Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Whats Up With International Cinema Equipment?

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Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 04-26-2004, 06:25 PM:

What is this company's problem?

They recently posted an item I was interested in on EBAY, and they invited interested parties to e-mail them with questions. I did, and never received a response. This was yesterday. I went to check the auction status today, and I could not find the item. BTW, when I last looked yesterday, there were no bidders and there was not a "Buy It Now" option.

I am most positive that this is same company that Wolk refered me to for some needed NOS vintage parts. I contacted them. Their response: it was not worth their time and effort to search for my requested items. Forgive me if I am wrong, but I am most positive that this is the company...this was quite some time ago.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-26-2004, 10:51 PM:

I heard that Steven is going to be selling everything off including the warehouse and retiring. Have you tried calling them on the good ole tele?
Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-27-2004, 07:06 AM:

In the hot Miami real estate market, Steven sold his main location for a very, very good profit and is planning to move to less expensive property....the man probably will not retire since he has many options in his basket other than MTE-ICECO.

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 04-27-2004, 05:09 PM:

How could a company like this stay in business?

Some time ago I was looking for some surpluss Simplex parts. Wolk told me this company probably had what I needed. So I called them up. THe answere I received was that they probably had it, but it was not worth their time and effort to fulfill my order.

This was not the first time I received a response like this from them.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-27-2004, 05:49 PM:

If Strong, Lavezzi, or Wolk doesn't have it then it can be tough. When Wolk was operated by Charlie, some parts where retired if the part did not have a turnover rate to justify hardware on the shelf. Example are stars and cams for Motiograph; a final run of parts was going to cost $15,000....for a running market of probably 100 - 200 in use worldwide...it did not happen.
ICECO, in addition to the main building, has two other warehouses, occupying two city blocks + loaded storage trailers...if you need it bad enough, it is probably hiding somewhere...yesterday's treasure, tommorrow's pig iron [Wink]

Posted by John Anastasio (Member # 607) on 04-27-2004, 08:56 PM:

I just ordered some Christie aperture plates over the phone from them and they didn't say anything except "thank you", probably no problem because they're new. Miami real estate, huh? I wonder if Steve's gonna show up in one of Karl Hiaasen's books now. [Big Grin]

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 04-28-2004, 11:50 AM:

Before you rule out dealing with ICECO, my suggestion would be to call and ask to speak with Dara. I've always gotten through and she has been very helpful.

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 04-28-2004, 11:57 AM:

I second Jeff Taylor's comments. They seem to be really busy and understaffed. Despite my small orders, Dara has always been helpful in getting me whatever i needed.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-28-2004, 12:13 PM:

Better yet, go there and seeif they will let you crawl through the warehouses. I've done this several times always comming up with some interesting stuff to take home.

Mark

Posted by Juan Urias (Member # 1990) on 04-28-2004, 12:33 PM:

wow,kinda weird hearing this since they are always very helpful maybe you got them in a bad time this doesn't condone them treating you the way you said they treated you but who really knows what was happening that precise moment at the company.im sure you will get better treatment next time you call them..

Posted by Matthew Taylor (Member # 2310) on 04-28-2004, 04:35 PM:

I thought I would just post this in defense of ICECO. I recently ordered a couple of items from them to be sent to me in the UK which I hadn't received yet. I emailed Dara yesterday and promptly got a reply and was told that they had sent them both out. She emailed the postage receipt to me and also explained that the computer had crashed last week and they'd been desperately trying to get it back up and running all week. This would explain any lack of response from them.

One of the items was delivered today. I thought they gave a great service.

My 1.12 Pence worth (at the current exchange rate this translates to 2 cents)

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-28-2004, 04:43 PM:

Matt said....
"explained that the computer had crashed last week and they'd been desperately trying to get it back up and running all week. This would explain any lack of response from them."

I'm sorry but the computer crashing excuse is the lamest response I've ever heard!! Thats got to be excuse number 7 on their list for sure [thumbsup]

. Everyones E-Mail goes to the provider [eyes]

they use where it can be easily retrived via another computer, an internet cafe or at a nearby library.

It also does not take a week to get a computer back up and running again [Roll Eyes]

. Thats definately got to be lame excuse number 11 for sure [thumbsup]

One can go out and buy a new Dell for 299.00 after the rebate if they're that hard up!

Geez! I've got to wonder how high a number the ICECO lame excuse list goes up to??

Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-28-2004, 04:51 PM:

I talk to Dara a couple of times a month and last week she was having problems with their system...e-mail is one thing but order entry, inventory, accounting programs can be a bear [Wink]

Posted by John Anastasio (Member # 607) on 04-28-2004, 07:19 PM:

I've always had great service from them and I'm not exactly the last of the big time spenders.

Posted by Vernon Cramer (Member # 1181) on 04-28-2004, 07:43 PM:

I've always had very satisfactory experiences with ICECO and just placed an order for a new screen the other week. Dara has given me some excellent deals on both used and new gear. When I've been able to catch him, Steve has been very helpful with some of my questions. They have a lot of used stuff tucked away in their warehouses but you have to give them ample time to do a search (I'd love to spend a day prowling around down there). If you're patient, they probably have what you're looking for, but you do need to give them time to track some of this stuff down. While I'm not usually doing very large orders, they've come through every time.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-28-2004, 08:45 PM:

Always had good dealings with Steve

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 04-29-2004, 01:34 AM:

Maybe I cought them at a bad time?

All I know is that I was refered to them for some parts I was told they might have. And my post is the reply I received.

I was also told that they have several surpluss E-7s and Supers sitting in warehouse, and that it was less expensive for them tolet these sit onpallets rather than paying someone to haul them off. Anyhow, I asked them about possibly sending a vertical shaft E-7 if they had one. The response: not worth their time and effort to ship me one, but I was welcome to come by with a truck and scrounge. Kinda hard to do seeing as I'm in AZ.

I have forgotten who I had spoken to, but these are the responses I got.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-29-2004, 01:40 PM:

Well Will,
Heres proof that something is sure screwed up down there.... If they have time to auction off posters and other crap stuff for 7 bucks each they would surely have time to pick up an E-7 and ship it to you..... So the comeputers were down ha? Noteing the start dates of some of the auctions then how'd they get the auctions posted here..... They musta spent days writing up the three pages of stuff they have up.
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&include=0&userid=kinemaman&sort=3&rows=25&since=-1&rd=1

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-29-2004, 02:14 PM:

Mark,
my dear Watson, you are so distrusting [Big Grin]

They have a full time employee to handle the e-bay hassles. [Smile]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-29-2004, 03:51 PM:

Hardly as I've bought from Steven many times....but only in person to avoid any problems such as what is happening now to Will. I was also VERY amused by the fact that they obviously had the computers up in order to post the E-bay stuff during the same time period they claimed the computers were down(That was excuse #7 I believe). Also that they would bother to sell a $7.00 poster while they could obviously net a lot more $$ selling a used E-7 to Will. Pretty stupid of them if you ask me.

Hey Richard, Perhaps you could go over there and grab an E-7 for Will and help him out.....

Sherlock

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-29-2004, 04:17 PM:

The regional Imax service guy has probably wiped out his E-7 stash for the cinema he owns in Jamacia...it is the only machine that his relatives can keep running.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-29-2004, 04:47 PM:

Will said.....

"I was also told that they have several surpluss E-7s and Supers sitting in warehouse"

So then it doesn't appear to look like the Imax guy got them all does it....

Will also said...

"Anyhow, I asked them about possibly sending a vertical shaft E-7 if they had one. The response: not worth their time and effort to ship me one"

So they actually pay someone full time to ship out $7.00 posters and other junk?

Bwahahahahahahah.... thats really hilarious!! But that same person can't even ship out a $100.00 projector?

Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-29-2004, 04:55 PM:

Yes but you are forgetting the "hernia" aspect between the two types of sales [Big Grin]

Posted by Steven H. Krams (Member # 1461) on 04-29-2004, 07:11 PM:

Well I suppose its time to respond to all this excitement!

I am sorry I could not do it sooner but frankly I did not learn of all this until two loyal customers/friends took the time to call our office to let us know that we were in the Film-Tech spotlight!

I regret that Will may have not gotten the response he wanted from an inquiry to our company. No one is perfect! We do try to give service and support to all lour loyal and faithful friends and customers. I don't know Will and no one in our organization knows you! Perhaps you were calling Cinema Equipment Co. Inc. also located in Miami? Is it possible?

Our number is 305 573 7339. Give me a call personally and I will try to help you! If we have what you need I am pleased to sell it to you. Your business is welcomed!

After being in this business for more then 35 years you do get to encounter so many wonderful people.

I know most of you quite well. For those that don't know me well I hope I do have the chance to since we are not going out of business we are simply expanding and moving to another location.
The last time we did this was back in 1992.

When we moved to our present location it was a sleepy little area
that was about the least expensive place I could find for us ( I could hardly afford it at all). We bought the building in July 1992 and Hurricane Andrew hit us on August 24th. We were knocked out of business for a few weeks but managed to get back up and well the area turned into a hot ticket area and so it is now time to cash in and move on!

The fact is we are consolidating our facilties we presently have two buildings comprising about 45,000 Square feet. Many of you have visited us from all over the world.

We are in the process of purchasing a 70,000 Square foot building situated on 3 acres close to the Miami Airport.

We will be in our present location for about another year. It will take us that long to build out our new facility and move. You are all welcomed to come and visit when we have our grand opening! It should be quite a party!

Our new place will allow us to do so much more so if your email got lost have pity on us and give us another chance! Dara's got a new computer up and running now so give her a ring she will be glad to hear from you Will!

We do have a full time staff that manages our ebay sales. There are 4 people handling this now it has become very sucessful. Some of you seem to think very little of it. Well I can tell you that what you put into it is what you get out of it. We use ebay not only to generate income but to reach new clients. Many of the clients who purchase from us on ebay become regular buyers and so even a small $5.00 sale can turn into a complete theater package sometimes!

Good Luck to all and G-D Bless!

Steven H Krams
President
International Cinema Equipment
a Division of :
Magna-Tech ELectronic Co. Inc.

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 04-29-2004, 08:12 PM:

Steven

If I got you mixed up with the other outfit in Miami, then you have my deepest apologizes! [Frown]

It was quite some time ago that I made the E-7 requests, so I may have gotten you confused?
Once again, if I am wrong, then you have my deepest, deepest apologizes!

Steve, was it your company that recently listed some items on E-Bay? I did send an e-mail and never got a response?

WKutler

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-02-2004, 07:39 PM:

As a side note never had any problems with any of my many ebay purchases from Steve and the last time I visited them i think i cleaned out there inventory of Westrex5000 heads [Smile]

Steve keep up the good work and good luck on your new building
and also if memory serves another company who's representative posts frequently was late in shipping out some filmguard and some other stuff over at 35mm forum is the shoe on the other foot [Smile]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-02-2004, 08:17 PM:

Gord,
Let me know if you need any more 5000's as there are quite a few sitting out here in storage doing nothing. The last running pair are in Wendover, UT and are ato be replaced pertty soon. We also have meny brand new 5000 parts in stock including brand new 35/70 penthouses.

Mark

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 05-02-2004, 08:26 PM:

Coming soon to Toronto...Westrexland....it will give that French park a run for its money [Razz]

I liked the 5000, the last one I serviced was in the 1970's.