A dealer's view on Projectors

[P3D Harry Poster <hposter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(This message was returned to me, undeliverable--hence it is

not as timely as I would have liked!)
George Themelis said.....

Common Item    --  Uncommon Item
----------------------------------
Realist camera     Revere camera
Realist camera     Revere camera
TDC Projector      Triad projector

People prefer TDC projectors and pay higher prices for
those, even though
Triad projectors are less common.  People pay higher prices
for Revere than
Realist cameras because Revere cameras are perceived as
quality cameras in
short supply.  I do not recall Harry "getting rid" of Revere

cameras.  But
let's ask Harry who has bought, tried and sold both
projectors to tell us
what he thinks about the quality of each projector and the
public's
perception of this quality.  Harry, are you there?

Okay George...you asked for it! It's old-timer Harry Poster
answering...I have sold 3D projectors and cameras since 1978

(Wow that seems long ago!)...and I usually get at least a
hundred feed-back reports each year. I can offer insights,
BUT STRICKLY AS A DEALER:

   It really doesn't matter which is better and which is
lesser quality--collectors will pay...whatever they feel
like paying. On the Realist, we make about $25 and they
nearly always come in usable and with a quick and easy
inspection/alignment, they get sold--and stay sold. If there

is a problem, they fix easily. Customers like them and they
are common, so they're cheap. On the Kodaks, many require
some work--and many parts are riveted--so we try to buy and
sell them a bit cheaper, but people still like these. The
Revere is a booger--if there's a problem, it stays a
problem! If customers ask--I tell them that, and hence, more

Realists get sold. (On the Revere, the Japanese drove the
price up about 5 years ago, and it just stayed there--see
below).
   For reference, at the shows and through the mail, the
Realist and Kodaks go for about $100; the Revere about $75
more. My dealer experience is that Kodak people, Realist
people, and Revere people are all satisfied, and all feel
their favorite is the best. The quality of each is about the

same, or so the reports back from users seem to show.

   On projectors (boy there has been a lot of discussion
about projectors recently!), the TDCs are very
common--probably 5 to 1 over any other brand, but it seems
they were and still are the best for the price. For about
the price of a couple of Realists, you can show 3D movies!
Most people are happy to get $200 when they sell their TDC
(116 of course), and most people are happy to pay $300 to
buy one. Great for dealers.
   And, the TDCs are nearly always clean, complete and
working when found. Less returns here. On the Triad and
others, most users don't know the name or the qualities, and

if the TDC is so good, and still reasonably priced, why
bother? I stock 5-20 TDC projectors at any given time; I
might have 1 or 2 non-TDC projectors in stock. So, I list
and sell more TDCs, and if a projector comes in with a
problem, I'll have spare parts--if it's a TDC.
   Again, most, if not all, people who buy TDCs are happy
with the quality. And, the DeLuxe is even better--so people
have two models of TDCs to choose from. However, most users
say that the Compco, Triad, and TDC are all good, with good
quality--that's how they preceive it.

     OFTEN COLLECTORS SET THE PRICE AND USERS ARE FORCED TO
PAY IT--and often, it has little to do with quality or
value! (Of course, sometimes, dealers set the price---but
let's not talk about that!) And, if a price gets set--for no

real reason--usually it takes years, if ever, to come back
down to a price that reflects it's real value. One way this
happens:
   Someone starts buying a few XYZ's at $300--when everyone
knows they always sell for $125! Who complains? The dealers
and collector-dealers still can buy these for $75, so they
buy all they can, and then ask $300...some even ask
$350...$375...maybe $395. The momentary hype dies--but the
dealers still have these out for $300. If you try to buy
one--even at $200 (which is still $75 too much), they think
you're crazy and refuse. And, if someone does see an XYZ in
a house sale for $45, they "know" that everyone else is
asking $300, so they try to discount it...at $275....A year,

maybe two, later, the dealers with remaining stock start to
drop the price, but now, even at $175, they feel they're
loosing $125 on each XYZ that they sell!

  Incidently, the reason I "dump" items is strickly
economics--it has nothing to do with quality (usually)...a
few years ago I had about 25 TDC 116's, and found they
weren't selling...so a major sale! I've done the same for
Realists and Kodaks, but I don't normally have enough
Revere's or Triads to do this. However, if we pay $200 for a

Triad and can't sell it at $250, after 6 months (probably
because I mention the benefits of owning a TDC to
customers), you know I'm going to take it to a show and ask
$250, but take anything over $200! Especially if I have a
dozen TDCs in stock, and they are selling. And, we WILL be
having a dump-the-Revere sale soon...keep watching Sell-3D!


   Okay--enough said...I'll step down off the soap-box...now

continue to squabble about projectors...just realize that
dealer pricing, dealer dumping, and dealer "steering"
(like--"hey, this one is a winner") is often a reflection of

stock and prices paid...and often has nothing to do with
quality!

  Harry Poster       http://www.harryposter.com



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