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Topic: Derann Kudo's
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted July 14, 2008 09:06 PM
Okay, I know, Derann has been praised countless times on this forum, but I just thought I'd do so once again!
Derann has never shafted me once, while others in the U.K. has been a little less than, shall we say, reliable. (Independent 8 is another incredible seller, and the priase listed here is the same for Him as well).
When it comes to color, for instance, Gary has NEVER overstated color, or lack of it. His assessments have always been spot on. Honestly, I can't say that for a couple of others, (who shall remain un-named, this is a case of "If you can't say something nice ...) who, in one case in particular, has overstated the condition of his prints EVERYTIME.
Derann's love for the customer is obvious, and I've never gotten the sense from them of a "sneer" and a "you should be lucky that WE even deal with you",attitude, as I've kind of gotten from others, (note, bad sellers are not just in the U.K. obviously, they're are bad sellers in the US as well). I mean, i actually still have 6 pounds with one seller in credit and I've had such bad problems with him that I could care less about my six pounds. THAT is saying a lot.
But not Derann, they really LOVE the customer.
Of all the people I'd love to meet, (and if I had only one choice) between Barry Atwood and the folks at Derann, I'd probably get really frustrated at not being able to make a choice, and go and pee in the corner of me padded little cell!
-------------------- "All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Mike Tynus
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 135
From: Addison, IL, USA
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted July 15, 2008 04:03 AM
You could never praise Derann too much! When I visited London back in the 90's, I took a train up to the West Midlands, and the good folks at Derann let me hang out all day! Gary took me on a tour and let me take pictures and video of all the operations, from taking used film orders to film slitting. Ged demonstrated the whole recording operation to me. The tea kept flowing. Then, in all my excitement, it was suddenly time to make my purchases, and I unintentionally made the whole staff wait until it was completed, as the rule there is that everyone must leave together when locking up. They were all so cooperative! Then Gary graciously drove me to the train station. Shame I didn't meet Mr. Simmonds as I was there on a Thursday, his day off. Can't wait to go back, but more efficiently this time!
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted September 05, 2008 12:22 PM
My first introduction to Derann was back in, I think, 1988 or 89. I know someone can verify the exact time, because I got my first catalog from Derann films and they had, (Oh My Gosh!!) STAR WARS and they were just releasing CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE 3RD KIND!!
(That will narrow down when I got my first catalog, as I'm sure Kevin or Doug or one of the other on this forum can even verify the time of year even)
and, my first purchase from them, back then, a beautiful scope copy of STAR WARS!!!
I was going to buy CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, but is disappeared from thier listings. of course, now a days, we know that they were only able to make less than twenty prints, but at the time I felt so let down.
and now ... I have the rarest of even rare CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Super 8 scope prints ... the elusive non Derann original 1977 version. I still wonder if maybe I have the only known existing copy?
-------------------- "All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Keith Ashfield
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 997
From: U.K.
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted September 05, 2008 02:33 PM
I "discovered" Deranns back in the late 1960's when they had their original "small" shop. It was mainly then a Film Library and on Saturdays, when it got busy, if there were more than 3 people in the shop and a fourth need to gain access, someone had to "leave". Then they moved to their more spacious current premises. Boy, was that so much better! The advent of the "upstairs" cinema was great. For a while they had two more shops. One based in Brierley Hill, just outside Dudley and another, in St.Albans, Hertfordshire. I have to say that, unlike most things nowadays, their commitment and service to the hobby has never faltered. If Derek is "looking down" from that cinema in the sky, he must be very proud of the "lads" and their achievements, despite his much missed absence. By the way, my fisrt purchase from Deraan was "Wake of the Red Witch", on 4 x 400ft reels.I still have it now, along with many other "treasures" from the "treasure trove" in Dudley.
-------------------- "We'll find 'em in the end, I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as a turnin' of the earth".
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