borrowed from a friend the Lok-programmer and it’s incredibly easy and very fun to play around and changing sound…etc.
That’s why I really look forward to my UP,SP, Santa Fe & Rio Grande PAs… [:)]
With all these experts on how to start up and operate a successful model railroad business I am more than somewhat surprised there are not more companies in this arena.
Good grief.