Train Addiction Help Line: 1.866.840.7777

Aug 24, 2016 - HO Scale

PWRS - Bearer of Bad News!

Dear Customers:
     There is nothing that upsets a model railroader more than finding out that the car or loco he has been waiting for for years is now sold out and he can't order it.  I understand that feeling as it has happened to me in the past.
     What I had to learn is that "business as usual" is not business the way it was done six or seven years ago.
    Why not you ask?  In the past, the manufacturer would guesstimate how many units of a particular product to manufacture, then manufacture them and put  them on the warehouse shelf and hoping and praying they would all sell within a reasonable time.
     Over the past few years most manufacturers have transitioned to "Building to Order" plus a percentage extra for the shelf.  This means they manufacture only that quantity which has been pre-ordered by the "Drop Dead Order Date" (DDOD) plus a small amount extra to cover any  damaged items and some of the orders that might come in between the DDOD and the arrival of the product 5 - 10 months later.
      Well now, we are in an economic recession and our manufacturers really can not afford to do business as it used to be.  Today, during these tough economic times most manufacturers are only "Building to Order".  This means they will manufacture only that quantity which has been pre-ordered by the "Drop Dead Order Date" (DDOD). With little or in most cases no extra units for last minute customers.
     What does this mean to us model railroaders?  Simply - place our order before the DDOD or hope it shows up on Ebay at an inflated price.  Oh! By the way that also means the your local train store is not going to stock that locomotive on the outside chance you "might" order it.   Hey! After all the model train store owner can't afford to have dead stock sitting around during this recession.
    Sorry to be the bearer of this news.  We don't control the industry but merely report it to you. Is it not better to know now when you can still place the order than crying the blues when it is to late? So please use your PORTERS account to order on time. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT HAVE A PORTERS ACCOUNT: e mail or give us a call and we will be happy to set you up. There is no charge or obligation to buy.

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