Is ORWO in trouble or a scam? Preordered 2500 rolls and not received a single roll for a year now.

PaulYW · Jun 17, 2023

A year ago, We ordered for 2500 rolls of NC500 and hundreds of their BW films.
And we waited more than enough and asked their manger to send the refund for our orders last month.
Received a promise that they will send it back in a week but it's been a month and they are ignoring our emails now.

I was wondering if this is happening just for us or in other countries as well.

BMbikerider · Jun 17, 2023

Have you tried getting in touch with the company? They will know for definite.
Is their website still active

PaulYW · Jun 17, 2023

BMbikerider said:
Have you tried getting in touch with the company? They will know for definite.
Is their website still active

We've been in contact with them by email until last month.

Sirius Glass · Jun 17, 2023

It unfortunately sounds as thought ORWO has scammed you. Prehaps bad mouthing them here may push them to refund the money or provide the film. Unwanted attention can have its positive outcomes or cause a loss of future business.

DeletedAcct1 · Jun 17, 2023

Bad thing to hear...

pentaxuser · Jun 17, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
It unfortunately sounds as thought ORWO has scammed you. Prehaps bad mouthing them here may push them to refund the money or provide the film. Unwanted attention can have its positive outcomes or cause a loss of future business.

Can you explain what you mean by scamming this one person? Why would a company like ORWO do this to this one particular particular person?

None of this makes any sense. At least not to me.

pentaxuser

Sirius Glass · Jun 17, 2023

pentaxuser said:
Can you explain what you mean by scamming this one person? Why would a company like ORWO do this to this one particular particular person?

None of this makes any sense. At least not to me.

pentaxuser

A year later, no film and the money was not returned. ORWO has not provided update information. ORWO can speak up here to explain what is going on.

cmacd123 · Jun 17, 2023

Here is hoping that this is Just a sign of disorganization rather than a scam. I know I have used a LOT of the old Filmotec ORWO N74. (at least 2 400ft rolls over several years.) that was replaced by N75 with a very strong Anti-Halo filter. and now that is not shown on their site it seems. they apparently did ship SOME of their color film to a few folks.

I was amazed that they still list bulk rolls for still Photography of the LF-10 film, which is described as "Light Stuck Leader" for editing. while that may be handy in a motion picture lab for protecting and writing with a sharpie for identifying rolls of film, I can't imagine what a still photographer could use an ASA3 Blue sensitive film that is already been exposed to light.

ORWO LF10 - 35MM

ORWO leader film LF10 (light struck leader) is an emulsion coated material for multiple applications. Preferably the LF 10 will be used as wrote head and tail leader strip during the printing process and as protection for original film. Additional InformationData Sheet: Click Here

www.orwo.shop

At this point, I think that Ferrania has done a better job of selling the film that Ferrania makes.

I will continue to check back on their site to see if their is any hope.

aranzebia · Jun 17, 2023

Sorry, my English is not very good, so my sentences may be awkward.

I made a reservation for distribution in July last year, but the person in charge hasn't replied since November last year.
Then I contacted the funds department where I sent the money and got an apology and a promise to send it by when.
So I got the 1000 rolls last month.
It was a shipment from China, and I went through three or four people before I got it.

The strange thing is that the NC500 is sold in China at a low price in a different package.

75 CNY = 10.52 $

cmacd123 · Jun 17, 2023

at one time they were saying that the film would be finished in China and come in a metal cassette, and then they said it will come in a plastic cassette. (except for special orders promised to be in metal)

I guess the China market film was done by their China contractor.

BMbikerider · Jun 18, 2023

PaulYW said:
We've been in contact with them by email until last month.

I have just searched for their website and came up with this.

Address: Guardianstraße 16, 06766 Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 8 am Mon

Phone: +49 3494 369700

So it seems as if they are still active and operating I doubt that the themselves have scammed you it is more likely to be a shadow Web address not there own. Having lived and worked in German this is not their usual business ethics.
What was the response you got when you were last in touch with them?

Depending on what the reply was, can I suggest sending and E mail to Photoimpex GMBH who are one of the largest Photographic outlets in Germany based in Berlin, not that far from Wolfen. Don't mention that you are having problems but ask if they know if the company is still in operation.

It may sound like a basic question but has any cash been taken from you card account?

koraks · Jun 18, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Prehaps bad mouthing them here may push them to refund the money or provide the film.

Discussion of suppliers, including critical remarks about business practices, are OK on the forum. 'Bad mouthing' as such with an intent to damage the reputation of a brand, or to pressure them into doing something (a.k.a. blackmailing) will not be tolerated.

brbo · Jun 18, 2023

I spent almost a month trying to get a refund from them after it became obvious that they have no intention on shipping the film I paid for almost a year ago. PayPal refund "somehow" always failed for them. Then we tried SEPA bank transfer which is a de-facto standard for money transfers in EURO zone. No go. Always some problem with their bank or whatever and that they will try it again tomorror...

After a while of this I notified them in an email that me trying to work with them directly is obviously not going to work and that I will seek external help to get my film or my money back. My film was mailed that same day and arrived 5 days later (it was sent from UK).

I only ordered 4 rolls so "seeking external help"I would not go past free help from a national consumer rights agency that usually escalates the case to the EU level. I wouldn't even do that, but what got to me was that Orwo NC500 was popping up in many online stores all over the world while people who preordered and basically helped finance the production were left without film and without any explanation on what is happening...

I can only speculate on what is going on but it seem like Orwo is trying to sell the film that would otherwise go to the preorder customers in order to raise money for the next production run.

removedacct3 · Jun 18, 2023

I do not know how promotional campaigns are set up on the various social platforms, but the Orwo instagram team is quite active. Quite often, at least every other day, I see an Orwo ad coming by. They are working hard to put themselves on the map. At least so it seems.

Don_ih · Jun 18, 2023

aranzebia said:
The strange thing is that the NC500 is sold in China at a low price in a different package.

That, plus the fact that Orwo is reluctant to refund money might suggest they have not been able to pay the Chinese suppliers of the finished film, so the Chinese suppliers are selling it off to other buyers.
Maybe.

AnselMortensen · Jun 18, 2023

Don Heisz said:
That, plus the fact that Orwo is reluctant to refund money might suggest they have not been able to pay the Chinese suppliers of the finished film, so the Chinese suppliers are selling it off to other buyers.
Maybe.

My 'Spidey-Sense' is telling me the same thing. Maybe.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2023

koraks said:
Discussion of suppliers, including critical remarks about business practices, are OK on the forum. 'Bad mouthing' as such with an intent to damage the reputation of a brand, or to pressure them into doing something (a.k.a. blackmailing) will not be tolerated.

Well here is a forum for ORWO to come forward and present its side.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2023

Don Heisz said:
That, plus the fact that Orwo is reluctant to refund money might suggest they have not been able to pay the Chinese suppliers of the finished film, so the Chinese suppliers are selling it off to other buyers.
Maybe.

Speculation may be good for mental stimulation but gets us nowhere and starts unfounded rumors. ORWO needs to come forward and state its case.

koraks · Jun 18, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Well here is a forum for ORWO to come forward and present its side.

They're of course very welcome to join

Don_ih · Jun 18, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Speculation may be good for mental stimulation but gets us nowhere and starts unfounded rumors.

So sayeth the fellow who recommended "badmouthing"....

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2023

Don Heisz said:
So sayeth the fellow who recommended "badmouthing"....

However I did not make excuses for ORWO nor waste time speculating.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2023

{Deleted post}
It could put ORWO to respond while speculation wastes both time and energy and produces senseless chatter.

MattKing · Jun 18, 2023

Moderator hat on:
Cut it out!
Moderator hat off.

Don_ih · Jun 18, 2023

MattKing said:
Moderator hat on:
Cut it out!
Moderator hat off.

Then delete the advice to badmouth Orwo.

pentaxuser · Jun 18, 2023

PaulYW Analogue Wonderland stock both the NC500 and UN 54 but are sold out of both. No explanation supplied as to why they are sold out nor does there seem to be anyway of finding out how long it has been sold out from the website

As Analogue Wonderland may be the biggest web based retailer in the U.K. for non mainstream films such as ORWO then here is some contact information in case you decide to try and contact them to see what their experience has been

email help@analoguewonderland.co.uk

phone (+44) 01494 325970 (10am-4pm weekdays)

Analogue Wonderland Ltd. Company No. 11463983. Unit 12 Treadaway Technical Centre, Treadaway Hill, Loudwater, High Wycombe HP10 9RS

I hope this helps

pentaxuser

Is ORWO in trouble or a scam? Preordered 2500 rolls and not received a single roll for a year now.

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