"Understand that being given the same 4-6 weeks speech every single week gets really frustrating, the answer is not to offer a way to refund my money."
Some people would rather hear nothing about backorders and awake one day to finally see that their product is ready. Then there is more of an "aha/Oh yeah.... I placed an order a long while back" moment. Most businesses would like to operate in this fashion BECAUSE it takes away from said emotional attachment of having to update the customers and explain to them to be patient. Paul's strategy has been that of transparency, letting his customers know and offer feedback about the product with an incredible wealth of information, data and advice.
Plms are like the iphones of this recent generation. demand is high and supply is low. At least you don't see people price gouging.
Just cancelled my order, they wanted £17 to ship a single 51" PLM domestically in UK. "We always try to use the most cost effective method to get your order to you" - yeah right. I will not support these kinds of pricing practices.
I also feel there's something weird going on with PCB Europe. It costs 20£ to have a 42" PLM copy shipped to Switzerland, yet PCB Europe wants 75£ plus around 20£ for shipping for the 51".
Mark_L wrote:
Just cancelled my order, they wanted £17 to ship a single 51" PLM domestically in UK. "We always try to use the most cost effective method to get your order to you" - yeah right. I will not support these kinds of pricing practices.
Got one 86" silver 2 weeks ago. 86" white, pair of 64" silvers, and a bunch of modifiers arriving next week. Was given the option of taking my 4 backordered Einsteins with the spring fix next week, or to take the V.2? units with the redesigned fingers in 3 weeks. I took the 3-week option. They did encourage me to take the shipment of all the modifiers now, as they couldn't guarantee that the PLMs that are available now would be there in 3 weeks when the strobes are supposed to ship. I will say, compared to the v.1 PLM, the v.2 PLM definitely has some significant refinements.
I wonder would the effect on the light quality if the fabric had vents like a golf umbrella. Sure would be nice to use the large ones outdoors in the breeze.
I worded that poorly. The 42" PLM copy including shipping costs 20£. The 51" PLM from PCB Europe costs 75£, plus an additional 20£ for shipping. So the shipping alone of the 51" PLM from PCB Europe costs about as much as I payed for the 42" in total.
PeterBerressem wrote:
Do I get you right? In both cases £20, shipped from the UK, ...I don't see any difference? 42" or 51" will be the same freight rate, no?
That's very strange: assuming you refer to VFPhotography Ltd I went though their checkout and the shipping estimation (for e.g. Basel) showed £34. Even more strange, the price for the 105cm (42") alone is £25 + VAT...
Nope, I'm referring to Cotswold Photo who are selling a 42" "Silver/Black Parabolic Type Umbrella" for 19.99£ with free shipping to:
United Kingdom
(excluding the
Channel Islands)
Andorra
Canary Islands
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Spitzbergen
Switzerland
I was a bit surprised it didn't say PCB on the shaft of the umbrella when I got it. I was going to buy it from VFP, but I then found Cotswold before I placed my order.
PeterBerressem wrote:
That's very strange: assuming you refer to VFPhotography Ltd I went though their checkout and the shipping estimation (for e.g. Basel) showed £34. Even more strange, the price for the 105cm (42") alone is £25 + VAT...
Cotswold obviously calculates their shipping very honestly - Royal air mail to EU for a roll of this size is indeed about £ 4.50. (btw, no other carrier beats their prices on leight weight items up to 2 kg. But in the opposite for a package of e.g. 10 kg ).
I definitely agree with you that PCBuff UK has to do a lot of homework in regard to EU-wide shipping methods.
Jonraty wrote:
Nope, I'm referring to Cotswold Photo who are selling a 42" "Silver/Black Parabolic Type Umbrella" for 19.99£ with free shipping to:
United Kingdom
(excluding the
Channel Islands)
Andorra
Canary Islands
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Spitzbergen
Switzerland
I was a bit surprised it didn't say PCB on the shaft of the umbrella when I got it. I was going to buy it from VFP, but I then found Cotswold before I placed my order.
Is yours adjustable ie. has the adjustable locking rather than a usual popout clip like a regular umbrella? I got one from VFP and though well made with solid 7mm shaft it has a popout clip while the PCB ones have a black locking screw I think
It's just a clip. Does adjustment in that regard affect performance? I thought flash-head positioning was the critical part, not the tightening of the umbrella.
Mark_L wrote:
Is yours adjustable ie. has the adjustable locking rather than a usual popout clip like a regular umbrella? I got one from VFP and though well made with solid 7mm shaft it has a popout clip while the PCB ones have a black locking screw I think
Jonraty wrote:
It's just a clip. Does adjustment in that regard affect performance? I thought flash-head positioning was the critical part, not the tightening of the umbrella.
I'm not sure and I've never seen a PCB PLM in the flesh.
I've done some tests with my 51" silver and I'm losing about 0.3 of a stop using a bracket that holds my speedlight horizontally. It does also seem quite sensitive to flash head position so it is probably doing the business despite being a knockoff.
How near the focal point can you have your flash and still get even coverage? With mine I have to keep it further away than PCB recommends, otherwise I get a black spot in the middle of the light-pattern. I'm not sure if it's because my flash isn't bare-bulb, or because the umbrella isn't the right shape
Mark_L wrote:
I'm not sure and I've never seen a PCB PLM in the flesh.
I've done some tests with my 51" silver and I'm losing about 0.3 of a stop using a bracket that holds my speedlight horizontally. It does also seem quite sensitive to flash head position so it is probably doing the business despite being a knockoff.
Jonraty wrote:
How near the focal point can you have your flash and still get even coverage? With mine I have to keep it further away than PCB recommends, otherwise I get a black spot in the middle of the light-pattern. I'm not sure if it's because my flash isn't bare-bulb, or because the umbrella isn't the right shape
I've had no problems at any position with a dark spot in the middle of the light pattern. What kind of bracket are you using?
And you're using a speedlight? Damn, apparently I should've gone for the VFP one. I'm not using any bracket, I just velcro my flash horizontally to my umbrella stand. It's a couple of cm off center. But I don't think that's the problem, as I tried free-handing the flash as centered as I could, and the spot was still there.
Thanks for taking the time.
Mark_L wrote:
I've had no problems at any position with a dark spot in the middle of the light pattern. What kind of bracket are you using?
Hey there. I received my 64" PLM v2 today. It looks great...a little confusing to assemble, but I'll figure it out.
Can anyone tell me if it is supposed to come with the speed ring for my AB's? When I got the notice it was shipping and I called to confirm my order, the rep asked if I had AB's or not for the proper mount. Alas it didn't ship with one. No instructions or paperwork either. Sort of strange.
Got mine today too, it is a little strange to assemble.
It is supposed to come with the speedring that you chose at checkout. Mine came in two boxes, the PLM in the tube and everything else in a box. Perhaps the second box hasn't shown yet?
It should come with a long rod and a short tube, you use both when using the umbrella mount and just the short tube when using the speedring. When you want to use the umbrella mount, you will use both holes on the short tube and just the middle hole when using the speedring. The long rod is both a filler for securing the end set screw and the rod for the umbrella mount. Pictures are worth a thousand words, just holler if you want a few, it's no trouble.
Hmmmm. Thanks. I only got one long box. I did notice the label says 2 of 2 so I think my speed ring may still be on the truck. I emailed Buff. I'll have to call UPS tomorrow.
).