Kodak Processing of Super-8 KODACHROME film ends August 1

[BolexPlusX]

From what I've heard the Fair Lawn address has been inactive for about a year now.

The new address is:

Kodak mailer processing
c/o District photo
P.O. Box 3022
Beltsville MD 20705

[John_Pytlak]

That phone number is still valid:

(800) 345-6973

So call, and get the information first-hand.

[kentbulza]

That phone number is still valid:

(800) 345-6973

So call, and get the information first-hand.

Hmmm...I called them and they said they've heard no announcement about the end of Kodachrome processing. They said like always that the pre-paid processing does not have an expiration if if the correct film is sent in the correct mailer. I specifically asked about DS8 and the woman seemed to know what it was and said it's still honored without an expiration. Does this mean that the mailers are still valid after August 1, but just will not be sent to the Switzerland lab?

[John_Pytlak]

That phone number is still valid:

(800) 345-6973

So call, and get the information first-hand.

Hmmm...I called them and they said they've heard no announcement about the end of Kodachrome processing. They said like always that the pre-paid processing does not have an expiration if if the correct film is sent in the correct mailer. I specifically asked about DS8 and the woman seemed to know what it was and said it's still honored without an expiration. Does this mean that the mailers are still valid after August 1, but just will not be sent to the Switzerland lab?

How Qualex Corporation handles Super-8 KODACHROME is their decision, but it won't be going to Switzerland after the Kodak lab there shuts down the process on August 1.

[reflex]

How Qualex Corporation handles Super-8 KODACHROME is their decision, but it won't be going to Switzerland after the Kodak lab there shuts down the process on August 1.

Qualex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kodak. I know they have a separate management structure, but technically your sentence should read:

"How Kodak and its subsidiaries handle Super-8 KODACHROME is their decision, but it won't be going to Switzerland after the Kodak lab there shuts down the process on August 1"

Reworded like that, it points out how silly the situation is. No one, even Kodak employees (and/or the employee's of EK's subsidiaries), seem to know what's actually happening.

[John_Pytlak]

All that I'm saying is that the decision is up to Qualex Corporation, not Kodak Entertainment Imaging. Entertainment Imaging is the reason there are still Super-8 films being made by Kodak.

[reflex]

All that I'm saying is that the decision is up to Qualex Corporation, not Kodak Entertainment Imaging. Entertainment Imaging is the reason there are still Super-8 films being made by Kodak.

I understand. The root problem appears to be that no one within the EI group has been made responsible for communicating complete Super 8 product information to end users. Occasional product announcements and cancellations appear on the Kodak site, but I see no mention of the closure of the Lausanne facility (as an example). My guess is that this is because Super 8 is a miniscule part of EI's business.

The end result is that North American users are hearing about the earlier than expected closure of the Laussane facility second-hand, through letters sent to filmmakers in the UK.

[John_Pytlak]

All that I'm saying is that the decision is up to Qualex Corporation, not Kodak Entertainment Imaging. Entertainment Imaging is the reason there are still Super-8 films being made by Kodak.

I understand. The root problem appears to be that no one within the EI group has been made responsible for communicating complete Super 8 product information to end users. Occasional product announcements and cancellations appear on the Kodak site, but I see no mention of the closure of the Lausanne facility (as an example). My guess is that this is because Super 8 is a miniscule part of EI's business.

The end result is that North American users are hearing about the earlier than expected closure of the Laussane facility second-hand, through letters sent to filmmakers in the UK.

I posted the information about the August 1 closing here on March 21, as soon as I heard about it. It was posted on the Kodak Entertainment Imaging website on the same day!:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/about ... me06.jhtml

You got "first hand" information from Kodak EI as soon as it was available to us.

I DON'T know what Qualex Corporation plans to do after the Kodak Lab in Switzerland stops processing Super-8 KODACHROME on August 1. I am not privy to the decision until it is finalized, so I am not going to speculate.

[reflex]

I posted the information about the August 1 closing here on March 21, as soon as I heard about it. It was posted on the Kodak Entertainment Imaging website on the same day!

Don't get me wrong. Your heads-up was massively appreciated.

My concern was that inconsistent messaging came from different Kodak divisions -- the Kodak SA Laboratoire was giving people a different closing date up until a few weeks ago, and Mr. Mason's initial discontinuation announcement should have stated quite clearly when processing would end.

And now, the pattern continues -- we don't know what Qualex is going to do after August first. There really aren't many options: send it to Dwaynes, or return it to the customer. If they return it unprocessed to the customer in mid August, there's a very real chance that the customer will forward it back to them with a copy of the note from Laussane that said they'll be in business until September.

It should not fall upon you to communicate marketing information, expecially when there's the real danger that the executive team will change the plan without warning.

[John_Pytlak]

I posted the information about the August 1 closing here on March 21, as soon as I heard about it. It was posted on the Kodak Entertainment Imaging website on the same day!

Don't get me wrong. Your heads-up was massively appreciated.

My concern was that inconsistent messaging came from different Kodak divisions -- the Kodak SA Laboratoire was giving people a different closing date up until a few weeks ago, and Mr. Mason's initial discontinuation announcement should have stated quite clearly when processing would end.

It shouldn't fall upon you to communicate marketing information, expecially when there's the real danger that the executive team will change the plan without warning.

A final closing date had certainly not been decided last year when Mr. Mayson first announced that Kodak would discontinue making KODACHROME Super-8 film.

As as been explained before, any information prior to the "official" announcement of August 1 a few weeks ago was based on preliminary information. Again, we can share the best information we have at the moment, or share nothing and always wait for the "official" announcement -- which do you prefer?

[reflex]

A final closing date had certainly not been decided when Mr. Mayson first announced that Kodak would discontinue making KODACHROME Super-8 film.

As as been explained before, any information prior to the "official" announcement of August 1 a few weeks ago was based on preliminary information. Again, we can share the best information we have at the moment, or share nothing and always wait for the "official" announcement -- which do you prefer?

I'd prefer to get unofficial information as quickly as possible. But that's not my point. ;)

All I'm trying to say is that any major product discontinuation I have ever participated in started with a complete roadmap for all aspects of the process. Without it, there's no way it would be approved by the executive team.

The first questions would be something like:

1. When do we stop manufacturing?
2. When do we stop processing?
3. What replacement products/services do we recommend to our customers after the end of:
(a) manufacturing
(b) processing
4. Who communicates this EOL and through what channel(s)?

And there's no way as a Senior VP that I'd sign off a product termination without good answers to those four questions. Kodak didn't do that, and the end result is internal and external confusion.

[chachi]

?????????????

All the k40 I have will be sent in prepaid mailers to kodak processing C/O District Photo.

These mailers end up at Dwaynes for processing not switzerland. How will this Aug 1'st deadline affect me, since my film is'nt going to lussane anyway?

I certainly understand Lusanne is closing and the Aug 1st deadline as it relates to them, but my mailers have no date and they go to Dwaynes and have always gone to Dwaynes anyway.

Am I correct to assume that this Aug 1'st deadline does not apply to me and my mailers at this time???

Anyone???

[Evan Kubota]

"Am I correct to assume that this Aug 1'st deadline does not apply to me and my mailers at this time???"

Dwayne's has stated that they will continue K40 processing as long as the demand is there, so I'm guessing you'll be OK...

I have four more carts of K40 waiting for a special final use (?) and I know a friend who has more than a dozen. I'm sure Dwayne's will be able to handle them so I'm not in a hurry.

[chachi]

Evan, I'm still well stocked on k40 myself as I was hoping to use them this summer while on vacation. I'm happy that Dwayne's will process them for some time to come, but will they do so through the kodak prepaid mailer service?

Right now I have a few more mailers then I even have K40 film. I had it figured that I would keep about 4 rolls of k40 for after the mailers were finally not accepted and just pay the $10 to Dwaynes for processing them.

I would however want to use up those mailers before any deadlines...


Anyhoo, time will tell I guess.

[Will2]

I'm happy that Dwayne's will process them for some time to come, but will they do so through the kodak prepaid mailer service?

Right now I have a few more mailers then I even have K40 film. I had it figured that I would keep about 4 rolls of k40 for after the mailers were finally not accepted and just pay the $10 to Dwaynes for processing them.

You can have Target process it for $5.99 still. I'd bet Walmart will too. All the film goes to Maryland and then it sent to Dwaynes then back to Maryland then back to the store. Takes like 2 weeks and they only do one roll at a time so they don't prep for Telecine.