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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 :)

What does this mean?

I was at a Ritz over the holidays, and I wondered how they were staying in business. Chris
My thoughts exactly. Everytime I see a Ritz it reminds me of the Onion article on RadioShack. "How on earth do they stay in business.

They've been completely deep sixed by Bestbuy, Amazon, Newegg, Walgreens and Walmart.

Almost nobody develops film anymore. Almost nobody buys a camera in person. Almost nobody goes to a camera shop to buy an overpriced picture frame.
 
Almost nobody develops film anymore. Almost nobody buys a camera in person. Almost nobody goes to a camera shop to buy an overpriced picture frame.

Exactly. Combine that with their over-inflated prices, not so knowledgeable sales staff, poor selection of product and creepy store atmosphere and I'm amazed they didn't go under years ago.

Bye, bye, Ritz... You can join Circuit City and CompUSA.

Who's next on the chopping block? I've got a hunch that some of the next to go are places like Party America and Paper Warehouse. Gimme a break. These places sell paper plates, party streamers, overpriced balloons and crepe paper halloween decorations. When the economy is in the shitter, not too many people are going to be going all out to buy $65 paper plate and matching napkin sets so their daughter can have a Hello Kitty birthday party. ...Or maybe I'm wrong and I just want places like that to go away.

The exotic car dealership down the street from me folded up shop last week. Bummer. I was going to shoot a TV spot for them, well not anymore. But I'm guessing a $250K Ferrari is a tough sell right now. Especially in this state where no one in their right mind would drive it from October thru April due to all the salt and gravel on the roads.
 
are you effin kidding?

no value added here...
man.. that "worths all your attention" was towards to mr jannard.. after all.. he or some close.. they are the only ones who count here anyway.
 
Very prudent decision Jim.....These are strange days....

Let me know if I can help!

Dave
 
Maybe those of us who have piles of cash set aside for our new models (according to these responses there seem to be quite a few...) can go ahead and drop that pile into our Red account, to be held there until shipment date? Seems like a better way to contribute and demonstrate our support than stuffing it under the pillow!
 
My thoughts exactly. Everytime I see a Ritz it reminds me of the Onion article on RadioShack. "How on earth do they stay in business.

They've been completely deep sixed by Bestbuy, Amazon, Newegg, Walgreens and Walmart.

Almost nobody develops film anymore. Almost nobody buys a camera in person. Almost nobody goes to a camera shop to buy an overpriced picture frame.

I have been trying to find a store that has a Pansonic Lumix G1 in stock to to look at. Ritz/Wolf carry the line, but none are stocking G1's, corporate policy, fixed lens models only. Shame on them.

Online sales and big chains have killed off most good independent camera dealers too, especially in the digital age. Too bad, as it used to be really nice to walk into a good owner operated pro shop and get personal service from a knowledgeable enthusiast even if it did cost a little more to buy the product from them.
 
This is disappointing and frustrating as a potential Scarlet buyer (I have been lurking on the website for almost a year).

I do appreciate the product, and Jim being transparent. No doubt about it. Unfortunately I have long since lost my belief in companies in general. (No fault of RED's) High in sight is 20/20, but if the Original Scarlet was kept semi on track (Remember 3k/3k/3k early 2009), does anyone here actually doubt it would be back ordered? Even with the economy this bad. Heck even 3k/3k and a 4k price tag by mid spring, and RED would have cash flow coming in by spring.

Now my story, why I am personally disappointed, I made it my goal to have the money to buy a Scarlet last year. (Understand, I make less in a year than what a decently set up RED One costs.) Since about 1:00 am this morning I have the money to buy the fixed Lens Scarlet (I would still run slightly short on sales tax until my tax return gets in, or I could take out a payday loan). I am ready to buy, but with the economy the way it is, I don't know how long that money will last, especially with the economy the way it is.

Also, those saying to buy something else, yes I can. But I make local commercials, I cannot offer (or charge) as much as a well funded TV station, clients know this. With the Scarlet I can advertise beyond high-definition or something, and actually have an edge, and charge a bit more. So it fit my situation perfectly.

So... This leaves me really frustrated. Can I pay the money now?
 
Put it in a savings account or buy a 6 month CD with it. That way you won't be tempted to spend it and it will make you a little interest in the meantime.
 
This is disappointing and frustrating as a potential Scarlet buyer (I have been lurking on the website for almost a year).

I do appreciate the product, and Jim being transparent. No doubt about it. Unfortunately I have long since lost my belief in companies in general. (No fault of RED's) High in sight is 20/20, but if the Original Scarlet was kept semi on track (Remember 3k/3k/3k early 2009), does anyone here actually doubt it would be back ordered? Even with the economy this bad. Heck even 3k/3k and a 4k price tag by mid spring, and RED would have cash flow coming in by spring.

Now my story, why I am personally disappointed, I made it my goal to have the money to buy a Scarlet last year. (Understand, I make less in a year than what a decently set up RED One costs.) Since about 1:00 am this morning I have the money to buy the fixed Lens Scarlet (I would still run slightly short on sales tax until my tax return gets in, or I could take out a payday loan). I am ready to buy, but with the economy the way it is, I don't know how long that money will last, especially with the economy the way it is.

Also, those saying to buy something else, yes I can. But I make local commercials, I cannot offer (or charge) as much as a well funded TV station, clients know this. With the Scarlet I can advertise beyond high-definition or something, and actually have an edge, and charge a bit more. So it fit my situation perfectly.

So... This leaves me really frustrated. Can I pay the money now?

Remember the "subject to change" we kept saying? One thing we had not counted on is this economy... well, not THIS bad anyway. Scarlet 3K pricing and delivery dates relied on large scale distribution. Not 5000 units. We had great discussions with many people around the world about what they thought this camera would do in the market. In the last few months, the numbers have changed dramatically. And some have gone out of business! Volume is the dictator here. The more you sell, the more you can spend for development and the cheaper the cost to produce. Our old assumptions do not hold water now. So what do we do? Cancel the program? I don't think so. Move at a more modest development pace and assume less units sold... absolutely. No problem here. But our customers need to understand how all this works. Which is why we try to tell everything like it is. Realization is the 1st step to the road to recovery.

Jim
 
"Realization is the 1st step to the road to recovery."

Great Jim -

Now if we can get everyone together to understand this, then perhaps we can move forward with a recovery plan that works for everyone.
 
Well, Jim, hopefully this doesn't influence the Scarlet S35 development and delivery schedule? Obviously you guys weren't assuming this one to be the mass market model, but the Scarlet 3k fixed 2/3? :)

Scarlet S35 should be selling close to or beyond current 8 to 10k 1/3CCD's/cmos or 1/2cmos Prosumer models, I presume...
 
But our customers need to understand how all this works. Which is why we try to tell everything like it is. Realization is the 1st step to the road to recovery.

Jim

If only our leaders would think and act like you. Thank you for this honest statement.
 
Jim,

Obviously I don't want to be too nosy, but I am curious if the current lack of volume is going to up prices. I am considering buying the S35 Scarlet. Should we still expect around a $7k figure for this camera, or should we expect the S35 to cost more to the consumer?
 
Forget about the economy, forget about selling a miilion units, the question is: After all the research and development, is the camera doable? Is the first prototype close to being ready? Is a camera this size able to capture and process images as big and powerful as promised? With virtually no wobble, skew or jello effect?
We can blame outside forces all we want but the reality is how close is Red to the first real Scarlet working in the real world. How many people you need to be working overtime to create one camera that actually works and exists? That's all we need to know right now.
 
Forget about the economy, forget about selling a miilion units, the question is: After all the research and development, is the camera doable? Is the first prototype close to being ready? Is a camera this size able to capture and process images as big and powerful as promised? With virtually no wobble, skew or jello effect?
We can blame outside forces all we want but the reality is how close is Red to the first real Scarlet working in the real world. How many people you need to be working overtime to create one camera that actually works and exists? That's all we need to know right now.

I really like you John, and I am not trying to start anything with you. I like you a lot, and I will play nice. I just think that the way you word these things sometimes can seem a bit harsh.

They already have 5k images generated from the Mysterium X sensor. It seems that they are in full force on the S35.

And for the record, they already have one camera that "works and exists", and as you know, that is the Red One. Chill, brotha', it will all be cool! :}
 
Patience. We must learn to accept it...especially in hard times such as these. This is at least the philosophy I have chosen to live by and it's seems to be working perfectly. For those in distress over the delay of the Scarlet and Epic, I say, rest assured that they will happen, and at the right time. They will be BETTER than what you have, don't have or will have prior to their release. Frustration is a counterproductive process of ones mind. SAVE YOUR MONEY. SPEND LESS. FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES OF YOUR DAILY LIFE. And before you know it, they will be here.
 
Creditcrunch red

Creditcrunch red

remember this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkoHTjx8siM Hi Jim, what you're doing is amazing and by any means I'm trying to undermine your vision....your work ... the opposite I think you are a "Moving Pictures God" ... We should all have a Global Jim Jannard Day ... I'm sure the world would be a better place ... the democratization of new technology, a Global Jim Day ..a force for the good;-) :sorcerer: ............but don't you think ...you could you even reconsider that it would make sense ...at least to create a 2K or 3k scarlet for $3000 $4000...a crunch times RED camera... I sure you would sale more than 5000 ...we're all broke now... from soccer moms to no budget filmmakers... you would be creating a entry level for this really difficult times ...and I'm sure you would sale it well...everybody already is REDMAD...got red fever... We just need a CREDITCRUNCH RED ... a simple highspec low to no budget camera like Ted Schilowitz was pitching at NAB 2008...
 
Thanks for the honest response Jim, I appreciate you listening to the frustrations.

Everyone knows, who has ever work on any big project there are always problems along the way.

On the consumers end it is frustrating. Truthfully I was thinking the price was going to be around 4000 from the beginning. I am going to try and hold out, but it is bad times. I guess one more year? Even good old human temptation may get the better of me. On the other hand I am considering going car-less, depending how much I can get for it. So Possibly I may have more money for a camera. (Anyone want a 91 Ford Taurus SHO, great shape, 81K original miles for 3,500?) Or, I may *shutters* get a "real job", instead of trying to make it on my own, and loose interest because of reality.
 
And for the record, they already have one camera that "works and exists", and as you know, that is the Red One. Chill, brotha', it will all be cool!

The question is: Can they shrink it and become Scarlet? 'Cause that is basically what everybody is waiting for. I don't intend my words to sound harsh but when you deal in real life, words can many times sound mightly strong. As we are just finding out reality for most people in the USA is very hard to understand. This enomic crisis is going to be around for a very long time.
We are all waiting for a camera that I know is going to be very difficult to create, because of its technological complexity. I am sure we are all willing to 'chill out and wait for it even if it take a few years.
 
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