Pre-order question

[VRSS]

This is mainly for Admin but I would like the thoughts of other members on this.

Why not allow pre-order on ALL models for Biante members. We get a notification about the release of the new models a few days before they come on the open market. Why not allow MEMBERS to place a pre-order at this time.

For our overseas members it would make life easier and our local members wouldn't have to race home after work to order when it went on the market at lunchtime.

There must be a way to make sure the person pre-ordering IS a member by their number and password.

Just a thought to look after loyal members.

[loste_treasures]

i think admin has already answered this in another post.....

basically i think from memory he stated that Biante did have a pre-order system in the past but due the many payment rejections they had it wasnt possible to continue this service.

maybe admin could confirm (or correct) this...

[Richard Poole]

We have tried advanced ordering systems before for multiple items and there are so many things that can go wrong it made it almost impossible to do for more than 1 or 2 items at a time.

Problems such as if a model release date gets changed (which happens very regularly) you run the risk of credit cards expiring before you get the chance to process the orders, People don't know when to expect the model to arrive so they cannot organise to have money available on their credit cards, and if multiple items come in at once the cost may be too high to charge all at once.

With thousands of items being released through the site every year it is not possible to have advanced orders for every model.

Also, when a model is placed on advanced orders all it does is move the availability date forward. Instead of selling for example 50 models on the day the cars are released we would sell 50 models a few weeks before they arrive. There would still be the same rush of orders coming in.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.

Thanks.

[VRSS]

Thanks Richard,

But what I meant was only a few days prior. About the same time of the imminent release notification that is sent to members.

Surely members would be able to plan a few days ahead. They would have a better idea of their credit card balance and if they do stuff up, their order goes to the open market.

Ok, maybe doing every model would be a bit much, but how about specials like, for example, the Brock/Autoart car or the Brock VR. Both are sure to be hot sellers and will, most probably, be sold out within hours. If pre-order is available for the F... twin pack, why not other special cars.

Not everyone has access to the web at the time they go on sale and a few hours could make the difference between getting the model and being extorted on sale/auction sites.

I just hope that this weeks release of the white R8 might help bring the price of the red R8 down a bit from the $280 - $300 currently being asked (extorted). But I think I'm kidding myself.

[ZORAK]

Richard,

Lets cut to the chase here.... I may be wrong but I would be pretty keen to bet my DJR Sierra on the fact that it is only Biante Aussie models that sell out and double overnight. I have never seen any other brand do that. So that cuts the management down from thousands to maybe a hundred or so.

How does this sound....

Members open an account - an in the red/paid for in advance account. So for instance I open my account and put $200 in there. A new model is coming up for release and you send the notice. I log into my secure account and if I want the model I press the “ADVANCE ORDER� button (No funds, no Advanced Order button).

Biante wake up in the morning and there are 100 Advanced Orders waiting for them. Upon Biante accepting the orders my balance is reduced by the amount of the model and shipping.

Model is delayed a week - no skin off my nose, you already have my money, I just need to wait another week.

I am in the dentist's chair at 1pm Perth time, no worries, I “Advanced Ordered� the model three days ago.

As far as the rush of orders, you at least can break it up into 2 hits, the Advanced Orders and the website release orders. I don't care personally if it takes you a week or two to sort out the packaging and shipping, however, what does hurt is to find out a week or two later that your Biante dealer has left you hung out to dry and you are now paying double or more what the retail price was.

Oh, and yes a system can be built like that and automated to do as much as possible to reduce the load on Biante's staff and yes I can do it for you!

Z

[frosty]

Zorak,

A brilliant idea.

Now the ball is in Biante's court.

[loste_treasures]

i think zoran is onto a good point.....

this reminds me of a situation. i wonder if anyone has had a similar experience.

i had an experience where a collector (lets just say, Mr John Citizen) had placed a sierra on order from a 'reputable' biante dealer here in melbourne. he made sure everything was ok by ringing him a couple of weeks prior to the model being released and made sure he was still ok to get the model.

response was.....everythings ok.

No problems you think. well, tell you what. the day the model hit the stores he went to the same model dealer to get his model only to find that he missed out and that the dealer didnt have any for him. bad luck you might say......

well, figure this out. the same dealer not only had plenty of DJR Sierra's to fill the order (for his customers) but was actually selling them in two major auction sites for double the price!!!

i saw this dealers auctions and promptly rang him and asked if he had any spare? you know what he said. nope, all gone!!!

wheres the justice in that?? those of you in melbourne would probably know the dealer. i dont think its right that he should do something like that. do you??

lucky the collector didnt place any deposit, or maybe thats why he didnt get it?? i dont know. anyway the collector was a loyal customer, not now......

i had another experience where i have placed an order for a brock commodore. again everythings ok. because i found out what this other person went through, i decided to ring up the dealer i deal with. you know what he told me.

originally they were taking orders for the brock commodore. biante has now advised them that they have cut their limit down to 12 models. i was 14 on their list. they have now stopped taking orders on the brock. you know how many people are on their list to get one? ive seen it and its around 40 !!!!!

if i hadnt contacted them you think they would have rung me and told me this??? nope........

i guess the moral here is that when collectors place advance orders with dealers, make sure your going to get it. Dont take their word for it. sometimes it pays to place advance orders with a few dealers, that way making sure your going to get it at least from one person.

this leads me back to zorans point. if biante had an advanced ordering system at least it would guarantee that my order would be filled.

i dont mind paying up front. i dont even mind if theres going to be a delay in shippent. at least im going to get what i order...

you could also say that only deal with a reputable dealer. sure, thats true. my search continues for that reputable dealer.....

[jager]

As a more immediate solution to this problem what if Biante changed the time that new models were put on the site.

Obviously you can't please all of the people all of the time, but most of the posts I've read here suggest people find it difficult to get access to the net during business hours. Even where someone has net access at work many companies limit or monitor internet usage so buying a model isn't that easy.

What if all new models were put on the site at say 6.00 pm (W.A.). instead of the current practise of around noon. I appreciate this will disadvantage people who don't have internet accesss at home, but I would think this would be the minority (please tell me if I'm wrong) - and they can always stay later in the office if necessary which is a lot easier than trying to get home at lunchtime.

PS Sorry Richard, I know you want to have a life away from Biante but if it was just 1 or 2 days a month would you mind staying back an hour or two to help fellow collectors !

[admin]

A couple of responses.

Firstly for loste_treasures...I would like to know which dealer and which Brock Commodore is supposed to be cut back, because that is quite simply NOT TRUE. Some didn't order enough and tried for a second go after the orders closed but by then they were all allocated, but that is not being "cut back". Getting a bit sick of being used as the 'cop out' for other peoples inefficiencies.

For Jager....we deliberately put the cars on at 2pm Perth time (4pm EST) because for those in the eastern states with work computer access, they have an hour to order before knock off and for those without a computer at work, its only about an hour and a half til they get home. Trouble comes where the cars dont last an hour and a half. If we put them on at 6pm (8pm EST), there is no way they would last 13 hours til those who order at work arrive in the morning.

[loste_treasures]

Originally posted by admin
A couple of responses.

Firstly for loste_treasures...I would like to know which dealer and which Brock Commodore is supposed to be cut back, because that is quite simply NOT TRUE. Some didn't order enough and tried for a second go after the orders closed but by then they were all allocated, but that is not being "cut back". Getting a bit sick of being used as the 'cop out' for other peoples inefficiencies.

For Jager....we deliberately put the cars on at 2pm Perth time (4pm EST) because for those in the eastern states with work computer access, they have an hour to order before knock off and for those without a computer at work, its only about an hour and a half til they get home. Trouble comes where the cars dont last an hour and a half. If we put them on at 6pm (8pm EST), there is no way they would last 13 hours til those who order at work arrive in the morning.

Hi Admin,

Im talking about the Brock/Mezera 05 Commodore. The store is ***************** Victoria.

This is the same store i mentioned with the list i talked about in another post.

Thanks loste_treasures Got the point...I meant email me. ADMIN.

[ZORAK]

Hey admin, I don't mean to be a thorn in your side but I guess I must be as I have noticed that Biante never seems to respond to my suggestions or questions...

[admin]

Originally posted by ZORAK
Hey admin, I don't mean to be a thorn in your side but I guess I must be as I have noticed that Biante never seems to respond to my suggestions or questions...

Zorak...you are not..I am not sure what I am supposed to reply to!!

If its the suggestion that we hold cash or credit for products not yet available, we can't as it is against the law!! I am not registered as a money lender/bank/ financial institution etc.

Biante Bank....now there's a good idea!!

[admin]

To loste_treasures......that store has not been cut back and got way in excess of 12 Vr's.
Admin

[ferrari fan]

a retailstore from where I have had MORE than correct and exellent service over a LONG periot of time (more than 10 years) and who do mailouts all over the place is; Triking ,Wesley arcade, Perth. I am sure that this reputable retailshop will service more collectors HIGHLY RECOMENDED! :)

[Aussiecollector]

Sounds like more surveys are needed prior to production.
The idea of letting us the collectors know what the models for the year might be ( nothing concrete but hey guys this is what we thought we might make this year). Then Biante, via the website and their dealers could survey the collectors, get an idea of the interest in a particular model and base the release numbers on that. Or have two releases of the cars.

McLaren have done it this year taking advance orders of the West Branded cars, they offered the deal in March with delivery in December, Ill bet by now (Sept/Oct) they know exactly how many are required for this year, in comparison to other years when they over made and were left with thousands of DC 1/18th cars that took 3 years to sell out after discounting. I have ordered mine by securing the purchase with credit card that is not debited until the cars are sent from the UK, I also do this via another dealer on Canada to ensure that I get special releases that may not arrive in Australia or will be very limited when they arrive.

Pre-order surveys for very special releases would be great because it would minimise the agony for many fairdinkum collectors, and slow the profits of the greedy dealers.

Glenn

[loste_treasures]

Originally posted by admin
To loste_treasures......that store has not been cut back and got way in excess of 12 Vr's.
Admin

Hi admin,

Thanks for letting me know. Tell you what, they have now lost my loyalty.

I guess i have to do some shopping around and find a store that values its customers.

Thanks again for the valuable information.

[Aussiecollector]

I Guess we will see at least 6 of the 12 on the net (ebay and sold), within 24 hours of release.

This is Traffic we are talking about is'nt it.

[loste_treasures]

we shouldnt accuse anyone of doing anything wrong in here, should we?

however for those of you who use ebay or sold, it shouldnt be hard to see who did it.

:p

[admin]

Originally posted by Aussiecollector
I Guess we will see at least 6 of the 12 on the net (ebay and sold), within 24 hours of release.

This is T*****c we are talking about is'nt it.

NO it isn't actually.
Admin

[oldxr]

loste_treasures, i used to deal with the same shop a while ago but kept having proplems with cars becoming sold out before i could get them to even order them for me. eg. this one was the last staw, after having continually asking then about a Greg Moore Indy car (well before he died ) and being told "not released yet" finding one in the Melbourne Trading Post for sale, went back to G**** W**** Northland and was again told "not released yet, decided never to even walk into that shop again.
Now deal with what i concider to be the best model shop in melbourne.
can put you on to him