Difference between fast track and standard delivery.

[AirTimeAzn]

The difference between the fast track and standard delivery option seems a bit ridiculous. I ordered on the 28th and still hasn't had it move out of pre production yet someone can order with fast track with the same specs minus the overclocking and have it out of pre production the next day?

Seriously i was fine with waiting when i thought the wait affected everyone but...

And yeah, if i could of selected fast track i would of, unfortunately the option is only unavailable on over clocked systems which i was unaware of at the time, i thought it was on all systems.

I could understand paying fast track to have your system to you for like half the time, but going off of the forums from how long people have waited without it it seems it's 10x the wait, 3 days with it, or a month without it.

It really feels like you're not very important if you don't have the fast track option, your order is just left at the bottom of the pile because they're able to abuse the "this is only estimated delivery"

Anyway, don't mean to be rude and i hope this isn't the case but, it really feels like it at the moment and i wanted a bit of clarification.

 

[AirTimeAzn]

Moved.

 

[LFFPicard]

I can understand that but there are a few ponts.

- Fast track is not available on overclocked machines for a reason
Overclocking a machine although made simplier now a days is a sensitive procedure, If a machine is set slightly wrong it will be unstable, crash, blue screen or plain refuse to boot. Overclocked machines are givin extra care and attention to make sure the settings used are correct, stable and will last. Each and every machine is different it does not matter if the processor is the same as the other guys, it may not like being ramped up with so much voltage so will need tweaking and testing. The machines need to be left to run longer to make sure they are stable at max load and wont fall over. Be assured you are most likely getting better treatment on your machine becaus eit is overclocked to ensure it arrives with you and will last.

- Fast track is a privilage.
Just as first class travel or next day delivery over saver. It is a privilage, if you want it you have to pay for it. When someone orders fast track after the initial checks essentially they are put at the top of the list for build, testing and despatch. If your PC was sitting at 4th in the build queue it will drop to 5, and once the fast track machine is built you will go back to position 4. Be assured machines are not that long to build, some machines can be built in 2-3hours so depending on the number of people building machine on any given day your machine will be moving up the queue to build.

Unfortunatly it is the way most companies work, if you want special treatment or things faster you simple throw more money at it, same goes here. You want your machine quicker your pay to have it quicker.

 

[Gorman]

The fast track is fast for two reasons:

• You cannot order a fast track machine unless everything that is in the machine is in stock, right here, right now.
  
• You jump every queue within production.

Most people do not fast track their machines, so there is a natural queue of machines at each stage. If anyone is waiting outside of the estimated delivery times then either we have fallen behind due to being extremely busy or something major like the Sandy Bridge mess or there is no stock availiable for a component they have chosen.

 

[Davidel]

I’m in exactly the same boat, ordered the 28th still in pre production, as impatient as I am though I still fully expect to wait another week for my system. I'd resigned myself to the fact that it would take about 3 weeks or so for me to get my kit.

Could PCS help alleviate this frustration, probably yes, instead of using ‘working’ days, relate the wait in real time, being told something will take 15 working days does sound significantly lower than 21 days.

Also, it would also be beneficial if we knew if the average wait included fast tracked customers as this would skew the average downwards.

Chin up though chap, it’ll get there eventually

 

[Gorman]

Also, it would also be beneficial if we knew if the average wait included fast tracked customers as this would skew the average downwards.

Chin up though chap, it’ll get there eventually

The average wait is the estimated lead time given on ordering, it goes up and down by a day or so but its fairly accurate for the majority of orders.

 

[AirTimeAzn]

I do understand buying fast track will give you special treatment but, i'd still like to see a special fast track for over clocked systems, just so they can jump to the top of pre production at least.

 

[Gorman]

I do understand buying fast track will give you special treatment but, i'd still like to see a special fast track for over clocked systems, just so they can jump to the top of pre production at least.

Unfortunately as LFFPicard suggests, fast tracking overclocks isnt really possible or a good idea. If not done properly the OC is just going to make the machine unstable and useless.

Sure it could jump the lines but we wouldnt be able to offer a service for x number of days as the overclock may prevent it going out on time. Introducing a deadline or pressure to ship it before x number of days would open up the possibility of things being missed and the machine ending up coming back.

 

[AirTimeAzn]

Well you wouldn't have to promise the system would be delivered in 3 day just given a "High priority" Anyway, i'd of certainly bought it.

 

[Gorman]

Well you wouldn't have to promise the system would be delivered in 3 day just given a "High priority" Anyway, i'd of certainly bought it.

indeed, but thats where another problem comes in. The fast track system is intended to allow people to have their machine for a deadline, the queue jumping and priority status is just the means by which that is achieved.

now imagine if we did offer a third "priority" option, we would be in the situation where most orders were in the "priority" queue and the same problem under a different name.

think fast track at alton towers, the fast track queue is usually just as long as the normal one, just costs more.

 

[AirTimeAzn]

Yeah i can understand that, i did need my computer for a deadline ( which has now passed ) and i couldn't get the fast track due to thinking it was unavailable on all systems, oh well.

Also, in response to some items being out of stock, is it possible if you could check my order to see if any components are not in stock? I've never received an email and Live chat doesn't seem to work still. 381799 ( Sorry, i know it must be annoying when people do this )

 

[Gorman]

The system isnt reporting stock problems on your order, the mainboards have started to come in, it will be early next week before we have stock to fulfill all outstanding orders but that doesnt mean it will affect or hold back your order.

 

[AirTimeAzn]

Alright, thanks for all the Replies.

Guess i'll have to stop crying and wait it out.

 

[Rakk]

Could PCS help alleviate this frustration, probably yes, instead of using ‘working’ days, relate the wait in real time, being told something will take 15 working days does sound significantly lower than 21 days.

Difficult to do, mainly cos the wait time could be different if you ordered on a day x+1 instead of a day x, even though the estimated working days stayed the same, the estimated actually days could be 2 different (mainly cos the order on day x+1 included an extra weekend where the one on day x didn't).
Would also mean the estimated time frame could be bigger as the first number could be before a weekend, and the second possibly be after

Note: x is used as a day in this case, since I can't be bothered to work out which days in the week would cause this at the moment.

PS. Hopefully that made sense, it made sense to me, though admittedly that doesn't actually mean anything.

 

[shades]

What you're saying makes a lot of sense. Wait time if counted in actual number of days rather than working days would fluctuate considerably, particularly over the Christmas and New Year period when there are a number of bank holidays. No system will ever be ideal. What I do know, having experienced PCS' service, is that they are committed to turning round orders as quickly as possible, and most importantly are very good at what they do and produce superb machines.

 

[Davidel]

Agreed, theres no real ideal system on displaying on providing lead time, any system has its pros and cons .

I just wish I'd known before hand that fast tracking becomes really atractive after about a week of waiting

 

[shades]

Ha ha, that's about the time I started to get impatient too. The pleasure of receiving such a well made product easily outweighs that though.