If the numbers Gibbo mentioned in the AMD thread are anything to go by, then OCUK are not going to able to settle even half the sales before the items become available at competitors...not even close. So far it looks like our transparent competitor will clear their queue completely before OC clear the first hour of theirs. At that moment, and every time another retailer in the UK has a bunch of 3080's for sale, people here will cancel.
Surely they know that?
Now, as they are almost completely ignoring 3080 buyers and they're treating us like we're an inconvenience, wouldn't being loosely transparent about lead times just get all these inevitable cancelations out of the way sooner, and reduce the heat they're taking?
They don't want us here, their fanboys don't want us here, and we don't want to be here... so why stay quiet about the situation if the reason is that they fear mass cancellations - because mass cancellations are likely to happen one way or the other. The only way it won't happen would be if people still felt they had a chance to get their card on a reasonable time frame - but that's not going to happen either.
TO OCUK.. Make a statement to all customers who are outside of expected delivery in December. Be fully honest about the situation so they can make a decision about what is the best thing to do with their money. You will salvage some rep, reduce the queue, reduce the criticism and reduce the pressure.