EPIC Joy Delivered With Some Possible Heartache (Not your typical unboxing)

[Michael Ou]

Excited as I was to be receiving the cameras that I could only dream about owning a few years ago, I carelessly overlooked a small dent in the bottom corner of one of the two cardboard boxes. I ordered the power supply and accessories late (unlike all the smarter folks here that did exactly the opposite), so all I could do at this point is marvel at its compact, solid design and imagine a little. . .and that was fine.

As I turned the device around examining its exquisite form and texture I could faintly discern the slightest rattle coming from within the brain. Strange, not being too alarmed by the sound because it sounded rather precise, unlike like a loose bolt or unseated connector, I began to compare it to the other Epic that came with it's brother, nothing, solid as a rock! Now with no immediate way to test the Epic, all I feel is a pit in my stomach and an unreasonable sense of dread.

I remember the small dent in the bottom corner of the box and when I look inside, I see a small broken off black foot belonging to the storage case, broken off on the same corner. No concerns about the case, but I wonder if there is damage to the precious brain, hence the slight rattle.

I immediately contacted my rep, to find out what my options are, now I anxiously wait to see if they can save the day. . .Please.

Thank You Fed EX, for your fine service! (Extreme sarcasm)

So just to quell my troublesome curiosity, to all my fellow Epic owners: Does your brain rattle at all when you rock it (gently) back and forth?

The bittersweet pictures below:

UPDATE 2/22/12: A HUGE THANKS to Tim Sutherland and the Red Team's suggestion to check the Redmote contact pins as the source of the rattle, they have solved the mystery and have brought an unimaginable sigh of relief to me!!!! Thank goodness my feeling of relief far overshadows my embarrassment over not checking those simple pins. Thanks again guys!!!!

[KETCH ROSSi]

Congrats and sorry, you figure that with all the INSANE amount of extra space and paper RED pucks in to this boxes, they would be safe no matter what, I guess your friendly Fedex wasn't so friendly with the Box after all... :(

[Scott Crawley]

I can see how you might have overlooked it. It doesn't look like much, considering all of the protection around the camera, as Ketch pointed out. I hope you get it sorted out quickly.

[Alan Skinner]

Michael, Mine is due from FedEx today. You have just given me the shivers with your story.

Everything I ever received from RED came wrapped with a huge amount of space and extra paper. I got my bolt on quick release plate and it had an incredible amount of packing paper around it even though it is unlikely to get damaged.

Maybe someone over by you will offer to meet you so you can hook up and test your cam.

Good luck!

[Michael Ou]

Thank You Mr Rossi! Yes, the box was superbly packed! Perhaps a BIG warning sticker on the box that reads: FRAGILE - BRAINS INSIDE!!! may help?

Well two more days until my power cord comes, and then I can either rejoice, or cry, or both. lol

[Michael Ou]

Thank you Scott for the support! @ Alan, just make sure your excitement does not overshadow keen observation and sound judgment as it clearly did in my case! Congratulations on your EPIC!!! I have been checking out the local rental shops to see if I can snag a lens for a day, the power cord will be here very soon. (I type this calmly as the anticipation is killing me inside! lol)

[Alan Skinner]

Go for it and good luck!

I just got my Canon Ti mount email so I guess it is not in the box.

So, as I have no PL mount glass, I will be waiting and wishing for a while as well.

[Justin O'Neill]

Michael, I just got my Epic Monday and the the box looked pretty beat up. When I opened it two of the feet on the Epic case had been shattered to pieces. Due to the high quality foam in the Epic case the camera appears to be fine.

When I rock my brain back and forth there are some noises...it seems to be coming from the PL mount though. My guess is you are fine...Epics are pretty damn rugged.

[BigLu]

I am reminded about this.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKUDTPbDhnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKUDTPbDhnA

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Fedex are better than UPS; those guys can and will drop-kick anything smaller than a pickup truck. My wife once witnessed our regular UPS guy *throw* a package up from our driveway to our doorstep - too lazy to climb ten steps. If that had been an EPIC and I had seen it, he would be singing soprano...

Mike

[Scott Crawley]

I am reminded about this.

Wow, a marked package right in front of the security camera no less! That guy has far more balls than brains.

[Michael Ou]

Michael, I just got my Epic Monday and the the box looked pretty beat up. When I opened it two of the feet on the Epic case had been shattered to pieces. Due to the high quality foam in the Epic case the camera appears to be fine.

When I rock my brain back and forth there are some noises...it seems to be coming from the PL mount though. My guess is you are fine...Epics are pretty damn rugged.

Justin, that is very welcome news!! Well sorry about the case, but your Brain LIVES!!!! I figure my case can get beat up, and if it does it's job, it'll take one for the team, so to speak. Thank you for putting my mind at ease!

@Big Lu, OMG! Not funny, I should not be laughing at that! COLD BUSTED!!!

@Mike, Agreed! I'm usually mild mannered and unshakable, but had I actually witnessed the "tossing", it would have brought out my inner "Honey Badger!"

You guys crack me up!

[Andrew M.]

Thank You Mr Rossi! Yes, the box was superbly packed! Perhaps a BIG warning sticker on the box that reads: FRAGILE - BRAINS INSIDE!!! may help?

Well two more days until my power cord comes, and then I can either rejoice, or cry, or both. lol

Michael, why do you wait for power cord?
Didn't you get one in the package?
Does old power cord camera side connector works with EPIC?

[Alan Skinner]

Andrew,

Without the side-handle, you cannot power with the REDvolts yet. Michael is probably waiting for the 1B-2B cable that allows you to use your REDbricks, like I am doing.

NOTE: According to Ketch Rossi in another thread, DO NOT use your REDBrick charger to power your EPIC even though the cables will allow you to hook it up. You should get the new EPIC AC adapter for this. That is OK. I have two REDbricks and have ordered the EPIC AC adapter.

[Michael Ou]

Michael, why do you wait for power cord?
Didn't you get one in the package?
Does old power cord camera side connector works with EPIC?

Yes, two more days and the power cord comes! My order was just for two stage 4 brains. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly stage 4 came, I thought (wrongly) that it was going to be another 2 months.

My original knee-jerk reaction to the rattle was to contact Red immediately, to inform them of the potential problem because of the time sensitive nature of reporting shipping damage. Now that they are aware and I have recovered from my panic attack, I can wait for the cord. My rep has been extremely involved and attentive during the whole time, even gave me a call, yes he called me, not the other way around. Thanks Tyler! And Fed Ex? MIA

I knew the brains did not come with cords going in, so no surprise there. I was just caught off guard with the speed of stage 4 and did not prepare the accessory order quick enough. When you speak of an old power cord/side connector, are you referring to the original Red One cord? Regretfully, I am not a Red One Owner, deeply immersed in the theater during those years, but followed Red and this forum closely.

[Michael Ou]

Andrew,
NOTE: According to Ketch Rossi in another thread, DO NOT use your REDBrick charger to power your EPIC even though the cables will allow you to hook it up. You should get the new EPIC AC adapter for this. That is OK. I have two REDbricks and have ordered the EPIC AC adapter.

Yes Alan, I am waiting for the new EPIC AC adapter, and the other power items are closely behind. You are correct, the 1B-2B cord is critical for Epic and RedBricks/Red One plate compatibility.

[Tim Sutherland]

I know that the redmote contact pins on our cameras rattle a bit, if you put your fingers over them it doesn't make a sound. Any chance that's where it's coming from?

Tim

[Michael Ou]

I know that the redmote contact pins on our cameras rattle a bit, if you put your fingers over them it doesn't make a sound. Any chance that's where it's coming from?

Tim

BINGO!!!! After speaking with the rep this morning, who took the time to speak with a Red tech, mentioned a similar possibly. I did not get a chance to check it until I saw your post just now and you are spot on! I usually do not touch electrical contacts, but in this case, thanks to your suggestion that is exactly where the sound is coming from! You ROCK!!! My spirit is lifted and now the day and a half wait for a power cord will be just that and not an eternity! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!! You guys here RULE!:thumbup:

[Jack Shanahan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2sObM9p9mQ

LOL.

Not cool tho. sorry to hear that.

Guy: "Sounds broken"
Fedex: "Most likey sir - I bet it was something nice though"

ALL RIGHTY THEN! :)

[Michael Ou]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2sObM9p9mQ

LOL.

Not cool tho. sorry to hear that.

Guy: "Sounds broken"
Fedex: "Most likey sir - I bet it was something nice though"

ALL RIGHTY THEN! :)

Haahaa! That must be their training video!

[Adam Clark]

Andrew,

Without the side-handle, you cannot power with the REDvolts yet. Michael is probably waiting for the 1B-2B cable that allows you to use your REDbricks, like I am doing.

NOTE: According to Ketch Rossi in another thread, DO NOT use your REDBrick charger to power your EPIC even though the cables will allow you to hook it up. You should get the new EPIC AC adapter for this. That is OK. I have two REDbricks and have ordered the EPIC AC adapter.

from what stuart english said at the link below, you can indeed use the 1B-2B cable on the ac power supply, but depending on which version you have (100w vs 150w), it may not be able to provide enough power. in the case of the 150 watt, you are good - but with the 100w - he does mention "Feel free to try it, but we can't recommend it - especially if you plan to add a PRO I/O to your configuration later on."

http://www.reduser.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-66309.html?

[Andrew Huse]

This is why I'm picking my epic up in person from irvine

[Alexandros Tsoupras]

Thank You Mr Rossi! Yes, the box was superbly packed! Perhaps a BIG warning sticker on the box that reads: FRAGILE - BRAINS INSIDE!!! may help?

Well two more days until my power cord comes, and then I can either rejoice, or cry, or both. lol

+1. EXTRA BIG warning sticker please.

[Michael Ou]

+1. EXTRA BIG warning sticker please.

This was my silly attempt at some tongue-in-cheek humor, lol. I realize there is not much point in having a "FRAGILE - BRAINS INSIDE!!" sticker when there are NO BRAINS on the outside (referring to the FEDEX guys who throw boxes). Thankfully RED packs extremely well! Between the box, the heavy crushed paper, the storage case, and the closed cell foam, our Epics are protected from all but the worst types of shipping abuse.

[Thommes Ulfeng]

There is this saying that the "Fragile" sticker on the packages is shorthand and actually means "Do not throw more than 5 meters" ...