Pre-orders

[ezdays]

I was just looking though the email sent to me by Model Railroader and noticed that there was an HO engine that they were taking orders for. This one you needed to place your order by 3-29-23, and expect the engine sometime in the spring of 2024. That means they aren't even tooled up for manufacturing and may not if they don't get enough pre-orders. There is no other industry that I know that does this. Some industries, like custom furniture will make you something to order, but to show you a manufactured product that doesn't exist in hopes that they can sell enough up front to justify manufacturing them, or they just cancel all the orders.

There is no risk to the manufacturer and I think that is an absurd way to do business. "Oh boy, I really like the pictures of that Boffo II pickup truck, can I see one?". The automobile sales guy, "well, we're taking pre-orders and Ford says that if we sell enough they will start tooling up so you have have yours in about two years, will that be cash or credit?".

How effective is this? How many of you actually do pre-order and wait a year for delivery? Is that engine or car that unique that it's worth paying for it a year in advance? I'm not saying that it's wrong, but I'm at the age that if I see something I want, than I want it now, and sometimes even a back order on an existing product is unacceptable.