What's Up With Lionel's Shipping Schedule in 2015?

Something that Lionel COULD do is list expected shipping dates by quarter rather than month. Since monthly predictions are hardly ever right anyway, why not switch to a quarterly prediction format such as "4th quarter, 2015."  That would give customers a decent timeframe idea for purchase planning and perhaps be more accurate/realistic than the present system.

Do we really need to know that?

This philosophy is the one I take, keeps me from getting all "worked up" about these things.  Of course, I don't do pre-orders anymore so if I don't see it on a shelf at the LHS or online I don't worry about it.  Even if it's Seaboard Air Line and I miss out I no longer get "worked up".

And personally I'm not all that worried about it.  When my LHS calls and tells me it's in, I'll go pick it up.

I sit the funds aside when I do the pre-order.  Don't pay much attention to the schedule as it's usually wrong.  One less thing to worry about.  When it arrives, it arrives.

Fun to get a shipping notice or a package and not know what's in it!  At least for me.

David,

This is a false choice and representative of the typical hyperbolic bluster that I have come to expect from your negative rants.......

Enough said... you either want to see the thing improved to better help consumers plan their purchases, or you're content with the status quo -- which in this case is mediocre on a good day.  Take your pick.

I am very much in favor of Lionel continually improving their customer service. I disagree that posting a negative rant on this forum will improve Lionel's customer service.  As I suggested, a more direct approach, emailing the company, stating your opinion and perhaps offering some suggestions for improvement would be more productive. If, however, your sole motivation is to complain and not to catalyze improvement, then I suppose continued negative posts on this forum will be the status quo here. 

Ah, the semi-annual -- no, make that quarterly? monthly? -- obsession with the Lionel Shipping Schedule. Good Lord.

As others have wisely noted above, I order and it arrives when it arrives.

Shipping schedule? Meh. Quit looking at it ages ago.

I think David has raised valid points.  I think this entire process needs to be improved, from actually shipping the product to informing the customer.  Frankly, I think that is only fair and good business sense given that the firms are now asking customers to commit via BTO (which I also think is very reasonable, btw).  But if there is genuine frustration and a desire to be productive, I would mention it to Lionel via email, phone call, or at York.  Otherwise, it's not that any firm is perfect or beyond criticism, but these exchanges have a tendency to degenerate into an argument or a bashing session, neither of which is productive.

Why ask why? 

This is what forums are for.

Why not email David directly, if you have an issue with his posts?

I don't see anything in his question that would make him a troll.  He asked a question?  One many would have asked.  In reality he's correct.  No one here can do anything about it.  That doesn't mean it's not worth discussing.

chipset,

This forum is great for sharing and gaining information.  Alex M's posts great topics (brave ones at that) with pics and explanation of what is under the shell.  Marty posts great topics about how to better utilize Legacy.  LaidOffSick posts great topics about how to install kaddees.  In my opinion that is what this forum should be, not a site where people post topics just to complain.  What information was gained or shared as a result of the original post?  If the OP were to contact Lionel first and post their response, then we would have information to share.  Otherwise there is troll here but it is not me. 

Then take your own advice then.

Stop complaining....about complainers.....

If you don't like posts with complaints, then do not read or respond to them.

I guess I may be in the minority here ... Like a couple of others have said ... I place an order, put the money aside and wait for the LHS to call ..... Only one time did I track an item and got upset when it was pushed out - it was when I ordered my first Legacy engine and already had the Legacy system.  So for me, I don't look at the shipping schedule weekly or monthly. But if I do look and something is moved out I don't get mad or upset ....

I believe Lionel does their best with the schedule as do all the vendors do - Some things may be out of date but we have no idea how they manage that process, how many hours it takes and what their staffing status is  .... Just think what would happen if they decided to just remove it .....

I guess I need to use that quote feature more so that my post doesn't look out of context when the post I replied to is edited.

Hate to say it, but this is EXACTLY what gets threads deleted around here.  We all share the same hobby, but by gosh it really ends there in some cases.  And you'd otherwise never know it by this kind of gibberish.  If you don't have anything positive to add to the suggestions already made, then just read the threads you like.    If you want to be a Lionel "right or wrong" cheerleader, that's fine.  But nobody wins with personal attacks.

David

The OP most often has what seems to be an informed take on marketing and associated topics concerning model trains. I find the posts interesting.

I am afraid that these discussions head south when some posters determine the best course of action for others to follow. I suppose, after all, it is just the internet.

Fred