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Author Topic: Strong International Bad on Part Delivery Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 12-06-2002 05:57 PM                        quote: ...from Mark G. ...waits of 6 to 8 weeks are not unusual as certain things are sometmies done out of their shop....anodizing, or plating for instance That's familiar... I recently ordered rails, studio guides & the old one-piece gate pad for one of my Ballantynes. It didn't take that long to get them, but they were delayed somewhat and I was told that the above was what was going on. The parts arrived & installed without problem.  |  IP: Logged Pat Moore Master Film Handler Posts: 363 Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-06-2002 06:11 PM                     FYI, I have contacted Konrad and he's gotten back to me, but still waiting for info on what parts were N/A so I can track it down a bit more. If these are somewhat esoteric 35/70mm parts they might take a little doing to get a hold of -- Mark and others are right, we haven't built a bunch of 35/70's lately . LaVezzi is a prime vendor for us of many key components, and we supply a few things back to them as well. Their quandary is similar to ours -- the change in the business over the last few years makes inventory control critical. Pat  |  IP: Logged Konrad Schiecke Film Handler Posts: 26 From: Mt.Prospect,Il. Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-06-2002 07:04 PM                    For those that don't understand what the Lavezzi company has to offer other than being a major supplier of projection precision components as Pat points out is that they are a dealer of there product directly to the service industry. This business started recently with them. In my case there were some parts that they didnot make or stock but they said that they would get them from the manufacturer,namely Strong . Yes I had many conversations with the sales person at LaVezzi since that is where the order was placed. I never called Strong because I did not place the order with them. Posting this issue was not ment to degrade Strong but to get opinions on waiting time for parts and backordered parts with no delivery dates. Based on verbals with LaVezzi they identified the issue to be with Strong. If I didn't know the sales rep at lavezzi for about 20 years I would question them.  |  IP: Logged Don Sneed Master Film Handler Posts: 451 From: Texas City, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001 posted 12-06-2002 11:15 PM                        I never ever had a problem with Strong, maybe it was a bad day they had, I always got my parts sent to me overnight & in stock, a few weeks ago I had their tech make me a special part in the field to get me up & going, how many companies do you know would go to that trouble on a part that was not their fault, it was the fault of Osram 5K bulbs ...Now if you were talking about Christie, I would believe anything, I have yet had Christie to send me a part overnight...Why you ask ?? Because Christie is alway out of stock & it is a couple of days to weeks before I get the part , Strong on the other hand is always in stock for me if not they will make one, thank you Strong ....  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-06-2002 11:22 PM                     Steve K.: LaVezzi talks to anyone, you can even order ones-and-twos online at the LaVezzi Store. Minimum order is USD$30.00 (sales tax in Illinois). --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Pat Moore Master Film Handler Posts: 363 Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-06-2002 11:43 PM                     We do generally try to please and I think, for the most part, we do that. Once in a while we miss and that just tells us things we need to work on. I think anyone that talks with our Customer Service or Tech Support people know any problems aren't from lack of effort. Thanks to those saying that... Pat  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-07-2002 12:07 AM                     Well there is just one person at LaVezzi I know that deals with the service companies for the movie industry...NORM! He has always done well by us as well...a real quandry in this instance. As to LaVezzi dealing direct...generally you can do better by going through a dealer. There are several companies out there (mostly for consumables) that will deal direct since there may not be a dealer near the exhibitor but often the prices they charge are higher than if one dealed with a dealer. Steve  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-07-2002 02:54 PM                     Konrad said.... "Mark G. your comments are not appreciated since you don't know all the facts." Geez....common Konrad.....Weather they were appreciated or not its my right to post what I did here as that has been my experience with them over the past 20 years. This forum is a great place to solve problems like this, and also to bash manufacturers, dealers, technicians, and other forum members when needed. But please, if you are going to bash anyone or any company here, please do post all the facts the first time around. Again.... I was only reiterating my experiences with Strong in the past almost 20 years and through the many channels which I have delt with them. I'll state again that its very possible, and probable, that a dealer would have given you far better service(and perhaps price)than even your friend at LaVezzi had the time to give you. I'm sure that they are VERY busy there, and not just with the motion picture end of things. As I was once told by Al LaVezzi himself that the Motion Picture end of things accounts for a miniscule amount any more of their overall bottom line every year. Not that it isn't important though......they just do better making medical items, aerospace parts and the like. Considering all this, its doubtful that they would have many, if any, 35/70 X-L parts there, and with the overall decline in 70mm its also doubtful that Strong would either unless it was a common part that was used often. Mark @ CLACO CLACO Equipment And Service Salt Lake City, UT  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 12-07-2002 03:59 PM                     How many Simplex 35/70XL are still in service? It can not be a few handful at that which should not give a manufacturer a reason to do a production run to sit on the shelf. The late Howard Straight, formerly of MGM and later Simplex was the master of the machine and was a nice person to deal with.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-07-2002 05:04 PM                     There is at least one 35/70 X-L in a theatre near Cottonwood Mall in Salt Lake City. This is an ex- Cineplex Theatre. It has never had any 70mm run through it. I'd be willing to bet that Cineplex was the largest buyer of the 35/70 X-L of all time!! Mark  |  IP: Logged Pat Moore Master Film Handler Posts: 363 Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-07-2002 06:13 PM                     There are a BUNCH of 35/70 projectors out there -- but I doubt many of them are in condition to run 70mm film. I've seen a few with the Penthouse removed and nobody knew where the 70mm Trap and Gate were. Some have been converted to single format 35mm sprockets -- smart move, given the cost of the things. IF 70mm were to come back (right...), it would be a struggle for most theatres to get back to any ability to project a picture. Mark's right, Cineplex may well have been the largest purchaser of 35/70's but there were others too back in the mid-late 80's. Since most critical components of the projector are the same, parts issues should not be a big deal on 35/70 versions of the Simplex. The differences are obvious and common business sense necessitates a low stocking level of unique parts. FYI -- I did receive from Konrad a list of parts he was looking for and I'll do a little research when I'm back in the States. In general, though, I do think Strong takes pretty good care of our customers and equipment, a lot of which is considerably older even than me! Pat  |  IP: Logged

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