Going to Be a Bit "Upset" if We Don't Get Dragon Upgrade

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Poop Booger Pee

The little moderator voice in my head says I should delete this post because it adds nothing constructive here. Then I reflected for a moment on the rest of the thread...

 

[AndreeMarkefors]

I wonder if RED has shot themselves in the foot with these upgrade paths.

Looking at markets in general, one of the key things for any company to achieve is market share. Other camera companies launch new models and the older ones turn up on the second hand market and might find new first times users at discounted prices.

I wonder what it costs RED to cover for all previous cutomers and buy back old stuff to sell their new tech at "cost difference". How low could the new prices be for new customers without this false sense of responsibility?

 

[Jason Honeycutt]

I wonder if RED has shot themselves in the foot with these upgrade paths.

Looking at markets in general, one of the key things for any company to achieve is market share. Other camera companies launch new models and the older ones turn up on the second hand market and might find new first times users at discounted prices.

I wonder what it costs RED to cover for all previous cutomers and buy back old stuff to sell their new tech at "cost difference". How low could the new prices be for new customers without this false sense of responsibility?

It's probably that balance of smaller profit or someone switching to a different company. If there's a first time buyer and you can get a cheaper RED than a new (whatever brand) then, they probably look at it like;

1 - We stopped a new customer from going to our competitor and potentially becoming a repeat buyer with them.
2 - The first-time buyer got took a used RED off of the hands of another owner who's selling it for a reason...
3 - The owner who just sold the older camera bought a new RED anyway. So, someone bought a new RED, just not the guy off the street. Either way; camera sold.

 

[AndreeMarkefors]

Hi Jason,

Only problem is, it's not really RED buying the cameras back. It's the new first time buyers that are paying the steepest price in more expensive equipment.

I think it was a very nice thing to do for those customers who bought the RED One before anyone knew anything. But after that it should probably have been business as usual.

Then again, few things are "usual" with RED.

 

[Jason Honeycutt]

Hi Jason,

Only problem is, it's not really RED buying the cameras back. It's the new first time buyers that are paying the steepest price in more expensive equipment.

I think it was a very nice thing to do for those customers who bought the RED One before anyone knew anything. But after that it should probably have been business as usual.

Then again, few things are "usual" with RED.

Yeah, it's a blessing and curse... they clearly are a unique company where they make it a point to be on these boards, they're accessible via email, etc... they actually have a dialogue with us. We feel part of it, it's literally like a family. That's why, when I started this thread, with any other company, it'd be like, "Are you out of your effing mind, whining about an upgrade you thought you were going to be able to buy?" Sony wouldn't care, Panasonic wouldn't, Nikon could care less about its customers (and I love their gear), Canon doesn't care either. So when I started this thread, on one hand, as you said, with any other company, it would be idiotic for me to say anything... but on the other, RED's always gone so far out of their way to be cool and honest with us that this was the first time I felt duped with over-promises. I'm sure they're gonna make it right, they always do, but the silence is what's killing us right now. Ted kinda gets a little too excited at NAB sometimes, I think

But with gear in general, I think, though, that they're still making money on the new person in that equation who sold their camera to buy a new one. What's great with push and pull of the industry is that RED's users are loyal, suuuuuper loyal. At first, RED didn't have to give a damn about us... there was a wait list for the R1. But - they did care about their customers and now that they're down a little to the Alexa, those same customers keep that loyalty, sticking by RED. This Alexa stuff is hilarious to me... I definitely use it too but, I swear to God, all things being equal, I don't see a bit of difference in the footage. I work at a certain network where one of our main shows is shot on RED, the other on Alexa... they both use the same glass... and they both look identical. IDENTICAL. When people wise up, they'll come back to RED, especially after this Dragon launch which is going to blow away the Alexa, I have no doubt. I just want to be one of those people who get to have it for my Scarlet