PeterBerressem wrote:
In case that someone from the old world feels like shopping for a parabolic umbrella...well, here's a source: www.viewfinderphotography.co.uk/product.php?cid=75
Looks like a copy at more than the cost of the PLM? ...I wouldn't buy that just because I think they ripped off the PLM design...
kenyee wrote:
Looks like a copy at more than the cost of the PLM? ...I wouldn't buy that just because I think they ripped off the PLM design...
You can actually buy PCB products though. He doesn't want to sell them to us...
Tobi. wrote:
He doesn't want to sell them to us...
Tobi
An attitude like that does make me not want to sell them to some people. We are busting our butts to sell to everyone. Got a couple of millions dollars, a warehouse and staff and willing to make zero profit? When you are a customer-direct US company it's not easy to set up viable distribution at a reasonable end-user price, particularly with EU VAT and regulations. I don't appreciate the "he doesn't like us" sort of comment.
PeterBerressem wrote:
In case that someone from the old world feels like shopping for a parabolic umbrella...well, here's a source: www.viewfinderphotography.co.uk/product.php?cid=75
119 pounds sterling = $201.15 USD at today's conversion rate! Save some money and have a friend in the states buy the PCBuff original and pay the duty on it.
PeterBerressem wrote:
In case that someone from the old world feels like shopping for a parabolic umbrella...well, here's a source: www.viewfinderphotography.co.uk/product.php?cid=75
You know, I understand where PCB has little choice but to have the Chinese do the work. But considering the amount of of unlicensed knock-off's that come out of china, I'd be worried about patent infringements, and outright pirating. eg: ray flash, radio remotes, softbxes, etc.
I'm in the flooring business and we watched the price of laminate floors (and the profits) go right down the toilet because of chinese factories making the floors with US patented finishes and locking mechanisms, then flooding the market with them.
Killed the profit, the quality, the reputation, and even some US manufacturers. The US gov't stepped in eventually, but then the gas prices went through the roof, made shipping expensive, so the chinese just bailed. Left the US distributors holding a bunch of illegal goods and actually put some distributors in financial distress
I once asked a chinese bussiness man from Vancouvr why he had such an elaborate manufacturing and assembly setup. He'd have a product made in several chinese factories and then assembled in canada. His answer was the factories would be using his tooling to produce knock offs pretty much immediately.
What we really don't want to do is dissuade people like Paul from maintaining a production base in north america. Once it's gone the skills and infrastructure will never return.
The need for cheap crap had pretty much set north america on it's ear. Up in my neck of the woods the workers wanted more money for very little work. it was their right to sit on their ass and play cards after they made their rate. The parent company closed them and moved to Richmond.
These loyal union boys would take their fat paycheck to wally world to buy that good old chinese stuff. it seems that they were the only ones that were allowed to make a living wage.
Paul Buff wrote:
UK distribution is on the way and in the works.
That's great news! I didn't mean to encourage anyone to buy knock offs as long as there's an alternative. But if there's a distributor selling the original, that's way better.
Bryan, Thanks for the good feedback. It's becoming an ugly world indeed. I have learned long ago to ignore the knockoff artists that always pop up and also that trying to protect your products with patents and litigation is a waste of time.
I have always succeeded by creating innovate and effective products and bringing them to my customers with dignity and humanity and market methods that offer value and support. I've done this since 1969 and don't strive to be king of the world. It works for me and it works for my customers so I try to concentrate on what I do best and not sweat the small stuff and the trend followers and copy cats and haters. Notice how Apple gets copied on everything they do. yet their stock and profits soar above all would be competitors?
"You know, I understand where PCB has little choice but to have the Chinese do the work. But considering the amount of of unlicensed knock-off's that come out of china, I'd be worried about patent infringements, and outright pirating. eg: ray flash, radio remotes, softbxes, etc.
I'm in the flooring business and we watched the price of laminate floors (and the profits) go right down the toilet because of chinese factories making the floors with US patented finishes and locking mechanisms, then flooding the market with them.
Killed the profit, the quality, the reputation, and even some US manufacturers. The US gov't stepped in eventually, but then the gas prices went through the roof, made shipping expensive, so the chinese just bailed. Left the US distributors holding a bunch of illegal goods and actually put some distributors in financial distress"
That's only because the US maker or distributor chose to sell the Chinese stuff and some American's have chosen to buy on price instead of quality and performance. My company chooses to sell a better product we actually make here in the U.S., sell it for more money, and make more profit. We're the largest of our kind, the most expensive, and have been profitable for 30 years even in a recession, without ever having to lay anyone off. We are not for everyone and don't pretend to be. We always do our best to market the best. Most of our customers who buy cheap usually come back later. We will still be here tomorrow and the next day because we won't sell our soul to price or the Chinese.
Gregg Heckler wrote:
"You know, I understand where PCB has little choice but to have the Chinese do the work. But considering the amount of of unlicensed knock-off's that come out of china, I'd be worried about patent infringements, and outright pirating. eg: ray flash, radio remotes, softbxes, etc.
I'm in the flooring business and we watched the price of laminate floors (and the profits) go right down the toilet because of chinese factories making the floors with US patented finishes and locking mechanisms, then flooding the market with them.
Killed the profit, the quality, the reputation, and even some US manufacturers. The US gov't stepped in eventually, but then the gas prices went through the roof, made shipping expensive, so the chinese just bailed. Left the US distributors holding a bunch of illegal goods and actually put some distributors in financial distress"
That's only because the US maker or distributor chose to sell the Chinese stuff and some American's have chosen to buy on price instead of quality and performance. My company chooses to sell a better product we actually make here in the U.S., sell it for more money, and make more profit. We're the largest of our kind, the most expensive, and have been profitable for 30 years even in a recession, without ever having to lay anyone off. We are not for everyone and don't pretend to be. We always do our best to market the best. Most of our customers who buy cheap usually come back later. We will still be here tomorrow and the next day because we won't sell our soul to price or the Chinese.
I too have been profitable and growing for over 30 years, building my core products in the USA and marketing factory-direct. But there is no more garment /fabric industry infrastructure here. Even the expensive European lighting manufacturers largely have their fabric based products made in China, and are starting to manufacture even their electronics in India and China. I remain an industry leader through innovation and customer dedication . . . the one thing Chinese can't do.
As for the knockoffs and copies, they will occur whether you manufacture here or in China. Were I to attempt to make an umbrella-like product in the USA (almost impossible) the Chinese would copy it and sell it here at 1/4 the price and I would not be able to sell my USA fabric product in today's price conscious global economy.
Paul Buff wrote:
UK distribution is on the way and in the works.
That is a great news!
Sorry for the cheeky question, but is there a chance that we could know when it is going to happen?
Are we facing half a year distance – more or less than that?
Just asking because I don’t want to swear if I will jump on elinchroms just a weeks before your gear will hit UK :-)
BTW, thanks for trying to do that again, after Swiss fail!
Very much appreciate!!
Mothman wrote:
That is a great news!
Sorry for the cheeky question, but is there a chance that we could know when it is going to happen?
Are we facing half a year distance – more or less than that?
Just asking because I don’t want to swear if I will jump on elinchroms just a weeks before your gear will hit UK :-)
BTW, thanks for trying to do that again, after Swiss fail!
Very much appreciate!!
All the best
Colin Smith is fast and effective. I suspect we will have UK set up by the time we have enough Einsteins to ship. Don't hold me to it, but I would think 90 days would be a good estimate.
I discourage Euro buyers getting ABs or WLs because of powering incompatibilities with 220V and Vagabond, plus the lack of the huge capabilities with Einstein/CyberSync and Cyber Commander. Remember - an all digital CSXCVR is $29.95US and has far more capabilities and accuracy and ease of use than the $89.95 CSR+ on AB/WL . . . this effectively lowers the Einstein price by $60US for most users.
I am a college student who has been looking into (and saving money for) lights for a good while. I had recently decided on getting 4-6 WL 1600s because I shoot mostly sports and portraits and have the access to put up lights in my NCAA Div I school's basketball arena, and with the WL 1600s I could pull double duty with the lights, doing the arena and pulling 1-4 of them out for portraits while leaving at least two up on one side of the arena for lighting half the court in a pinch (borrowed 2 WLs this year and did it, was better than ambient at least).
Anyway, the 1.7s recycle time in the Einsteins, plus the newer tech, is very very tempting to me for lights that I pull double duty with, and with the WLs being just a tad brighter at full power in true watt seconds (20 I think) than the Einsteins that wouldn't be such a big deal, and the recycle time would more than make up for it, especially if I had all six lights up (but I am probably going to buy 4 at first and get two more when I save up more $$).
My big question is, durability and all other factors wise, do you think the Einsteins would be able to hold up in those conditions as well as WLs? Or should I just go with the WLs? Just to clarify, the Einsteins still fit in my budget for all the lighting equipment I plan to buy, so that isn't a big deal. I just want to know what you honestly think.
You really need the the new 11" high output reflectors whichever way you go. Liikely you will benefit from the shorter flash duration of the Einsteins over the WL 1600 lights. Since rafter mounting is going to put less physical stress on the lights than constantly lugging them around durability should be an issue. But for arena lighting the man to talk to about the Einstens is Rob Galbrath.
I borrowed the 11'' reflectors before, I'll try the retro lasers when I get my own. So the Einsteins will hold up alright durability wise and won't overheat, etc?
...I wouldn't buy that just because I think they ripped off the PLM design...