Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Your favorite dealer

This is topic Your favorite dealer in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 08-19-2003, 05:02 PM:

If this isn't against Brad's board policies, Can I ask who's your favorite equipment supplier? Based on fair pricing, actually returns calls, has good reputation, does what he promise's, supports what he sells, etc.

Reason for this question. I helped a new twin theatre get up and running last fall. We had one HELL of a time getting anyone to give us quote on equipment and booth install. Job ended up costing around $60,000 after install. Nothing to sneeze at.
I distinctly got the feeling after that experience that if you didn't have at least a 20 plex, most dealers didn't want anything to do with you.

We sent request's for bids to 18 dealers, (some which frequent this board) and only ONE out of 18 bothered to respond. Some called to ask questions with promise's to get a bid to us, but they never followed thru. I was completely floored by this lack of professionalism. I mean, if you don't want to sell me equipment, say so up front, don't string me along for a couple of months. Geez. Off the soap box.

So, in my quest for projectors and sound equipment, can you suggest dealers?

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 08-19-2003, 05:40 PM:

Brad we use a local dealer here in Austin, Southwest Cinema Services. Richard Tucker is the owner of the establishment. Has always given me a quote for items no matter how small of an order it was. Has always returned my phone calls regaurding issues with booth equipment and purchases, and has done all my installation, upgrade and repair work since the place reopened in late 2001. He is an all around nice person to deal with and does do some work on request out of state. If you would like to talk to him in the future about a project e mail me off line and I will forward his info to you.

Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 08-19-2003, 05:41 PM:

I highly suggest two dealers for their expertise and helping me understand some more about the business!

One is a good friend Tom Hutchison. His company is Canada's "Independent Theatre Supply". He can be reached at:
14306 115 Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3B7 Canada
Tel: (780) 482-1611
Fax: (780) 482-3520
Email: its@compusmart.ab.ca

The other is Canada's "Cinex". Kris Brunton works for them, and he posts on the forum regularily. They are FAMOUS PLAYERS official supplier. You can reach them at:
140 Goodyear Rd
Napanee Ontario K7R 3M3 Canada
Tel: (613) 354-4272
Tel: (877) 277-3611
Tel: 01-613-354-4272
Fax: (613) 354-9130
Web: http://www.cinex.net
E: kbrunton@cinex.net

Hope this helps others!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-19-2003, 05:50 PM:

Sending out 18 requests for bids is absurd to say the least!! Unless you are writing an article on the margin difference of different dealers or that sort of thing.....anyway, you deserve the slight response you got back.
Like any city or government entity that does the same thing three bids is standard. As for the dealers that didn't respond...they were probably too busy with normal customers to be able to. At times we literally get burried here and right now are backlogged about 2 years. I know that we would have responded had we been requested to do so. Had we not not been able to we would have e-mailed or called as to why we were not able to. Once you find a dealer that you are comfortable with and know you can trust, the whole bid process can be eliminated. You will eventually learn that a reliable, knowledgable, capable dealer is worth far more than any slight difference in bids. Perhaps you should consider buisness school 101 before going any further.....

Mark
P.S. The size of the job is irrelevant to us. We treat everyone of them as if they were the most important job of the year. All dealers should!

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 08-19-2003, 06:07 PM:

Well I should elaborate on what I said Mark, I was trying to avoid writing a novel in my first message. It ended up being 18 requests, because no one was responding. 2 or 3 at a time was sent out over an 16 month period. When we received no response, out went 2-3 more requests, and so on.

I "had" a regular dealer. Dealt with him for 18 yrs. He was one that never bothered to acknowledge the request, or return phone calls, after more than one request, thus the search was on. Problems I had with him more than once during the 18 years. Got tired of it. Yep, he's still in business. Boggles my mind. I hate to beg for a dealer to take my money.
I can understand a dealer being swamped, but he shouldn't burn bridges by ignoring a possible customer.

I've heard this same gripe from others hunting for equipment.

Thanks for the other tips guys.

P.S. (P.S. Mark said, The size of the job is irrelevant to us. We treat everyone of them as if they were the most important job of the year. All dealers should!)

Your the rare breed, there's not many around with that attitude. On the contrary, most have no clue what the term customer service means.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-19-2003, 06:15 PM:

I agree Brad, This dealer should be shot. Bet I know who it is too!! If a dealer can't do a job he should just tell the customer. Simple as that.
I know that we'd be happy to quote your plex. We've done many installations in Indiana. Location is never a problem at this end. Weather we can fit it in all depends on your secedule and ours though.....
Mark

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 08-19-2003, 06:25 PM:

I remember I tried to buy some equipment and supplies from you Mark a while ago, and got a response you were on the road or vacation and would be able to help me out when you got back. So I emailed when you said you'd get back, no response. Several emails after that, no reponse. Sure it was going to be a small order but still would have been nice to deal with you. Oh well.

Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 08-19-2003, 09:00 PM:

Tom e-mailed me today to inform me that he is no longer in the cinema equipment supply business... Therefore, I would suggest Cinex, or if you can contact Best Theatre Supply, Try them at:
Best Theatre Supply, 1303 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario M4T 2Y9 Canada
Tel: (416) 323-7244
Fax: (416) 323-6600

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 08-20-2003, 04:20 PM:

Brad-

What dealers didn't respond? We should know.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-20-2003, 07:03 PM:

Mike H.
Thats one of the reasons that I left that company. Working there was quite trying most of the time to say the least but I do have to pat myself on the back for lasting 5 years with them. Needless to say, that other "company" now employs no full time motion picture technical person even though they claim to still be a full service dealer. Its been real interesting working for my present employer in town for the past year now and getting to know most of our customers quite well. I find that they had similar unhappy experiences with that "other" company and very few if any of them take that company seriously any longer. Anyway, my present employer has two full time office people. One for sales exclusively, the other is our book keeper. Then there are five of us in the field and or shop working at any one time. Thats alot different from there just being me at the "other" place and I had to do the quotes, write P.O.'s, order items, do service work, do booth installs, and do the billing, and ok P.O.'s for payment. Five years of working there gave me a masters degree in how not to run a buisness. Hopefully, no one here will ever get themselves into a job at a place like that.
Mark

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 08-20-2003, 07:15 PM:

I see... sorry to hear about that, glad you're in a better place now!

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 08-20-2003, 07:57 PM:

We have an excellent business relationship with Capital Motion Picture Supply, 630 Ninth Ave. in NYC. Larry Perse and Mark Kramer are great people, fair with prices and knowledgable equipment dealers. When we need something, they get right on it. Their telephone # is 212 757-4510, fax # 212 265-5648.

For technical services, we deal with Bob Peterson at New England Theatre Service. We have been very pleased with Bob and his people. Tel: 1-800 388-7547.

We are a 13 screen independent, and all these folks are always happy to help us.

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 08-21-2003, 04:23 PM:

In the UK Sound Associates have been very good to me... both with advice and service.

In the USA Component Engineering.... need I say more.

As for ancillary supplies Jack Roe are hard to beat.... they also supply Film Guard... nuf said!

Posted by Ky Boyd (Member # 23) on 08-23-2003, 05:40 PM:

Scott Hicks at American Cinema Equip in Portland, OR - Simply the best!

Posted by Peter Hall (Member # 695) on 08-24-2003, 05:12 AM:

Just read the topic thread - there's a dodgy Jamacian guy who stands at the corner of Coldharbour Lane and Railton Rd who I believe fits the bill..

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 08-24-2003, 09:53 AM:

Regarding dealers and bids .... Our company is building a theater near Chicago, and I sent some bids out for install. But I called each company first and explained who I was and talked to them about it. Some companies were not able to bid on the job for different reasons. Some came right out and said they were not interested or other reasons (for example, our's is a union job, so non-union contractors can't apply.) But they told me upfront what their thoughts were.

Often, I think other dealers get bids from people who are only checking up on their regular dealer; who they will probably buy from anyway. It can take some time to go through a bid to price it correctly, and if a dealer gets a request from someone he never heard of before, the dealer has to decide if it's a "real" request and invest a half-day work, or just some accountant who needs three prices to put in the filing cabinet.

My point is, I don't think it's right to just blindly send a piece of paper in the mail, then wait. You should talk to the dealer (or whoever) first, and get to know them at least a little.

Posted by Michael Harlow (Member # 1353) on 08-24-2003, 04:56 PM:

Peter Hall of Future Projections
Jack Roe
Sound Associates

All have been used by me with good results

Posted by Lance C. McFetridge (Member # 95) on 08-25-2003, 02:52 PM:

Entertainment Equipment Corporation
Jim Lavorato
1 800-448-1656
They also have established quite a successful cinema training facility.
http://www.entequip.com/index.asp

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 08-29-2003, 03:20 PM:

I noticed that the originator of this topic has posted requests for various items in the classified section of the site and as a note most dealers are reluctant because of warranty liability to install 3rd party supplied material

Posted by David Graham Rose (Member # 1450) on 08-29-2003, 04:14 PM:

Greetings All from Cambridge

I have for many years relied upon the services of Bell Theatre Services for my ancilliary technical needs. Whilst I depend on many of my own inventions for my day to day modifications, I will permit that Mr. Bell and his fine chaps serve me well when an out of the ordinary modification is required.

With a tired mind, I bid you all a good evening.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-30-2003, 11:48 AM:

"I noticed that the originator of this topic has posted requests for various items in the classified section of the site and as a note most dealers are reluctant because of warranty liability to install 3rd party supplied material"
_________________________________________________________________

Gord and others........
I used to have this attitude when I ran my own company. However since working at CLACO I have actually found this to be more profitable to the installing dealer. Although I always encourage customers to purchase as much "new" equipment as they can afford many customers will still try to buy as much late model used gear as they can rummage up. Actually we find that we usually end up making more profit repairing and selling parts for that "other used equipment" that is bought from private parties, or other dealers.

Also, if a customer buys equipment as-is from someone else he is automatically assuming the liability as to if it will work or not even though you may install it...... If you end up on an install like this just make it clear before you start that "the owner" is responsable for any repairs to equipment you did not provide. This is also another reason we generally charge T&M for all of our installs......
Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Gordon Bachlund (Member # 124) on 08-30-2003, 12:04 PM:

While I am not a big customer by any means, I have always been impressed with Mark Gulbrandsen's willingness to help when others let me down.

While at GETS Mark took really good care of me, and more recently, Claco and Mark supplied me with some oddball special order Kelmar parts that I needed.

Based on nearly four years' experience with Mark, I would vote him a great dealer with whom to do business.

A toast to Mark!
[beer]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-01-2003, 03:30 PM:

Hi Gordon,
I am very flattered! Thank You for the kind works. I wish all customers had the integrity that you posess.
Mark @ Claco

Posted by Brian Guckian (Member # 1678) on 09-04-2003, 06:39 AM:

Also in the UK :

Omnex Pro-Film

of Stockport, Manchester is another great company.

I've always had good experiences with the major UK companies, they are all dedicated to doing the job right and will go the extra mile.

Posted by David Rigby (Member # 1301) on 09-04-2003, 08:43 AM:

Though I have no real experience of financial transactions with Omnex, I can say that Ged & Co. went way beyond the call of duty to assist when I had some minor issues with an Omnex rectifier supplied used by a third party. Hats off!

Sound Associates have also been good to me - in supplying aperture plates for my Vic 4 at very reasonable prices and even sourcing a used Vic 4 lamphouse cone so I didn't have to wait 3 weeks and pay 3x the price for a new one from Italy. Very fair indeed.

Jack Roe are also top notch for service in my limited experience and the consumables I've bought to date have been at a most reasonable price...plus the FilmGuard connection of course!

David

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 09-04-2003, 09:56 AM:

Thank you Brian and David. It's good to hear of satisfied customers!

Personally I try not to use these forums for sales or advertising. We and the other companies whose employees post here don't contribute financially to the running of this site, and I feel that to use it as free advertising is a little brass necked.

Posted by Dennis M Dow Jr (Member # 1970) on 10-25-2003, 10:05 PM:

Try Star Cinema in Teaneck NJ..