Do you get put off when seasonal trains don't show up for the season?

Items showing up after the season really hurts your LHS. I had several Christmas (2010) items preordered that didn't arrive until late January.

Disappointed, yes. Put off, no. A lot of times you will see these items blow-out priced. Just go ahead and get them and run-em next year.

My $0.02

Gilly

Yes, that happened to me last Christmas season. I still purchased the items, but it was kind of disappointing to see them arrive early this year--way off schedule.

Fortunately, there's another Christmas to look forward to, God willing!

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Yes, that happened to me last Christmas season. I still purchased the items, but it was kind of disappointing to see them arrive early this year--way off schedule.

Come on Allan...they were way early for this year! Not late for last year. It's all in how you look at it.

got lucky chris that all my christmas stuff arrived last year before the holiday (then got returned for quality issues, different story though) but for most it was not a great season. LHS got in most of the product in January and just stored it for the year.

I was lucky for my Halloween items, bought them at York in October, at least I could run them for a week.

Big agree here, holiday items need to be out early

Its always some Holiday season in ratville....

Remember the famous words of Ralph Kramden..Alice when your muther said she was coming for the holidays...I didn't know she was coming for New Years then staying till Christmas.....

Its almost expected...you miss this Halloween then we are on time on schedule for 2012.

rat

The only circumstance that would upset me is if the train was dated - for example, if I ordered a boxcar that had "Christmas 2011" printed on it, I would be upset if it showed up in January 2012.

As for the non-dated stuff, I am planning on being around to run the stuff next year.

Andy

I would be if the thing is maked for the year. but I think Daffy Duck, the proclaimer of seasons, would be upside at ANY delay!

Yes!!

If I have learned on thing in this hobby is: You need a little bit of patients... I usually buy my christmas box car after christmas, its cheaper and I can wait to run it around the tree next year.

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You need a little bit of patients

It would be easier to wait on these seasonal items if you had patience and leave the patients in the hospital...though patients do have to display patience if they ever want to get well...you can't rush the healing process.

So...have a little patience and you won't become a patient in a mental ward because your toy train didn't arrive on time.

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So...have a little patience and you won't become a patient in a mental ward because your toy train didn't arrive on time.

WOW! Maybe I should have said disaponted. I don't think I'll need to be talked down off a bridge or need to call the train crisis hotline it just would have been nice to see it for the intended season.

Dispatcher: Hobby nine-one-one...what is your emergency?
Caller: My train has fallen off the tracks and can't get up
Dispatcher: Sir...Calm down and remain on the line...We have dispatched an Emergency M.O.W. Unit to your location...
Caller: Oh my God, please hurry, (sounds of sobbing in the background), The smoke fluid is leaking out all over the ballast (more sobbing)
Dispatcher: Sir...Remain calm...Apply some paper towels to the affected area...They are pulling up to your location now
Caller: (sobbing)...Thank you...They are entering the train room now (more sobbing)
Dispatcher: O.K. Sir, They have arrived...I'm hanging up now, but if you suffer from Post Traumatic Stress in the future from this episode...You can call one of our Train Counselors at the Train Crisis Hotline.

Oh my God, please hurry.  The smoke fluid is leaking out all over the ballast!   

 

John

I get bummed, when I can't have what I want when I want(No point lying to myself). I haven't done any preordering, so I haven't been bitten by this. There is enough out there to buy, that I can always wait til next season (as i wish I had with the Hogwarts set. I would have bought yours Chris)

In my last post to this thread, made way back in August of last year, I noted the late arrival of some 2010 items and mentioned that I looked forward to a better result in 2011.

 

Thanks to MTH, those hopes and expectations were met.  The RailKing Christmas set and the tinplate Christmas set--both pre-ordered items--arrived shortly before Christmas even though I did not really expect to see either set.  Both provided bright and welcome additions to my holiday enjoyment.

 

I well understand the difficulties ALL the manufacturers are facing these days, and I appreciate the continuing efforts made to get things out on time, especially those items associated with a particular holiday.  They all appear to be doing the best they can in difficult times and circumstances.

I only ordered one Christmas item that was not on a post season closeout: The Reindeer Route RS-3 and I had it the first week of December. The P.E. set, the one that got me into this mess, was a closeout as was the N.P.E. passenger expansion set and vista dome.

 

Pete

My own personal update on this subject - the Hallow's Eve engine that Chris mentioned in his original post showed up at my LHS the week before Halloween, and my LHS tends to get their Lionel releases a couple of weeks after the big boys (Charles Ro, Grzyboski's, etc.).  I ordered a bunch of the Halloween stuff from Lionel this year, as well as one of the Christmas items, and they all arrived either early or on time.  Lionel has certainly improved on delivery this past year.

 

Andy

One thing I learned early on from the forum was never to order anything with a specific date in mind. I also steer clear of event focused items. I now either wait until the item gets on the market, or if I have to have it I preorder (from a dealer who does not require a deposit) then just try to forget about it until they contact me. Otherwise, you do risk disappointment. Though I dont order Christmas items I am always a little shocked that they wouldnt make every effort to deliver every item listed in the Christmas catalog by Christmas. Not sure many industries could get away with that. It does sound like Lionel is getting a little quicker though. Ben

Doesn't bother me a bit. I don't do "seasonal" trains - ever. If it doesn't look like it belongs on a real railroad, it doesn't belong on mine. The only exception to the "look like it belongs there" rule is the Walthers beer can tanker. Just too cool - but it doesn't have Santa on it.

I have to agree with Hiawatha on this one.  Holiday cars have no appeal to me.

 

How 'bout that middle rail? Your railroad got that?

 

Pete

I cheat. I don't use seasonal trains when someone wants a train around the tree. I dig out red and green rolling stock to place behind a locomotive.

a no for me........i agree with above said comments.....jim

 

How 'bout that middle rail? Your railroad got that?

 

Pete

 

Good point, I can easily imagine an actual boxcar painted for the Christmas season or anyother holiday by a real railroad, never seen them put down a middle rail tho.

 

Jerry

Ditto.  I wrap my intermodal containers in Christmas wrapping paper with a bow.  Maybe put a few figurines on flat cars, trees in a gondola, Santa standing in an open box car door.  With all the **** swag available out there, I can usually be a little creative and create my own scene.  If the kids don't think it's festive enough, they can buy their own trains