Didn't need to pre-order

The need for pre-order is not just price based, its more to insure you get the item you want in this new age of "Build to Order".

I agree that getting an added discount is nice, but not guaranteed

I've found that pre-ordering is a mixed bag.

Many times I received my orders with no issues, and was happy, but:

In two cases over the years I pre-ordered as soon as catalog received and received email confirmation.  Months to a year later, when following up,  I was told "sold out".  In a 3rd case when following up I was told that the price is now higher than the pre-order confirmed price if I still wanted the product.

I've learned that, if I was patient and didn't pre-order, I'd sometimes find what I wanted six or so months later at the same or lower price. After pre-ordering and receiving items, I'd sometimes see a number of them at "close out" or "blow out" prices (what is the difference?) at York, other large shows, or even in magazine ads. I ain't rich and found this frustrating to say the least.

I no longer pre order, but mostly because, over the years my tastes have changed. I found that I prefer post-war and sold many of my "modern" trains to make room for them.

This is an interesting topic. I have enjoyed pre-order because 1.) I know I will get the item, 2.) The price is better -- but, you guys are right, you can usually shop after the items are released and get the same price or sometimes less, 3.) the item is sealed in a new box.  The last point is probably what I like best.  I sometimes buy new from my LHS on impulse and the item has been shown and it feels used.  That may sound irrational but these are expensive toys and I like the sealed new feel like a brand new car when you first sit in it.

@IRON HORSE posted:

This is an interesting topic. I have enjoyed pre-order because 1.) I know I will get the item, 2.) The price is better -- but, you guys are right, you can usually shop after the items are released and get the same price or sometimes less, 3.) the item is sealed in a new box.  The last point is probably what I like best.  I sometimes buy new from my LHS on impulse and the item has been shown and it feels used.  That may sound irrational but these are expensive toys and I like the sealed new feel like a brand new car when you first sit in it.

Was at a store one time and a customer had 3 MTH A-B-A sets open on the counter and was looking for the best A or B units out of each box to put into his purchase. 😂 I heard the store owner found out and to his credit said "Don't ever do that again!" to his staff.👍

Bobby D,

That's a great story and a good point.  Every store owner I've met in this hobby has been great.  I once bought  a brand new engine and the owner pulled the box out of the back room.  I brought it home and found the manual was missing.  The next time I was there I asked him for it and he couldn't find it.  He said I could download it from MTH.  It no longer had that fresh new car smell in my mind.  But I got over it.   And it is certainly credible when a hobby shop tells you it is brand new even though it has run some loops on their track for demonstration purposes or whatnot.

I have purchased a good amount from Ro and always thought it was their MO/policy to hold pre order price until an items sells out. They don’t charge for the item until it ships.  I have missed out on things by not preordering. Now I tend to preorder if I think it will be a hot item.

That's why its important to build a good relationship with your dealer.  I live on Long Island, NY and am lucky to have a couple of large dealers to deal with on a regular basis.  I always get what I pre-order even if the item is hard to find.

I've only had one issue with a pre-order.  That was with the recent MTH 64' Woodsided passenger car sets.  I preordered all 3 item numbers.  I noticed that they started appearing at dealers and were selling out quickly.  After a couple of weeks I contacted the dealer and inquired about my order.  He said they would not be able to fulfil it.  I scrambled and order the 3 items from different dealers.

I also preordered the soon-to-be-released latest version of MTH's 4-4-0 engine.  I feel these items are probably being made in very limited quantities and will sell out quickly.  Maybe you can find one down the road in the secondary market, but I don't want to take the chance.  I'm currently on the hunt for 2 items in the 2015 catalog and I have yet to find them.

I've never regretted a preorder.

If preordering isn't your cup of tea, don't do it.  I know it is aggravating waiting for months (years!) on a preordered item.

@CAPPilot posted:

Charles Ro just sent out a flyer with new arrivals from Lionel.  I noticed they are charging the same price for the 21" passenger cars as the pre-order price I paid back in Jul.  Anyone else see the same thing for the items they per-ordered?

Did you order this online? I would go back and check the order to see what you were going to pay at the time of the order to verify that you were going to be getting a better preorder price. If the price on your order agrees with Ro’s flyer, you weren’t getting a preorder discount. I purchased the UP excursion two packs and there wasn’t any preorder discount.