120 film blank wrapper - seen this before? Legit?

[jcn]

Hi all

I stumbled upon an online business offering 120 film for sale. It is one of those 'discount film' places. The thing that strikes me is that the product photos for 120 film show blank wrappers (see example below).

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I don't think I've ever seen a foil wrapper of 120 film that did not have the film type, ISO and expiry date on it...

I always wonder how these discount sellers manage to get relatively low prices. Is it due to bulk stock purchases, straight from the factory, thus explaining the blank foil wrappers?

Or could the blank wrappers be a sign of something more concerning, like counterfeit film? (Also never heard of such a thing, but I suppose it might exist...)

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'm used to seeing Fuji with that wrapper plus a spray-printed dot matrix label giving lot number, film type/speed, and expiration. Those may have just missed the spray print step (machine malfunction, perhaps).

The tricky bit will be knowing what speed to expose at...

 

[BrianShaw]

Probably photoshopped for their catalog. The actual film wrapper and backing paper should have all required information.

 

[pentaxuser]

Hi all

I stumbled upon an online business offering 120 film for sale. It is one of those 'discount film' places. The thing that strikes me is that the product photos for 120 film show blank wrappers (see example below).

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I don't think I've ever seen a foil wrapper of 120 film that did not have the film type, ISO and expiry date on it...

I always wonder how these discount sellers manage to get relatively low prices. Is it due to bulk stock purchases, straight from the factory, thus explaining the blank foil wrappers?

Or could the blank wrappers be a sign of something more concerning, like counterfeit film? (Also never heard of such a thing, but I suppose it might exist...)

Sounds as if the only way to get all the info you require is to contact the supplier and ask pertinent questions. If it is discounted pricewise then depending on the price and answers you get, you may have found a good source of film(colour?) or a source that and others should be wary of

Let us know if you will what you find out.

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[AgX]

Probably photoshopped for their catalog. The actual film wrapper and backing paper should have all required information.

If so it creates more distrust than benefit for the vendor.

If not, the distrust is the same, as one wonders what else that vendor gets wrong when he already takes photos of a mis-production, and not of the good product to be delivered.


BUT an explanation could be that the vendor bought a lot of misproduced film, in this case lacking proper labelling, thus has attractive low prices, but the customer then has to correctly designate the package due to what is said to have been delivered. The photo then truly shows what to expect, but this then is not communicated well. What again speaks against the vendor...

 

[pentaxuser]

If so it creates more distrust than benefit for the vendor.

If not, the distrust is the same, as one wonders what else that vendor gets wrong when he already takes photos of a mis-production, and not of the good product to be delivered.


BUT an explanation could be that the vendor bought a lot of misproduced film, in this case lacking proper labelling, thus has attractive low prices, but the customer then has to correctly designate the package due to what is said to have been delivered. The photo then truly shows what to expect, but this then is not communicated well. What again speaks against the vendor...

All good points AgX. It seems to be the case that film sales and in one case a developer production has recently produced a number of businesses that leave something to be desired in terms of any real interest in transparency ( being open and honest with customers)

Clearly a lot of newcomers to film and because of prices some older users of film now seem not to be troubled by this non transparency

pentaxuser

 

[gone]

I think these discount sellers specialize in buying from companies that went out of business. If that happened to your company, you'd probably be thrilled if someone offered to buy the whole lot, even at a low price.

 

[BrianShaw]

The picture presented is the back side of the film packaging. That seller seems to make a habit of photographing the back side of the film being sold rather than the printed front side. Weird... Unless it is intentionally a "genericized product photo", or a way to not divulge the expiry date. Only the vendor knows for sure. Lots of satisfied customers nonetheless.

3x FUJI FILM PRO 400H 120 ROLL CHEAP COLOUR PRINT FILM by 1st CLASS ROYAL MAIL 4547410247749 | eBay

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For example of Fuji packaging, see the pics in this ebay ad (not endorsing this item or this seller... for illustrative purposes only)

Fujifilm FujiColor Pro 400H 120 (ISO 400) Color Negative Film, Medium Format NW | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fujifilm FujiColor Pro 400H 120 (ISO 400) Color Negative Film, Medium Format NW at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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[beemermark]

I know crooks can go to lot of effort to sell counterfeit goods but creating a foil enclosure with the film makers name on it and sealing the film inside seems rather improbable. Forum members are way too paranoid looking for thieves behind every curtain.