I would like to hear your opinion about preordering items. Do you think it´s worth it or do you think it´s better to wait till the item hits the stores?
Better in what way? Do you want really want/need that particular item or do you want to save some bucks?
What is your experience with limited edition items? I mean items of which you know that only a limited number will be produced?
The things I've pre-ordered I have regretted. For example:
1. I pre-ordered two of the original Proto-Heritage USRA 0-8-0 in NP scheme. When they hit the shelves they sat there for a few months and the price was lowered to way below what my pre-order discount was. Plus just recently Walther's re-ran them with better tender pick up AND sound.
2. Pre-ordered the Walther's Empire Builder set. Two years later they were selling all over for less than 1/2 price.
3. Pre-ordered the Broadway Limited GN S-2 loco. Waited, waited, waited, 10 years later still waiting.
4. Did not pre-order the 20th Century Passenger set. I've been able to pick them up through the last few years here and there for less that 1/3th it would have cost me to pre-order. The Kitchen-Dorm is still on the Trainworld site for $29.99 vs the original $79.
5. Did not pre-order the Walther's Pennsy Broadway Limited passenger set nor the UP Cities Of set. Prices have gone through the roof. Some of the UP domes are selling for 3x their original value. Am I worried? No, they will eventually re-run these. I will eventually get them all for a price I want to pay. There are plenty of model railroading products out there on my list that I can buy instead of the over priced "limited edition" ones.
6. I pre-ordered a Bachmann K27 that didn't come for years. More years later after they finally manufactured and delivered the unit, I picked up one on e-bay with a custom sound system for less than 1/2 the pre-order price.
Do you preorder these out of fear that you won´t get it otherwise, or do you still wait till it´s released because you are sure that the price will be lower than any preordering price even when you know the production of this item is very limited? Let me know your thoughts!
Nothing in model railroading is that "precious". Those who order out of fear are just falling into the vendor's trap, re-enforcing the vendor's marketing scheme, and driving up the prices for everyone.