Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: LaVezzi raises prices for 2009

This is topic LaVezzi raises prices for 2009 in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-15-2009, 12:24 PM:

Everyone's favorite cinema machine works has raised their prices a bit for 2009...some of the more popular items have only gone up a modest amount...some others though...have gone up quite a bit.

I only mention this as I think that on some items, things have gone up much more than one would expect in a 1-year period.

I don't think it is an economy related thing as if other service companies have similar results, we have not seen a fall off in service. In fact, there probably has been an increase as people are less inclined to invest in new typical cinema projectors with DCinema looming. I suspect this is just the result of evaluating what it actually cost to produce some low-volume items. I also don't think they adjusted their prices last year.

If you are curious...check out their web site and visit their on-line store to see what the current list prices are.

Steve

Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 02-15-2009, 02:42 PM:

Most owners believe is the year of "defense"

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-15-2009, 04:59 PM:

$15 for a Century aperture plate?!? I think that they were $8 or so when I last ordered them.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-15-2009, 05:18 PM:

$8.50....but yup...$15.00 now. Still a bargain but nearly double their previous price. Check out the GR-183 for those of you still running ST-744 main drives with direct drive. It might be cheaper (or close) to upgrade to the current style (of the last 25-years or so).

Steve

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-15-2009, 06:41 PM:

Well, we have proven that there is PLENTY of money lurking around (for d-tv). Perhaps the 35mm boys have decided to try and get their share? Louis

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 02-15-2009, 08:09 PM:

And this surprises anyone..how?

With the economy heading down the crapper, a lot of companies must either raise prices or layoff employees..or shut down altogether.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-15-2009, 09:11 PM:

In the case of LaVezzi...I think it is a case of realizing what the reals costs are for making the stuff and they adjusted accordingly. I don't think any of it is price gouging.

As for D-TV...about all that I'm seeing going in is 3D and that it to keep what business they have (the other guy has 3D so they have to have it). None of my customers WANT to go to Digital just for digital's sake.

Steve

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 02-15-2009, 09:29 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
In the case of LaVezzi...I think it is a case of realizing what the reals costs are for making the stuff and they adjusted accordingly. I don't think any of it is price gouging.

I agree as Lavezzi has always been pretty reasonable with their pricing.

Sign of the times....

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-15-2009, 10:06 PM:

Prices have gone up only because the demand for film equipment has gone way way down. LaVezzi is a huge company and believe me the film end of things is but a corner of Al LaVezzi's desk so to say. The medical end of things is what keeps em going. All in all for the small quantities of projector parts they produce I think they have done a remarkable job at holding the lid on prices. As far as the aperature plates go they may have finally made new dies but I'm just speculating here though... the old ones were getting out of tolerance and the aperature plates outer dimension typically had to be cleaaned up a bit before they would even fit. Dies are expensive and so is the sort of labor they have working there. Some of the best machinists in the industry in fact. Many of their employees are also very long time employees!

Mark