Update on 3rdrail F3 and GP7/9 news.

Hey Gary, I can see your points very clearly. At the time when you placed you order nobody could have predicted this DAMN NIGHTMARE!! Businesses are struggling too. With that being said, are niche hobbies more important than paying the bills or putting food on the table? NO WAY!!! Now Scott is making a "layaway" available to his customers. Is it a viable plan? I guess it's up to the individual customer. I am sure there will be customers cancelling orders everywhere not just from 3RD RAIL. My only hope is Scott takes this totally abnormal situation into account when someone does cancel an order due to financial hardship but would be willing to purchase product from him in the future. As for shipping costs from the West Coast, you're right. They are Nuckin' Futz. For trains, I would personally arrange for a York pickup.

All The Best,

Gary.

I know Scott is a small and for the most part a one mam Operation and if this crisis is going to hurt anyone it’s 3rdrail. One thing I think Scott should of done is first delayed production and second maybe a survey of the people who have reservations. See who can afford to proceed and who can’t.

Now don’t forget there are no wrong opinions on OGF. I don’t hold A grudge or any disrespect to anybody, even if you are wrong. 😂

"One thing I think Scott should of done is first delayed production and second maybe a survey of the people who have reservations. See who can afford to proceed and who can’t."

I would think that production of these F Units was well underway before the significance of the current situation was known. I doubt that Scott had any choice but to proceed.

Bottom line, work it out with Scott. He is most accommodating and one of the nicest guys in our hobby.

I agree with Bill completely.

Oh, I have no doubt Scott will work with us to get these engines to us, he stated as much in the email. I was just a little perturbed, that one I get a invoice a month before the product even hits the dock and second, the slit guilt trip in my opinion not the best choice of words. Believe me I want these diesels. Layaway, interest free for a year credit card or if the job goes kaput, sorry to say cancel. I'll figure it out.

” Dear Valued Sunset Models Customer: The EMD F3s are done and the container will arrive to our warehouse June 20th. We know these are uncertain times for many of you. We ask that you don't cancel your order to us, as we made the models based on your reservation. If you need extra time to purchase these, please let us know. We can arrange for 3 month or 6 month layaway payments to ease the cost of these. We thank you for your patronage and support during this uncertain time. Keep Safe.“

Gary, my impression of Scott's message is different than your's. I see it as a plea to customers to not cancel their orders. He said, "We ask that you don't cancel your order..." and then explained why 3rd rail is making this request. He's willing to work with customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties. I'm sure he has a lot of money tied up in these locomotives and if there are a lot of cancellations it could be a disaster for 3rd rail.

If the tone of the message was demanding or threatening I would feel very differently about it, but I don't read it that way. I just see it as a plea to customers to follow through with their order if at all possible. For what it's worth, that's how I understand his message.

You are right - to think that you will get a resolution short of cancelling. I only chime in here because you mention “kaput” and that struck a chord because most of us could be in that position if the powers that be don’t let things get moving again.

In the past, I have also been a little put out to get a train invoice in advance of what I knew to be the likely shipping date, but this has NEVER been the case with 3rd Rail, who always tell you what the score is in terms of when the product will actually be despatched. (I particularly remember this in the context of a west coast dock strike when the GM Train of Tomorrow sets were caught up in delays.) Besides that, when the product arrives it’s always been worth the wait!

I also bear in mind that Scott does not ask for deposits (unlike many Lionel dealers).

FWIW, my reading of the email is the same as Country Joe’s. I wish both Scott and you well.