Cauldron Films Discussion Thread

[jmilo61]

Come on guys, this is getting blown out of proportion on both sides. We're just taking about a personal preference for the most part.

Yes, it's not that difficult for Cauldron to send out a group email update.

Yes, it's not that difficult for people jump on one of the social media platforms or here and get the update.

No one is right or wrong for preferring one over the other.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by jamietre

It took me a lot more energy and time to get it than it should have.

With the amount of time you spent on these posts you could have set up five social media accounts, gotten a sandwich and a drink, run for president, solved word hunger...

[Kakihara]

I can see both sides of the argument but in the end, I lean to the side of the consumer, not the company. I won't bring out a pitchfork and raise hell on Cauldron, either but mass email would've been the right and most responsible move on their part (as other companies have done). Unfortunately, that's not what they opted to do. Luckily, we have ways of finding out information here for those who don't want to go to social media. I know they're an upstart company, run by two people, and it must be hard for them, especially during these times but if they're in this business, they're big boys. I hope they are able to run their business better with better communication the further they go along while having great releases. I want them to succeed. Meanwhile, paying customers, who are also going through times, have a right to wish for these things. For now, I'll be waiting patiently for my order to ship.

[jamietre]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

With the amount of time you spent on these posts you could have set up five social media accounts, gotten a sandwich and a drink, run for president, solved word hunger...

Wow, sorry for being a consumer and providing feedback about how a company interacts with its customers.

If you think I should be working on solving world hunger instead of having a conversation on this forum, or buying blu-rays at all or spending even a minute of my time on something that isn't bettering society, then maybe you should look in the mirror too. Sheesh. This thread is about boutique blu rays, probably the peak of "unnecessary things to buy."

[gbm82]

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by jamietre

Wow, sorry for being a consumer and providing feedback about how a company interacts with its customers.

If you think I should be working on solving world hunger instead of having a conversation on this forum, or buying blu-rays at all or spending even a minute of my time on something that isn't bettering society, then maybe you should look in the mirror too. Sheesh. This thread is about boutique blu rays, probably the peak of "unnecessary things to buy."

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by jamietre

I couldn't agree more, and frankly my dog in this is that I love small companies providing interesting products, and I want them to succeed! And it turns off a lot of people when you have zero customer interaction for five months post sale.

And again - I really couldn't care less about the delays! I totally get that, and I'm extremely patient. I just want there to be an open line of communication. You know what? If it's a nuisance to send regular updates, then how about just one email saying "Really sorry for the delay, just letting you know we're still working on your order, and we're going to be posting status update to facebook" or whatever. Just SOMETHING.

It's not reasonable to say "2,500 (or whatever number it is) people who preordered should take it upon themselves to figure out the right channel to find out what's going on with their order", instead of just letting them know directly, and i'm sure nobody wants 2,500 people emailing them asking for a status update.

And no, it doesn't really cost anything. If you're saying this is the same person who runs Diabolk (I didn't realize that), well, every time I order from Diabolik I get at least 4 emails: Your order has been received; a label has been created; your order has been delivered; your order is complete. That's actually 2 or 3 more than most companies send for a order with no problems! So clearly there's not a lot of money involved in sending those emails, and clearly they have the technology.

Please just send me an email once in a while

There is really no right way for them to send a delay update. First, do they have a means of sending a mass email response to everyone who pre-ordered it? They may. They may not. If those messages get sent, they will receive about 1000 replies that they have to read. I wouldn't want to if I was them. They will be anything from 'no problem' to 'I want a refund. Then they will need to spend a week or so answering.
Delays need to be expected at this point. First of all there very few companies that can make the disks still around. Now the issue with plastics etc. Delays will likely get much longer in the future. I don't care when they get shipped myself as I know that even the bigger labels have problems.

[moviegeek1992]

This is exactly the reason why 88 Films only put up a listing for order on their site when there are 2 weeks or so left till release, instead of when they first announce it (although the Blu-rays are available to pre-order from Amazon, Zavvi straight away) - so they don’t have to deal with constant emails and messages about when the order will ship etc, plus if there happens to be a delay they haven’t taken the customer’s money yet so not a big deal. Yet there are still many who complain with this approach.

I also think a company should be allowed to use whatever form of communication it wants to reach their customers.

[hudson4k]

If you want to pay for a mass email service for Cauldron, you should send them the money, I'm sure they'd appreciate it. As it is, Facebook is free to use and doesn't require you to post or share personal information, and even without it, you somehow managed to find the information you were looking for right here on the forums. Everything you need to know will be shared here so I don't see the purpose in complaining. Cauldron is a new company that started in the middle of the pandemic and they now have to manage getting their releases out during a disc shortage, I completely understand why they wouldn't want to deal with newsletters right now when they can just make a free Facebook post that will be shared (and you can complain all you want, but you did get the info in the end, didn't you?)

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

With the amount of time you spent on these posts you could have set up five social media accounts, gotten a sandwich and a drink, run for president, solved word hunger...

I'm speechless.

[jamietre]

Originally Posted by zbinks

I'm speechless.

Checking in: it's been a couple hours since my last post, and by not posting here, I've already invented cold fusion, eradicated Ebola, and launched the first manned mission to the Andromeda galaxy!

This may be my last post, because I believe I'm about to invent time travel. Or maybe it's my first...

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by jmilo61

Come on guys, this is getting blown out of proportion on both sides. We're just taking about a personal preference for the most part.

Yes, it's not that difficult for Cauldron to send out a group email update.

Yes, it's not that difficult for people jump on one of the social media platforms or here and get the update.

No one is right or wrong for preferring one over the other.

Sorry, but from reading the past few pages this is not a great "both sides" argument because, for the most part, it's not even. Pro-email folks like me are respectfully framing it like a pro-consumer suggestion, while pro-social media guys are basically telling us to deal with it, it's no so bad, and then casting us as whiners or haters. Certainly not all posters were like that, but that's where I see the extremes here.

Originally Posted by vortexx

There is really no right way for them to send a delay update. First, do they have a means of sending a mass email response to everyone who pre-ordered it? They may. They may not. If those messages get sent, they will receive about 1000 replies that they have to read. I wouldn't want to if I was them. They will be anything from 'no problem' to 'I want a refund. Then they will need to spend a week or so answering.
Delays need to be expected at this point. First of all there very few companies that can make the disks still around. Now the issue with plastics etc. Delays will likely get much longer in the future. I don't care when they get shipped myself as I know that even the bigger labels have problems.

A lot of assumptions here. Without sending out an update they're just as likely to have to answer "where's my stuff?" and "what's going on?" emails. If they send an update they can just ignore the "no problem" emails.

Also worth pointing out again that the pro-email posters on here are not complaining and do not mind a reasonable delay.

Originally Posted by hudson4k

If you want to pay for a mass email service for Cauldron, you should send them the money, I'm sure they'd appreciate it. As it is, Facebook is free to use and doesn't require you to post or share personal information, and even without it, you somehow managed to find the information you were looking for right here on the forums. Everything you need to know will be shared here so I don't see the purpose in complaining. Cauldron is a new company that started in the middle of the pandemic and they now have to manage getting their releases out during a disc shortage, I completely understand why they wouldn't want to deal with newsletters right now when they can just make a free Facebook post that will be shared (and you can complain all you want, but you did get the info in the end, didn't you?)

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

What? Those services do cost money, actually. They have to pay for their web hosting services and e-mail domain. Mondo Macabro is still having issues with everyone receiving the newsletters they send out, then there's no telling how reliable each customer's e-mail provider may be. Social media is free, and the infrastructure from companies like Facebook and Instagram are going to be much more powerful and reliable.

That's ridiculous. They have an e-commerce platform. They took an email address during the order and they clearly have a working email server when it sent order confirmation emails. There's a newspaper subscription signup at the bottom.

I gave a quick email format suggestion a few pages ago. I don't need an essay. Someone else pointed out that Diabolik sends tons of emails out. The lowest common denominator for ALL their customers is that they ALL have an email address.

Why was it so much easier to invent possible excuses for someone else you don't know?

And "you still got the info" is an out. Next I suppose someone will be telling me "you still a customer, aren't you?"

-----

It's possible to be a fan without being a fanatic. Sadly I see this in a lot of label threads on here when any constructive criticism is taken as an existentialist insult and fans rush to defend their idols (yes, I'm aware it's hyperbole but it certainly feels that way). I love coming on here to learn new things about this hobby but more and more I'm seeing "my way or the highway." I'm hoping it's just pandemic fatigue.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by zbinks

I'm speechless.

Word hunger is an issue we need to deal with sooner rather than later. Otherwise, we will be living in a world of mutes. Actually, that might not be such a bad thing.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by Dollar Colonel

Sorry, but from reading the past few pages this is not a great "both sides" argument because, for the most part, it's not even. Pro-email folks like me are respectfully framing it like a pro-consumer suggestion, while pro-social media guys are basically telling us to deal with it, it's no so bad, and then casting us as whiners or haters. Certainly not all posters were like that, but that's where I see the extremes here.



A lot of assumptions here. Without sending out an update they're just as likely to have to answer "where's my stuff?" and "what's going on?" emails. If they send an update they can just ignore the "no problem" emails.

Also worth pointing out again that the pro-email posters on here are not complaining and do not mind a reasonable delay.





That's ridiculous. They have an e-commerce platform. They took an email address during the order and they clearly have a working email server when it sent order confirmation emails. There's a newspaper subscription signup at the bottom.

I gave a quick email format suggestion a few pages ago. I don't need an essay. Someone else pointed out that Diabolik sends tons of emails out. The lowest common denominator for ALL their customers is that they ALL have an email address.

Why was it so much easier to invent possible excuses for someone else you don't know?

And "you still got the info" is an out. Next I suppose someone will be telling me "you still a customer, aren't you?"

-----

It's possible to be a fan without being a fanatic. Sadly I see this in a lot of label threads on here when any constructive criticism is taken as an existentialist insult and fans rush to defend their idols (yes, I'm aware it's hyperbole but it certainly feels that way). I love coming on here to learn new things about this hobby but more and more I'm seeing "my way or the highway." I'm hoping it's just pandemic fatigue.

My assumptions are based on the same thing happening to me when I was selling videos. It would take a full day to go through the emails and those became days no movies were prepared mailed out etc. The email volume would be much less as not everyone had internet service. It was a waste of time for everyone.


Edit: eventually the people who were whining the most stopped getting any replies and their movie order was placed as if it arrived the last time they sent a whining message. If I had let them know I was doing that, they may have stopped whining
I didn't care at that point.

[mmarczi]

Wow, this really got out of hand.

As the person who originally made the suggestion that people check social media for updates, I'd like to quote myself:

Obviously the ideal situation for any company would be to directly e-mail customers product updates, but failing that, monitoring their other media platforms is a pretty reasonable alternative under the circumstances.

Should they, ideally, have a way to mass e-mail customers about the delay? Yes. Obviously. Do they? I have no idea. Maybe. Maybe not. I've never run a store and I don't send a ton of e-mails.

Having said that, should they fail to directly notify customers, which is a reasonable expectation (or at least desire), it's in the consumer's best interest to seek updates if they're not getting them. It's not their responsibility, but it is to their advantage. That's really all that should have ever been said. People who want e-mails aren't horrible, nor are people who think it's reasonable that companies may more heavily rely on other platforms to update customers.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

Wow, this really got out of hand.

As the person who originally made the suggestion that people check social media for updates, I'd like to quote myself:



Should they, ideally, have a way to mass e-mail customers about the delay? Yes. Obviously. Do they? I have no idea. Maybe. Maybe not. I've never run a store and I don't send a ton of e-mails.

Having said that, should they fail to directly notify customers, which is a reasonable expectation (or at least desire), it's in the consumer's best interest to seek updates if they're not getting them. It's not their responsibility, but it is to their advantage. That's really all that should have ever been said. People who want e-mails aren't horrible, nor are people who think it's reasonable that companies may more heavily rely on other platforms to update customers.

At the moment it seems almost all the labels are running into delays, so maybe they don't have an update themselves. I'm not Cauldron, but I know getting Blurays manufactured at the moment is quite tricky.

It's just like when all the 'where are my movies' posts dominated some companies threads, as I predicted, the people from those companies who regularly posted are either gone or will make a random post once in a blue moon. As someone not running the companies and am just a buyer, I could care less about reading stuff like that. Id rather read obituaries of people I don't know.

[Member-222782]

Shouldn't someone, like, reopen one of those pressing plants that closed down to meet demand?

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Shouldn't someone, like, reopen one of those pressing plants that closed down to meet demand?

Wouldn't help with the plastic shortage...

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by gbm82

Wouldn't help with the plastic shortage...

Scour the landfills. Plenty of plastic to be found

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by vortexx

At the moment it seems almost all the labels are running into delays, so maybe they don't have an update themselves. I'm not Cauldron, but I know getting Blurays manufactured at the moment is quite tricky.

It's just like when all the 'where are my movies' posts dominated some companies threads, as I predicted, the people from those companies who regularly posted are either gone or will make a random post once in a blue moon. As someone not running the companies and am just a buyer, I could care less about reading stuff like that. Id rather read obituaries of people I don't know.

They did have an update though. They posted on their website and on Facebook that they were expecting to have it in February or something like that. That's an update that they theoretically could have e-mailed customers with. The delay of a release without an update is definitely a different circumstance than wanting shipping updates. I don't need to read about people saying their package is out for delivery and all that stuff either, but this is not that.

All I was trying to say that it's not unreasonable to want an e-mail update when an item has been delayed, and it's also not unreasonable to take the initiative yourself and seek out information on your own when a delay seems to have occurred. This didn't really need to turn into a whole etiquette discussion.