Kodak Retires Kodachrome Film

[WGibsonPhotography]

Originally Posted by Aurum

I'm sure, however, Ilford are more than happy to sell me either

My thoughts exactly

[TerryM]

Originally Posted by wogster

... Another problem, customers who order film in 2009, when silver is $13.70 /oz may be quoted a price of say $8/roll, but in 2012 when the film is actually made silver might be $40/oz requiring a price of $14/roll, this is not going to amuse many customers, and laws in some countries may require that you are held to the quoted price, other countries may require that you refund deposits if the price changes and the customer no longer wants the product. Either way you lose. ...

Kodak can buy the silver at any time to stock up when the price is low, or they can buy futures on silver for a specific price. They can administer such an ordering system through their American Website, and would only be subject to American / New York laws. Since they would only need to take enough advance orders for about half a Master Roll, it would only take about 18 months to fill that many orders. They can sell the rest of the Roll after it's made. It's going to require innovative thinking if niche Films are going to survive. I can't think of a better way for Kodak to make a profit off of niche Films.

As I noted a few days ago, what they also need to do is sell their products directly to their customers via their Website. Lack of availability in stores is another reason for declining sales of their niche Films. It's 2009 and it's high time for Kodak to get into Internet commerce.

[Sirius Glass]

Kodak is set up for large continuous production runs. Setting up for niche markets would require new equipment, which is not being built, and retooling. As alluded to before, that is just not going to happen. It is only sightly more likely than all the digital photographers throw out all their digital cameras and cell phone tomorrow.

I must say that I wish I had what all of the "we can change Kodak's mind on Kodachrome" people are smoking. Interesting and entertaining ideas but they will never happen. I wish I could tell them otherwise. I am sure Kodak thought that the last run several years ago would last until the 75th anniversary and Kodak wishes that were true.

Steve

[accozzaglia]

Originally Posted by TerryM

As I noted a few days ago, what they also need to do is sell their products directly to their customers via their Website. Lack of availability in stores is another reason for declining sales of their niche Films. It's 2009 and it's high time for Kodak to get into Internet commerce.

Stop talking sense like that, Terry. It unhinges people up high and down low.

[railwayman3]

There's a sort-of-a-shop on the Kodak UK website, but 100% digital, no film.
And somehow not very exciting...not like some of the quick-and-easy webcommerce sites, almost "we'll sell you stuff if you really insist". Just my impression....

[Photo Engineer]

My local store in Rochester will not stock film very extensively as it does not sell well. Kodak will sell to them, even in small quantities, but they cannot sell it except during the school year to schools with photography courses.

So, don't get this backwards. Kodak is not causing the lack of availability it is the lack of customers that is causing a feedback loop.

PE

[Q.G.]

Exactly.
And not just Kodak is facing this.

[Ian Grant]

I've posted elsewhere that in many places there's no Kodak film on the shelf, yet plenty of Ilford & Fuji, and these days often Foma which I'd never seen before.

While in Santiago & Lima 18 months ago there were no Kodak B&W films, yet a lot of Ilford & Foma with a smaller amount of Fuji. It's the same in my nearest store here in Turkey, and the 2 or 3 camera sores I visited in the UK in April only had Ilford films.

Talking to a UK retailer I was told it was difficult and awkward buying from Kodak, they ceased direct distribution themselves a few years ago and handed it over to Sangers who were already importing the Kodak Express Minilabs, this didn't workout and there were major supply problems and Kodak had to take back distribution. Later the Sangers Group went in to Administration.

So while Kodak may not be totally at fault they aren't necessarily helping the situation either. Downsizing and remaining cost efficient is difficult. A&O have had to stop distribution of former Agfa B&W chemistry because it's inefficient for them, so now they are manufacturing the same products for third parties to package & distribute themselves.

Ian

[Photo Engineer]

We had a mix of Fuji, Kodak and Ilford on shelves here and now, what little there is (about 6 rolls) are all Kodak. But, it is hard to stock as I noted.

All of the paper remaining is Ilford, but I can still get Endura or CA by special order.

PE

[wogster]

Originally Posted by TerryM

Kodak can buy the silver at any time to stock up when the price is low, or they can buy futures on silver for a specific price. They can administer such an ordering system through their American Website, and would only be subject to American / New York laws. Since they would only need to take enough advance orders for about half a Master Roll, it would only take about 18 months to fill that many orders. They can sell the rest of the Roll after it's made. It's going to require innovative thinking if niche Films are going to survive. I can't think of a better way for Kodak to make a profit off of niche Films.

As I noted a few days ago, what they also need to do is sell their products directly to their customers via their Website. Lack of availability in stores is another reason for declining sales of their niche Films. It's 2009 and it's high time for Kodak to get into Internet commerce.

Your probably right about silver, you may not be right about other things, for example not everyone wants to order products from the US paying in US dollars and getting nailed to the wall with customs and brokerage fees.

Kodak may not have offices in every country they sell in, some countries may depend on distributors, and all countries depend on dealers. If Kodak is directly selling to customers then the distributors and dealers will not be amused, some will be so cheesed off as to drop Kodak all together. So while you add a few customers, you potentially lose a lot more.