The schedule was updated again today but the American Flyer items are still unchanged. According to this schedule almost 90% of the outstanding items should be out and in our hands already. This obviously is incorrect. Has anyone had any luck getting Lionel to provide accurate dates? I would think it would be in their best interest as if something is delayed a year or so, you may be tempted to buy something else in the interim from them.
--Rocco--
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Before David jumps in, the most accurate source is the dealers. Nassau and Ro seems to have a pretty good handle on it.
I think most of the items are unchanged.
I imagine that the forum recent discussions of contract disputes with port employees holding shipments offshore is having a big impact right now as well. The manufacturers are not going to comment on this, nothing they can do but wait, like the rest of us.
Before David jumps in, the most accurate source is the dealers. Nassau and Ro seems to have a pretty good handle on it.
Wouldn't want to disappoint you, Marty! 
Charlie Ro's website appears to generally have reasonably accurate ETA's for Lionel product. I figure the source must come from Lionel, yet that same source can't seem to get the information to whoever manages the shipping schedule on Lionel's website. 
I can't even tell from this latest update to Lionel's website what/if anything has changed. Products that we KNOW have been delivered (i.e., Big Boys, ES44's, FM's, etc...) and are still listed in this version of the schedule -- as are many items that haven't shipped yet but have old dates which have already come and gone. So that tells me Lionel just doesn't have a clue when they'll really ship. None of the new 2015 catalog items are listed yet -- at least none that I looked for. And even the 18" aluminum passenger cars that have reportedly been cancelled (per a Lionel memo to dealers) are still on the list. So when you ask folks -- even Lionel customer service reps -- if something is canceled, they use the Lionel's online shipping schedule to tell you that these passenger cars are still scheduled to ship. 
Disinformation at its worst -- or best, depending on your point of view. 
How's that, Marty? Did I summarize it accurately? 
David
LOL!
Before David jumps in, the most accurate source is the dealers. Nassau and Ro seems to have a pretty good handle on it.
Wouldn't want to disappoint you, Marty!
Charlie Ro's website appears to generally have reasonably accurate ETA's for Lionel product. I figure the source must come from Lionel, yet that same source can't seem to get the information to whoever manages the shipping schedule on Lionel's website.
I can't even tell from this latest update to Lionel's website what/if anything has changed. Products that we KNOW have been delivered (i.e., Big Boys, ES44's, FM's, etc...) and are still listed in this version of the schedule -- as are many items that haven't shipped but have old dates which have already come and gone. None of the new 2015 catalog items are listed yet... and even the 18" aluminum passenger cars that have reportedly been cancelled (per a Lionel memo to dealers) are still on the list. So when you ask folks -- even Lionel customer service reps -- if something is canceled, they use the Lionel's online shipping schedule to tell you that these passenger cars are still scheduled to ship. Disinformation at its worst -- or best, depending on your point of view.
How's that, Marty? Did I summarize it accurately?
David
David just think of it like the quality of there engines .. You never know what your gonna get! Its a suprise!
Two things I stopped doing a LONG time ago:
1) Looking at the Lionel Shipping Schedule.
2) Complaining about it.
yogi berra ism #101, when it gets here it should be here.
David just think of it like the quality of there engines .. You never know what your gonna get! Its a suprise!
Yessir... It's just a constant re-affirmation that managing one's overseas suppliers is a full-time business and then some. The panacea of cheap overseas labor has proved to be anything but -- now fraught with frustration relative to quality of product (i.e., Berkshire pilot bushings/bearings falling out) and unreliable product shipping commitments.
Now that the N&W Pocahontas aluminum passenger sets are shipping, the next product on the "most delayed list" is the simple 6-27092 CSX Heritage Box Car catalog'd in 2012 Volume 1 published in late 2011. So it's now well over 3 years late... and it's a plain, stinkin' boxcar. Were it not for folks at Lionel who insist that this car has not been cancelled, I would have written this off a long time ago. But I really like the design and have a bunch on order with Charlie Ro to create a long unit train with MTH twin-stack Gunderson's that have the matching CSX intermodal logo (and have thankfully been delivered already).
David
LOL!
"Life is like a box of chocolates ...... "
>> recent discussions of contract disputes with port employees holding shipments offshore is having a big impact right now as well. The manufacturers are not going to comment on this, nothing they can do but
wait,
First of all, it is not "port employees" who are causing the problem. It is the Longshoreman's Union on the west coast. It is not a strike, but a slow down. It has been going on for about nine months now. The average annual earnings for these longshoremen is about $145,000 and it would seem that is not enough.
Second of all, there is something that can be done about it. One option is to ship to the east coast where ships are being unloaded by a different union. Or ship to Canada or Mexico and use a truck to get things across the border. All of these are being done by some shippers.
Third of all, ship via MATSON NAVIGATION. Matson ships are always unloaded quickly and promptly even on the west coast. No delays at all. As you might know, Matson has a near-monopoly on Hawaii shipping since it already owns all the deep-water ports in Hawaii. The west coast longshoreman have no desire to harm their brothers in Hawaii and so Matson ships are loaded/unloaded promptly. Yes, Matson goes to the far East and could be used by Lionel. Yes, Matson fees are higher than other shippers because their ships are smaller, move faster and get unloaded on schedule. The higher fees are worth it in the minds of many shippers.
If I were interested in having a Polar Express set on dealer shelves in time for Christmas, I would gladly pay a higher shipping fee in return for not missing the toy buying season. Something like 80% of toys are sold for the Christmas season. The rest of the year is pretty slow in toy land.
Just some ideas for folks to chew upon........Ed L.
I would call them and ask if they can supply that item. Sometimes they list things in the wrong category.
According to this morning's (Sat) SF Comical, the port issue has been settled - though as of the writing of the article, not yet ratified by the ILWU. There is an expectation that the ports are supposed to be in full swing very shortly (the perspective of the article is Oakland, but all the other ports from LA to Seattle/Tacoma have been similarly affected).
Don't know if or how this will change the shipping schedule for Lionel (or maybe its the arrival schedule). Hopefully what it means is that there won't be any further delays. There was, apparently, a huge amount of pressure from businesses all over, along with truckers, etc., to reach a settlement. There are literally dozens of ships parked in the SF Bay or out a sea, so there will be quite a backlog to work through.
Always best to call the store to confirm. But generally speaking...
If Lionel hasn't shipped the item yet and you don't see the item listed on Ro's website, that's an indication they're no longer accepting pre-orders.
If Lionel has shipped the item and you don't see the item listed on Ro's website, they're sold out.
David
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