Happened in the past in a similar way. It´s all about the timing of your purchases. A camera is no investment, if you can´t make money by using it. If you don´t want to loose money in our business buy C-stands. A lot of customers are pissed, even more are happy, you obviously can´t please everybody, bold move nevertheless. My 2ct. Cheers!
Ulf, I agree. Buying a camera is not like flipping a house for profit. Then again, you want as much usability and life from a $34,000 to $50,000 piece of equipment as long as possible and unless you plan to rent your kit out (I don't) you need the projects to make use of them to turn a profit.
I rarely go on the RED forums because the posts usually ends with "way to go Jim, yahoo RED". There owners are very loyal. As I mentioned early on RED changed the landscape for digital cinema cameras and I've had great luck with mine, though from buying my initial cameras to small parts has sometimes been a bumpy road.
What fascinates me is the way Red President, Jarred Land, shares his business decisions with his customers, indeed with the public.
It appears that the first rule of business is to stay in business - profitably. That way you serve your customers and yourself best in the long term even if you piss a few off in the near term. Yet even the customers who are ticked off remain, apparently, fiercely loyal.
Chris,
I wouldn't say RED is more transparent than any other camera company. Very early on with RED just testing lenses at their Hollywood location, you'd think you needed a secret hand shake to get an answer on long term serviceability or anything RED related for that matter.
RED has been more open lately and I don't expect RED to announce something a year in advance, but up to two weeks ago they would have sold me a Scarlet Dragon or a Helium as soon as I gave them the credit card and for a year I've been getting calls from RED to trade in my MXs for a Helium and I would think if there were big plans on changes the reps would know, at least two weeks ago.
I know other companies work the same way, but RED is not cheap and it usually takes them a few firmware updates to get to a non issue camera.
Anyway I wish them the best, love their workflow, but as of today I'm not sure which direction I would go.
IMO
BC