Latest Order and Shipping update from RS & Allied

[Jo@RS]

Hi Everyone, I’ve set up this thread to update you on our latest order and shipping status.

We have been advised that our next batch of approximately 40,000 Raspberry Pi’s will now be arriving during September, with further deliveries expected in October. This delay is due to the very high level of demand on the core Raspberry Pi processor chip.

Unfortunately, this means that some orders could face shipping delays, although we are trying to reduce this as much as possible. We have updated our delivery schedule* below. All customers who are affected by this delay will receive an email from RS Components and Allied Electronics on Tuesday 28th August, giving details of expected delays. As soon as we receive confirmation of any improvements from our manufacturers, we will advise you.

Please accept our apologies for this delay and be assured we are doing everything we can to ensure the fastest possible delivery of your Raspberry Pi.

Jo

*Please note: timings provided are an estimate, and will be subject to change dependant on supply dates and demand patterns. There may be some exceptions to the table below

[rmwebs]

Jo,

Whilst your here could you explain whats going on with communication? A number of us have tried getting in touch via email and get no response. When you phone you get told to email.

There seems to be a huge lack of communication or any sort of customer support coming from your end. You've got a lot of annoyed customers on these forums.

Obviously something went wrong on your end as the shipping times are being pushed back significantly, whilst Farnell are able to take an order and have the Pi shipped within 2-3 weeks.

Could you provide some information with regards to :

A) A contactable email address (every single email address given out so far results in no response at all)
B) A reason as to whats causing the delay to orders that are already in the queue. I can understand NEW orders being delayed, but you've got outstanding orders going back to the end of June / beginning of July here...something must have happened if those allocated products are no longer available. I'm hoping that its not due to any form of preference to bulk sales (or even sales to the likes of Maplin) however I'd guess that this information wont be provided either way.

As it stands I received the delay email earlier today, and have cancelled my order and re-placed it with Farnell. I've still got one order with you, and it looks like I wont be getting that until December at the earliest.

I can appreciate that you are getting hammered with sales and emails, but you really do need to take a leaf out of E14/Farnell's book here. Clearly they are doing something right if they have their lead times down to 3 weeks while yours are at an estimated 9-12 weeks at best.

If I'm completely frank and honest, I feel betrayed and cast aside by RS. You've made no effort to contact people prior to today with any form of update, theres no way of tracking orders, etc. Surely it would have made sense to be sending, say a monthly email out to people waiting saying "Here's the latest shipping estimates" instead of people having to root around a forum to find an answer?

The whole thing feels very 'hush-hush'. If there is a supply or component issue - tell people. As it stands its coming across as a bit of a Mickey Mouse operation.

[Cotard]

I ordered the raspberry pi July 4 and tells me to wait 12 weeks for delivery. And now, after all this time are now 8 weeks. Why? element14 told me five weeks and were one. I am surprised that in the email I received today does not give me a clear option to cancel the order.

I really do not feel like trouble, I just want that if RS say 12 weeks, which are many, are met and send it paid on July 4.

Sorry for my English.

[W. H. Heydt]

Thanks for the update and the (estimated) shipping schedule.

Now for a supplemental request... While they are of lower priority, could you post an estimated shipping schedule for your *cases*, too? They appear to be very nearly as back-logged as the Pis themselves.

[jesus225]

First of all, thank you for the update.

I placed my order 4th July, so taking a look at the new shipping table I understand that my RPI should be delivered within the 12-18th november slot, however, I haven't received any email from your side. At this point, I don't even know if my RPI will be delayed or it will be send before the end of september (which in fact was my first estimated date for dispatching). Could you please give me some clarification with regard to this matter?

Kind regards.

[kernel610]

Hi Jo

Thank you for the update. Since this new estimate is pushing the delivery out another month, I may have a new address at that time. How do I go about changing the delivery address since no one has had success with any of the contact information previously provided?

[mwrich4]

Hi,

I ordered a Pi, clear case plus other goodies with order number 811xx on June 20, 2012.

I've sent a few emails and received no replies.

Any words of encouragement ? ( the new schedule doesn't address the MIAs )

[kspn]

...I ordered a Pi, clear case plus other goodies with order number 811xx on June 20, 2012.

I've sent a few emails and received no replies.

Any words of encouragement ? ( the new schedule doesn't address the MIAs )

Hi Jo,

I am also interested in what has happened to the MIA RasPi devices, I ordered mine on June 21 as well (850xx) and according to the table it should already have been delivered, I can understand that there has been a massive backlog, but I placed an order at *14 on 23rd Jul, and it was delivered within 7 days.

I also happened to order a clear case with my RasPi as well.

Thanks for your time and assistance Jo

K

[Nige C]

I ordered my Raspberry on 27th June my order number begins with 1010******
According to your table I should have my Pi by now!

I had an email yesterday advising a further 5 week delay? It doesn't add up!

[Nige C]

If the delay is due to a clear case. Post the Pi already and send the case on later. Sheesh!

Nige

[JustPat]

Hi Everyone, I’ve set up this thread to update you on our latest order and shipping status.

We have been advised that our next batch of approximately 40,000 Raspberry Pi’s will now be arriving during September, with further deliveries expected in October. This delay is due to the very high level of demand on the core Raspberry Pi processor chip.

Unfortunately, this means that some orders could face shipping delays, although we are trying to reduce this as much as possible. We have updated our delivery schedule* below. All customers who are affected by this delay will receive an email from RS Components and Allied Electronics on Tuesday 28th August, giving details of expected delays. As soon as we receive confirmation of any improvements from our manufacturers, we will advise you.

Please accept our apologies for this delay and be assured we are doing everything we can to ensure the fastest possible delivery of your Raspberry Pi.

Jo

*Please note: timings provided are an estimate, and will be subject to change dependant on supply dates and demand patterns. There may be some exceptions to the table below

I understand that you work for RS and not Allied, but Allied has yet to post anything like this since the release of the pi and I figure you might know or be able to find out. Will there ever be a time table from Allied, or do the Allied order numbers work with the RS table?

[jackokring]

Those order numbers look small, maybe it's an account DPC thing. I don't need the case and SD until the Pi arrives (not arrived yet as far as I know, one envelope is ok for this order). The 4th Dec 2012 estimate is fine. UK order.

Keep up the good work under heavy load. It's got that ZX spectrum 4 weeks thing in the bag.

[sdjf]

Has anyone from Allied received their delay emails Jo said we would be getting? 7:43PM California time, no email has come from them.

I would guess the Allied delay may be different than the RS delay as they get separate shipments?

Jo said the thread is for both Allied and RS, but our order numbers are different and I am thinking that the different sites get different shipments.

For reference, my Allied Order number is 2500237xxx placed July 23. Original estimated shipping was mid-October (12 weeks).

[jackokring]

UK business delivery seems to be 26th November 2012 as of 29th August 2012, as checked on site at 4:02 London BST. This indicates the stocks are coming in as the delivery date is earlier than that quoted for orders a month or so ago. The popularity of this product must be spectacular, as everyone and their dog wants one. There's a space ready for you bramble... .... where did I put my coconut hoofs?

[Luka666]

A great business these RS chaps are running. I ordered mine on the 3rd of july with an estimated 11wks shipping time (17-21 september). So 3 weeks before i am supposed to get it they say "Hey, we are terribly sorry, but you will have to wait another too months." (12-18 November). Well im canceling my order and going to order on Farnell. They got 3 weeks shipping time so i should have it 17-21 sept. Hope that as many people as possible do the same....

[W. H. Heydt]

Has anyone from Allied received their delay emails Jo said we would be getting? 7:43PM California time, no email has come from them.

The last line of the e-mail I got from RS is:

RS Components & Allied Electronics

So it appears to cover the whole organization. On the other hand, my original order was directly to RS (it was shipped from the UK via DHL) and I have ordered cases from the UK (because Allied doesn't list them!). I have an order in transit--due tomorrow--from Allied with a rather odd notation on the shipping confirmation:

Ship Method:
FedEx Ground
Items back ordered more than 7 days will be shipped via UPS Ground.

The confirmation has a link to track the shipment and that link does indeed go to FedEx. Kind of makes you wonder what is going on.

(Side note...I'm very glad that my package has had to travel *west* from Dallas, TX as the tracking site states that shipments may be delayed to a number of states due to the RNC, DNC and TS Isaac.)

[Lob0426]

So when I ordered July 7th it was 10 weeks. Less than a week later it was 12 weeks. Now it is going to be like 22 weeks. Or 5.5 months. I wonder if there is going to be any other good news!

Good thing I already have three huh! . From Element14!

Why would I want it 3 weeks before the world is going to end anyway.

[sdjf]

Has anyone from Allied received their delay emails Jo said we would be getting? 7:43PM California time, no email has come from them.

The last line of the e-mail I got from RS is:

RS Components & Allied Electronics

Hmm, I see I was not clear enough. While RS and Allied are the same parent company, I believe the stocks for orders placed from Allied and from RS, as well as the delays, may be different.

Certainly the table Jo posted applies to orders placed on the RS site and not the Allied site, which has a different numbering system - unless all Allied orders are getting delayed to November as they start with a 2 because it is Allied, nothing to do with the actual sequence number.

Since I ordered from Allied, I am interested in hearing from others who ordered specifically from Allied, to see if they have gotten the emails that Jo says would be going to customers affected by this additional 5 week delay.

If I do not get that email, and others do who placed their orders from the Allied site, then maybe my order will NOT be delayed - that would be way cool!

[Lob0426]

@sdjf:
My order number was 2500208xxx and I was quoted 10 weeks at order, then 12 weeks 3 days later. Order date was 7/7/12. It has been 7 weeks already!

I have not received am E-mail form Allied.

They stated it (the alleged E-mail) would show up today but it has been delayed for 12 weeks!

That chart is obviously for RS order numbers. Allied receives their RasPi from RS so you are being told there is a delay but the Allied numbers are just not in the time table. Maybe if we get the E-mail it will give us a Allied time table. But do not hold your breath, it could be a while.

[W. H. Heydt]

Has anyone from Allied received their delay emails Jo said we would be getting? 7:43PM California time, no email has come from them.

The last line of the e-mail I got from RS is:

RS Components & Allied Electronics

Hmm, I see I was not clear enough. While RS and Allied are the same parent company, I believe the stocks for orders placed from Allied and from RS, as well as the delays, may be different.

Certainly the table Jo posted applies to orders placed on the RS site and not the Allied site, which has a different numbering system - unless all Allied orders are getting delayed to November as they start with a 2 because it is Allied, nothing to do with the actual sequence number.

Since I ordered from Allied, I am interested in hearing from others who ordered specifically from Allied, to see if they have gotten the emails that Jo says would be going to customers affected by this additional 5 week delay.

If I do not get that email, and others do who placed their orders from the Allied site, then maybe my order will NOT be delayed - that would be way cool!

If we're not careful, this is quickly going to devolve into multiple levels of indirection...

1. My most recent order from RS/Allied for two Pis was placed on 5 July. FedEx picked it up in Dallas, TX on 24 August, with an estimated delivery on 29 August.

2. The e-mail I received today, stating that orders would be delayed, was from RS, with an "eu.rs-email" reply domain. Thus I conclude that the e-mail came from the company headquarters in the UK. That I did order a Pi (at one time) through the UK site may be why I was sent that e-mail, even though my most recent order for Pis is through Allied. Another consideration is that I have a couple of Pi-related oustanding orders (cases) from RS in the UK. (This is why I asked for an expected shipping schedule for *cases*, since those have been on backorder for some time.).

The first Pi I bought from RS (ordered on 3 March...I don't recall the delivery date, but I could look it up...I'm an e-mail packrat), was shipped from the UK.

The two distributors are RS and Farnell. I presume that the non-UK subsidiaries are either shipped Pis in bulk from the UK or they are shipped directly to the subsidiaries from the manufacturing facility in China. In either case, allocations are almost certainly decided in the UK, and--one presumes--based on demand balanced across the various subsidiaries.

The only clear thing I see in all of this is that demand has been ramping up at least as fast, and possibly faster, than production has been. Whether this is good or bad probably depends on where you sit.

[kspn]

I suspect that we may have 2 groups of people
1) (myself) Ordered as part of the initial 'Register your interest', ordered a case as well, still haven't received their device, not realizing that the case was going to delay the entire order
2) Ordered once you could order without registering your interest first
I may have missed a group of people or two

The table is probably geared towards the second group, who have ordered once the orders were 'opened to the public', unfortunately we have a group of people (myself included) who are still waiting for the initial device, these all seem to be before 99999 in the confirmation numbers (I could be wrong about that, confirmation required)

Unfortunately the table doesn't show what is going on the for MIA devices, and emails are taking a little while to get answered but of course we don't know how many hundreds or thousands of emails they are getting!

Hopefully we can get some kind of movement on things.

I am still hopeful for a quick resolution, and hopefully we will get down to normal lead times once the initial Must Have dies down

[W. H. Heydt]

The plot thickens... I just took a closer look at the e-mail from RS describing delays due to a shortage of SoCs. The order number they reference in the e-mail...is for cases only.

Wow...just wow... I wonder what kind of "core Raspberry Pi processor chip" comes with a case....?

(Actually, I think they've sent the e-mail out to anyone who made any Pi related order through the UK website....)

[kalehrl]

I ordered on 20th of July and the expected dispatch was 19 weeks.
I guess this delay was included with orders placed around that date.
This means my order 168xxx should arrive at the end of November which is normal given the expected dispatch. I haven't received the email with the notorious delay.

[steveb_123]

has anyone been able to get a refund from RS for their Pi ?
I've read a lot of people complaining they can't.

[troombatzia]

has anyone been able to get a refund from RS for their Pi ?
I've read a lot of people complaining they can't.

Shortly, yes.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 23&t=13654