Re: VHS Duplicates

Hi Jerry - First of all, congrats on booking the job! My production company has a duplication dept and we do "midsize" duplication orders such as the one you describe. This isn't a solicitation for biz, however. It probably makes more sense to work with someone closer to you because shipping costs would be significant.



As for duplication costs, call several duplication houses in your area and give them all the specs (exact length, your mastering format, turnaround time requirements, label and packaging requirements) and ask for a written quote.



The duplication business is very competitive and very much like a commidty. There's not much difference in cost between most reputable duplication houses. Many of the larger houses will load their own tape (or custom order from a loader) to the exact length you need. For example, if your program is 62 minutes, they'll probably load exactly 63 minutes. Every penny they can save counts toward their bottom line.



Having said that, here's a few things to look for when shopping for duplication house to make sure they're not cutting corners that will ultimately disappoint your client.



From a quality standpoint, make sure your getting premium grade tape shells. (unless of course your client is is only interested in rock bottom prices - in which case make sure to warn him of a higher failure rate - bad tapes, cracked shells, tracking errors, etc...)



Ask to see a sample before placing the order. The VHS shell should feel sturdy and stiff. Hold with both hands and gently twist. If it seems flimsy and "gives" too easily, be wary.



Also make sure they're not running your tapes in the lower quality "extended play" thus reducing their tape costs by loading 20 minutes worth of tape. Most reputable house wouldn't - but beware of unusually low prices.



If they'll agree, ask for a few sample dubs. If your satisified with the quality, use that sample as a benchmark and test against a random sample of the finished tapes. An order of 500-1000 units isn't as big as you might expect, so don't be surprised if some of the larger dub houses balk at such a request. But VHS duplication is starting to peak as DVD distribution is starting to pick up. So VHS duplicators may be willing to do more to win your business.



Finally ask about their inspection process. Some dub houses (especially larger ones) often test a random sample of tapes before shipping. Other duplication facilities are better equipped to spot check each tape.



I hope this info is helpful, feel free to send me an email with any other questions.



Steve