[djjeffhall]

I forgot one other factor. Flying Tigers may have separated the PE commision only orders from their "regular" orders.

Sometimes when we had a big release coming out, after I delivered all the product, I might run separate paperwork for orders with only the new title, and run everything else separately. Meaning if you only ordered PE, your order might have gone to the front of the queue. At least that's how I might have run it? Then again, I spent hours digging around in our computer system trying learn how to manipulate it just to see what I could get away with.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't panic if your order hasn't arrived in the next day or two. (Or even week.) I'm sure they are on the way, and from my (Admittedly limited.) dealing with Flying Tigers, they seem like good folks.

Yes, have the fun for me is guessing how it is all going to work out.

[Shawn 507]

Interesting, this may explain why I got 720 out of 750. If they are shipping them regardless of priority ( ie... who ordered first ) , by just putting them in a box and addressing them. Then its a lotto on which number you get. Not that such things matter to me, I'm just happy to have mine, and hope the second order comes thru while money is in the account.
-Shawn

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Hey folks,
The Flying Tigers newsletter just came out and according to it, they are still packing boxes, which to me makes perfect sense. All the orders were charged on the 5th when the stock came in, getting them turned around is another matter. (Yes, despite my previous statement that I wasn't getting one, I got one. )

Not to burst anyones bubble, but your order might not even be out the door yet. This is how I'm guessing its breaking down, based on my experience running a mail order warehouse.

I'm not sure how many folks FT has packing, but I can make a decent guess on how fast they are packing. I'm conservatively guessing that each packer is going to get 10-12 boxes packed per hour, times 6 hours a day. They might be able to push that up to 15-18 packages per hour but I doubt that would be a sustained rate. (This is factoring in lunches, coffee breaks and general water cooler chit chat.)

If you have two guys packing, all the 700 pre orders (Another guess.) are going to take 6-8 business days, as they are also probably processing a ton of other orders as well. (Folks ordering multiple planes pending the release of PE.)

Before you ask, its not really feasible to bring in extra hands just for a one off job like this. It does take some experience to learn to process and pack correctly. You are stuck with the crew you have. (It's not like a chain store, where you can plug someone into a very regimented routine right away.)

Presuming they started packing the business day after the cards were run (Check in will require counting the birds, making sure everything is in order and then delivering them into the system. After all that you get to run stacks of paperwork. A few might have gone out the same day, but unlikely unless their delivery was REALLY early in the morning.) then they might have everything packed by early next week. Depending on where you are in the queue, you might not even be out the door yet.

I ordered mine about this time last month, so I wouldn't be surprised if my order was still sitting on the shelf in the U.K. I figure I'll see my box in about 2 weeks from today.

[jim]

I have just received an email to say mine is on the way, AND the P40 . The P40 is as important to me as the PE, so its double fun time.

[djjeffhall]

Shawn507,
Hey there.

I was actually going to say something about numbers, but I plum forgot.

Martin spoke at some lenght about this on the old forum. The long and the short of it is, picking numbers for folks is just not a feasible option. Sure, the box with number 1-4 (Or 1-6, however many come to a case?) might be pulled aside if someone takes the time to open all the boxes, then pull one bird out to see if the number is low, but that is another VERY time consuming task. That would likely take several hours and with demand on this site (And I'm sure the U.K. forum.) FT is going to be inundated with, "Where's my order?" calls and emails.

Between packing the boxes in China, putting them on the pallet, (Or more likely pallets.) unloadin them, opening each case briefly to assure everything is in good order (And full), putting them onto the shelf at Flying Tigers, and then taking them down again for indivduals orders, there is NO WAY you can get the orders processed in the order they arrived.

Plus, you have folks who pre-order the PE commision early, but also order, lets say a Corgi Halifax which isn't out for a few months, and you cannot assure that the orders will spit out in the order taken. In fact, I can GUARENTEE you they will not process in the order taken.

Your number is a crap shoot. The only thing that the ordering system can promise is to hold one aside for you if you order it.

[djjeffhall]

Okay folks,
Everything I said about expecting to wait another two weeks just went right out the window. Mailman just handed me my bird.

[Shawn 507]

Jim-
Whats a P-40?
- Shawn

Originally Posted by jim

I have just received an email to say mine is on the way, AND the P40 . The P40 is as important to me as the PE, so its double fun time.

[jim]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

Jim-
Whats a P-40?
- Shawn

We are talking real metal here buddy, Tough, reliable, fast, yes I said fast.
It could take enormous battle damage and keep its pilot safe. Remember the famous photo of one with 50% of the wing shot away trailing to leading edge.
Recce ,dive bomber, fighter bomber, fighter. Scourge of the Luftwaffe in the desert. Master of the air in China.
Drop dead sexy aeroplane, cool camos Watta Girl.


I know you know that Shawn and you are just winding me up ,but thanks for the chance to extol the virtues one of the greatest aeroplanes the US ever made (and they have made plenty).

[duxford]

FOR THOSE OF YOU STILL WAITING..... YUP! I just had the little USPS wagon drive into my driveway.

I am watching Band of Brothers, and dusting my collection.

SO, I interrupt the showing to tell you that today is 09/06/07, The Royal Mail stamp reads 04/06/07. That is BY AIR. [postage was 10.02GBP]

PS: I never received an email from Flying Tigers UK. Just the VISA billing.

Now, back to...opening it. I think I'll wait for the little lady to get home from work so we both can enjoy the moment.

[Shawn 507]

Oh THAT P-40. Whew, atleast you weren't going on about the Spitfire.
- Shawn

Originally Posted by jim

We are talking real metal here buddy, Tough, reliable, fast, yes I said fast.
It could take enormous battle damage and keep its pilot safe. Remember the famous photo of one with 50% of the wing shot away trailing to leading edge.
Recce ,dive bomber, fighter bomber, fighter. Scourge of the Luftwaffe in the desert. Master of the air in China.
Drop dead sexy aeroplane, cool camos Watta Girl.


I know you know that Shawn and you are just winding me up ,but thanks for the chance to extol the virtues one of the greatest aeroplanes the US ever made (and they have made plenty).

[jim]

Spitfire comes number 2 in my list of greats. A very graceful lady but the P40 has more UMPH!