January 2016 update

[Bob Gundu]

Is there any chance some of those Element Technica accessories like the battery modules will make it onto the RED Store? It would be nice to use the credit towards them.

Thanks!

 

[Matthew J]

Is there any chance some of those Element Technica accessories like the battery modules will make it onto the RED Store? It would be nice to use the credit towards them.

I thought someone at RED late last year said the battery module was going to be on the store at some point.

 

[Jarred Land]

Is there any chance some of those Element Technica accessories like the battery modules will make it onto the RED Store? It would be nice to use the credit towards them.

Thanks!

working on that.

Hey Brent, as the MG Upgrades start out, I am still confused why the credit is not applied when we pay in full for the upgrade? Why is it waiting to be applied until the camera is totally done being upgraded and shipped out when the upgrade process take 5-7 days supposedly? Seems like even if it was credited when the camera arrives, it would be better than when it ships out.

I am sending in old redmags for the trade mag program and if I have to wait an extra week just so I can use it towards the new minimags, I could technically be without a usable camera for 3 weeks or more ( 1 - 1 1/2 weeks for camera upgrade & 1-2 weeks for media after shipping) It wouldn't be an issue if there were other things I needed to buy that weren't crucial for using the camera when it arrives. However, there's nothing else I need in the foreseeable future, so it seems like a bad business for me to go ahead and spend $5000 on media and readers now, only to get a $5000 credit a week later that will sit there for who knows how long. But at the same time, it's bad business for me to have a camera sitting there unusable because I have no media (and no easy place to rent minimags locally.)

Please don't take this as yelling at you all, but truly as constructive criticism to help make you all a better company for customers. It just seems like RED can only juggle one ball in the air at a time when it comes to this whole process. My idea of a efficient process would be, as we are doing the send in/drop off process for the MG Weapon (emails for payment, etc), be able to place an order for anything else we need. We could go ahead and pay the extra money for whatever we order that would be over the $5k. At the latest, when the brain & trade in media arrives, the credit is applied (you have all our money and the camera, so obviously the upgrade is happening and we are at the point of no return) During the 5-7 upgrade days, the accessories order is processed and either ships out with the brain or separately before the brain in ready. This to me seems very logical and the most efficient way to be able to make sure customers are without a working camera for the shortest amount of time. Am I missing something that makes it difficult for the process not to be this way?

I hope you can see where I am coming from with this.

I Just talked to Brent... hes gonna try and knock this down.

 

[Curt Pair]

working on that.



I Just talked to Brent... hes gonna try and knock this down.

This is why you rawk bro! I love this company! I'm so excited, I can barely stand it! Won't be long now!!!!!

 

[Jarred Land]

This is why you rawk bro! I love this company! I'm so excited, I can barely stand it! Won't be long now!!!!!

curt you asked me about this yesterday as well and I had no idea what you were talking about... now it all makes sense.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Yet again, Red team showing why they rock. Very impressed!

 

[Kenny Mosher]

Awesome Jared! We are in the exact same scenario. Great to know you guys listen and respond!

 

[Anthony Berenato Jr]

Awesome Jared! We are in the exact same scenario. Great to know you guys listen and respond!

Same here ! Moving to the new Mini Mags (with the credit) at the same time as Weapon and I've been so worried I wouldn't be able to order them until after having my camera in my hands. Wouldn't work out so well.

 

[Brent Carter]

Hey Brent, as the MG Upgrades start out, I am still confused why the credit is not applied when we pay in full for the upgrade? Why is it waiting to be applied until the camera is totally done being upgraded and shipped out when the upgrade process take 5-7 days supposedly? Seems like even if it was credited when the camera arrives, it would be better than when it ships out.

I am sending in old redmags for the trade mag program and if I have to wait an extra week just so I can use it towards the new minimags, I could technically be without a usable camera for 3 weeks or more ( 1 - 1 1/2 weeks for camera upgrade & 1-2 weeks for media after shipping) It wouldn't be an issue if there were other things I needed to buy that weren't crucial for using the camera when it arrives. However, there's nothing else I need in the foreseeable future, so it seems like a bad business for me to go ahead and spend $5000 on media and readers now, only to get a $5000 credit a week later that will sit there for who knows how long. But at the same time, it's bad business for me to have a camera sitting there unusable because I have no media (and no easy place to rent minimags locally.)

Please don't take this as yelling at you all, but truly as constructive criticism to help make you all a better company for customers. It just seems like RED can only juggle one ball in the air at a time when it comes to this whole process. My idea of a efficient process would be, as we are doing the send in/drop off process for the MG Weapon (emails for payment, etc), be able to place an order for anything else we need. We could go ahead and pay the extra money for whatever we order that would be over the $5k. At the latest, when the brain & trade in media arrives, the credit is applied (you have all our money and the camera, so obviously the upgrade is happening and we are at the point of no return) During the 5-7 upgrade days, the accessories order is processed and either ships out with the brain or separately before the brain in ready. This to me seems very logical and the most efficient way to be able to make sure customers are without a working camera for the shortest amount of time. Am I missing something that makes it difficult for the process not to be this way?

I hope you can see where I am coming from with this.

Matthew, in a perfect world, would love to snap my fingers at make the entire upgrade process happen overnight. If I have said it once, I have said it a 1000 times, if upgrades were easy, everyone would be doing them, haha.

The bad news. This is a manual process. Once your camera is invoiced - meaning payment is done AND your upgrade is done or new camera allocated to your sales order, we can then apply the credit. Obviously, shipping a bunch of cameras each day, we have to determine for each one if eligible for credit. If so, then send to accounting to get credit done.

So, no, we cannot credit when camera comes in. Why? For example, yesterday, someone sent in camera for eval. After eval, I have no idea how this camera even boots with all the saltwater corrosion - plus a huge scratch on the sensor. So, we notify customer of repair costs, and he said did not have money to do repairs AND upgrade. So, we instead we repaired his camera and sent it back, not upgraded. What if we had credited when he sent it in?

I Just talked to Brent... hes gonna try and knock this down.

The good news. I just met with the amazing Maddie and Leslie. They are going to change the process on their end to make sure credits get processed the next business day after your WEAPON is invoiced. So, it should hit your account the next day (or the day after at the latest). So, I recommend you have two orders - one with WEAPON and second with over $5000 of accessories. The first gets invoiced and the second should be ready to go with credit applied a business day or two later. A lot more work for them, but better for you guys.

I wish I had the Staples "Easy" button and could automate this whole thing, but a super complicated upgrade process - one that confused just about every customer when we announced it last April - is not small thing to manage.

Better than no upgrade program and/or credits at all, right?

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

Full respect for the complexity of the multi-level upgrade program RED created to fulfill the Madman's "Obsolescence Obsolete" mantra.

If I understand your post correctly Brent, the best bet is to already have the accessories order on a separate invoice, already figured out, just waiting for the credit to post.

Cheers - #19

 

[Bob Gundu]

Thanks Brent! Am I reading this correct that the accessory credit to be processed the next day after Weapon invoice, has to be over $5000?

Thanks.

 

[Curt Pair]

Brent,

I for one am happy you guys do what you do. I get that it's a business... I've owned OTHER manufacturer's cameras, and quite frankly, when you get the new model, there is no upgrade! It's a "tough, we don't care, deal with it" attitude! At least you, Jarred and RDC are working with us. Thanks for that. I am one who also whole heartedly understands that when you're a creative person, and you get a new piece of exciting equipment, you want to jump in and use it NOW! Heck, I'm one of those guys... So I'm sorry for any stress and strive I may have personally caused you or your incredible team! I can't wait to get out there and show the world what I can do with Weapon, and if it takes a few more days, then so be it! Thanks for all that you do. Thanks for having an upgrade program. Thanks for allowing us original SSD adopters to upgrade media too! You really have a thankless job. I appreciate all of your efforts and for having your customer's backs! You rawk man!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Again - RED going the extra mile! Love it!

 

[Tom Greenberg]

Brent,

I for one am happy you guys do what you do. I get that it's a business... I've owned OTHER manufacturer's cameras, and quite frankly, when you get the new model, there is no upgrade! It's a "tough, we don't care, deal with it" attitude! At least you, Jarred and RDC are working with us. Thanks for that. I am one who also whole heartedly understands that when you're a creative person, and you get a new piece of exciting equipment, you want to jump in and use it NOW! Heck, I'm one of those guys... So I'm sorry for any stress and strive I may have personally caused you or your incredible team! I can't wait to get out there and show the world what I can do with Weapon, and if it takes a few more days, then so be it! Thanks for all that you do. Thanks for having an upgrade program. Thanks for allowing us original SSD adopters to upgrade media too! You really have a thankless job. I appreciate all of your efforts and for having your customer's backs! You rawk man!

+1000…you guys at RDC are amazingly awesome to all of your customers, when so many other companies are a nightmare to deal with. I appreciate the difference so much!

 

[Chris Luker]

Better than no upgrade program and/or credits at all, right?

Understatement of the Year Award right there!
It's the wrangling and gettin' stuff done for us that permitted me to do the upgrade to Weapon.
Thanks to you, Jarred, and everyone at Red (including Jim of course)!

 

[Brent Carter]

Full respect for the complexity of the multi-level upgrade program RED created to fulfill the Madman's "Obsolescence Obsolete" mantra.

If I understand your post correctly Brent, the best bet is to already have the accessories order on a separate invoice, already figured out, just waiting for the credit to post.

Cheers - #19

Yes, sir. Have that second order primed and ready.

Thanks Brent! Am I reading this correct that the accessory credit to be processed the next day after Weapon invoice, has to be over $5000?

Thanks.

Good point, does not have to be over $5000. You can have less than $5000 and leave a credit balance on your account. I am just guessing most folks will be spending it the moment it hits their account!

+1000…you guys at RDC are amazingly awesome to all of your customers, when so many other companies are a nightmare to deal with. I appreciate the difference so much!

All good, guys, we are just doing what we’d expect if we were in your shoes!

 

[Matthew J]

Matthew, in a perfect world, would love to snap my fingers at make the entire upgrade process happen overnight. If I have said it once, I have said it a 1000 times, if upgrades were easy, everyone would be doing them, haha.

The bad news. This is a manual process. Once your camera is invoiced - meaning payment is done AND your upgrade is done or new camera allocated to your sales order, we can then apply the credit. Obviously, shipping a bunch of cameras each day, we have to determine for each one if eligible for credit. If so, then send to accounting to get credit done.

So, no, we cannot credit when camera comes in. Why? For example, yesterday, someone sent in camera for eval. After eval, I have no idea how this camera even boots with all the saltwater corrosion - plus a huge scratch on the sensor. So, we notify customer of repair costs, and he said did not have money to do repairs AND upgrade. So, we instead we repaired his camera and sent it back, not upgraded. What if we had credited when he sent it in?

So question, why not apply the credit when the camera passes the eval then? That would still shorten the process by a day or more would it not? I actually thought about the whole repair scenario (too much free time for thinking lately) and maybe that some people wouldn't upgrade because of the damage to parts of the camera. So I understand not applying the credit before the eval is finish and either the camera is approved, or repairs are paid for. But it seems like once that's all a go, there's no reason not to get the credit rolling and accessories order together. Again, I may totally totally missing something in your all's process. After all, my process is just block, light shoot

Would it also help for all the paperwork when it goes through the process to have a notation on if it's eligible for a credit or not?

The good news. I just met with the amazing Maddie and Leslie. They are going to change the process on their end to make sure credits get processed the next business day after your WEAPON is invoiced. So, it should hit your account the next day (or the day after at the latest). So, I recommend you have two orders - one with WEAPON and second with over $5000 of accessories. The first gets invoiced and the second should be ready to go with credit applied a business day or two later. A lot more work for them, but better for you guys.

I wish I had the Staples "Easy" button and could automate this whole thing, but a super complicated upgrade process - one that confused just about every customer when we announced it last April - is not small thing to manage.

Better than no upgrade program and/or credits at all, right?

That's certainly better. How fast are shipping times these days? Are you all able to do same day ship outs if things are in before a certain time?

Also, can the body be dropped off at HQ for processing instead of mailed in? What about the trade in redmags? Can those be dropped off with the brain and processed so that credit is all ready to go when the upgrade is invoiced? I only ask because I am doing a shoot an hour away and was going to drop the brain and mags off after my shoot next week if my number was called up before. Seems silly to fly back to the east coast just to have to stick it in FedEx back to you the next day.

Dude, if you had just said months ago all you needed was an easy button we would have mailed them in by the truckload! Heck, I could have one that said, "RED Easy" on it instead of just easy!

I totally understand the process is complex and am just trying to poke ya a little to make sure it's the best it can be. Thanks for everyone's hard work and keeping the cost down for people like me.

Edit: Afterthought here...it would be a huge pain in the butt for accounting to do it this way wouldn't it?.. Go ahead and charge an extra $5000 on the original payment and then when the credit hits, that would just charge back to our credit cards at that point. It's not a terrible idea from my view, but I bet your head accountent would have a fit wouldn't they?

 

[Brent Carter]

So question, why not apply the credit when the camera passes the eval then? That would still shorten the process by a day or more would it not? I actually thought about the whole repair scenario (too much free time for thinking lately) and maybe that some people wouldn't upgrade because of the damage to parts of the camera. So I understand not applying the credit before the eval is finish and either the camera is approved, or repairs are paid for. But it seems like once that's all a go, there's no reason not to get the credit rolling and accessories order together. Again, I may totally totally missing something in your all's process. After all, my process is just block, light shoot

OK, where to start? From day one, we said credit would be applied at time of WEAPON invoice. Therefore, an entire process flow and system were put in place. If a camera passes eval cleanly, they just go straight to processing the upgrade. No red flag is waved as none needs to. So, there is no trigger until notice comes up that it is done. Once done, we get the notice to invoice applied funds and then we can process the credit. So, to give you a credit back, we need to actually invoice the product to apply those funds in the first place. Cannot credit back which is never invoiced in the first place.

Also, remember this process is the same for new cameras and upgrades. Camera is ready, funds applied, invoiced, then process credit. You are only applying thought to the upgrade chain. For new cameras, you would be asking us to pay a credit BEFORE we collect payment at time of invoice? Or, should we diverge and have two plans for these steps, one for upgrade and one for new cameras? And add a whole another layer of complexity? I know my vote.

Would it also help for all the paperwork when it goes through the process to have a notation on if it's eligible for a credit or not?

Again, why bother doing the “paperwork” if credit eligible if the person cancels their upgrade? Or sends in for upgrade then declines it? Seems like once invoiced, check for credit then send to accounting to credit is much more streamlined from point A to B to C, no?

That's certainly better. How fast are shipping times these days? Are you all able to do same day ship outs if things are in before a certain time?

Shipping times for what? Upgrades? Accessories? If a new product is in stock and we get the order before 1pm PT, usually ships that day. After 1pm, the next business day.

Also, can the body be dropped off at HQ for processing instead of mailed in? What about the trade in redmags? Can those be dropped off with the brain and processed so that credit is all ready to go when the upgrade is invoiced? I only ask because I am doing a shoot an hour away and was going to drop the brain and mags off after my shoot next week if my number was called up before. Seems silly to fly back to the east coast just to have to stick it in FedEx back to you the next day.

Yes on HQ. REDMAG-to-MINI-MAG, talk to your rep. You can either order new RED MINI-MAG 512GBs and then contact your rep to get an RMA to send in your old for a credit. Or, contact them up front.

Dude, if you had just said months ago all you needed was an easy button we would have mailed them in by the truckload! Heck, I could have one that said, "RED Easy" on it instead of just easy!

I totally understand the process is complex and am just trying to poke ya a little to make sure it's the best it can be. Thanks for everyone's hard work and keeping the cost down for people like me.

Poke me a little? Always open to feedback, but I think the team here does a damn fine job making sure what we are doing does not have many holes in it. If we are doing it, there is usually a pretty good reason we are. Of course, we will happily accept your application as Upgrade Program Manager :thumbsup:

Edit: Afterthought here...it would be a huge pain in the butt for accounting to do it this way wouldn't it?.. Go ahead and charge an extra $5000 on the original payment and then when the credit hits, that would just charge back to our credit cards at that point. It's not a terrible idea from my view, but I bet your head accountent would have a fit wouldn't they?

Not even going to go there. You can when you are Upgrade Program Manager though! Hehehe..

Ok, Jarred says I have to go back to my day job…

 

[Alain M]

Jarred DSMC² Base I/O V-Lock Expander. Beginning or End of March? Please answer this one! hehehehe

 

[Alain M]

Holly Crap: Side handle Pic https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...=a.78776125414.81226.625665414&type=3&theater Love love love!!!!!