First post, have some questions... but not really about the Axe FX unit. I can conclude the unit is great, that's simple and documented by all the vids and stuff.
I've known about the Axe FXs for several year... but only in the last 3-4 years I have looked at purchasing seriously, but each time I've been on the website they were always on a back order status, and potentially that was just my timing, so I passed on ordering. So now I finally said "what the heck" I can wait and I'm old enough now to be pretty patient so it not all that important, so I got on the waiting list... and that led me to want to ask some questions.
As a business owner myself (Lithium Motorsport Batteries) and having our manufacturing offshore as well, I fully understand the difficulties of engineering and manufacturing products and the supply chain aspects. This is all we do also, but what gets my feet a little cold as I look at my Axe purchase is I cannot wrap my head around how Fractal is operating being it seems they are alway back ordered. So I had some basic questions. I don't expect the average forum person to weigh in unless they have some inside knowledge. But I'm just wanting to understand better since its a little odd the way this works after so many years I've been watching this product.
Here's my questions....
- Why are they always on backorders and wait lists, even after many years in business? I have not seen Fractal in a position where there is stock much of the time. I even wanted to buy a X-Load... but nope not in stock. Again, might be my timing, but it seem really odd for a seemingly very popular product that the company is not making a massive effort to be in front of the orders all the time. It's not my place to tell a company how to operate, but forecasting orders for a manufacturer is fairly simple especially when you have been in business for many years as Fractal has. But I've been going to the site on and off for several years and see back orders and lack of product a lot of the time. So it makes you wonder. At first I thought it was just demand so I would wait for it to subside.... now I'm finally ready to pull the trigger and it still like it was years ago when I first looked. So its a bit confusing.
-Why isn't there much clarity for the Customers ordering the product? Meaning it a pretty simple equation when manufacturing. You can inform the Customer honestly what your production levels are, and rough delivery dates of containers, yet still express to them that due to the varying status in the manufacturing process there maybe be delay of up to a few weeks. It at least keeps them in the loop. But the indefinite answer or waiting months is a bit odd. And from reading on the forums here it seems like everyone on the waitlist is just in limbo with no real updates except for another member saying they got an email. In 2014 and 2015 my company experienced a massive growth, and we got behind, but we emailed all dealers and individual customers the status with a simple bulk email program we divided into the different types of Customers, and it made everyone happy to at least be in the loop. Fractal might not have to worry about this, maybe the demand is always there, but for myself I would be stressing on the potential loss of sales and wanting the brand to have a super loyal and happy customer not just from the product perspective but for the business.
Anyway this is not meant to be a bash, but just a basic and honest inquiry as an excited Customer, and as someone who knows the difficulty of being in the electronics business.
