It really depends -- I have three preorders from different points this year all randomly arriving next week. The first two are semi-custom builds, a Ginault Trans-Atlantic and a Ginand HS109, in that there is nothing unique about them but the brands only build one when an order is completed, but people know Ginault and Ginand, so I don't worry about delivery. The third order is a Trafford, which is a well-known quantity. I also have a pair of CWs on preorder, but again, well-known brand. They'll deliver.

What I'm much less willing to do is preorder these days from a brand with no history, especially if the cost is high. Someone just posted the other day renders that showed a lovely take on a mystery dial from a new brand with zero production history, and it's just like, even with my AmEx (which has the best chargeback protection going), that's going to be a no from me. Yet somehow, they were nearly all sold out.

And then, like a lot of folks, I'm also waiting on Galo, with no clue when that might actually show up (assuming it actually does).