The only thing I ever pre-ordered in this hobby (other than inexpensive small items made by short-run vendors, like some 3D prints) was Bachmann's Baldwin class 10 2-6-2T "trench engine" in On30, and that was because I'd read about the pre-production samples and how well they ran. I ordered mine from Train World, so I knew I could cancel it if I needed. It showed up soon enough and you've seen it in OGR last year.
I'm also into other hobbies and pre-order items are a staple in some of them. For example, I'm into sci-fi stuff and that is a very common business model. Also common there is the forums choked with threads about vendors who take your money, promise forever, until you can no longer contest the charge, then you're out of the money for good. And most of the time, they get away with it until someone does a USPS complaint. I started reading those early on and have never pre-ordered anything like that because it's so common. People prey on the "gotta have this thing" mindset all the time, and there's a long line of suckers just itching to be their next victim.
Not Me. If I miss it, then so be it. Have it in stock and if I want it, I'll pay you then.
