After all the talk, is is interesting to note the first poster found out news, BY RINGING. He then shared the info. Seems to me if you want to know what's happening, is to Ring and ask. In this case we know Bob'd Hobbies is intertwined witnTrainorama, so ringoing the shop works.

The method of communication is rather old but still works.

Regards,
David Head

David, This is the whole point of what I've been trying to get across!!!

The OP had to ring to find out some news. There are (let's say) 1,000 people, probably more, who are hangin' out for these 48s to arrive. Some maybe couldn't care less when they finally arrive, whilst others DO.....so they ring up to find out what's happening. What a pain in the arze for the staff at Bob's Hobbies; having to answer the phone 500 times a day with dipsticks (aka "customers") having the audacity to be ringing to find out when their ROI (return on investment) is going to arrive!!!.

Now, even IF Trainorama/Bob's Hobbies is such a successful company that they have pre-sold all their 48s and 830s (and therefore have no reason to advertise), what about keeping their funding source (that horrible group of people commonly known as "customers") informed via a relatively cheap (if not effectively "free") medium of Faecesbook and/or their website.

Yes, doing that would involve some poor bastard having to wear his/her fingers down to the bone as they slaved over a steaming hot keyboard for....oh, I dunno.....about 5 minutes maybe....to post an update that might just save a few hundred of those pesky incoming phone calls.

Flamin' heck.....is this rocket science???

Roachie

By thinking . We will take your money and no communication from then .

Then they wont be in business much longer . Once the customer has been burnt they usually don't return .

Fair call in some areas however, while models from TOR are late & those who paid for them are very wary in doing business again & the prmary object of the complaints, seems that others have been perfect in keeping all informed & with so many models also arriving & not out of order of announcement, as I have already noted, how come its seemingly not affecting them?

The OP had to ring to find out some news. There are (let's say) 1,000 people, probably more, who are hangin' out for these 48s to arrive. Some maybe couldn't care less when they finally arrive, whilst others DO.....so they ring up to find out what's happening. What a pain in the arze for the staff at Bob's Hobbies; having to answer the phone 500 times a day with dipsticks (aka "customers") having the audacity to be ringing to find out when their ROI (return on investment) is going to arrive!!!.

Alternately, the person rings them and then posts on here and Facebook as was apparently done.

So you all know about it anyway......

Craig W

Fair call in some areas however, while models from TOR are late & those who paid for them are very wary in doing business again & the prmary object of the complaints, seems that others have been perfect in keeping all informed & with so many models also arriving & not out of order of announcement, as I have already noted, how come its seemingly not affecting them?

Since Auscision announced their 48 / 830 class project I wonder how many people have cancelled their order with Trainorama . Or have put of buying extra models getting closer to release .

I am one who have paid a deposit for 4 / 830 class with a piping shrike nearly 5 years ago .

To be told 6 weeks ago . Now only 3 models with a the SAR shrike being done and you have to wait ??? months or a year plus before getting the third one as they are doing e rerun of the GM class in between the 48 / 830 2nd delivery .

Am I a happy customer ? No

Will I do a pre order with Trainorama again ? No

Have I been burnt by other train hobbies companies before with pre orders ? Yes .


There is some talk that Trainorama will do a SAR 600 class in the furture . A loco that I would love to have . I will not do a pre order with them again or some other companys .

So in some way the pre order funding source will disappear from some companys .

Also if people wish to have a go at me . It's my money as a customer so my decision where it goes .

So Aaron you do the breakfast shift At McDonald's , Lunch shift at KFC , After noon tea shift at Wendy's , tea shift at Hungry jacks then do a shift delivering pizza's .

They all advertise, and oddly enough, are seldom fully subscribed.

You're right Roachie.  Give it up!  You can't inform or teach some people.

I ran a business based on attending to the needs of customers and keeping them happy.  It worked!  In the brave new world of the internet the customer seems to be a nuisance.  Counting minutes needed to answer a request as a cost!  Glad I have retired from that sort of rat race.

Regards,
John

Did you run your business by selling more product than you could source? I bet you didn't, and if you did, feel free to enlighten us as to how you kept the customers happy when this happened.

Since Auscision announced their 48 / 830 class project I wonder how many people have cancelled their order with Trainorama . Or have put of buying extra models getting closer to release .

I am one who have paid a deposit for 4 / 830 class with a piping shrike nearly 5 years ago .

To be told 6 weeks ago . Now only 3 models with a the SAR shrike being done and you have to wait ??? months or a year plus before getting the third one as they are doing e rerun of the GM class in between the 48 / 830 2nd delivery .

Am I a happy customer ? No

Will I do a pre order with Trainorama again ? No

Have I been burnt by other train hobbies companies before with pre orders ? Yes .


There is some talk that Trainorama will do a SAR 600 class in the furture . A loco that I would love to have . I will not do a pre order with them again or some other companys .

So in some way the pre order funding source will disappear from some companys .

Also if people wish to have a go at me . It's my money as a customer so my decision where it goes .

No idea how many have cancelled models, but I don't personally know of any that have.

My understanding that the GM run is the remaining numbers that were not done in the first run. Thus its a completion of that order. The 48cl delivery following the GM's are the Mk 3 & 4 there are 3 runs all up to follow on from the 1st 48ck run.

I have been caught out by others, & who hasn't? & again I point to the most popular company that seems to appease the majority especially when looking at the comments on their FB page. How many of their models that have been announced for some time now, orders opened with deposits some with the EB savings, & when has their been any updates on them?  Have noticed quite a few questions regarding some but they are ignored, & they are supposed to be the best.

I see the pre-order option being cut the result of things that are often beyond the control of the importers & that applies to them all.  

I do not see that I am having a go at you, just trying to be fair in all of this & not giving a preference to one of them against another, as I have experienced both good & bad from them all.  Agreed that whatever anyone chooses to put their money into is their business & decision & thats one of the benefits of a democratic country.

Did you run your business by selling more product than you could source? I bet you didn't, and if you did, feel free to enlighten us as to how you kept the customers happy when this happened.

Since I was importing most of the goods I sold, at times delivery could be delayed.  If there was a delay I would contact the customer and apologize for the delay and give a new estimated delivery date.  The other means of keeping the punters happy was to give them advice on technical matters to assist them to understand the applications and limitations of the gear they were buying.

At quarter past two in the morning I can hardly really be bothered thinking too much about this, but at 6.30 I will head to work for the day and just quickly off the top of my head will deal with 5 companies that do not advertise, companies founded in the 60s and 70s, sometimes earlier than that, seem to be surviving just nicely. There is little point in advertising a product that is fully subscribed, or will be shortly before, or even shortly after release. In Australia at least, it is illegal to sell a product more than once, so what would the advertising* gain them?

Ok Aaron . Please tell me what 5 companies that you visited today that can survive without advertising .

I think that you forget that Trainorama have been holding other peoples money for some time and people liked to be inform with what is happening with their investment .

For some reason it makes sense to update their website etc to have more time free to run a business . Instead of keeping it's customers in the dark which leads to on going phone calls and emails . Which would be wasting more of the time telling each person one on one instead of a group information session .

Auscision's FB page reads that limited SSR class' are available but the website says SOLD OUT

Also their FB page informs that certain 45's are SOLD OUT but this is not reflected on the webpage

This is an absolutely devastating misuse of 'free' digital media marketing - what is the world coming to?

I don't think I'll recover from this...

Why me?

Auscision's FB page reads that limited SSR class' are available but the website says SOLD OUT

Also their FB page informs that certain 45's are SOLD OUT but this is not reflected on the webpage

This is an absolutely devastating misuse of 'free' digital media marketing - what is the world coming to?

I don't think I'll recover from this...

Why me?

Did you telephone?

I think they have a "landline"

Regards

Catchpoint

http://www.endofthelinehobbies.com.au/news

There is some information on the delivery of the 48 / 830 class loco's on the End of the lines hobbies shop website .

Why cant Trainorama keep it's customers informed on their website ?


For those people who order 4 / 830 class a long time ago .

Then 8 weeks ago now only doing 3 / 830 class with a shrike .

Going By the info now only 2 / 830 with a shrike .

http://www.endofthelinehobbies.com.au/news

There is some information on the delivery of the 48 / 830 class loco's on the End of the lines hobbies shop website .

Why cant Trainorama keep it's customers informed on their website ?


For those people who order 4 / 830 class a long time ago .

Then 8 weeks ago now only doing 3 / 830 class with a shrike .

Going By the info now only 2 / 830 with a shrike .

Maybe ring TOR or the shop to confirm what an agent is saying, then make the comments based on horses mouth.

Hi,

When I spoke with Trainorama on the phone a month ago to confirm my order I was told there would be 2 shipments of SAR 830's. Two in the first shipment expected the end of Nov/early Dec 2014 and 2 in the second shipment next year.

Denis

Hi,

When I spoke with Trainorama on the phone a month ago to confirm my order I was told there would be 2 shipments of SAR 830's. Two in the first shipment expected the end of Nov/early Dec 2015 and 2 in the second shipment next year.

Denis

Ok, now the truth is out...    


Paul

Hi,

When I spoke with Trainorama on the phone a month ago to confirm my order I was told there would be 2 shipments of SAR 830's. Two in the first shipment expected the end of Nov/early Dec 2015 and 2 in the second shipment next year.

Denis

I'm confused.  Is the second shipment coming in 2015 or 2016?

Mark

Maybe ring TOR or the shop to confirm what an agent is saying, then make the comments based on horses mouth.

When I spoke to the horses mouth direct 6 or 8 weeks ago is when I was told that 4 / 830 class loco's with a shrike had become 3 / 830 class loco's with a shrike .

4 weeks before that time I was also told by the horses mouth that they where still doing 4 / 830 class with a shrike just a change of loco numbers from years ago .

End of the line hobbies shop is my local . What I have been told before over the counter or see on the there website always comes true .

So when they say that now only 2 / 830 class with a shrike being done . I tend to believe them .


Instead of Trainorama who keep changing  there plans without telling there investors / customers with what is happening with this loco saga .

I think the first shipment is on the way, however some are saying one russet version might have already arrived ??
The next two shipments are in 2015, due in January and March. Subject to Chinese New Year of course  I am led to believe the models will be on the assembly benches from early December to March, with three planned shipments.
I think that is a fairly accurate summary, and I should get a return call early this week.

Note If you are not worried about the loco numbers you originally ordered ring the shop, and see if you can swap your order into the first arriving delivery. Those who require particular numbers will just be patient
Cheers
Rod

The last 7 posts show what a mess of rumours, "I said", "He Said", "My local hobbyshop said" has occurred just because the 'Horses Mouth' can't find 5 minutes to put THE FACTS on their website for their customers (current and future) to read.

I think there is more coming out the other end of the horse at the moment.

Paul

First off, I am not interested in a 48cl be it from TOR or Auscision, but I am also still waiting for a fully paid up model from another company that is as long winded as the 48cl, maybe not quite as long but it certainly seems that way. Since that time with all the issues in China only two of the companies that used the old Chinese factory Austrains with their 81/G/BL's without much fanfare nor reviews from any.  TOR has brought out the GM with another batch to come in the New Year.  The third company has brought out one also after a long wait, & with very much mixed news over the years.

The one thing else that has happened after some years of nothing has been the change of ownership of TOR & the West Ryde shop which took place after several years of nothing in both news & models.  With the change of ownership the new owner has at least done his best to get the long winded models produced & to the modellers hands & with the imminent arrival of the 48cl there is still the one aspect that continues & that is the criticism regarding how its being delivered.

From my understanding the range of 48 & 830's are to be done but for reasons that have to do with arrangements with their new factory the first lot will come in more than one shipment, then the next versions being the Mk3 & 4's will come after Chinese New Year, along with the remaining GM numbers. If I had the same level of assurance with the model I am waiting on that was supposed to have been in production 5 odd years ago & has had painted samples with sounds emitting from it at least 4 years back, I would be more than happy, also I think those who are considering cancelling for the other super duper version would seem a strange option as by the time that version arrived the TOR version would have well & trully been delivered.

As for the news of them from the shop, several have indicated that when they have rang the shop they have recieved positive news as to what is happening, yet should you email or ring the other company with the long winded models & ask whats happening, you get no response by email, No news if the phone answered which is the same as at exhibitions, who then is worse?    

In the end, it appears as if every little bit of information even the positive stuff is subject to ridicule one or another when it comes to TOR.

All,

Talk about a whale of a typo, I really meant 2014 not 2015 and I have I have corrected my message.

Denis

In the end, it appears as if every little bit of information even the positive stuff is subject to ridicule one or another when it comes to TOR.

Well this is the Trainorama thread a6et .


The 48 / 830 class project has hit 6 or 7 years plus now . In that time a car could of gone from the drawing board into production .

In the March 2009 Trainorama catalogue . Models to be done . 13 models of the NSW 48 class , 4 models of the SAR 830 with a shrike .

So with info on their website date 2 months ago . There is a delivery of models over a couple runs

first delivery run ,

10 models of the 48 class and 1 or 2 of the SAR 830 with a shrike . These models would of had deposits or are fully paided many years ago .

Since a few years ago Trainorama have not taken money for this project .

Now my biggest problem with Trainorama .

Is for some reason they have decided to make some extra models . ( NSW mustard pot version of the 830 class ) which have NO deposits etc . on them .

And they have decided to put these models into production before they do all the SAR 830  versions with a shrike which have had deposits or are fully paided up many years ago .

To me it is very much giving the finger to there long suffering SAR customers .

Well this is the Trainorama thread a6et .


The 48 / 830 class project has hit 6 or 7 years plus now . In that time a car could of gone from the drawing board into production .

In the March 2009 Trainorama catalogue . Models to be done . 13 models of the NSW 48 class , 4 models of the SAR 830 with a shrike .

So with info on their website date 2 months ago . There is a delivery of models over a couple runs

first delivery run ,

10 models of the 48 class and 1 or 2 of the SAR 830 with a shrike . These models would of had deposits or are fully paided many years ago .

Since a few years ago Trainorama have not taken money for this project .

Now my biggest problem with Trainorama .

Is for some reason they have decided to make some extra models . ( NSW mustard pot version of the 830 class ) which have NO deposits etc . on them .

And they have decided to put these models into production before they do all the SAR 830 versions with a shrike which have had deposits or are fully paided up many years ago .

To me it is very much giving the finger to there long suffering SAR customers .

Fair enough that its a Traino thread, but I see nothing that is worse than any of the others.......

Fair enough that its a Traino thread, but I see nothing that is worse than any of the others.......

How quickly we forget how long it took to deliver the Eureka R class, or BGM's J class kit..........

To me it is very much giving the finger to there long suffering SAR customers .

BB on the other hand you might look at yourself as fortunate you will get any model, even if it is a bit late.  Bear in mind that the company you ordered from all those years ago went to the wall and was bailed out by one of the shareholders.  Big Bad Bob has been good enough to honour existing orders.

OK delivery is long delayed.  I recall when I placed my order, I think in 2008, that I was required to pay in full and not a deposit because this was to be a rapid delivery project.  Ah well.  The best laid plans of mice and men!  Nevertheless it looks like within the next few months we will get the models ordered all those years ago.  As a6et says, TrainO is not Robinson Crusoe when it comes to order delays.