Got very high Repair Cost for 0008X today!

[Perry Ho]

I used thinking to keep 0008X camera as valuables since I bought this amazing S/N Red Camera,
so, when I got this camera I was only use for about 4 days my own shooting projects,
unluckily this camera suddenly can't boot up on location a day when I was use it with my Epic-M,
so, I had send back this camera for checking.

Today, I got the repair invoice from the repair department, from the invoice this camera need to pay for more than 6 thousands including handling & shipping charge,
this really like kind of nightmare to me, just only 4 days shot cost me 6 thousands, don't know what's going on with this camera,
cause it's sent out from the MX upgrade department, I believe it shall check before send out, but now??? how come it's life such short???

 

[Tim Lüdin]

Hi Perry

the exact same thing happend to me also. I had my RED-One for almost 3 years by then. One morning on an real shoot the RED shot down for no reason and never came up again. Lucky we had a 5D on set otherwise we would have been screwed big time. So I sent it in and the invoice was over 6 K. Luckily the inssurance coverd it but now they hate me because I'm bad business for them ; ) So the Epic better holds for more than 3 years.

My story is kinda sad because till then my RED-One never ever faild me. I never had one of those nightmare situations that a lot of people used to talk about back in the days. I only had this one but it was f...ing major.

So now with the MX sensor, no problems what so ever. Rock solid.
If the Epic performs like that, we are all good.

Best
Tim

 

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Tim,

How come it was covered by insurance?

Thanks Stephen

Hi Perry

the exact same thing happend to me also. I had my RED-One for almost 3 years by then. One morning on an real shoot the RED shot down for no reason and never came up again. Lucky we had a 5D on set otherwise we would have been screwed big time. So I sent it in and the invoice was over 6 K. Luckily the inssurance coverd it but now they hate me because I'm bad business for them ; ) So the Epic better holds for more than 3 years.

My story is kinda sad because till then my RED-One never ever faild me. I never had one of those nightmare situations that a lot of people used to talk about back in the days. I only had this one but it was f...ing major.

So now with the MX sensor, no problems what so ever. Rock solid.
If the Epic performs like that, we are all good.

Best
Tim

 

[Nick Grow]

Hi Perry,

Please feel free to shoot me an email nick-dot-grow@red if you would like to discuss the service quote that our RMA support team sent you earlier this morning.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

While I sympathize with Perry's particular situation I can tell you from personal experience as an owner operator of professional camera systems over the years that repair bills of several thousand dollars are commonplace. Does RED offer an extended warrantee program or support contract? Perhaps they should. For many businesses and individuals a small monthly payment is preferable to an unexpected expense of several thousand dollars.

Cheers - #19

 

[David Battistella]

That's a nice idea Blair. Like AppleCare but for the RED body.

Redcare?
Redassure?

Even if it was on the body only.

 

[Denis Buhot]

6K

6K

Today, I got the repair invoice from the repair department, from the invoice this camera need to pay for more than 6 thousands including handling & shipping charge

must be pixels, or something... Interesting, but very annoying. Indies or amateurs that can afford the camera and are some part of Red's dream can't afford that kind of service fees, unless major causes are involved...Can you let us know about the exact nature of the camera's sudden death, after discussion with red people ?

 

[Steve Gal]

I have been renting Red Cameras for a few years now and only once has a camera been sent in for repairs and that was due to getting the camera wet. It was expensive but was covered by insurance (the customers). I will never know how wet the camera got though.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

I really hope Epic is cheaper to keep running. $6k just for normal operation upkeep is hard to understand. Hopefully Epic's circuits are cheaper and are purchased in sufficient quantities. I'd hope for sub-$1000 bills in absence of anything traumatic (such as camera baptisms).

 

[Jay A. Kelley]

If we got a $6,000 repair bill, that would be the end of our camera. We're not wired for that type of thing.. Unless the camera is broken by an accident.. Then it's an insurance claim and we're ok.

Jay

 

[Jonathan Stevenson]

I would certainly pay an extra premium to have my camera's warranty extended by Red. Let's say... $3k gets you an extended 3 year warranty? I love the idea.

 

[Stephen Williams]

I really hope Epic is cheaper to keep running. $6k just for normal operation upkeep is hard to understand. Hopefully Epic's circuits are cheaper and are purchased in sufficient quantities. I'd hope for sub-$1000 bills in absence of anything traumatic (such as camera baptisms).

I suspect as Epic is a more expensive camera, repairs relative the cost of Epic X could seem rather high- Whilst your camera is heavily subsidised repairs may not be. Printer cartridges anyone?

Red is a business, it's only fair they charge a commercial rate for what is a professional product line.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

I suspect as Epic is a more expensive camera, repairs relative the cost of Epic X could seem rather high- Whilst your camera is heavily subsidised repairs may not be. Printer cartridges anyone?

Red is a business, it's only fair they charge a commercial rate for what is a professional product line.

Not necessarily. The biggest cost in Epic is probably the sensor and R&D. DESIGNING the chips/circuits can cost TONS of money, but then making a board could be very cheap. Now honestly Jim has to sell it for a lot the first time to recoup his R&D, but then could justify replacing the board at close to cost to keep a customer happy. So main board may contribute $6k towards Epic's price the first time, but then can be replaced for $400. Make sense?

EDIT: just guessing, hence my use of conditional qualifiers, i have no knowledge of such things, but my logic makes sense for many high tech products. A chip can cost ten cents but you have to sell it for $1,000 to recoup the IP that went into it, but you can justify replacing it for 25 cents...

 

[Greg M]

Not necessarily. The biggest cost in Epic is probably the sensor and R&D. DESIGNING the chips/circuits can cost TONS of money, but then making a board could be very cheap. Now honestly Jim has to sell it for a lot the first time to recoup his R&D, but then could justify replacing the board at close to cost to keep a customer happy. So main board may contribute $6k towards Epic's price the first time, but then can be replaced for $400. Make sense?

And what about the time and disruption to their operations? They could hardly repair cameras at cost and stay in business. Bottom line is we want Red to be profitable so that the goodness continues, that means its in our best interest to pay fairly for repairs.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Gah! Why do you guys corner me into this? Of course I want Red to be profitable!! Of course they should charge fairly for repairs that result from customers mistreating cameras!

 

[Shawn Nelson]

gawd i should just never comment, if I'm not of the "Oh Red, please charge us more" camp then I'm somehow in the "Red should give away everything camp"? Wtf? Why can't there be reason, logic and nuance?

 

[Elsie N]

If we got a $6,000 repair bill, that would be the end of our camera. We're not wired for that type of thing.. Unless the camera is broken by an accident.. Then it's an insurance claim and we're ok.

Jay

Yeah, these things really, really need to keep working. I suggested once that RED institute an x amount of years or x amount of hours warranty... whichever comes first. I was pretty much told to STFU. Which reminds me, I'd better STFU.

 

[Miltos Pilalitos]

gawd i should just never comment, if I'm not of the "Oh Red, please charge us more" camp then I'm somehow in the "Red should give away everything camp"? Wtf? Why can't there be reason, logic and nuance?

I am with you on this one. Many times i can't understand either the way people think in Reduser.

If my MX needed a $6K repair i would probably have a heart attack!

 

[Stephen Williams]

I am with you on this one. Many times i can't understand either the way people think in Reduser.

If my MX needed a $6K repair i would probably have a heart attack!

The tubes on a Sony BVP 3 had a guarantee of 500 hours & a normal life of 1000. Repairs cost approx $6000, this is a pro camera, high repair costs will protect owners as the low ball renters who will go bust. Repairs are just the cost of doing business & must be accounted for in your business plan.

 

[Cail Young]

Wait till you see the cost of replacing the boards in an original EVF...

It's worth bearing in mind that the Red One body is likely on a very thin margin so the parts inside are not cheap. I'm guessing your quote was not thousands of dollars in labour?