Lionel 6-81142 Vision UP Reefers

That's sounds wierd to me that's what pre ordering was Supose to do.. 

Amazing...    If this is an accurate source (which I tend to believe since Charlie Ro no longer is accepting pre-orders for them), then Lionel continues to display in spades the fact that the left and right hand don't have a clue what they're doing.

 

For the first time since they had a grand slam hit with the Vision Line tankers w/freight-sounds and folks were clamoring for more... Lionel finally catalogs a set of Vision Line reefers w/freight-sounds.  And what to they do?  They can't even coordinate manufacturing a full production run to meet demand. 

 

Really sad planning.  Perhaps they would have had better luck if these had been in the "official" BTO camp. 

 

David

 

P.S.  Since I don't believe these were officially BTO, it's quite possible some large dealers will have unspoken stock of these.  Of course, now that the word is out these may be short-shipped, sellers are gonna play silly pricing games with them... so these will likely pick right up where the Vision Line tankers left off.  Lovely.

Hello Josh: Lionel did not cancel them from what I can tell right now. They are built to order, and if you or your dealer did not get the order in by a certain date, they will not make them for you. I checked my back-orders with Lionel after seeing this and they are still there. We do not have any more to sell right now but maybe there are other dealers that do.  Good luck to you.

Good to know, Brian.  It wasn't clear if they were BTO, 'cause the 2014 Signature Edition catalog has them on the same page-spread as the Big Boy.  The BTO button was on the Big Boy more than the reefers and caboose.

 

David

This is a copy of the email they gave me at the dealership. I think they had order it from another supplier.

*(&#(!  another run on the  bank! 

I pre-ordered these and now there is a chance I will not even see them?!

 

 

 

 

http://www.nicholassmithtrains...STEEEL-SIDED-REEFER/

 

http://www.wholesaletrains.com...QnUtGJLWYxoCee3w_wcB

 

Here are a couple of links I found fast from forum sponsors.

       
       
When I got home I did put an order in with wholesale trains. Fingers crossed, but not feeling real optimistic!

Josh,

I know Nicholas Smith ordered extras and you can put in a preorder with them by phone or online and you will get them.  I just put them on my list today, so they said they still have some slots available.

Very happy to hear that Brian.  I pre-ordered mine through Legacy Station last March.

Lionel has changed it to May 15

Well, at least it no longer states January 2015.  Now, we'll just have to wait and see if they are here once May rolls around.  I'm not holding my breath.

Sigh.

Wow… If  I had a Vision Line Big Boy I ‘d be irked!!!
I would want no less then a dozen to pull with the VL Big Boy. 

Let us hope Lionel makes sure the Members of the Vision Line Big Boy Club get the first shot at buying them up!

Could be pricey Rolling stock on the Secondary Market?

Thanks for posting…

K.C.

Interesting thought... although I don't think Lionel much cares whether consumers buying a Big Boy would have preference.  Your dealer might feel bad for a minute if he couldn't come up with a set to sell you.  But aside from that, I'd think most folks who wanted these would have pre-ordered a set (or two) by now -- especially folks who've experienced the nonsense in the secondary market relative to the earlier Vision Line tankers w/freight-sounds.

 

David

 

 

Through I oversight I pre-ordered the wrong set (the traditional size, not the Vision) and I really regret that, as I have 24 scale PFE reefers and really wanted this set.  

 

Just have to wait 'til next time. . . 

 

Thanks for posting this.  I checked the shipping schedule last night, FWIW, and saw the same thing, was going to post it this morning but you're way ahead of me!

 

Lionel has pushed these back a few times now, they were originally due in NOV 14, FEB 14, and now May 15.  They'll be worth the wait.  It's kind of disappointing though.

It's hard not to conclude that most toy train importers today have absolutely no control over when products get manufactured anymore.  At least the updates here acknowledge that these are still several months out.  There's stuff on the schedule that still have Nov/Dec/Jan dates, and those items haven't shipped yet.    So what does that tell ya?  

 

Somedays, I just get the impression Lionel doesn't really know what's been manufactured/shipped until a container's worth of goods arrives in NC.

 

David

Sure seems that way, doesn't it?  

 

Not trying to derail the thread-the only item that arrived on time from all of my pre-orders (Lionel & MTH) has been the VL Big Boy & the regular PFE Reefers.  

 

With all this talk of the VL PFEs, I'm now glad I ordered more than one set!

 

 

Sounds like LHS missed the deadline and is doing a little CYA. Check the big guys and forum sponsors, you'll find them

Lee, you can retrofit the sound system into a set of scale reefers and be all set.

 

Just like all the other BTO stuff, some dealers will order extras I assure you. They might not be the pre-order price, but you will be able to find them.

True, but some of the big dealers like Charlie Ro no longer have these listed on their website for pre-order anymore.  So they've likely sold out of their "extras".  Bottom line... these will be hot items -- just like the V/L tankers with sounds.

 

David

I know Charlie Ro had them up to this last Christmas because I ordered 1 more set of them on Christmas to go with the other 3 sets I pre-ordered. I figure that I can mix them in pretty good with my many other scale PFE reefers to make amazing looking & sounding train.

 

I recall seeing them about a month ago too.  So between then and now, they probably sold out of the quantity they ordered from Lionel.

 

David

They are NOT canceled.

I sure hope not!!!

 

 

Great to hear, as I am patiently waiting for mine that I ordered from you, along with the aux tender and caboose.

I ordered mine from stockyard express, wonder if I should call to verify my order......

Me also, as I pre-ordered these from my Local Hobby Shop, 100 miles away....actually,  the delayed shipping has helped my Budget....Hopefully, the Heavy L&N Mikado will come in April???? Wow, the Suspense??? Happy Railroading

Well I was holding off on ordering a signal bridge until the reefers came in, but considering its now a ship in mid May... If they make that estimted date, then we wont see them until June. Guess what, were over half way until Christmas And the 2016 signature catalog will be released soon After that. Might as well go ahead with other purchases then. 

 

Listen on I can understand delays, but delaying from November until May, 6 month extension, is ridiculous. Especially because the reefers have already been produced, you just need to add the speaker. Get your **** together, otherwise don't give an expected date until Your sure.

Zett, I made a tongue-in-cheek comment a couple of years ago that Lionel's online shipping schedule should be subtitled "Lionel Product Shipping Schedule... and other Fantasies and Fairy Tales", which prompted swift remarks from a couple of folks who didn't like my humor and choose to stand by Lionel right or wrong.    So be it... they can say all they want.  I'm just calling it the way I see it.   

 

I think we've all come to realize the dicey situation with overseas manufacturing nowadays.  But as I mentioned earlier, it's becoming all too painfully clear that the importers are no longer in the driver's seat -- heck, perhaps they never were -- when it comes to which products gets manufactured when.  And I'm sure it's frustrating on their end as well to have lost so much control of the situation.

 

As you mentioned, the non-VL reefers have already been manufactured... this particular SKU needs the electronics and speaker to create the freight-sounds.  And perhaps those components are enough to cause these kinds of delays.  Not sure... just a potential explanation.  It doesn't seem to take much to throw a wrench into the works nowadays.  And I can easily hear somebody saying, "6 months?  That's nothing... be glad it's not 18 months!!!" 

 

Let's just hope we don't have another parts-sourcing issue ala the Legacy #990 kits in the making here.

 

If you think this is bad, I'm still waiting for 6-27092, the CSX Heritage boxcar w/intermodal logo, to show up Stateside.  It was catalog'd in Lionel's 2012 Signature Edition catalog (published late 2011) -- over 3 years ago now!!!    No electronics, no speakers, nothing fancy... just a basic boxcar with a cool logo.    And the shipping schedule still shows a Dec 2014 date (which was the last of many delayed ETA's, which of course has once again come and gone).  

 

Just comes with the territory I guess.  And only our endless toy train enthusiasm keeps us coming back for more.  Otherwise we would have packed up our bags and moved on to another hobby a long time ago.  And the importers count on that... each and every year. 

 

David

 

Someday in a world without a Lionel Shipping schedule...David will have nothing to post about.

 

Just havin' some fun with ya Dave.

There will ALWAYS be prices to talk about, Marty.  And they'll always be going up, up, up!!! 

Maybe the OGR staff should start a Prices & Complaints forum so we can keep all the negativity separate from the interesting train/hobby topics, HAHA!

Problem is Lionel is hurting themselves not making the dates, so I know somebody will be thrown under the bus on this one.

 

I have budgeted to pay for these now...

So I will spend it on something else...

 

Well those Atlas 21 CZ cars are do in... er... maybe not...

 

When are those New Rock Island E-8/9's coming in?Haven't the foggiest...

 

Well guess the cookie jar will have more money in it for a while.

I have to agree Sean...