concerns over delays / where are the Alienware laptops?

So far I ordered an Alienware m18x r2 from a 5star rated retailer on 21st of December last year, 5 months later and the retailer continues to inform me that dell haven’t shipped Alienware laptops to them. I’m not the only customer in this position as there are others who have suffered months of delays. 5 months with no sign of a product is a very worrying situation to say the least. so can someone help me with this?

Can dell inform customers to what’s happening with regards to models such as the m17x r4 and the m18x r2? Why are there delays which haven’t been explained? Considering the retailer I ordered from has received no communication from dell to why there are delays I’ve decided to post here and see if dell could answer these questions directly to a customer of the retailer. I did receive an email from Chris M which was very gratifying in it’s quick response, so I’m confident I won’t be left in the dark here but the response itself was brief, unclear and I didn’t understand as to what’s actually happening. Is there any chance of clarity on the situation and a chance at a due date for shipments of the laptops to American
retail outlets?

I’m hopping answers here can relief customers stress that many thousands of dollars have been laid down and although after 5 months there’s still nothing to show for it, I’m hoping it won’t be necessary to cancel orders and miss out on owning such an amazing laptop.

{note retailers name omitted as I’m unsure of forum polices with regards to naming third parties etc} 

thankyou for your time