Steadicam Pilot vs. Pilot Sled System

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Hi:

I am hoping that someone who is familiar with these systems can clarify a few things for me?

1. B&H lists the Pilot ABS Pilot Sled Camera Stabilization System as "special order" for $2,499.00 with the Anton Bauer mount, the 5.8" monitor. It also says that the Vest, Arm, Backpack and basically everything you need minus the batteries and charger is included. For $2,499.00???!?!?! Aren't the "Sled" kits supposed to be for Merlin owners who already have the arm and vest? But the box in the upper right of the B&H page says that this system includes the vest, arm and backpack for $2,499.00.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...am_PILOT_ABS_PILOT_ABS_Pilot_Sled_Camera.html

2. On the same main page, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...sp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=submit B&H shows all of the different variants of the Pilots, some are Sled kits and some are just stabilizer kits. But the prices are all over the map, as high as $5,000.00 for a system with batteries and charger all of the way down to $2,499.00 for the kit above.

What I can't figure out is that all of the kits labeled as "sled kits" say that they include the vest, arm and backpack, yet there are kits on there with different model numbers that have the same specs and same items included in the box (other no battery kits) that cost much more. I am confused. Is the first kit I link to above a mis-print and it really does not include the vest, arm and backpack for $2,499.00?

What are the differences between the around $3,800.00 to the almost $5,000.00 kits and what are the differences between the $2,499.00 kits with the $3,800.00 and up kits besides inclusion of batteries and charger?

I just can't figure out the lowest price for me to budget for if I want to buy a Pilot system with just a battery plate and I will buy my own batteries and charger.

Thanks for clarity,

Dan
 
hi dan,

i dont recall seeing the 2,499.95 option when i bought my Pilot a year ago and i bought it at B&H. i bought the Pilot with AA's for about 3,700-3,800.

looking at the "whats in the box" on the right side of the page it clearly states that there is arm, vest and back pack are included for the 2,500.

the Steadicam PILOT-ABSB Pilot Sled Camera Stablization System @ $3,699.95 includes 2x batteries, plus a charger & stage plate for less than what the simpler package is @ 3,749.00. lets see....pay less and get more...pay more and get less?

its hard to imagine that its all a misprint but i cant believe that you will get a full system for 2,500.

i just tried calling them but they are already closed for the day.

Adorama only list three pilot options and they are all around 3,800.00. AB, V lock or AA's.

curious to see how this pans out.

david
www.davidprobst.com

recent video shot with EX-1 & 5DmkII...audio was live with Zoom H4n...5DmkII lenses used: 200mm 1.8, 85mm 1.2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjehb82yFlQ
 
I suspect it is a typo and that someone just copied and pasted the HTML as they wrote all of the individual pages. In looking at the spec sheets and price sheets from the Tiffen website, the costs don't seem to line up.

Will let you know what I discover.

Dan
 
Definitely a typo.
Just the vest/arm listed for around $1900 when I bought it. I looked into a sled earlier this year and was disappointed to find they were around $2500 or so at the time if I remember correctly.
Tiffen now lists the sled for $2700. So it would make sense that B&H would retail it for around $200 less than suggested retail.
My guess is the first time somebody tries to order a Pilot "system" for $2500 B&H will get it straightened out.
 
Pellefotograf:

Expand please. They have confirmed that it was a typo/mis-priced or they confirmed that the $2,499.00 kits include the vest and arm?

Dan
 
craaaaaaazy! is it just a "special offer" or something?

very weird to see it priced this cheap then see the others listed right above and below for a lot more.

either i am really missing something here or this is just....bizzare.

thanks
david
www.davidprobst.com
 
I spoke with Chris H in B&H customer service and he too sent me back the same laundry list that includes the vest and arm for the $2,499.00 package. Problem is, if I look up the Tiffen part number listed on the B&H site for that price, it is easy to see that the package doesn't include the vest and arm.

I also notice that this item is a special order for B&H and is non-refundable and non-cancellable. So I can:

1. Place order for what I know is the wrong product. It will arrive, sled only for $2,499.00. It will probably even drop shop to me directly from Tiffen since they are on Flower in Glendale, about 55 miles from here. I will then have to wage war with B&H to get them to send me a free vest and arm since that is what their web site and their customer service have told me that I should have received.

2. Realize that I am trying to get something for nothing because they screwed up.

Tough choice. I like B&H and I buy lots of gear from them so I don't really look forward to having to get into an altercation to obtain what they are saying the package should contain. OTOH, when I was a store manager for Circuit City in the 1980s, when sales people mis-priced items on the floor, I had to give away some stuff way below cost occasionally as the cost of doing business and as the cost of having low wage undereducated workers who shouldn't have been given the responsibility of pricing merchandise doing it.

I think I am going to just let sleeping dogs lie because in the end, I will feel as if I took advantage of them and if they are stubborn, it will require the involvement of the BBB, possibly the DA and probably involving the press. It is not worth it to save probably what amounts to $1,300.00 over someone's screw up.

Any of you want to go head to head with B&H to prove a point? I am just too busy to make this my full time job trying to save this money on the Pilot.

Dan
 
I have asked B&H twice (once "online" and once by email, to have this written), and I have also warned them that "this seems wrong, and you are more than 1000$ cheaper than your competitors, are you S U R E this is right ? And they have replied yes both times. So if its still wrong, its NOT my fault.
 
a friend of mine just ordered this one...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._PILOT_VLSB_PILOT_VLSB_Pilot_Sled_Camera.html

its basically the $2,500 deal except it includes 2 batteries and charger for an additional 800. still a very good deal.

he beat the sales guys up on making sure of this deal was solid. the sales guy told him if its advertised like this then he will be good to go. my friend has screen grabs, printouts and a verbal "good to go & name" from the sales guy.

perosnally dan, i would pin them down to the MAX, getting as much tangible confirmation as possible then order it. i have talked to them, you have, others here and im sure many more reading this plus other people visiting their site. if it was a screwup on B&H's part i believe it would have been corrected by now...dont you think? so, if its still up there then its purely their problem IMO.

if i didnt already own one i would be all over it since i believe B&H is ok with their listing. although i am happier with the cheapy AA's.

david
www.davidprobst.com

recent video shot with EX-1 & 5DmkII...audio was live with Zoom H4n...5DmkII lenses used: 200mm 1.8, 85mm 1.2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjehb82yFlQ
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. If either of you receive your package, please post back here immediately to let us know if you can legitimately buy the complete with vest and arm Pilot for $2,500.00 (or the slightly more expensive battery inc. version).

According to the model numbers, they have screwed up. According to Tiffen, the model number they are selling does NOT include the vest and arm. That means if they drop ship it from Tiffen, wheich they probably will since they don't have them in stock, the burden will be on you guys to pester them and make them give you a free arm/vest kit, because that is what they advertised and have told several of us.

I would love to get a Pilot for $2,499.00 but I don't want gain a new full time career trying to badger B&H to come clean from their mistake.

Let us know what happens.

Dan
 
my buddies invoice stated 7-14 days for delivery as of yesterday. if you havent made a move in the meantime i will report back as soon as his deal is complete with delivery.

i know exactly what you mean about having to badger B&H to get it straight if the deal goes south.

if its a wrong listing though, i cant imagine that B&H would still let it be up incorrectly after this many days dont you think?

still a bbizarre situation to me!

david
www.davidprobst.com
 
david_p said:
...............still a bizarre situation to me! ...
david
Click to expand...
Definitely, but I'm staying tuned.
Got to be incompetence on somebody's part or a temporary marketing ploy to boost sales. Can't believe it would be deliberate misrepresentation--nothing to gain from that. If it turns out to be some unannounced "special" blowout sale, that really would be bizarre. Especially with a Steadicam product.
 
Hi all:

I received a reply to my inquiry from B&H customer service this morning. It was a mistake and you will not be receiving a kit with the arm and vest.

"Hi Dan,

Thank You for taking the time to point this out. You are correct the Vest and Arm are not included. This is an upgrade for Merlin Arm users.

There is an error on this product on our website that somehow was overlooked. We will be correcting this immediately. Any customer that is dissatisfied with their purchase can make a return. We would not make a customer keep this model if they wanted to purchase the Pilot with the Arm and the Vest. They could make a no cost return. But we cannot give the arm and the vest away with this kit because it really does not come with it and our customers are not being charged for the ARM and VEST in this kit.

This would be a kit with arm and vest

Steadicam
Pilot-AB Camera Stabilization System - with Anton Bauer Battery Mount
Mfr # PILOT-AB B&H # STPAB"
 
my friend that had ordered a steadicam pilot system for cheap has also called and cancelled his order since it seemed clear that B&H wasnt going to honor the error that they had made on their website listings.

david
www.davidprobst.com
 
People do make mistakes. No harm. no foul, other than getting a few of our hopes up that some of us could own a Pilot who can't really afford one at the moment. ;-)

Dan
 
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