Accucraft Delivery Dates

[railwayman198]

I have a couple of Accucraft locos on order but the expected delivery dates keep slipping. The WD Baldwin I ordered last summer with anticipated delivery November 2015 has slipped several times and is now saying expected June 2016. The story with the IoM railcar is much worse but I guess that is a 'special' so not so surprising.

Is this normal for Accucraft? Or are they concentrating their efforts on G1 and 7/8ths nowadays?

 

[G-force1]

Absolutely it is. I have in the past had stuff on order for more than a year (nearly two). They seem to have a different policy to Roundhouse in that R/house appear to set a date and stick to it, whilst Accu set an required order number and stick to that, so if insufficient orders are received by the due date they just extend until they are.

Seems to be a fact of life in this game. It has caused me to change my ordering strategy somewhat. One or two suppliers are trying hard to negate the problems caused as they also see it a problem.

As to efforts being in differing directions, who knows. We can surmise.

 

[andyspencer]

I've spoken to Accucraft several times over recent months about their lead times. I've had a W&L hunslet on order since May last year with a August 2015 planned delivery. Its currently Sept 2016 best case... After speaking with them, it appears to be an issue at the factory and other countries products getting priority over the UK models. Maybe Accucraft UK should look at getting their own factory and work things like Roundhouse do. To have had a model on order for what will be over a year and then for it to increase in price by £300 isn't good. I know of someone who may cancel their order due to this situation.
To be fair to the supplier I've ordered it from, they are hoping to keep the selling price at what it was when I ordered.

 

[stockers]

A fairly typical story of far eastern supply, I am sorry to say.
If Accucraft made locally then they would cost as much as a Roundhouse.
The smaller gauges have exactly the same situation.

 

[chris stockdale]

I suspect that Accucraft UK are somewhat frustrated too.

As far as I know the 'problem' is indeed the factory, plus the success of the overall range of products, meaning that a finite number of bods at the factory in China can only produce so much in a given time.

What is produced/shipped is influenced, but not controlled by Accucraft UK, which is a separate company.

Whilst getting production done elsewhere might be an option it's certainly not the sort of thing that happens overnight.

And thus, as ever, our choice remains s simple one; if you like the product you wait. If your cash is burning a hole in your pocket you're free to use it where you will. At least we haven't put any money down, so we've lost zilch beyond, perhaps, a little patience.

Cheers,

 

[Troublesome Truck]

I have a couple of Accucraft locos on order but the expected delivery dates keep slipping. The WD Baldwin I ordered last summer with anticipated delivery November 2015 has slipped several times and is now saying expected June 2016. The story with the IoM railcar is much worse but I guess that is a 'special' so not so surprising.

Is this normal for Accucraft? Or are they concentrating their efforts on G1 and 7/8ths nowadays?

I've spoken to Accucraft several times over recent months about their lead times. I've had a W&L hunslet on order since May last year with a August 2015 planned delivery. Its currently Sept 2016 best case... After speaking with them, it appears to be an issue at the factory and other countries products getting priority over the UK models. Maybe Accucraft UK should look at getting their own factory and work things like Roundhouse do. To have had a model on order for what will be over a year and then for it to increase in price by £300 isn't good. I know of someone who may cancel their order due to this situation.
To be fair to the supplier I've ordered it from, they are hoping to keep the selling price at what it was when I ordered.

I've had an Accucraft Mannin on order since December 2014. It was originally advertised as a 2015 model but was 'brought forward' to 2014 then 2013 due to 'customer interest'. It is now 3 years overdue and still keeps slipping back by a month every few weeks! I keep reminding myself that the original loco for the Isle of Man Railway was designed built and delivered in about half that time!
If they are working on the number of units ordered I think this could go on forever as I am sure some long standing customers will have got fed up and cancelled their orders in that time (or even heaven forbid passed away), and indeed I am seriously considering cancelling mine. It really isn't a good way to get a loyal customer base!
As has been said elsewhere this is outside the control of Accucraft UK and the retailer but they are the ones losing out unfortunately.

 

[Trainman 864]

As has been said elsewhere this is outside the control of Accucraft UK and the retailer but they are the ones losing out unfortunately.

I don't think it's just outside the control of the regional offices of Accucraft - It's also outside the control of the parent company in the States. The fundamental cause of the problem is the enormous socio - economic changes in China that have made it increasingly difficult for the old business model of high quality - low cost production to work any longer.

And its not just deliveries that are suffering - it's also quality - and for me the situation has got to the point where I cannot rely on previously reliable Chinese suppliers and I will only make future purchases, whether new or second hand, if I can see the actual model and in the case of locomotives, see them running first.

I have a couple of Accucraft locos on order but the expected delivery dates keep slipping. The WD Baldwin I ordered last summer with anticipated delivery November 2015 has slipped several times and is now saying expected June 2016. The story with the IoM railcar is much worse but I guess that is a 'special' so not so surprising.

Is this normal for Accucraft? Or are they concentrating their efforts on G1 and 7/8ths nowadays?

To anybody thinking of buying a locomotive from China, I would advise them to place an order with a supplier who does not reqire a deposit and then just forget about it and carry on as if it never existed. At some point in the future when (or if) the item turns up it's a pleasant surprise and you haven't had to worry about all the delays in the meantime.

The only problem with that strategy is that it can catch you out - my last Accucraft loco had been on order for over a year and I had pretty much given up on it and bought a Bowande Black Five instead. Then - blow me down! - the very next week I get an e-mail from Accucraft telling me my loco was now in the country and imminently available, so I was then faced with the difficult decision as to whether or not to accept it.

In the event I did - although not without some embarrassment in the credit card department! ....

 

[G-force1]

It has just happened to me. Stuff I was watching and was going to order closer to the due date (next month!) has suddenly jumped away by four months. I think that perhaps I now won't bother at all as it will perhaps arrive in time for winter. Amused? Absolutely NOT!

I have also been modifying two W&L waggons and they are from two batches about 5 - 6 years apart. The quality of the latest one is nowhere near as good as the first.