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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

January 2016 update

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.

I think that's been a little confusing from the start because most companies I deal with I pay when I get the invoice-not pay and then get invoiced. So you can see why that's a little confusing.

I am kinda surprised that it's not noted on our accounts when the camera passes eval. I guess that I am under the assumption that more information is shared internally than actually is.

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.

Except on a new camera there are no, receiving a camera, doing the eval, and doing the upgrade, parts. To me, there is dead time between the finished eval and when the upgrade is finished that the other wheels could be rolling. You see what I am saying? I totally understand doing it the way you are for new cameras because there is no dead time due to none of the upgrade stuff. It just seems like it could get everything out the door basically together at the end of the upgrade process.


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?

I meant the paperwork that goes with the camera through the eval process and then during the upgrade (I would be surprised if you don't have a physical piece of paper with the order info on it that goes with each camera through eval and upgrade.) My thought was when it checks out at eval, the tech sees if this camera is due a credit and then notifies accounting.


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.

Okay cool. Shipping times have improved dramatically since the last time I had to order something then.



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.

Copy that. Will contact my rep about that.



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:

Fine I'll show you what poking a lot looks like!:prrr: For people like me, these cameras are our livelihood and a missed day or two of work can be brutal on our monthly gross, so when equipment is going to be gone, we want to know for how long and how can we get it back faster. I also know it oftentimes helps to get outside perspectives to make sure things are working as best as they can. So you can now see where I am coming from looking at the process from the outside. Thanks for your hard work and even responding to my questions.:seeya:

BTW, I would normally start at $500,000/year, but for you all, $450,000 would work...and you have to move RED to the South.
 
On the flipside, no one is really doing upgrades on the scale RED is. It's unique. And for that alone, we should probably be grateful.

I started with a Scarlet MX. And worked up to an Epic Dragon, little by little.

There isn't another platform I know that would have made that so easy.
 
On the flipside, no one is really doing upgrades on the scale RED is. It's unique. And for that alone, we should probably be grateful.

I started with a Scarlet MX. And worked up to an Epic Dragon, little by little.

There isn't another platform I know that would have made that so easy.

Me too! Scarlet MX all the way up to CF Weapon! A little bit at a time makes it much easier. And each camera opened doors for what ever reason or another Making it easier to afford the next upgrade.
 
That new DSMC2 Side Handle looks great!


Yeah it looks awesome, looks like its more ergonomic than before. I don't think its going to fit the RedVolt in it.
 
Yeah it looks awesome, looks like its more ergonomic than before. I don't think its going to fit the RedVolt in it.

Definitely no redvolt. But I believe in ergonomics and functionality, it has been compared to what Canon has.
 
So, if I can't send the camera in for upgrade when I recieve the email (Epic-X to MgWeapon), will I have to wait for any other upgrade lines to complete when the camera becomes avaliable to send in? I will be shooting for 2 features in the upcoming months so that is why I am asking
 
just received the 24mm by global dynamics in the mail!
too bad i cant test it until march!
raven, side handle, 24mm… need it all at the same time!
 
To me, there is dead time between the finished eval and when the upgrade is finished that the other wheels could be rolling. You see what I am saying?

Trust me, man, there is no "dead time" around here. You saw where I said in order to credit you back $5000 to use as accessory credit, we have to invoice you first, right? Meaning, I cannot credit you back money until I have invoiced your camera (ie, allocated the funds in your RED account to that upgrade order). Sequential process.

And, really, our techs working on our lines should be working on upgrading cameras - they don't pick up the phone to let accounting know each time a camera passes eval. At the end of each shift, a comprehensive report is generated of completed cameras which goes to Maddie who, in turn, generates credit requests to accounting.

I appreciate the feedback. I managed to knock down time from up to a week to process a credit to be within 1 or 2 business days. But, making big changes to a baked process would have us laying out a new plan, process flow it out, develop within our back end systems, implement the plan. That is a big additional amount of overhead costs.

Every dollar of overhead we spend here has to be accounted for. Someone has to pay for that. Who?

We do have to keep the lights on here. Just like you, cameras are our livelihood as well....

So, if I can't send the camera in for upgrade when I recieve the email (Epic-X to MgWeapon), will I have to wait for any other upgrade lines to complete when the camera becomes avaliable to send in? I will be shooting for 2 features in the upcoming months so that is why I am asking

Nope, once you receive notice, that means anytime after that you can send in your camera. That is what makes forecasting upgrade timing so difficult, we cannot control when each and every person can send in their camera.
 
Hey guys,

If it helps, we sent our two Dragons in for upgrade a week ago Friday, got notified that our eval was done the following Thursday, and got our two Weapons on the following Tuesday (two day FedX). Pretty impressive!

Don't know about our AKS credit yet as I haven't checked or gotten a notice, but it doesn't really impact us since whatever we have on back order isn't shipping yet anyway...

M
 
I just received an email to send in my Dragon for MG Weapon upgrade around 7PM EST. Will be sending off to red headquarters asap. I believe I pulled trigger on deposit the day of announcement at NAB. Serial # on ours is #01211 :-) I have a shoot the week of February 8th...hope it makes it back in time otherwise I'm cashing in on a free rental for an Alexa mini I got for letting a friend use our dragon on a shoot.
 
I just received an email to send in my Dragon for MG Weapon upgrade around 7PM EST. Will be sending off to red headquarters asap. I believe I pulled trigger on deposit the day of announcement at NAB. Serial # on ours is #01211 :-) I have a shoot the week of February 8th...hope it makes it back in time otherwise I'm cashing in on a free rental for an Alexa mini I got for letting a friend use our dragon on a shoot.

You must have done it really quickly after the announcement because I have a timestamp of 4:02 AM PT on the 13th for an upgrade, which wasn't that long after it was announced, and didn't get an email last night.
 
You must have done it really quickly after the announcement because I have a timestamp of 4:02 AM PT on the 13th for an upgrade, which wasn't that long after it was announced, and didn't get an email last night.
I have a time stamp shortly after yours Matthew (5:53am on the 13th) and no email yet. I was hoping for the first batch, but I guess I have to remain patient (somehow), lol...
 
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