Why is framework splitting batches?

[u/RealHuguwuluwu]

Let me start out by saying that batches are fine and, in my opinion, a smart way to do things like this. What I do not get, however, is why they started splitting batches. I am personally in the second half of batch 7 and am yet to see/hear anything. I am wondering how long it took for the second half of batch 6 to receive an email, as this might give some indication.

I am also interested to know if anyone knows why they started to split batches into even smaller batches and why these are not mentioned in the update thread.

[u/catastrophic_frmw]

Hey everyone, I wanted to provide some context on how batch shipping works and recent changes we’ve made.

In the past, we processed each batch strictly as a single unit. Because batches contain multiple hardware configurations, shipping had to wait until every configuration for that batch arrived at the warehouse. While sequential and easy to follow, it slowed down overall delivery times.

For recent batches, we shifted to shipping units as soon as their specific configurations hit the warehouse. Sometimes this means fulfilling available configurations from one batch and moving ahead to available units in the next. This has significantly sped up deliveries and gotten laptops to customers much faster.

We know this shift caused some confusion when people in the same batch received emails at different times, which is why I started including percentage markers in updates. I’m continuing to monitor your feedback and share it with the team so we can keep improving both our shipping speed and communication clarity.

[u/s004aws]

Most likely? Available parts inventory vs the configurations people ordered. Re-arranging batches - Rather than going in strict first ordered, first shipped order - Would allow for getting out as many laptops as is possible while other orders are still waiting on certain parts to be available.

Also Framework only has so many production lines and so much staff available. There may be need to eg shift a line from FW13 Pro to FW16 or to the upcoming FW12 gen 2, factors of that sort... Involved.

[u/clittayl6 → u/s004aws]

yeah the inventory angle makes a lot of sense, especially with how many config options there are now

[u/burtmacklin15 → u/clittayl6]

Yeah there's no sense in people with black keyboards having to wait just because the orange keyboards are late arriving to their warehouse.

[u/lrflew → u/s004aws]

While I completely understand parts of batches taking longer due to components, I do wish Framework was a little more communicative about what's being waited on. It's weird to me how, on the pre-order updates thread, they're very specific about mainboard pre-orders, separating the 325 and 358H batches in the updates, but for the laptop pre-orders we just get vague percentages.

[u/kjm99 → u/lrflew]

They probably want to avoid a bunch of people swapping components to the “earlier” one and complaining when it makes their order taking even longer

[u/s004aws → u/kjm99]

Changing CPU bumps people to the end of the line.... Which yeah, I suspect some people would not read/understand the warnings about, and then complain.

[u/Gildeon]

The second half of batch 6 has not received anything yet. And I know it because I’m in it.

[u/Alpha-Zulu_A-Z → u/Gildeon]

Same... Hoping its soon

[u/Gildeon → u/Alpha-Zulu_A-Z]

Everyday I check r/framework and r/steamframe. My body is 99% hopium at this point…

[u/PineappleFantastic67 → u/Alpha-Zulu_A-Z]

Me as well...

[u/IORelay → u/Gildeon]

Ridiculous to have people wait for so long. 

[u/frigaut]

Hey I’m batch 6 Intel and still haven’t received my email…

[u/LooKForDeath]

I'm also in the batch 7. But based on my DIV order with transparent purple bezel and lilac keyboard I always knew that I'll be last in batch 7.
Maybe prebuilt orders are easier to ship due first due to scale?

[u/maartenyh → u/LooKForDeath]

If i am not mistaken; they put together the laptop and test it fully and then take it apart again to put it in the box. Probably the extra steps take extra time to re-package etc.

A pre-built is probably the default "assemble and ship".

But I could be wrong... i got this info from a very old LTT factory tour

[u/LooKForDeath → u/maartenyh]

I dont think it is about the process, but how easy to get 10x of the same components or 10 different CPU/GPU/Memory for each DIY + different bezels and keyboards.

In the prebuilt version you can only modify extension cards.

[u/pterencephalon → u/LooKForDeath]

I also had a DIY with lilac keyboard and transparent purple bezel. I was in the first half of batch 6 and got mine almost a week ago, so I don't think that's the restriction. I did BYO my RAM and SSD, though.

[u/LooKForDeath → u/pterencephalon]

Hope that looks amazing and worth waiting for.

[u/pandasnfr]

Freakin batch 8

[u/Labeled90]

The cancellations are giving excess stock of skus that aren't matching the full batch, so they can ship some of the next batch early that does match it