I did a relatively quick look in the forums to see if there was any generic discussions about pre-orders and did not find one - I apologize if all of this ground has already been covered.
In the four months I have been vaping, it appears that more vendors are entering the "pre-order" approach for newly announced vaping gear (especifically mechanical mods). When you consider placing an order for a pre-order item, you need to consider a couple of points (all of which more experienced vapers than me already know I am sure).
First - not all vendors on line detail the information on their pre-orders. In other words, check with the vendor to see if they have already ordered the items or if they are waiting to see how many orders they receive before they order. This can make a huge difference in how long it will take to ultimately receive the item. Vendors who wait to receive the orders from customers prior to placing the order are kind of like a co-op order but provide more flexible payment methods. (Just my opinion there - do not feel the need to agree.) Some vendors have fairly detailed generic descriptions on how pre-orders are handled etc, and others do not mention handling pre-orders differently anywhere on their sites.
Second - do not bundle pre-order items and in stock items in the same order you place with a vendor UNLESS you are willing to receive all of the items together once the pre-order item is available. A lot of vendors will not split an order and pay for multiple shipping charges for one order. You just need to be aware and make informed decisions. Ultimately it might cost more to split your order up, but you will get the in stock items much quicker than the pre-order
Third - pricing. Sometimes you can be "rewarded" with a lower price for an item on a pre-order. You just have to be wiling to wait for the item. For example - a vendor might offer a lower price on a pre-order when it is first announced and then raise that price for new orders once the delivery date draws near or based on the demand the initial announcement has created.
Fourth - schedule - the vendor you are ordering from is going on the information they have received from the manufacturer. Don't kill the messenger. I am sure the vendors are given dates and then those dates can slip, etc. Which all comes back to - if you don't want to wait for a pre-order - don't place the order. Wait til it is in stock somewhere and order it through normal channels.
In the four months I have been vaping, it appears that more vendors are entering the "pre-order" approach for newly announced vaping gear (especifically mechanical mods). When you consider placing an order for a pre-order item, you need to consider a couple of points (all of which more experienced vapers than me already know I am sure).
First - not all vendors on line detail the information on their pre-orders. In other words, check with the vendor to see if they have already ordered the items or if they are waiting to see how many orders they receive before they order. This can make a huge difference in how long it will take to ultimately receive the item. Vendors who wait to receive the orders from customers prior to placing the order are kind of like a co-op order but provide more flexible payment methods. (Just my opinion there - do not feel the need to agree.) Some vendors have fairly detailed generic descriptions on how pre-orders are handled etc, and others do not mention handling pre-orders differently anywhere on their sites.
Second - do not bundle pre-order items and in stock items in the same order you place with a vendor UNLESS you are willing to receive all of the items together once the pre-order item is available. A lot of vendors will not split an order and pay for multiple shipping charges for one order. You just need to be aware and make informed decisions. Ultimately it might cost more to split your order up, but you will get the in stock items much quicker than the pre-order
Third - pricing. Sometimes you can be "rewarded" with a lower price for an item on a pre-order. You just have to be wiling to wait for the item. For example - a vendor might offer a lower price on a pre-order when it is first announced and then raise that price for new orders once the delivery date draws near or based on the demand the initial announcement has created.
Fourth - schedule - the vendor you are ordering from is going on the information they have received from the manufacturer. Don't kill the messenger. I am sure the vendors are given dates and then those dates can slip, etc. Which all comes back to - if you don't want to wait for a pre-order - don't place the order. Wait til it is in stock somewhere and order it through normal channels.
