Why does the MTH shipping schedule still say June 2012?

I perceive that since MTH went European-crazy...that somehow the culture there is changed to the point that things that used to be important...just aren't any more.

My perception is that economic times are not that great at MTH...some folks may have been let go...and that just like a lot of small businesses...they are struggling. Therefore, a lot of nice things they used to do...provide timely parts replacement and update their website tools just can't be done.

There is, probably, a German or French version out there that is most likely very up-to-date.

MTH is in the process of uprading their website, so I would think that shows a level of concern for the information flow out to us. There are a few bugs that need to be ironed out, as is true with any software project of such size but improvment seldom comes without pain.

As for the service issue they are doing the best they can. The answer is simple if we wont better service we need to buy more trains. Then they can hire more people to take care of us.

As for the delivery date being stuck on June, aw come on we all know it's stuck on August. Oh sorry, that's the item I waiting on.

I'm sure the website will be up dated in a more timely manner once the work is done.

at least it shows a shippment I have an engine that was supposed to ship over a year ago that now is listed as TBD.

L.I.

Ye gads, I hope the Molds didn't disappear in the fiasco Mike went through with his Builder.  In case you didn't hear, they went out of business with no warning and had Mike's Molds locked up in the building. 

Gotta Love Asian business ethics...

They would rather Die than admit a problem until it gets rammed down their throats.

This is the root of why Japan had a Nuclear Power station meltdown as well.

Forgetaboutit

Overheard that in your LHS, did you? 

The situation's not unique to MTH, I have an Athearn HO locomotive on order that was supposed to ship Dec 2011 and is now TBD.

Rusty

Heck, I have preordered a few items in the past the took up to four years or more to appear...so long that I had pretty much forgotten about them.  Believe me, it's a problem that is not restricted to any one manufacturer, and you can be sure that no manufacturer is happy about having items delayed.  As I noted before, of us it's a hobby; for them it's their livelihood.

Maybe Lionel stole them again 

I waited two years, for a preorder item, that was supposed to take no more than four months for delivery!!!

RJL

Maybe Lionel stole them again

Watson! The the games afoot again

MTH watches this board so maybe you gave them a little tickle, right now I do not care if stuff is late,  my wife is spending money on our new house like a drunken sailor.

I know of individuals that ordered Walthers items, and, after several years are still waiting.

So it's not limited to any one manufacturer.

For the most part, I find MTH to be pretty darn good. I followed my preorders and although they were pushed back several times, the website always had the new ship date. I'm sure there are a few items that fall thru the cracks. There is a lot more to manufacturing than the average Joe probably realizes.

All in all, I've been impressed with MTH.

I think they do a fine job in meeting our needs and our desires on a timely basis.

Since MTH is so into European models now, I assume they just all took the month of August off for vacation as they do throuighout Europe every year.

Last night i went on the MTH site to check the shipping date on a set of passenger cars. Put the item number into the search and 2 items came up. First was the set with the shipping date Oct 2012. The second item that came up was the list of products shipping the week of Sept 15th. My passenger car set is on that list. Looks like they are on the way, early!

Even in the old days (1970's) I used to have a fair amount of stuff on backorder from Walthers.  I used to rephrase their slogan to:  "Your dealer can backorder it from us."

Rusty

European engine (HO, tinplate, or for that matter S gauge) offerings or not, it seems over the years that MTH never had the organization and updates of their website content on their list of high priorities.

Often you see product details missing (especially PS2 engine files), misspellings and poorly formatted (overrun text) pages.  IMO much of the website's housekeeping or updating could be easily and economically accomplished by a high school or college student looking to earn a couple of extra dollars.  Hopefully MTH's "new" website will be better and still be considered "new" when it finally makes it to the web...TBD

That said ...it may also say something about this hobby in that MTH's website is one of the better offerings within the industry.  Aside from the very helpful, but often dealer criticized MTH product locator feature that MTH's site offers, Lionel has made some major web improvements with only new product videos needed to put them at or near the top.

I call the 126 videos (roughly 30 new product and remaining 96 "how to/tips") a very good start.

I'm not trying to be snarky but that is why I stated that new product videos on the Lionel website or via their Youtube channel would put them at or near the top.  A quick look will show that video is new (less than 12 months) to Lionel, which is probably why there are still not "many" more product videos.   Lionel might be late to the product video party, but it appears that Lionel is putting as much, or more emphasis into video releases as MTH.  But I think Lionel might better understand the importance of a strong business web/video presence in today's society and especially in this more tech savvy hobby.  I especially like Mike Reagan's "how to/tip" videos that provide great guidance to both experienced and new hobbyists.  These non-product videos are very informative and greatly enhance their existing products.

Now as you stated liking to see Lionel add a product locator function would definitely be the winning touch.  As wonderful and wanted a product locator by Lionel would be to the hobby, it also would have the same achilles weakness as MTH's:  it's only as good as the dealer who keeps his inventory updated.

Gee, I guess that is a matter of different perspectives.  I have used, and had very good success, with the MTH Product/Dealer Locator.  Found and purchased several hard-to-find and previously issued U.S. Army items via that resource, as well as a few Alaska RR items.  The most recent "find" was a set of U.S. Army passenger cars.

Hey, those words came from YOUR mouth, and I quote: "That said, the MTH one is a pain in the #@% to use..."  The word "use" to the vast majority here implies navigating, accessing, etc.

As a professional writer you should know about reading things in context. The discussion was, before you interjected, about dealers and dealers keeping up on the inventory, maybe you should go back and re-read that section of the thread. If you mis-understood I am sorry but in context I think it is evident that I am speaking from a dealer maintenance side of the website. Next time you are at your LHS ask them to show you how to add an item the the dealer locator and then judge for yourself, to me it is labor intensive.

Ye Gads, And I thought it took some eBay seller's a long time to ship........