Paul C. Buff...YOU ROCK!!!

tetrode wrote in post #12319526
As I've said before, on planet Luap, there's no such thing as constructive criticism, only effusive praise.

Dave F.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12319601
Karma must indeed be a b*tch then 'cause PCB got himself bounced off FM a couple weeks ago...

Yeah I saw that but it has happened before. He came back before

tetrode wrote in post #12319779
Not really. He actually bristled at some of my observations about the PLM V2's needless complexity and suggestions for improvement. What he was impressed with was my reverse mounting mod. The job offer that the mod generated lasted only until we had our two-hour chat. Clearly, I wasn't his kind of guy. It would have been a tempestuous relationship

Dave F.

If Dave F ran the show I would have all AB stuff.

Csae wrote in post #12319390
I'm suprised more haven't come to that realization. The products are good, the QC is horrible but the CS picks up the tab...

I'm sorry, but I just don't have the time or money to waste waiting for some unproven technology to straighten itself out. I want here & now, not vague promises for the future.

Einstein Vol.1's were a disaster... why should anyone expect more from Vol. 2's? And, at around 625Ws combined with a Vagabond... is it really that much of a deal when compared to a Speedotron Digital Explorer 1500Ws system?

I choose to link up with proven technologies until the new technologies have a clearly defined track record.

In my opinion, Speedo has AAA+ Quality, Reputation & Customer Service to brag about!

Dynalite has really good customer service as well

not to mention most of the lights are so durable that you could shoot with them a decade before having a problem...

There's some comfort in knowing I have no clue what Profoto customer service is like, and I may never need to find out...

tetrode wrote in post #12319779
bristled at some of my observations about the PLM V2's needless complexity and suggestions for improvement. What he was impressed with was my reverse mounting mod. The job offer that the mod generated lasted only until we had our two-hour chat. Clearly, I wasn't his kind of guy. It would have been a tempestuous relationship

LOL...I would have been surprised if you took the job offer, but it would have been good for future PCB products so I hoped you would

He did bristle at some of your observations, but for a good period of time in that thread, it was what I thought was a good conversation about improvements/usage (he did take some of your suggestions, aka constructive criticism, to heart) instead of the usual ridiculous flamewars on FM

ScatterCrSport wrote in post #12320808
Einstein Vol.1's were a disaster... why should anyone expect more from Vol. 2's? And, at around 625Ws combined with a Vagabond... is it really that much of a deal when compared to a Speedotron Digital Explorer 1500Ws system?

The batteries for the Explorer were $200-300 IIRC. When I was evaluating PCB vs. Speedo gear (had a mix at the time), I did look at that as an option. The lower cost of ownership of PCB gear (aka, location damage), higher resale, and the ability to use Elinchrom mods were what drew me over as well as the Speedo 102 heads being as heavy as an AB for location shoots, though I still have the Speedo dish and a few Speedo tubes I have to fleabay...
FWIW, I never had a problem w/ the Einstein V1's...don't use PW, don't use a horizontal hair light, etc. It was a hugely expensive QC lesson for PCB, but they took care of shipping both ways for the V2 and took care of the early adopters.
That said, I don't do commercial shooting where having easy backups would be important...you can rent Speedo/Profoto gear fairly easily and that would be an important criteria if so.

As others have stated, I feel the same: PCB CS HAS to "rock", because their QC def leaves a lot to be desired. Ive never once been impressed with the build quality of anything they produce, but in the end, for some items they are the best bang for the buck and win for that alone.

He personalises his business far too much. Still thinks of it as his little baby.

Which raises questions for the long term viability of the business post PCBuff.

Yes, PCB has excellent customer service. That's one reason why I'm glad I went with Alien Bees.

ScatterCrSport wrote in post #12320808
I'm sorry, but I just don't have the time or money to waste waiting for some unproven technology to straighten itself out. I want here & now, not vague promises for the future.

Einstein Vol.1's were a disaster... why should anyone expect more from Vol. 2's? And, at around 625Ws combined with a Vagabond... is it really that much of a deal when compared to a Speedotron Digital Explorer 1500Ws system?

I choose to link up with proven technologies until the new technologies have a clearly defined track record.

In my opinion, Speedo has AAA+ Quality, Reputation & Customer Service to brag about!

Zerimar wrote in post #12321775
Dynalite has really good customer service as well

not to mention most of the lights are so durable that you could shoot with them a decade before having a problem...

anlenke wrote in post #12321865
There's some comfort in knowing I have no clue what Profoto customer service is like, and I may never need to find out...

Couldn't agree more....and the one time that I've had to use Elinchrom customer service/warranty, that went pretty darn smoothly. That's after owning 8 lights (4 600RXs, 3 Ranger RX Speed As', and a ringflash) and a ton of their modifiers.

PCB replacing a broken product with one that works, is far from "rocking" imho...it's both what's "right" as well as being pretty standard. I want something that just *doesn't break*.

^ +1

Cathpah wrote in post #12333372
Couldn't agree more....and the one time that I've had to use Elinchrom customer service/warranty, that went pretty darn smoothly. That's after owning 8 lights (4 600RXs, 3 Ranger RX Speed As', and a ringflash) and a ton of their modifiers.

PCB replacing a broken product with one that works, is far from "rocking" imho...it's both what's "right" as well as being pretty standard. I want something that just *doesn't break*.

Agreed. I've had good luck/good track record with my PCB stuff, but there's something to be said for having beautiful, consistent, solid systems, which hasn't always been the case for PCB products I've had.

I think thd point that is made by the OP was skipped over. It was good customer service not just because they replaced his broken product but because he didn't have to argue why they should replace it or defend his position that thd item was deffective, etc. They just replaced it no questions asked, no excuses, etc.

I love the people who bought equipment that cost 5x as much and then brag that they never have need for customer service. First of all I would bet there are plenty of profoto and elinchrom units with issues. I'm sued you would get good customer service from those companies. You should for what they charge. You simply don't hear about those units on these boards because at the price point they sell at you have fewer customers and a lower percentage of pros with time it need for this type of forum.

The "In Europe we demand perfection" crap is laughable. That type of elitest attitude is pathetic. My neighbor got hit hard by another car while driving her $100,000.00 Mercedes. Her fancy European car was faulty and the airbags didn't even go off. The car was totaled and she almost died. So much for that perfection the European companies produce. I've seen $15000 cars do a better job protecting their drivers.

If you don't like AB's that's fine. The OP just was happy he got the response he wanted from their customer service.

MD Steelerfan wrote in post #12369542
I think thd point that is made by the OP was skipped over. It was good customer service not just because they replaced his broken product but because he didn't have to argue why they should replace it or defend his position that thd item was deffective, etc. They just replaced it no questions asked, no excuses, etc.

i guess you didn't notice the einsteins had been recalled, taking them back is what they were supposed to do

MD Steelerfan wrote in post #12369542
I think thd point that is made by the OP was skipped over. It was good customer service not just because they replaced his broken product but because he didn't have to argue why they should replace it or defend his position that thd item was deffective, etc. They just replaced it no questions asked, no excuses, etc.

I love the people who bought equipment that cost 5x as much and then brag that they never have need for customer service. First of all I would bet there are plenty of profoto and elinchrom units with issues. I'm sued you would get good customer service from those companies. You should for what they charge. You simply don't hear about those units on these boards because at the price point they sell at you have fewer customers and a lower percentage of pros with time it need for this type of forum.

The "In Europe we demand perfection" crap is laughable. That type of elitest attitude is pathetic. My neighbor got hit hard by another car while driving her $100,000.00 Mercedes. Her fancy European car was faulty and the airbags didn't even go off. The car was totaled and she almost died. So much for that perfection the European companies produce. I've seen $15000 cars do a better job protecting their drivers.

If you don't like AB's that's fine. The OP just was happy he got the response he wanted from their customer service.

I disagree; I don't think the point was missed. As one of those "elitists" with more expensive lights, I felt like it was a useful continuance for me to talk about my experience with both Alien Bees and Profoto, as I have both. I don't demand perfection, I don't laugh at Alien Bees; I'm an early 20's college student who knows he wants to photograph for a long time so I saved and saved and have been eating ramen for years to get Profotos because of their performance, and yes, their non-need for service. That's what I bought them for; and I hope they continue to perform. I also use my alien bees, more than my profotos in fact. They are fantastic lights for what they are, and I've been open about that, both in this thread and in others. No bragging, no elitism, just a college kid that sees the merit in both systems.
Alien Bees does have great customer service, that is not something to be taken for granted. I have used it before, and they've been great. I agree with kechar, but I also think it's perfectly valid to point out that there are other issues with Alien Bees too, and I think, just as the initial post was to inform people about Alien Bees CS, if I were a person considering Alien Bees, I'd want to know all of this.