canadian distributors

[amanda]

does ne one know ne canadian distributors.. looks like a lot of ppl here are from the states. We are currently having problems with our supplier and the  only other that we know is more expensive.

The ones we know in Canada are;

HIP INTERACTIVE
VIDEO ONE

if ne one knows, lemme know.. thatd be coo

[tonypotenza]

we use hip interactive as we dont have to pay shipping from them (we are located 10min from them)
but i would like to know some more if ppl know..

[yburan]

We use Hip these days.

We used to get Video One "Coming Soon" posters. Now they have stopped printing those. Any idea where I can get something similar? Hip promised one for feb, but did not ship.

[seanandsarah]

Video One still does the Coming Soon posters.  I know because we have them up.  For promo matrerials, it's much better I think to get on board with Movie Experts.  Their business advice, programs and promotional material are top notch.  I can't say enough about them.

Before switching over to Video One, I was buying from CNL in Burnaby, BC.  I was getting good pricing from them, but often times was not able to get day and date release on some titles.

Regards,
Sean

[amanda]

HIP... screws up a lot, but when they dont, we get our movies on Thursdays or Fridays. The screeners we get, when we get them, we can keep. We are currently not getting anything from them right now, because we owe them money (according to them) and is SLOWLY being worked out. VERY SLOWLY. Still waiting on some packages from the beginning of the month too.

VIDEO ONE... more expensive than HIP, you get posters and we get our movies on Mondays. The screeners we get have to be mailed back to them at our expense.

[seanandsarah]

I've never had Video One ever request to receive screeners back.

The screeners I do get are all but useless anyway.  Mostly a lot of direct to video trash that just justifies why I wasn't going to buy it anyway.  I did receive a VHS screener of Cellular, but a week after the movie's release date.

Regards,
Sean

[yburan]

Any of you use Rentrak? If you do, do you usually load up on B titles?

[seanandsarah]

I don't bother doing Rentrak, mostly because I want to own my titles and start selling off before their specified dates.  Also, last time I checked, Rentrak Canada had very little to offer in terms of DVD.  Out store is a DVD only store.

Regards,
Sean

[amanda]

i dont use Rentrak for movies, i was interested in doing them with Video Games.. well.. heres the letter;

Thank you for your interest in Rentrak!  (www.rentrakonline.ca)
Unfortunately, among the dozens of titles available every month to video
retailers in Canada, video games are not among the recent or (near
future) offering. We offer games in the US only. Our Canada customers
get only movies through Rentrak.


argh!

[seanandsarah]

Movie Experts is planning on unveiling something along the lines of video game leasing at their next convention in Niagra Falls.  I can't wait.

Regards,
Sean

[yburan]

seanandsarah,

Movie Experts is that a chain or something?

[seanandsarah]

It's an organization that provides professional tools, advice, advertising materials and national buying power for independant video stores to allow them to play on the same level as the big chain stores.

It's open to anyone with an account with Video One.  Signing up with Movie Experts was one of the best things we could have done for the movie rental side of our store.  You can check out their site at www.movieexperts.ca

Regards,
Sean

[amanda]

we were in movie experts, not any more. You have to buy $1500 from Video One each month, and they push A LOT of b movies, and want u to do all of their "specials". Not all of their specials and deals are bad, but some we just could not do.

They supply you with some materials, but you need to pay to upgrade your "free membership" to get all the materials. The loop dvds were ok, except that they had SO MUCH b movies on there. I make my own now.

They could have changed since then, just sharing my information and past experiences, which werent the best.

[CornerVideo]

My HIP rep referred me to a company called Video Warehouse Distribution in Toronto. Has anyone had any dealings with them?

[seanandsarah]

Anyone who is using HIP, might want to think about cancelling any orders with them.  They just lost the ability to distribute Universal product and another studio is rumored to be pulling out.  Once that happens, HIP won't last long.

Yesterday their shared dropped to below 10 cents as everyone was unloading it quickly.  If you have any product to return to them, you'll be better off just keeping it because the credit won't be worth much soon.

Regards,
Sean