Why 2003 ship dates?

[Jameskk]

Any idea why they decided not to ship these units before year's end?

From the pics and videos I've seen of the factory, they don't seem to have a problem producing these units. Why can't they just ship them now. The best reason I can come up with is because they want time to plan the training events around the country. Of course, I would drop everything today and fly to NH or anywhere else for that matter for training if it meant getting my Seg by year's end.

I called Segway customer service yesterday to make sure they had my correct phone number and expressed how eager I was to get my consumer model and the nice lady said I would be getting it sooner rather than later.. I am not quite sure what she meant by that remark, but it would be great if they started the ball rolling in Jan. rather than March.

[JosephM]

My guess is that they say the late date and they'll surprise us with an XMass and January delivery.

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[GlideMaster]

Hi Jameskk,
It might be that Segway wants people to get the necessary training before they put them into their hands.

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<center>Have Seg Will Travel

REMEMBER:
Responsible Riders Ride Segway
and
Segway Riders Ride Responsibly

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quote:Originally posted by Jameskk

Any idea why they decided not to ship these units before year's end?

From the pics and videos I've seen of the factory, they don't seem to have a problem producing these units. Why can't they just ship them now. The best reason I can come up with is because they want time to plan the training events around the country. Of course, I would drop everything today and fly to NH or anywhere else for that matter for training if it meant getting my Seg by year's end.

I called Segway customer service yesterday to make sure they had my correct phone number and expressed how eager I was to get my consumer model and the nice lady said I would be getting it sooner rather than later.. I am not quite sure what she meant by that remark, but it would be great if they started the ball rolling in Jan. rather than March.

[n/a]

quote:Any idea why they decided not to ship these units before year's end?

Lets do some brainstorming: Here are some possibilities:

- lack of adequate training facilities (very important for fear of accidents that could do Segway LLC a lot of dammage)
- they want to gather data on how the first users will do with their Segways
- they want to introduce the Segways slowly to the public so as not to alarm the pedestrians
- they have a limited production (either because they are busy filling the demand for the commercial market or because they have not geared up production yet or because they are short on parts)
- they need more time to plan strategy for developing Segway etiquette, setting up service/training centers etc.
- they need to iron out liability issues

[JohnM]

quote:Originally posted by Jameskk


From the pics and videos I've seen of the factory, they don't seem to have a problem producing these units. Why can't they just ship them now.


Lawrence wins!
"- they have a limited production (either because they are busy filling the demand for the commercial market or because they have not geared up production yet or because they are short on parts)"


James,
From where I am sitting in Bedford NH right now the Segway factory is about 2 miles south on US3. I drop down on a regular basis just to see if there's any obvious activity. The bottom line is that on a typical weekday there are only 20 or so cars in the parking lots designed for several hundred. (And don't say that the workers all ride their Segways to the factory. The southbound sidewalk ends across the street at the Bedford Mall. I'd see them.)

They have a factory, but it's just not staffed for big time production. My guess is that they will accumulate orders from Amazon for a few weeks, place any necessary orders with their suppliers, determine the staffing needs to make the spring deliveries, then hire workers early in the new year. The economy being what it is, they should have no problem finding skilled assembly staff, even for just temp or part-time work.

I have yet to see any Segway ads in the local press looking for factory help.

Runnin' with the Big Dogs

[Jameskk]

I doubt it's a parts issue.. they only need to build a few thousand units and that's not a lot of parts for some of the large suppliers they are using (Michelin, Delphi, etc.) ... in fact, they are probably building our units now so they'll have them for immediate distribution in March. All of the pictures I've seen of their factory show hundreds of these Segs boxed up.. and not many businesses and governments are buying these at $10K ea.

Another possibility is that Segway might be investing in their own facilities in each of the training cities around the country. New York, Atlanta, etc. etc. I just assumed that training would be held at a local hotel or convention center, but it's likely they could still be in the acquisition/building phase of their own training centers... that would be cool. Would prob. save lots of money in the long run because they could also be service centers, showrooms, etc.

[greenbean]

From what I understand, march is when many of the new laws that regulate the use on sidewalks actually take effect in California.

-=torin

[Blinky]

I once thought the same greenbean and had posted something in that effect in an earlier thread.

It could easily be anyones guess.