Kodak used to do their own distribution. They maintained a dealer network and exercised control over the entire process.
Since they stopped using that model, distribution has been, at best, inconsistent.
In Canada, it is terrible.
I can still buy Kodak 35mm colour amateur film at a local drugstore chain (London Drugs) and at a local grocery store chain (Save on Foods). They don't have much stock, little selection, and the prices are high. I expect that Save On Foods makes stocking decisions on a store by store basis.
Last time I looked, local CVS's were still stocking Tri-X, though at close to $8 a roll. I could imagine sales weren't so great at that price. A local Rite-Aid had some Fuji color, and even some store-brand, who knows what that is. All the drug stores seem to still be stocking the one-use cameras, though I don't think the local supermarkets have any film of any kind now.
David:
It is due to a long history. George Eastman was the one who made the decision to use drugstores as the primary sales location for early Eastman Kodak products, and that ended up being part of the culture of expectations.
Just buy from B&H, h.v. Almost non-existent demand for film around Toronto kites prices and accounts for the "take it or leave it" attitude at places like Henry's and Vistek. B&H does their own brokerage, so you know pre-purchase what the total will be with no tax/brokerage charges surprises on delivery. Film isn't getting cheaper anywhere but B&H still beats locals who don't bother any longer. Check 'em out.
Funny how people whine about no films/demand locally and promote webpurchases in the same breath.
Funny how people whine about no films/demand locally and promote webpurchases in the same breath.
B&H has great selection, good prices, and great customer service. I have no qualms about giving them my business.
You so don't get it. Demand has already flatlined in my area and retailers aren't about to load-up on stale-dated merch they'll end up selling at a loss--or not at all--just because someone thinks they should. Believe me, the "field of dreams" model doesn't work very reliably. The damage was done 5-8 years ago--where have you been? Funny how it's OK for people to crow about mail order processing when local labs crap out on film service but online film buying is somehow problematic.
Have you tried? ofcourse they wont stockpile all different films at large quantities. As I said earlier, the place I get my c41 developed at, and get my films at, stopped selling film about 2-3 years ago. And now he sell film again. He got tri-x, tmax, fp4 and some fuji colour films. Not many, but some. And he started selling again, after two people, asked him to get some trix.
The local camera club now knows this and use his service frequently. He has gained customers by doing this. Several DSLRs has been sold because he has film. Because he is now profiled as the "real" camerashop. Only because he stocks a few packages of film per week.
And yes, I pay no more for the film then on the internet.
Just buy from B&H, h.v. Almost non-existent demand for film around Toronto kites prices and accounts for the "take it or leave it" attitude at places like Henry's and Vistek. B&H does their own brokerage, so you know pre-purchase what the total will be with no tax/brokerage charges surprises on delivery. Film isn't getting cheaper anywhere but B&H still beats locals who don't bother any longer. Check 'em out.
I'm not sure what you'd call non-existent, but the GTA seems to have a heap load of film photographic infrastructure, including specialty shops (Toronto B&W and the Lomo Store or similar). I've also seen a lot of film photos on the web from Toronto. Seems like a pretty decent film photography scene.
That's good to hear. Based on earlier descriptions I was beginning to think Toronto was truly an analog photography black hole...
Ken
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