or, How I Pissed off Universal Studios. Seriously. Me. They know my name.
Okay, so some background first. The theater I work for uses three couriers for print delivery/pick-up. DHL Express (for Technicolor prints and occasionally archive prints), DHL Danzas (solely archive prints), and ETS (Deluxe prints as well as some archive prints).
Monday night, we showed Xanadu as part of our Monday Musical series.
Thursday afternoon. ETS came by to pick up last weeks prints, and I accidentally handed him Xanadu. After realizing the mistake, I called the driver and he dropped it back off. Unfortunately, not before DHL Express (important fact!) came by to pick it up. I explained the issue he said the other driver would come by the next day (Friday) to pick it up.
Friday afternoon. DHL Express came by to pick up a print, which the only one we had left was Xanadu. I handed it off to him and FORGOT to get him to sign for it. A few hours later, DHL Danzas came by to pick up Xanadu. Well ... yeah. Express already picked it up. I figured there were some crossed lines, so I explained what happened and they just left me their number and call them if anything came up.
Monday morning. Universal Studios called my work and asked for _ME_. Some dude named Paul was foaming at the mouth angry that Xanadu is "missing". I explained to him what happened then told him I'd call up our local office and find the print.
I do this, and after explaining everything to the "customer service rep" about 4 times she finally just took down the information and called the local office. She said it's still there because they don't know what to do with it and they'll call me within an hour regarding it.
So I'm waiting ...
Okay, so some background first. The theater I work for uses three couriers for print delivery/pick-up. DHL Express (for Technicolor prints and occasionally archive prints), DHL Danzas (solely archive prints), and ETS (Deluxe prints as well as some archive prints).
Monday night, we showed Xanadu as part of our Monday Musical series.
Thursday afternoon. ETS came by to pick up last weeks prints, and I accidentally handed him Xanadu. After realizing the mistake, I called the driver and he dropped it back off. Unfortunately, not before DHL Express (important fact!) came by to pick it up. I explained the issue he said the other driver would come by the next day (Friday) to pick it up.
Friday afternoon. DHL Express came by to pick up a print, which the only one we had left was Xanadu. I handed it off to him and FORGOT to get him to sign for it. A few hours later, DHL Danzas came by to pick up Xanadu. Well ... yeah. Express already picked it up. I figured there were some crossed lines, so I explained what happened and they just left me their number and call them if anything came up.
Monday morning. Universal Studios called my work and asked for _ME_. Some dude named Paul was foaming at the mouth angry that Xanadu is "missing". I explained to him what happened then told him I'd call up our local office and find the print.
I do this, and after explaining everything to the "customer service rep" about 4 times she finally just took down the information and called the local office. She said it's still there because they don't know what to do with it and they'll call me within an hour regarding it.
So I'm waiting ...
haha this is intense!
Da Fuck?!?!?!
Jesus phi ...
Jesus phi ...
paul, the foamer
okay, so 3 hours later I finally get a hold of DHL and they tell me they'll drop off Xanadu tomorrow "at some point".
Naturally, I won't be working tomorrow for some reason, so I have to leave copious amounts of notes for my boss.
Anyway, I called Paul back and when I said my name he got enraged again and proceeded to yell at me. I told him DHL was dropping it back off tomorrow and they could come get it. He then just spat some numbers at me and told me to set up the pick-up then hung up.
I'm loving Universal's customer service. So nice and caring.
Oh, yeah, and when I called the number... I introduced myself and the girl on the other end went "ohhhhh .... yeah .... you."
wtf?
Naturally, I won't be working tomorrow for some reason, so I have to leave copious amounts of notes for my boss.
Anyway, I called Paul back and when I said my name he got enraged again and proceeded to yell at me. I told him DHL was dropping it back off tomorrow and they could come get it. He then just spat some numbers at me and told me to set up the pick-up then hung up.
I'm loving Universal's customer service. So nice and caring.
Oh, yeah, and when I called the number... I introduced myself and the girl on the other end went "ohhhhh .... yeah .... you."
wtf?
hahahaha, xanadu was the gayest looking piece of broadway trash i've ever seen and advert for. freaking eye sore. it'd be nice if all their prints spontaneously combusted.
phi, you own hollywood
Why are they so worked up about this 30-year old film? Don't they have copies?
> Don't they have copies?
Yes, but it costs upwards of $200 per reel to make a copy from the master (and that's just for first-run movies, not archive prints which are probably much more expensive). And they would charge that to my theater. And I would be fired. Boo.
Oh, and Technicolor just called wanting to know where Xanadu was. She was nice, though. Technicolor is still okay in my book. Though why Technicolor was asking about a Universal film that was printed by Deluxe is another question entirely...
Yes, but it costs upwards of $200 per reel to make a copy from the master (and that's just for first-run movies, not archive prints which are probably much more expensive). And they would charge that to my theater. And I would be fired. Boo.
Oh, and Technicolor just called wanting to know where Xanadu was. She was nice, though. Technicolor is still okay in my book. Though why Technicolor was asking about a Universal film that was printed by Deluxe is another question entirely...
it's going around the scene
hahaha you are infamous at Universal now.
Stumbled! haha
huh?
I StumbledUpon this page.
> > Don't they have copies?
>
> Yes, but it costs upwards of $200 per reel to make a copy from the master (and that's just > for first-run movies, not archive prints which are probably much more expensive). And
> they would charge that to my theater. And I would be fired. Boo.
So a movie is what, 10 reels? So that's $2000, which is a large sum for you or me but not for universal...
>
> Yes, but it costs upwards of $200 per reel to make a copy from the master (and that's just > for first-run movies, not archive prints which are probably much more expensive). And
> they would charge that to my theater. And I would be fired. Boo.
So a movie is what, 10 reels? So that's $2000, which is a large sum for you or me but not for universal...
Most movies are between 5 and 8 reels. And like I said, that $200/reel charge is what we have to pay to replace a reel on a first-run print. Archive prints are trickier, as that may be one of the only prints they have.
Besides, do you think Universal is willing to just throw down $2k because some lowly projectionist messed up?
Besides, do you think Universal is willing to just throw down $2k because some lowly projectionist messed up?
we've gotten quite a few stumbles in the past week. :o
> Besides, do you think Universal is willing to just throw down $2k because some lowly projectionist messed up?
Of course not, but in your words: "Some dude named Paul was foaming at the mouth angry that Xanadu is "missing"" ... Which is a pretty over the top reaction for "only" $2000...
Of course not, but in your words: "Some dude named Paul was foaming at the mouth angry that Xanadu is "missing"" ... Which is a pretty over the top reaction for "only" $2000...
Yeah, it is. I'm not denying that. Though I'm willing to bet he's more angry that he may have lost another print, because the Universal fire that happened earlier this month destroyed hundreds of older prints.
shit if reals are so expensive why don't they just hand out bluray
Digital cinema = teh suck.
Update! DHL lost our print. This will be fun.
Update! DHL lost our print. This will be fun.
Update!
After a lengthy call with DHL Express we (both the woman on the other end and I) found out that it was actually shipped to CA and picked up by another courier on Wednesday. So I called Paul back and he said it was delivered fine on Wednesday. He wasn't angry, just gracious. Which was weird. I wanted to tell him off. :-/
After a lengthy call with DHL Express we (both the woman on the other end and I) found out that it was actually shipped to CA and picked up by another courier on Wednesday. So I called Paul back and he said it was delivered fine on Wednesday. He wasn't angry, just gracious. Which was weird. I wanted to tell him off. :-/
Maybe this Paul just had a bad day ... Or maybe he's been laid since your last call ...