Actually I knew Steve well enough as I bought an H3DII-39 with the 28 and 100 lenses (in addition to the kit 80) from him in June of this year. Needless to say the competition was Phase and he was very pointed in his praise of the Hassy compared to the Phase. Of course this is to be expected as he represented Hassy and not Phase.) And of course he now reps Phase so Hassy is the competition. I would have expected Steve to take the high road and focus his commentaries on Phase positive attributes and not on his (now) analysis of Hassy weaknesses, as he sees them. Having spent over $30K with Steve (and his company PPR of Atlanta) and then watching the price reduction of almost 25% only weeks later without a word from either Steve or PPR I am simply no longer a fan!
I would never have commented about anything regarding Steve had he not dissed his old firm and by implication let down his former customers. i don't like the tactics and said so. End of story. I won't respond to any more posts as these things start to flame and I don't want to be a part of that.
I'm sorry if it is perceived that I said what I did about a guy who has many many friends and former customers here and elsewhere. I was part of that group as well.
Woody
I would love to let this go also, but unfortunately I do have a dog in it and it has been let out.
Woody, I am disappointed you have made the statements you have because they are filled with inaccuracy. Let's speak factually. I have not dissed Hasselblad (and certainly not PPR, if that's what you meant) anywhere. The only statement I made in reaction to Hasselblad is that their price drops generate a lot of interest. They were the first to dramatically drop their prices, so they are now seen as a sort of price leader compared to their competitors, which they are not. Those are simply facts that I have pointed out.
I think you'll find - as many people have - that I do not slam competitive products. I will discuss them and voice my opinions but I believe those opinions are certainly fair minded and well reasoned, and if they are not, I'll be the first to admit it.
What surprises me the most Woody, is your account of your experience purchasing from me while at PPR. Let's get some things corrected:
Last May, I saw on GetDPI that you were about to purchase a Phase One P45+from Lance Schad. I saw you lived in Fort Collins and I was going to Fort Collins that week to participate in a photographic conference. I asked if you'd wait until I arrived to show you an H3D. I showed you, you liked it. I became entangled in a nasty bidding war with Lance (the first, last, and only one). You did not spend $30,000. You spent $21,995 and you got the deal of the century which included an H3DII-39, a 28mm lens, and the CF adapter. At the time, the price of the H3DII-39 alone was $33,995! Even today with all of Hasselblad's price reductions, that would be a great deal. It was the only time I ever really attempted to compete with Phase One on price and I lost money on the deal -
lost money. You were only too happy to accept the lower pricing...at the time. And you received the complete full service and support that we were known for as I took a number of calls from you at various hours and helped you with the situations youw ere encountering.
Two months later - with no warning to their dealers!!! - Hasselblad suddenly dropped pricing. So excuse me for not telling you something I wasn't told of myself. PPR themselves also got caught with existing demo equipment that we were suddenly upside down in. So you're no longer a fan of someone who gave you the deal of the century and who got caught in an abrupt price reduction with no warning just as you were? Ok, then.
You also seem to resent the fact that 2 months after you bought from PPR, I decided to make a job change. I had been at PPR 6 years and was ready for a change. You are the only customer of mine who seemed to have a problem with that. All of my other customers congratulated me and wished me well. The fact is, you still retained the support of PPR, and Hasselblad behind them. It is not like you were just left out in the cold.
I have never "dissed" as you put it, Hasselblad, PPR, or any of my "old firms". While at PPR, I respected Phase One as a brand. Now at Phase One, I respect Hasselblad, Leaf, and Sinar as brands. But don't expect me not to compete. Woody, with all your experience, you of all people should know better than that. Ultimately, I feel badly that you feel this way, and hurt that you would - out of nowhere - voice these feelings publicly, rather than personally.
Sorry everyone for the long public post.
Steve Hendrix
Phase One