Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
Dear PRUSA Community,
I'm reaching out with a question—and a bit of frustration.
What are your thoughts on the current delivery situation regarding the Core One upgrade kit (MK4 → Core One)?
I ordered and paid for my kit in early February. At first, patience was required—understandable with a new product. I was excited and accepted the long wait, hoping the end result would be worth it.
Then came the good news: the first Core One printers were being shipped! I thought, "Great—then it can’t be long until the upgrade kits are dispatched too." Unfortunately, I was wrong.
While the delivery time for the fully assembled Core One has shortened, my expected shipping date for the upgrade kit keeps getting pushed back week after week. That’s hard to understand—don’t both versions use the same parts?
According to PRUSA, the assembled printer is manufactured and shipped from a different warehouse than the kits. That may be true logistically, but from a customer perspective, it feels like a questionable prioritization at the expense of early supporters.
What’s also puzzling: back in January/February, the kit was advertised as a "pre-order at a special price." The price hasn’t changed, but there’s no mention of a pre-order anymore. Does that mean newer customers pay the same and possibly wait less?
To be honest, it feels like we early buyers have unintentionally been part of a crowdfunding effort. We paid upfront, but are left waiting, while PRUSA focuses on shipping the higher-margin assembled printers.
I’m really curious to hear your experiences. Am I alone in this, or have others noticed the same pattern?
Looking forward to your input!
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
Willkommen im Club!! Ich bin inzwischen auch stinksauer. Möglicherweise ist es genau das, was Prusa erreichen
will. Wir sollen die Geduld verlieren, den Stornierungsbutton drücken und ein fertiges Gerät kaufen.
Die Stornierung wird ja auch offensichtlich ganz einfach angeboten. Ich hoffe das ich mich irre, schaun wir mal.
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
There is already a thread on this; one of the longest in the Core One section of the forum: https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/postid/743656/
And an even longer one about the full kit.
Prusa has created a real mess there. I have no idea why it is so difficult for them to run a professional process.
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
I ordered mine last year in December last year. Just got it this week on Tuesday. No complaints here. Opened the package (50+ pounds) and not a piece out of place Packed perfectly. Can't wait to get it done. Checked the instructions, perfect as usual. Even got a 20$ voucher because of the delivery date.
Tom
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
I ordered mine last year in December last year. Just got it this week on Tuesday. No complaints here. Opened the package (50+ pounds) and not a piece out of place Packed perfectly. Can't wait to get it done.
How did you order a kit in December?? Prusa did not take orders until January 31st if I am not mistaken.
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
I am sorry it was not December it was January 31. Still not too bad for delivery.
Tom
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
Unfair to pre-order supporters. They cannot even confirm the shipping date. Every day, keep pushing the date day by day. They are interested only in the full set and the full kit. They should have put more production into the conversion kit to clear the backlog.
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
I just checked my order again (February 9, 2025) and saw that it still hasn't been shipped. I noticed that a new order for an Mk4 -> Core One Upgrade Kit has a lead time of 5 to 6 weeks, but a Core One kit only takes 3 to 4 weeks.
I don't understand that; they have to pack a lot more for a complete kit.
There's really something wrong with PRUSA.
RE: Upgrade Kit Shipping Delays – Fair to Pre-Order Customers?
When I pre-ordered it was predicted to ship in 2.5 months, it ended up being 5 months. Prusa has always been a bit optimistic in shipping dates for kits when introducing a new model. Especially for upgrade kits. I think that is because they always prioritize assembled printers (you don't want that your assembly workers run out of parts, because in Europe these skilled workers will be on the payroll even when they are not able to work). It also looks like they prioritize full kits above upgrade kits. I guess they don't want to keep everthing in store for one or two missing parts. Keeping parts in store is expensive. So upgrade kits (and separate parts orders) will always be last in list when there are delays in parts and supply chain issues. Is that fair to someone who pre orders an upgrade kit? Perhaps not, but it makes sense from a financial point of view.
I do think that prusa should communicate better. Its better to give an pessimistic shipping date in advance that ends up being quicker than the other way around. Also keep your costumers informed when there are set backs, they will mostly be quite forgiving when you explain why there are delayes, but will become angry when you keep them out of the loop. Especially in these time of social media, where these things tend to amplify.