Allied has 15,000 backorders

[turksheadsw]

I just got off the phone (4:30PM EST on Nov 7, 2012) and was informed that they have "over 15,000 on backorder", that they are unable to provide any kind of lead time or indication of when this will be delivered. He said "maybe december", but back in August he said "maybe october".

If there are really that many units back ordered, why doesn't Raspberry Pi come out and say something on their homepage or warn people? Why not add capacity where there is clearly demand?

Anyhow, you should be forewarned that they are completely behind.

[W. H. Heydt]

Actually...*Allied* should have an estimated delivery time on *their* web page.

[sdjf]

Thanks for the information. If they can generate those statistics, someone there also should be able to guestimate which orders will be filled from their current stock (if any) as well as when they get their next shipment of Pis in. I think they get their Pis from RS, their parent company as I understand it.

If you read the current posts in the pinned thread RS & Allied Update thread, you will see that Mike@RS says they will be posting an updated RS shipping schedule later this week. Since Vic@RS said at the start of that thread, that they would work on and soon be providing a shipping schedule for Allied Customers as well, I am hoping that will happen at the same time.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 29#p210329

What I am wondering about, as well, is whether they have shipped all the Rev 1 boards, given someone else posting a message that they were told that all August orders are getting shipped Rev 1. boards. If there is no stock at Allied, and if that information for that August customer is true, that would mean that they are still manufacturing with Rev1 boards, or that RS is sitting on more Rev1 boards they have not yet dumped on Allied. I hope whoever told him that was talking through their hat and did not know.

The inconcsistent information is a bit crazy making. I hope they come through with some helpful facts when they post their next update at the end of the week.

[turksheadsw]

Thanks for the information. If they can generate those statistics, someone there also should be able to guestimate which orders will be filled from their current stock (if any) as well as when they get their next shipment of Pis in. I think they get their Pis from RS, their parent company as I understand it.

Apparently the problem is that the can't figure out when their next shipment will be. The gentleman I spoke with said that they did not have that information and had not been able to get it.

What I am wondering about, as well, is whether they have shipped all the Rev 1 boards, given someone else posting a message that they were told that all August orders are getting shipped Rev 1. boards. If there is no stock at Allied, and if that information for that August customer is true, that would mean that they are still manufacturing with Rev1 boards, or that RS is sitting on more Rev1 boards they have not yet dumped on Allied. I hope whoever told him that was talking through their hat and did not know.

The gentleman I spoke with said they were anticipating shipping Rev2 boards. However, that could be complete BS he was feeding me to keep me from canceling my order.

[turksheadsw]

Actually...*Allied* should have an estimated delivery time on *their* web page.

I agree. However, Raspberry Pi is sending people to order from these companies. If those companies aren't doing the job of fulfilling, it makes Raspberry Pi look bad.

My whole enthusiasm for the Pi is wasted because I haven't been able to procure one.

From what I can tell, this is either an issue the foundation doesn't recognize or doesn't care about. I find that hard to believe, so it'd be nice if they provided some information and gave some indication as to what they are trying to do to solve the issue.

At the very least, providing potential paying customers with an indication as to where they can actually acquire the product would be helpful. If Allied (or any other partner) is so backed up that it takes more than 6 months to receive an order, something should be said somewhere or the link to that provider should be removed.

"It's not our fault" is a pretty lame excuse.

I'm glad I only tried to by two and not more. Which is unfortunate, because I was planning on buying a bunch more. At this point, I'm looking at alternatives. I can't imagine I'm alone in that, and if that's the case, how does that help Raspberry Pi in the long run?

[RaTTuS]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 23&t=22508

[Mike@RS]

Hi - all Allied orders outstanding will be fulfillled between now and mid-December. I'll ask the team to get a shipping update from Allied we can share in the next couple of weeks.

[jamesh]

Actually...*Allied* should have an estimated delivery time on *their* web page.

I agree. However, Raspberry Pi is sending people to order from these companies. If those companies aren't doing the job of fulfilling, it makes Raspberry Pi look bad.

My whole enthusiasm for the Pi is wasted because I haven't been able to procure one.

From what I can tell, this is either an issue the foundation doesn't recognize or doesn't care about. I find that hard to believe, so it'd be nice if they provided some information and gave some indication as to what they are trying to do to solve the issue.

At the very least, providing potential paying customers with an indication as to where they can actually acquire the product would be helpful. If Allied (or any other partner) is so backed up that it takes more than 6 months to receive an order, something should be said somewhere or the link to that provider should be removed.

"It's not our fault" is a pretty lame excuse.

I'm glad I only tried to by two and not more. Which is unfortunate, because I was planning on buying a bunch more. At this point, I'm looking at alternatives. I can't imagine I'm alone in that, and if that's the case, how does that help Raspberry Pi in the long run?

It's not our fault!

We do recognise the problem, and do care about it. But we cannot force the distributors to do things, we can only give advice. If they chose not to take advice, the Foundation is stuffed. Contracts say what either party can or cannot do, before anyone says we should jump ship.