Why Your Pre-Order Is Taking So Long (And why Preorders can be frustrating for EVERYONE) | By: David Gibbens

Pre-orders are a major part of the collector world—but they can also be a source of confusion and frustration. Why does it take months to get a figure? Why do dates change? At New Meta, we wanted to pull back the curtain and explain what’s really going on behind the scenes when you place a pre-order.

How the Pre-Order Process Actually Works

Retailers like New Meta don’t stock everything the moment it’s announced. When a brand like Hasbro or McFarlane reveals a new wave of figures, they typically open up orders to distributors first. Retailers place their orders based on projected demand—months before any product actually ships.

Then, manufacturers begin producing the inventory, which usually takes several months. This includes sculpting final tooling, painting, packaging, and shipping from overseas factories. Delays at any point in that process (from factory closures to port congestion) ripple downstream and push your pre-order further out.

Why Pre-Order Windows Are Important

From the retailer’s perspective, pre-orders are more than just reservations—they’re a way to predict how much product to bring in. Most specialty toy stores don’t have unlimited warehouse space or capital, so we rely on pre-orders to determine how many units we should commit to.

If 30 people pre-order a figure, we might order 40 or 50. But if no one pre-orders it, we may skip it entirely or bring in just a few—meaning it may sell out quickly or never be restocked.

Why Dates Change

You’ve probably seen this before: a figure originally listed for May release gets bumped to July. Or it just says “TBD.” Here’s why:

• Manufacturing delays – Factory bottlenecks or component shortages.

• Licensing approvals – Artwork, paint apps, or likeness rights need sign-off.

• Shipping issues – Delays at ports, customs, or transit between countries.

• Distributor updates – Retailers get their ETAs from distributors, who get them from the brands.

At New Meta, we update release windows regularly and try to reflect the most accurate date we can get from our sources. But in many cases, these are best estimates.

How We Handle Pre-Orders at New Meta

We believe communication is key. When you pre-order from us, we’ll:

• Clearly label all pre-order items

• Send updates if delays occur

• Allow for easy cancellation if your plans change

• Never overbook – we only take pre-orders for units we can fulfill

And if we ever receive fewer units than expected (which does happen), we fulfill in the order they were placed—first come, first served.

Final Thoughts

Pre-orders are part of what makes this hobby exciting—you’re getting in early on something special. But they’re also part of a larger supply chain puzzle that includes manufacturers, distributors, and import logistics. We hope this look into our process helps explain why delays happen, and what we’re doing to keep things as smooth as possible.

At New Meta, we’re collectors too. That’s why we do everything we can to make the pre-order experience transparent, fair, and reliable.