The Cost of Quality

Two experiences this week prompted me to write this blog entry. Ok, two this week and one last week.

A month ago, I had a former customer call me and ask me to substantially discount the cost of an 8mm film to DVD transfer. My response was to give him my generous repeat customer courtesies, but he was looking for something more. He knew about the high quality of our products and services compared to others in the business (that is why he was coming back) but after explaining that we couldn’t match the price for the “other” guy, he informed me that he was going to go to him and give him a shot. Ok.

Last week, he called me back and the first thing he said was that he was wrong to go to this guys and “was going to eat crow.” I asked what was wrong and he wasn’t shy about how bad the film transfer from the "other guy" looked and how there were missing reels of film of DVD (the most important reels by the way). We were happy to help get his transfer right.

Now this week. Another individual called and told me that he had taken his film to the big discount wholesaler (the same one that sells pizza and dog food) and once again I was told how bad that transfer was—not to mention how long it took. He got his money back and decided to have it done right. Once again, we are happy to help out.

And today, an individual called looking for a quote on a 100 CD duplication. I gave him a great quote but he took the opportunity to rip me a new one instead of saying “no thank you” and hanging up. Forget for a moment that he called me, one needs to remember that there is a reason that we that we might, and I repeat might, be more expensive than others—QUALITY.

Yes, there is a cost to quality. I know that we all like the Walmart prices, but let's face it sometimes "you get what you pay for."

In my last story, the individual reminded me that CD’s are dirt cheap. Yes, some CD’s that you buy at the local retailer are dirt cheap, but premium quality CD’s and DVD’s that we use (you can’t buy them in Best Buy) cost more money and I can’t simply eat the difference. Simple. Right? Store labeled media is usually a grade C quality. McKenna Video Services uses A+ quality discs. A cost difference? Absolutely! A difference that you will appreciate when we work on your project.

Second, in terms of the actual work, we work on every project we receive-I work on them. Not some minimum wage clerk that doesn’t have the training, the expertise, the experience and the concern for giving you the best quality possible. I don’t ship your project to Mexico like the big discount warehouse does (and despite what they might say that is where your transfer ends up). And next time you take your project to one of these places ask them what their “in-factory” loss rate is. Last time we checked it was in the neighborhood of 10%. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a huge number, but what if your film or video transfer was one of the 10%? Is it worth the risk of never seeing Grandma doing the hula-hoop again just to save a few dollars?

And as far as 8mm and 16mm film transfer goes there is a difference between the method that we employ vs. the method that others do. We employ a frame-by-frame digital transfer method and not a projection method like the others do. Visit the following page on our website for a side-by-side comparisons (http://www.mckennavideo.com/demos.html http://www.mckennavideo.com/f_docs/film_xfr.html ). The reason that we can’t charge as little as the others is that our transfers are better, complete, timely. Period. The others cannot promise that. And if they do, remember the adage “you get what you pay for”.

Finally, we are a specialty company. The big discount warehouse is not. We don’t spread all our costs among the dog food in aisle 12 and the toilet paper is aisle 3. We don’t sell frozen yogurt and pretzels in the waiting lobby (but if you want some I can probably dig some up). Also, not to take anything away from our friends that work at these places, but most of the clerks that take your order there wouldn’t know the difference between quicktime and realtime, between a replicated DVD and a duplicated CD.

There is a cost of quality!

Who do you want working on your project?


God's blessings,

Chris.

Chris McKenna Photography Video Promo

WPPI 2009

I returned from Las Vegas late last week after attending the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) Convention and I’m still trying to digest all the information I received. This convention drew over 10,000 photographers from all over the globe where some of the world’s best photographers gave presentations.

For 2 straight days, I was honored to be one of a small group of students under the tutelage of Bambi Cantrell, one of the greatest wedding and portrait photographers in the world (http://www.cantrellportrait.com/). We were able to do some very interesting work with some live models (some of those images may be seen at on my photo website www.chrismckennaphotography.com).

I also attended presentations by renowned photographers Robert Lino, Frank Salas, Catherine Hall, Michael O’Neill, Doug Gordon, Bruce Dorn and Peter Eastway.

Overall, the conventional was superbly inspirational and motivating. I look forward to next year.
And thank you to my friend, Jenny Lehman (http://www.videojournalist.com/), for the photograph.

Blessings to you all,

Chris

Digital Television Switch: Be ready for Feb. 17 - AGAIN

In my last post, I commented that congress had delayed the mandatory transition to digital television. Despite passage, you should probably be ready to move over on February 17 anyway.

Now we are led to believe that despite the move, most television stations are going to switch over on Feb. 17 anyway. If your local stations are part of the contingency that will move to a digital signal on the original date, you will be not be able to receive them should you fail to prepare for the move.

If you receive your television from cable or satellite, you are probably ready to go. If you receive your signal over the airwaves, you will need a set-top converter box. You can get more information at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

Best wishes,

Chris

Digital Television Switch moved to June 12.

In a not so surprising move, Congress passed a bill moving the mandatory switch from analog to digital television by 4 months. The bill now has to go to the President for his approval, which is expected. If passed, the switchover which was supposed to occur February 17 will be moved to June 12. 

The delay will give consumers more time to get ready for the switch. If you receive your television via cable or satellite, you are probably already prepared. But if you receive television from set-top rabbit ears or a roof antenna you will need a converter box. 

You can find more information on the switch at www.dtv2009.gov . 

Chris. 

Alyssa & Brandon: The Movie

Ok, well maybe not a feature length movie. But certainly a small montage of their wedding photos (you can see more pictures earlier in this blog). 

We were blessed to have photographed their wedding late last year and we thought it might be nice to create this short montage of some of their photographs to help tell the story of their special day. 

Enjoy. 

Chris. 

Audrey's Second Christmas

We were priveledged to snap some Christmas photos of baby Audrey and her parents last month.We traveled to Flowerworld in Woodinville to get some great family photos, just a few of which are posted here.

Thanks Steve and Lauri. Enjoy the pics.

Blessings,

Chris.