ordering film

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clivetobin
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Post by clivetobin »

Will2 wrote: Interesting that Kodak doesn't seem to give retailers a break on stock... you'd think they'd get 20% off or something but I'm pretty sure they just charge stores the same as us calling direct.
This could explain why camera stores don't stock movie film any more. They used to get a bit of a discount by having the Movie Processors price catalog.
DrkAngl
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Post by DrkAngl »

I think it's a big mistake on Kodak's part not to offer retailers a break on film price.

I remember when you could buy a roll of movie film at every photo shop and drug store. It was easy to access with some places offering outstanding knowledge and help. Why would Kodak want to have their film taken off all the retailers shelves? They once had an entire army of retail reps offering film as a choice to people everywhere! Its mistakes like this that gives one an understanding of Kodak's current market position.
Will2
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Post by Will2 »

I think it has something to do with the fact that Kodak doesn't look at motion picture film as a consumer business, more of a professional thing... even Super 8 is under the Professional Motion Picture Film umbrella.

A local store here sells Ektachrome for $17.95. I bought a roll just to show support for them selling it. Now that store is going out of business because little mom & pop shops can't compete with Walgreens and even the Wolf Cameras.
BSMaier
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Post by BSMaier »

DrkAngl wrote:
Why would Kodak want to have their film taken off all the retailers shelves?
Maybe they are trying to market these newer super 8 stocks to a more professional/enthusiast audience. If thats the case I wouldn't consider something I could buy at a drug store "professional". The average joe is going to the store to buy miniDV tapes, so its just not cost effective to keep distributing the product in that manner. my 2 copper pieces
BSMaier
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Post by BSMaier »

haha beat me too it will
wado1942
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Post by wado1942 »

Why would Kodak want to have their film taken off all the retailers shelves
From Kodak themselves, they feel that the in the consumer's eye, anything analogue in nature is archaic and thus inferior. Kodak refuses to advertise or promote anything to do with film right now because they fear the public will see them as behind the times, even though they know a $25 35mm camera will outperform just about any $1,000 digital camera. So they're investing almost all of their capital in improving consumer digital products. They keep 35mm and APS film on the shelves because it's still their biggest source of income but things like super-8 has fallen out of the public eye enough that it actually costs them money to sell the tiny quantities that would be in retail stores.

Guys like us buy super-8 because we love film. But I'm probably the only person in a 50KM radius (inhabited by 500,000 people) that keeps his S8 cameras ready for action. I'm sure my personal stats apply across the world. The average consumer doesn't give a crap about quality which is why DVD cameras are so popular. They don't even WANT to know about quality, they just want something that's cheap and easy to operate.
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