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Post by cornerfieldrailfan on Aug 3, 2024 2:03:11 GMT
Still no official word from Lionel on why ALL F-19 locomotives now appear delayed. I can understand the #492 model having a "deco error" and that model being delayed. But why delay the ENTIRE series of F-19 locomotives? Is there something else amiss with these steamers that Lionel isn't admitting? 
Lionel's webstore is now showing a new ETA for the F-19's as 12/19/2024. Certainly cutting it pretty close for the Christmas model. And forgettabout timing for this year's Halloween model.
Read it and weep...
Thank You for the information.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 3, 2024 2:18:33 GMT
Tom, that December date on the webstore was short-lived. Now that date has been removed from all the F-19 models. So the mystery continues. I sent a correspondence in to Lionel customer service a few days ago. So hopefully they will shed some light on the situation. I asked specifically what the "decoration error" was... and why the 12/19/2024 date has been removed from the webstore descriptions. So we shall see.
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Post by cornerfieldrailfan on Aug 3, 2024 2:20:09 GMT
Tom, that December date on the webstore was short-lived. Now that date has been removed from all the F-19 models. So the mystery continues. I sent a correspondence in to Lionel customer service a few days ago. So hopefully they will shed some light on the situation. I asked specifically what the "decoration error" was... and why the 12/19/2024 date has been removed from the webstore descriptions. So we shall see. Ok. That is odd. I think they should just put a estimation of maybe Dec 2024 and not a set date. This is just like what happened with the Strasburg #90's.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 3, 2024 12:20:02 GMT
Tom, that December date on the webstore was short-lived. Now that date has been removed from all the F-19 models. So the mystery continues. I sent a correspondence in to Lionel customer service a few days ago. So hopefully they will shed some light on the situation. I asked specifically what the "decoration error" was... and why the 12/19/2024 date has been removed from the webstore descriptions. So we shall see. Perhaps in the scheme of things this is just business as usual with a certain number of expected defective products. This time it is the F-19s. The relax 'it's just a toy' mode of action/response appears to be Lionel's perspective. And while annoying even perhaps infuriating to we consumers in the grand scheme of things the F-19s will eventually arrive or they won't. Perhaps this is music to Lionel's ears if thy wish to subdue irate customers, but frankly I have more important things to do than obsess over what's wrong with the F-19s and/or when they will arrive. There are other more vigilant model operators/collectors who feel differently and I appreciate their tenacity. As Tom notes this is the same pattern we went through with #90. That is a long time of hand wringing if correct. I cancelled my #90 preorder and I am glad I did. If I end up cancelling my F-19 preorders so be it.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 5, 2024 16:18:35 GMT
Still haven't heard back from Lionel regarding my inquiry. So we shall see. The wait-and-see, "it'll get here when it gets here" mode of thinking is likely gonna be the healthiest outlook for these. Charles Ro was expecting these by the end of July, which for the Halloween and Christmas models would have been PLENTY of time to enjoy them for their respective holidays. But no joy. Too bad... because these were one of the good price/performers in that catalog. I guess we're paying for that now with our patience.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 5, 2024 22:14:31 GMT
Hopefully METCA will come through with flying colors for their Halloween and Christmas switchers which have marvelous visual appeal. Not just a make good for the Lionel misstep, but good to great enough in their own right!
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 6, 2024 15:57:46 GMT
The word from Lionel is in. Lionel is holding firm on the "decoration error" explanation without further specifics. They did characterize the error as "small". But admitted correcting it requires some disassembly of the model to fix -- hence the return to the factory. I found the next piece of information quite interesting... namely, the decoration error did NOT impact all F-19 models. However, it was deemed more expeditious to turn back the entire container en-route rather than only return the affected models.
I don't know enough about Lionel's container unloading process and how they check product that's been shipped to them. So I can't comment any further. Perhaps they felt more leverage by returning the entire container to the factory vs. only shipping back the affected models. We'll probably never know that part of the story. They did mention the locomotives being returned are still in transit back to the factory. So any dates tossed around at this point are only estimates. And they're working to get things right. So that's the latest.
If I were a betting man, I'd be very surprised if we see the F-19's yet this year. But that's pure speculation on my part. So as is often the case with these fuzzy situations, the F-19's will arrive when they get here. No sooner... and no later. My biggest disappointment would be finding out that the Halloween and Christmas models WEREN'T impacted by the decoration error, but were returned back anyway as part of the way factory mishaps need to be handled in the big scheme of overseas manufacturing agreements nowadays. Sigh....
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 6, 2024 21:26:58 GMT
Is this the throwing the baby out with the bath water approach? Again we have no idea nor perhaps should we as it may divulge some sensitive business arrangements. However this cannot be cheap to pay for another round trip to China. Unless the Chinese manufacturer is on the hook for these shipping costs, it likely will be we consumers that are paying the price. If it were not for the terrific look of the F-19 I would likely walk away; but darn that engine is as we used to say 'boss'.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 8, 2024 13:41:52 GMT
For those still keeping a close eye on the F-19's, Charles Ro Supply who had an original ETA of 7/31/2024 is now showing 12/10/2024. Trainworld is showing 9/21/2024. Lionel's webstore has no ETA. So I'm not sure anyone really knows with certainty, as these gems traverse another roundtrip on the high seas.
Charles Ro is sold out of the Halloween and Christmas models. Trainworld is sold out of the Christmas model, and currently taking pre-orders for the Halloween model at $1,599... which is $300 over MSRP. So let the games begin!!!
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Post by josef on Aug 8, 2024 13:49:06 GMT
Something "fishy" about this. Having to disassemble them for a decorative error? Then to return items that aren't effected? Somehow it doesn't make sense. They had to inspect these to find errors, and those not effected, yet return complete shipment.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 8, 2024 13:50:04 GMT
Let's apply Olympic scoring to this situation. Throw out the latest and the earliest dates (versus the high and low score) and select the middle.
Trainworld is the winner!
If the container falls off the boat we declare a false start and hope somebody else tries to build them.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 8, 2024 14:21:31 GMT
Something "fishy" about this. Having to disassemble them for a decorative error? Then to return items that aren't effected? Somehow it doesn't make sense. They had to inspect these to find errors, and those not effected, yet return complete shipment.
I agree... and I'm surprised Lionel can't realize their response leaves more questions than it answers. But it's what we have right now. And I don't see that changing.
When I first heard "decoration error", the first thought that came to mind was the Sleigh Bell Limited misspelling of YUELTIDE. Now THAT's a decoration error! And Lionel did nothing for buyers of that set. Yet now they're returning an entire container back to China that supposedly includes product NOT impacted by said decoration error? What's wrong with this picture??? We'll likely never know.
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Post by JDaddy on Aug 8, 2024 16:07:15 GMT
Honestly I don't need to know. I think the delay is God sent. My wallet is till hurting from the 5 different variations of the PRR I1 - Ouch! All I care is its fixed, do we have to know all the little dirty secrets? Nope not me - I feel for their pain though, that's going to hurt their bottom line, and the dealers too.
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Post by atsda on Aug 9, 2024 1:08:50 GMT
Post by runamuckchuck on 11 hours ago
Let's apply Olympic scoring to this situation. Throw out the latest and the earliest dates (versus the high and low score) and select the middle.
Trainworld is the winner!
If the container falls off the boat we declare a false start and hope somebody else tries to build them.
Chuck, LOL Alfred
You get a Gold Medal for the post.
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Post by josef on Aug 9, 2024 12:23:51 GMT
There's a lot of cost in returning a container. Cost while stored at dock. Cost to load onto ship. Shipping cost and cost at unloading.Cost to truck back to factory. Now had all these cost again when shipping back to US.
If Lionel didn't have a rental onsite at dock, the container was either trucked to their site, or they paid to have a space to unload container at the dock.
They lost money on this and probable make it up with next years prices. Be prepared!
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