Kodak D76 at Walmart???

gone · May 20, 2015

I found this listed on the web. Is this true? I added it to my cart just to see and that part worked OK anyway.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/44798759?...3418871&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=127903313591&veh=sem

Rick A · May 20, 2015

Why would you spend so much at waldos when it's half that price at B&H?

Kevin Harding · May 20, 2015

I wonder if they've tapped into a distribution chain like Amazon and are selling via their site to generate an additional revenue stream - IE, getting 5-10% of each purchase that they wouldn't normally get.

Ektagraphic · May 20, 2015

Looks like it is sold by "Focus Camera", not actually by Walmart. So it is a marketplace item type of thing. It was be very interesting if Walmart themselves stocked D-76! Did K-Mart or any of the older big box stores ever sell any darkroom equipment?

Rick A · May 20, 2015

K-Mart used to years ago. Camera gear and supplies.

Sirius Glass · May 20, 2015

Why bother? It is not XTOL.

gone · May 20, 2015

I would buy stuff from Walmart before I would buy anything from B&H (or Adorama), and buying at Walmart is not exactly at the top pf my list either. But if they had D76, sure. I've never heard of Focus Camera. Great name!

Before there was Walmart, I remember Schwegmann's Brothers Giant grocery stores in New Orleans. At the time, they were advertised as the largest in the world (although I think some store in the Soviet Union was actually bigger). I used to make my groceries at this one. Boy, those photos bring back some memories. I read somewhere that his bigger store on St. Claude Ave had 5,000 employees.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sch...%2Fold_schwegmann_store_on_broad.html;380;253

Inside was the usual grocery stuff, but they also sold car parts and bicycles and the like. They were famous down there for their deli and bakery. Had their own bank too. All along the promenade, around the perimeter of the store on the second level, were dentists, barbers, optometrists, etc. You could get anything in there. I think maybe Walmart copied them on a lessor scale.

Rick A · May 20, 2015

I don't know why you wouldn't buy from B&H, they are always top notch with me. I've had many orders there with no glitches, easy to deal with and top shelf customer service. Not just photo gear either. In the old days I had a couple of issues with Adorama, but not lately, though I don't spend much with them, bought used gear there without hassles. I despise Wally's though, from their business practices, to bullying their vendors, and employee treatment, they are a last resort to buy anything for me.

By the way, $14.99 from Wally world or $6.95 from B&H, guess you know where I buy my D-76 from.

fotch · May 20, 2015

Walmart is trying to compete with Amazon so it is being shipped by Sold by Focus Camera. B&H is very reliable & I have been a customer for almost 40 years. A bit smaller the Walmart but they are stocking it rather than just becoming an additional middleman.

eddie · May 20, 2015

Rick A said:
I don't know why you wouldn't buy from B&H, they are always top notch with me.

Me, too. In the mid 90's, I was heading to the Caribbean to shoot a job. I had purchased 20 rolls of color 120 from B&H. About 3 days before leaving, the client expanded the job, so I had to get more film. I ordered more, and they did overnight delivery, but of the wrong film. I called again, and after 15 minutes on the phone, they even matched the emulsion number of the correct film, promising next day delivery (at their expense). They said I should send back the incorrect delivery. When I explained that I'd be gone for a month, I was told to send it back (also at their expense) whenever I could. I got my film with less than 24 hours before departing, and they got the incorrect film back about 5 weeks later, calling me to confirm the return.

Colin Corneau · May 20, 2015

Ditto here. Nothing but great service and surprisingly fast shipping too (I'm up in Canada).

Save money, great service, avoid a predatory giant like WalMart...wins all 'round, I figure.

Rick A said:
I don't know why you wouldn't buy from B&H, they are always top notch with me. I've had many orders there with no glitches, easy to deal with and top shelf customer service. Not just photo gear either. In the old days I had a couple of issues with Adorama, but not lately, though I don't spend much with them, bought used gear there without hassles. I despise Wally's though, from their business practices, to bullying their vendors, and employee treatment, they are a last resort to buy anything for me.

By the way, $14.99 from Wally world or $6.95 from B&H, guess you know where I buy my D-76 from.

Sirius Glass · May 20, 2015

momus said:
I would buy stuff from Walmart before I would buy anything from B&H (or Adorama), and buying at Walmart is not exactly at the top pf my list either.

...

Only once I had a problem with an order from B&H. The last of the 120 Tri-X 320 was shipped to me and the Post Office claimed that they delivered it but never did. I called B&H and told them about it. B&H was out of the film and they could no longer get it, but they sent me a form and then credited my credit card quickly without waiting for the paper work from the Post Office. It took the Post Office six months to start the paperwork.

Walmart has a history of not allowing employees to get enough work hours to qualify for health care. Walmart wants MediCAL [California] to carry the freight while it screws both their employees and the people of the state of California. I need Walmart as much as I need genital herpes.

Paul Howell · May 20, 2015

Ektagraphic said:
Looks like it is sold by "Focus Camera", not actually by Walmart. So it is a marketplace item type of thing. It was be very interesting if Walmart themselves stocked D-76! Did K-Mart or any of the older big box stores ever sell any darkroom equipment?

Sears, Wards, Kmart, Penney's all had a rather nice selection of gear, I have a 1954 Wards Photo Catalog. In the 70s I live in several small towns what did not a photo shop but had Kmart, I was able to get B&W paper, film, Kodak and GAF, drop off color for possessing. KMart sold a number of rebranded cameras, Petri, the M 42 version Wards sold rebranded Konica. I don't recall seeing enlargers in the store but as late as the 70s Sears and Wards still sold equipment through their catalogs.

MattKing · May 20, 2015

I used to sell a fairly wide range of SLRs (Canon, Konica, Olympus) at the Sears Canada/Simpson Sears stores I worked in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Movie cameras too.

Along with lots of film.

No darkroom stuff though.

CJBo001 · May 20, 2015

Back in the fifties I did most of my photographic shopping at a Sun Drug store in Pittsburgh (not even downtown). They had a small but well stocked photographic department run by a knowledgeable and helpful gentleman who spoke with a European accent.

RattyMouse · May 20, 2015

B & H is a fantastic company, the gold standard for me when it comes to customer service and prices. I can't recall any time in the last 20 years I have not purchased from B & H first.

eng1er · May 21, 2015

I haven't attempted to order anything from B&H since the early nineties when they were as shady as all the NYC mail order houses that advertised in the back of photo magazines. Tried a couple times, but never had a successful transaction (same for Adorama). I gave up when I realized what the game was and did my business on big ticket items with Camera World. Prices were higher, but you received what you ordered with no bullshit. It does appear that B&H has gone legit and their film prices are pretty incredible, so I may have to give them another shot.

As an aside, I have visited their store in recent years, and while it didn't sate my nostalgia for the great photo houses of old, it was certainly impressive. The cattle-call nature of it was off-putting, but there's only so much you can do with that many people.

Rick A · May 21, 2015

CJBo001 said:
Back in the fifties I did most of my photographic shopping at a Sun Drug store in Pittsburgh (not even downtown). They had a small but well stocked photographic department run by a knowledgeable and helpful gentleman who spoke with a European accent.

Did you ever get to Bernie's Photo Center on East Ohio? They're still in existence, under new ownership though.

bvy · May 21, 2015

Rick A said:
Did you ever get to Bernie's Photo Center on East Ohio? They're still in existence, under new ownership though.

I was in there a few weeks ago, and it was the same wonderfully grumpy people selling ancient products at laughable prices.

Rick A · May 21, 2015

Yup, however, the new owner went "above and beyond" to help me obtain an 11x14 film holder to fit my Century field camera, from his museum.

bvy · May 21, 2015

That's good to hear. Maybe it's time to reevaluate.

DREW WILEY · May 21, 2015

I've ordered things from B&H for several decades and NEVER had a problem or been given cause to suspect them of being shady in the least.

RattyMouse · May 21, 2015

eng1er said:
I haven't attempted to order anything from B&H since the early nineties when they were as shady as all the NYC mail order houses that advertised in the back of photo magazines. Tried a couple times, but never had a successful transaction (same for Adorama). I gave up when I realized what the game was and did my business on big ticket items with Camera World. Prices were higher, but you received what you ordered with no bullshit. It does appear that B&H has gone legit and their film prices are pretty incredible, so I may have to give them another shot.

As an aside, I have visited their store in recent years, and while it didn't sate my nostalgia for the great photo houses of old, it was certainly impressive. The cattle-call nature of it was off-putting, but there's only so much you can do with that many people.

eng1er · May 22, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
I've ordered things from B&H for several decades and NEVER had a problem or been given cause to suspect them of being shady in the least.

Unfortunately, that wasn't my experience back in the day. Mine was the typical bait and switch game common to gray market retailers of the era. Perhaps I was just unlucky, but I don't think I'm the only one. Glad to amuse RattyMouse, though.

KenR · May 22, 2015

I also want to say that I have never had a problem from B&H. Unlike others, I have never received an incorrect order. When I've made a mistake, or decided that I don't want what I purchased, I have been able to return it without any hassles - with full credit given. I recommend them without hesitation.

Kodak D76 at Walmart???

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency