I think you hinted at the answer to your own question; no matter how often Flex uses the word "estimated", "proposed" or "expected" when it comes to shipping dates, people will consider those dates to be carved in stone and they will become irate if those dates aren't met. I understand Flex's need to generate excitement and pre-orders as early as they can, but considering the amount of dissatisfaction it can generate, if I ran Flex I'd be tempted not say a word about a new product until it was field tested and I had enough of them in stock to fulfill orders the day the product is announced. Elecraft plays the same game for the same reason and I see the same frustration developing after early product announcements are made. All this aside, the frustration of waiting for a new Flex radio really is trivial compared to being on a waiting list for a new liver. I hope that particular wait goes quickly for you! 73, Ken Alexander VE3HLS
________________________________ From: "Gordon P. Howell, Jr." <g...@wa4rts.net> To: FlexRadio reflector <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:22:07 AM Subject: [Flexradio] Why not a "best guess" on ship dates? I've been looking at all the comments from people, some saying their radios are going to ship, others just wondering if they ever will. I fall into the second category. I had hoped my 6700 would be here in time for FD, but in looking at the order numbers received so far, I am at least 150 away, despite having gotten on the signature list on May 22, 2012. My number is 3790. Perhaps Tim or one of the Flex folks could comment on why there cannot be some sort of listing, perhaps by by invoice number, or perhaps just noting that the next XXX radios that SHOULD ship by XX date and note that the list is subject to change. I am not asking for anything set in concrete just an estimate so I might make arrangements to be at home when Matt calls. Or perhaps the notification method is backwards, send me an email so that I don't have to be sitting on the keyboard at just the right time to get notified. I CAN call you back. Or, with your email confirmation I can call the credit card company and make the necessary arrangements on receipt. I don't want to sound like I am throwing any rocks at Flex, I am a fully committed user with 1500, 3000, and 5000 radios in my shack. Flex is a unique company in this day and age and I have been impressed both with the engineering and the customer service. I can understand the difficulty in ramping up a new production item, however I think FlexRadio needs to be a bit more sensitive to those of use who are still waiting and have been for more than a year. Without the loyal customer base that they have, sales would not be so great, so please, guys, take a little time to give many of us a rough idea of when we might expect to get excited. Perhaps that is too much to ask with everything else going on in Texas, but it sure would be nice to have a firmer idea when the tunnel will end. I know you are concerned that such a list would cause people to get even more riled up when you didn't make a proposed date, but I think that just saying what I have noted above would be somewhat comforting and not likely to generate a storm of calls and emails over and above what you are already getting. This wait process is at least as bad as the other one that I am in the middle of -- a call from the University of Virginia Transplant Center notifying me that they have a liver for me and get my backside moving North -- NOW! Still waiting on that one too… Thanks for listening Tim, Greg, Gerald, Matt and all the rest. Geep WA4RTS _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
