Vinten 3 Mounting Plate

Andrew Petrie · July 20th, 2004, 01:30 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Jacques Mersereau : I think the plastic doohicky and the two screws for the plate are $35! -->>>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=238155&is=REG

Jacques Mersereau · July 20th, 2004, 01:37 PM

Man, B&H set yet another "street price" ;0

Only $29.00 for 50¢ worth of stuff!!!!

Mike Rehmus · July 20th, 2004, 05:26 PM

Strangely enough, that pricing probably truly represents the cost of providing the spares.

You have to be on the other side to understand how expensive spares management and delivery really is. Not only do you have to document and catalog the spare parts, you have to pay for that inventory, sometimes far longer that the product life, use a tech support person to ID the proper spare, process orders for it (industrial costs for processing an order is more than $25 each. Many companies have a minimum order amount just because of this) and ship it. All in all, the bad end of the business for both the customer and the company.

Couple that with having to import the Vinten spares.

That's why the Japanese attitude towards spares is frequently, "buy another unit if you want spares."

Ken Tanaka · July 20th, 2004, 08:20 PM

I have to admit that the cost of an extra Vinten plate got under even my skin a bit...and I'm generally pretty resilient on such petty larceny.

Mike is, of course, correct in his remarks concerning the costs associated with stocking and selling parts. But VInten's pricing on these plates goes far beyond reasonable excess. Plates for a Miller head, for example, are -nearly- identical to those for a V3. Yet, despite Miller being an Australian company, these plates cost half as much. ($80 -vs- $160).

I don't want to get down on Vinten. They make excellent products and apparently back them with service. But there's an impressive amount of profit being handed up to the Vitec Group (Vinten's parent) from these little pieces of stamped steel.

David Mintzer · July 20th, 2004, 09:58 PM

Guys, just to add to my wonderful experience at Vinten---the same guy who replaced the plate for free, gave me two screws in plastic housings! NO CHARGE---If someone really needs one, (considering the price) I would be happy to send it on-----First come first served!!!!

Andrew Petrie · July 21st, 2004, 09:02 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by David Mintzer : Guys, just to add to my wonderful experience at Vinten---the same guy who replaced the plate for free, gave me two screws in plastic housings! NO CHARGE---If someone really needs one, (considering the price) I would be happy to send it on-----First come first served!!!! -->>>

Wow, Vinten wouldnt even give me two plastic screw COVERS for free, let alone something useful like screws. $10 for each cover. Pssh.

Are you talking about the VHS pin plastic thing? What plastic housings are you talking about?

David Mintzer · July 21st, 2004, 10:26 AM

Sorry Andrew--just the plastic housings for the screws--little screw holders---LOL

July 20th, 2004, 01:30 PM	#16
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	<<<-- Originally posted by Jacques Mersereau : I think the plastic doohicky and the two screws for the plate are $35! -->>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=238155&is=REG __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

July 20th, 2004, 01:37 PM	#17
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	Man, B&H set yet another "street price" ;0 Only $29.00 for 50¢ worth of stuff!!!! __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

July 20th, 2004, 05:26 PM	#18
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Strangely enough, that pricing probably truly represents the cost of providing the spares. You have to be on the other side to understand how expensive spares management and delivery really is. Not only do you have to document and catalog the spare parts, you have to pay for that inventory, sometimes far longer that the product life, use a tech support person to ID the proper spare, process orders for it (industrial costs for processing an order is more than $25 each. Many companies have a minimum order amount just because of this) and ship it. All in all, the bad end of the business for both the customer and the company. Couple that with having to import the Vinten spares. That's why the Japanese attitude towards spares is frequently, "buy another unit if you want spares." __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 20th, 2004, 08:20 PM	#19
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I have to admit that the cost of an extra Vinten plate got under even my skin a bit...and I'm generally pretty resilient on such petty larceny. Mike is, of course, correct in his remarks concerning the costs associated with stocking and selling parts. But VInten's pricing on these plates goes far beyond reasonable excess. Plates for a Miller head, for example, are -nearly- identical to those for a V3. Yet, despite Miller being an Australian company, these plates cost half as much. ($80 -vs- $160). I don't want to get down on Vinten. They make excellent products and apparently back them with service. But there's an impressive amount of profit being handed up to the Vitec Group (Vinten's parent) from these little pieces of stamped steel. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

July 21st, 2004, 09:02 AM	#21
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	<<<-- Originally posted by David Mintzer : Guys, just to add to my wonderful experience at Vinten---the same guy who replaced the plate for free, gave me two screws in plastic housings! NO CHARGE---If someone really needs one, (considering the price) I would be happy to send it on-----First come first served!!!! -->>> Wow, Vinten wouldnt even give me two plastic screw COVERS for free, let alone something useful like screws. $10 for each cover. Pssh. Are you talking about the VHS pin plastic thing? What plastic housings are you talking about? __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

July 20th, 2004, 09:58 PM	#20
David Mintzer Rextilleon Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pleasantville, NY Posts: 520	Guys, just to add to my wonderful experience at Vinten---the same guy who replaced the plate for free, gave me two screws in plastic housings! NO CHARGE---If someone really needs one, (considering the price) I would be happy to send it on-----First come first served!!!!

July 21st, 2004, 10:26 AM	#22
David Mintzer Rextilleon Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pleasantville, NY Posts: 520	Sorry Andrew--just the plastic housings for the screws--little screw holders---LOL