Black Friday Specials

It would be a PITA to cherry-pick the related posts out to move them, but this would make a good separate topic, possibly in the cinematography forum. It's also one of the things I do like about DVX, even though some probably don't, the flow from one topic to another that, while Off Topic, can be even better, enlightening, informative and entertaining than the original. And for the record, I don't think Abe is trying to slip politics in, the underlying subjects of the shoots/shots being discussed just happen to be about politics.
 
NorBro said:
I saw this after my post above. That is exactly what I'm talking about...the ole "give us a call".
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It's like they say, "It never hurts to ask". I pre-ordered the Aputure 600d when they opened it up a few nights ago on B&H. In an unusual move, B&H was charging shipping on the light, that is a hair shy of $2K. The next day, it was listed as Free Shipping, so I sent them an email and said I had ordered it less than 24 hours ago and was charged shipping, but now, less than 24 hours later, the shipping on it is free and asked for the shipping to be refunded. Sure enough, they refunded those charges.
 
A retailer will also often refund the difference if you find a better price later from them or someone else and it's still within the returns window. It would cost them more to have you return it and purchase it again or just return it outright
 
There's a filter @B&H's site to see 'Rebates' - which are discounts/savings/promotions - in any of the dozen categories they have (cameras, lights, computers, whatever)...I always like to see what's being dumped.

It's fun to see a thread like this every year, but it means less and less each year.

Maybe one with a more particular savings benefit would be more useful, like things 50%+ off because you can expect so much to be the usual 10%-25% off now and through the weekend, month, Christmas, New Year.

Nevertheless...shopping is fun.
 
NorBro said:
There's a filter @B&H's site to see 'Rebates" - which are discounts/savings/promotions - in any of the dozen categories they have (cameras, lights, computers, whatever)...I always like to see what's being dumped.

It's fun to see a thread like this every year, but it means less and less each year.

Maybe one with a more particular savings benefit would be more useful, like things 50%+ off because you can expect so much to be the usual 10%-25% off now and through the weekend, month, Christmas, New Year.

Nevertheless...shopping is fun.
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Yeah. 10% off doesn't mean what it used to, most of the time, now.
 
Everyone should automatically 365 days a year be thinking I'm getting 10% off this product.

For starters...then the negotiation kicks in.

New lights, C70, FX6, audio...all of it...unless [once again] only one building sells it.
 
ha...not from B&H, not on the FX6.

Most they'd do if anything is anywhere between 0%-1% on launch day if you chat them. (They offered me a $20 discount before on some lens over $1K, I think a random Milvus.)

Wait a month and might change...but the idea is to communicate with smaller businesses.
 
BTW, 10% is a little overzealous on my part. More like 5%, realistically...for starters.

Getting $300 off on a $6000 camera (with $500+ tax) is very realistic.

Maybe not on launch day, but definitely probable in the near future...just not from someone who doesn't need your business.
 
When I was working a semi-high-end retail in LA, we were given a bit of ass-chewing if we discounted an in-demand item. On some really hot pieces, we even hiked the price up to the suggested retail.
 
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1980s, 1990s were probably the golden years...could sell a particular camera, computer, stereo system - and be served a fat commission check for Thanksgiving.
 
10 years ago, the folks at Abel Cine Tech told me they have really low margins on lenses (and maybe also cameras?) but that accessories have more wiggle room. of course, that was what the salesmen were telling me... but they were willing to work with me on a lot of things
 
NorBro said:
So then why would you want a more expensive MBP and not one of the available M1s if you can currently get by with a computer you've had for 10 years for only downloading media and doing laptop things on sets?
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Well possibly it might be handy to have a laptop that can edit again. I don't like editing on a laptop but I am traveling more so that might come in handy.
 
NorBro said:
1980s, 1990s were probably the golden years...could sell a particular camera, computer, stereo system - and be served a fat commission check for Thanksgiving.
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The 1980's were big on the two piece front projectors, large tube TV's, rear projector TV, satellite dishes, full size VHS cameras, surround sound receivers/systems, laser players, and, most of all, VCR's due to the sheer volume involved. Toward the end of the decade, the VCR's became much thinner in terms of margins, as Super-VHS never took off, since the movie studios never really released any titles on it. But camcorders became more popular, as both prices and sizes decreased.

Back in the 1970's and 80's, there were also a lot of privately owned consumer electronic chains in LA, which paid a reasonably high commission rate. By the late 1980's/early 1990's, Circuit City pretty much wiped all the smaller chains out. Additionally, CC began to pay less and less, choosing instead to staff its floors with clerks rather than salespeople and investing more into advertising which insured a higher customer traffic. Some high end chains survived CC but, much like CC, were driven out by the Best Buy and the internet.

As to pay, I was told by my manager who had previously worked for a chain called Federated that a decent salesperson could easily make $30,000 there in the mid-80's, while the top over $60,000. Multiply that by 2.5/3 for the 2020 pay equivalent. It was a fun way to make a living.
 
I love those simple times. And that digital transition in the world.

90s will forever be the best decade ever.
 
I watch a lot of this 90s stuff on YouTube...really worth a watch (especially for you DLD).

Pretty amusing, and nostalgic if you like video games.

 
NorBro said:
ha...not from B&H, not on the FX6.

Most they'd do if anything is anywhere between 0%-1% on launch day if you chat them. (They offered me a $20 discount before on some lens over $1K, I think a random Milvus.)

Wait a month and might change...but the idea is to communicate with smaller businesses.
Click to expand...

NorBro said:
BTW, 10% is a little overzealous on my part. More like 5%, realistically...for starters.

Getting $300 off on a $6000 camera (with $500+ tax) is very realistic.

Maybe not on launch day, but definitely probable in the near future...just not from someone who doesn't need your business.
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It's been hit or miss with B&H over the years. I remember calling B&H many years ago and asked what kind of deal they could give me and a friend on a certain model Betacam(okay, many, many years ago) buying two at the same time(one each). They offered $500 off each on ~$25K+ cameras. I ended up buying from another dealer and my friend actually found a b-stock for even less than what I got mine for.

More recently, I reached out to them to ask if they'd match the discount price that the manufacturer was offering on an item and they did(sent me a special code to enter when I placed the item in my cart). Then a few months ago I reached out to see if they would match the price from the manufacturer on an accessory piece I wanted and they would not. Some things are probably sold at or near cost anyway and are just stocked as a convenience for customers buying the more expensive and profitable items.
 
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