quote: Steve Guttag

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I believe Kinoton's aperture plates will work in a Ballantyne (at least the single plates) but you won't want to look at those prices

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quote: Sean McKinnon

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Considering what Steve said that is probably not an unreasonable price for a Kinoton plate.

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I check online for the same Kinoton Aperture plate that we have and it's only worth 36$ (18 UK Pound)

So 175$ is a bit much.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-01-2008, 06:34 PM:
 
Watch out on the Kinoton Plates.

For a 1.85 (and others)...there are several types and they all have similar part numbers. However, they have precut 1.85s that are going to be the most expensive but not as high as $175. The FP75E (I'm not sure they have a 1.85 specific plate like they do for the FP20-50) plates are also going to be more expensive as there are very few FP75s in the world.

However, the typical single 1.85 plate undersized on the order of .400x.800 (I have the exact dims at the office), is going to be in the $55-$65 LIST price range. Street price is often less but different dealers may vary.

I can guarantee that the price of a Kinoton plate will exceed $36.00

What most may not appreciate about the dollar/euro situation is that Kinoton and Kinoton America subsidize the horrible dollar value as the value of the dollar dwindles. It seems like we only get about 1/2 of the real change but it STILL makes it seem expensive for some things.

Steve
 

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Posted by Rene Ferron (Member # 4674) on 06-01-2008, 06:44 PM:
 
I get it.

But 175$ seemed to be a bit high for me. I will make sure that my boss is aware of this.

Now this is the 2nd time we notice price difference on certain items that we order from our supplier, either we will have to be more cautious or change supplier.
 

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Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-01-2008, 08:57 PM:
 
If your supplier is also your service company by changing suppliers they may be less interested in suppling emergency service as part of there overhead is in the parts prices
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-01-2008, 09:28 PM:
 
Gord, that is true...but if you are paying List+ on parts...there is probably a better service company out there too.

It is true, however, that parts have a fair amount of overhead associated with them verus their potential profit. You add up the time it takes to take the order, fill out a PO, either call or fax the PO (at long distance rates)...receive the order, verify you actually got what you ordered rather than some mystery part, send the part out, generate the invoice, send the invoice out, wait 30+ days (after all they are theatre owners...they get paid by their paytrons when they enter the building...their vendors get paid...whenever) and then close it all out...parts are rarely a huge profit item.

Now add to that the cost of a stocking dealer (like the one I work for)...then you also have monies tied up on having things at the ready at all times and trying to judge what the demands will be in an ever changing market. And to add insult to injury...the government taxes us annually based on what is in inventory (thereby discouaging any business from stocking anything).

The last kicker is when you find a defective part that has been on your shelf that you didn't know was defective. When you go to use them or sell them...they don't show their defectiveness until use...often they become complete losses for the dealer.

Steve
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-02-2008, 07:52 AM:
 
Seems to me that Ballantyne plates will also fit Kinoton FP serries machines just fine but few may realize this. They are far less expensive then plates from Kinoton. I want to say you could buy 5 or 6 Ballantyne plates for each Kinoton plate... Now there are certain DP-70 plates that may run that high except the pinhole plate which is about 65.00.

Mark
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-02-2008, 08:48 AM:
 
Kinoton plates are chromed and as such, do not retain the heat the way typical plates will. They are definately more expensive to make than the Ballantyne but I would suppose they WILL work.

Here are the list prices:

For the Ballantyne "Widescreen" plate, part number 3368...the List price is $40.00.

Their plates range in price but the most expensive is $54.60 and that is a list price.

The Kinoton 1.85 plate (single) is the 5322 451 10012. Its current list price is $77.07.

The cheap Kinoton plate is $73.35 with the 1.85 plate being the most expensive in its category (so there isn't much of a range). Again, these are LIST prices...street prices are typically less so $175.00 seems out of line for just a part.

Might the $175 be the price to come out and cut the plate too? If so, it sounds real cheap unless they are right next door.

Steve
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-02-2008, 03:18 PM:
 

quote: Steve Guttag

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They are definately more expensive to make than the Ballantyne but I would suppose they WILL work.

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