Kodak pulling its distributor out of Canada?

braxus · Mar 20, 2007

I heard this from one lab and also someone else on another forum also mentioned this. It sounds like Kodak is pulling its distributor out of Canada, at least with its professional films. Thing is I also work in a Kodak lab that sells consumer film and I haven't heard this news myself and we dont seem to be having any issues getting anything from Kodak. Can anyone fill in what really is going on here?

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Mar 20, 2007

Do what you do best, braxus: Kall Kodak, and then let us know...

donbga · Mar 20, 2007

braxus said:
I heard this from one lab and also someone else on another forum also mentioned this. It sounds like Kodak is pulling its distributor out of Canada, at least with its professional films. Thing is I also work in a Kodak lab that sells consumer film and I haven't heard this news myself and we dont seem to be having any issues getting anything from Kodak. Can anyone fill in what really is going on here?

Why not call Kodak and ask? Or call your Kodak lab rep.

braxus · Mar 21, 2007

It seems everytime I ask these questions, Kodak is already closed. If I get the chance at work tomorrow I'll call. But we may not have the same distributor as other stores since we are not a pro lab. So Im not sure if I'll get a straight answer or not. There have been times I asked Kodak something- they have no idea what Im talking about.

braxus · Mar 21, 2007

I called the one Kodak number I knew I could call and she didn't know anything about what I was talking about. As far as she knows Canada is still going for Kodak. Maybe the lady on this website I got the info from may decide to chime in here and tell us what she knows. Kodak said it could be one distributor that is doing this, but nothing they were aware of.

braxus · Mar 22, 2007

I found out from the other poster that it was the same store chain that is having a problem with its distributor. Calling another Kodak rep she said it may be the smaller distributors that are middle men getting products from Kodak that may be getting out. My lab gets it direct from Kodak. Maybe the store chain with the problem distributor should see if they too can order direct from Kodak.

Uncle Bill · Mar 22, 2007

I heard Downtown Camera in Toronto has not been shipped Tri-x in 3 months. They have no clue why, makes you think.

Bill

removed account4 · Mar 22, 2007

even if you call kodak they will not tell you what is going on.

when they closed down some of their SA operations i called kodak, and was moved around to 4 different people they all told me the same thing. then i was told to call someone in oregon ( PR Company ? ) and again i was told kodak had no plans then or in the foreseeable future to stop making black/white + color films, paper or chemistry.

within a month or 2 it was announced that kodak was gonna stop making paper.

everyone's a used car salesman these days.
no one is given the actual information.

good luck!

Medusa83 · Mar 23, 2007

Ok what I have heard is that Kodak is pulling its Canadian distributer and that the companies in Canada would have to deal with a third party to get Kodak supplies. The company I work for got our last order from Kodak in Feb.

braxus · Mar 24, 2007

Medusa,
Just to let you know I asked your other employees namely Ted and Duncan about this with your store. They flat out denied anything was going on and you are still using Kodak materials. I was not impressed with their lack of honesty since I already confirmed the issue with 2 of your other stores, plus the other online poster. If your labs do drop Kodak materials, namely their papers, I will be going to a lab that still uses Kodak. Thankfully I dont have to worry about B&W printing, unless Custom Color has gone to color papers and digital printing which I wondered about from my last order done.

Again our lab has no issues getting Kodak products like film, paper, and chemicals. I dont know why your labs cannot order direct from Kodak. We do.

film_guy · Mar 25, 2007

If this were true, would it only affect Kodak papers and darkroom equipment, or will it affect Kodak's pro color and B&W film availability in Canada? If this is real, then Fuji and Ilford will be getting all my film spending money from now on.

Daniel_OB · Mar 26, 2007

Braxus, I hope you are right.

I never had any connection with Kodak in my photo history, fortunately. It is strange to me Kodak name is still around among photographers. Do they deserve it? For so many No, because they gave up on their the most valuable heritage soooo easy.
Photographers should concentarate on Ilford, Berger, Efke, ... and just forget that Kodak ever existed. It is biting dead horse.

www.Leica-R.com

Uncle Bill · Mar 26, 2007

Kodak's Canadian head office is at Islington Rd and Highway 401 after downnesting from Eglington and Black Creek Rd a couple of years ago.

I have a gut feeling its the distributor dropping the ball.

Dave Wooten · Mar 26, 2007

So?

Just say ILFORD,

Ilford , Ilford , Ilford ,

FP 4 HP 5 ,

Delta , Delta, Delta

XP2

Super

Now wasn't that easy?

Photo Engineer · Mar 26, 2007

And, if Kodak does get out of film sales entirely, you can get color film from Ilford?

Well, if Kodak does get out of film sales, you can bet that posts like Dave's are at the root of it. Spread things around a bit! I buy both.

PE

Dave Wooten · Mar 26, 2007

To the point....I will not bemoan the facts and fate of corporate direction and decision...it is out of my realm...it is not my place to tell one how to run ones business and how to answer to ones investors...

it seems according to the posts that "all is not forthright"

once again the loyal customer is getting some smoke...

Ron, I also readily admit that I speak very selfishly, for me, the "color processes" I as an amature photographer and "artist" work with, and am learning to work with, are not confined to nor dependent upon the use of color film...I would miss it, but it would not be catastrophic in the least...I would be busily back at work with my alternatives bright and early the next morn...

I choose not to align my hopes with a company whose policy statements and direction do not compliment my own expectations...this is not a value judgement at all....each must choose their own dedication and direction.

The times they are a changing...IMNSHO that is usually a good thing...new directions, and opportunites, solutions and unexpected pleasures!

Photo Engineer · Mar 26, 2007

Dave;

I can agree with you and disagree at the same time. The many friends I see regularly who were laid off from Kodak, and those still working there valiantly in the film area are not happy either. How do you think they feel working at Kodak, being silent and then seeing a post like yours.

Their jobs will go in the next round of reductions.

I would not be able to face any one of them, and not be able to say I had tried to change some opinions here on APUG. Sorry if that bothers you, but I have people I have some 'responsibility' to if I am to speak out in any way whatsoever on APUG, and we cannot blame these good people for one person or one group of people.

It isn't as if a business is a democracy, in the sense that Perez is doing what he was hired to do, and that is to convert Kodak to digital by any means possible.

PE

Dave Wooten · Mar 26, 2007

Can t disagree with you at all Ron.

We all feel for the human side....a corporation has no human conscience...never will...

There is no blame......Dave Goldfarb and I recently had a very nice meeting at PMA with Scott R. DiSabato Kodak Marketing Manager, Professional Film Photographer Trade Relations....a most positive voice for Kodak film....he can be reached at

scott.disabato@kodak.com

I also feel for the many welders replaced by robotics for example, this type of restructure will happen time and time again...a corporation will not entertain what will not pay...the mindset at Kodak is in new direction....the directors and investors seem happy with the new direction....

The CEO just received a very large bonus.

Do I feel we, of APUG, have a voice that will be heard at Kodak?

No I do not!

Do I feel we, of APUG, are powerless to influence the course of Kodak ?

Yes I do!

Do I feel that we of APUG have a voice that will be heard by Ilford?

Yes I do!

Do I feel we, of APUG, are powerless to influence the course of Ilford?

I do not!

RobLewis · Mar 26, 2007

Dave Wooten said:
Do I feel we, of APUG, have a voice that will be heard at Kodak?

No I do not!

Do I feel we, of APUG, are powerless to influence the course of Kodak ?

Yes I do!

Do I feel that we of APUG have a voice that will be heard by Ilford?

Yes I do!

Do I feel we, of APUG, are powerless to influence the course of Ilford?

I do not!

Just like when you say a corporation has no human-side, they also have no desire to operate at less than optimal profit margin.
Do we have voices at Kodak and Ilford? Yes. They live in your wallet. Kodak is not going to produce film at a 5% profit margin, when they can produce digigizmos at a 10% margin. (I made those numbers up, but you get the point) Unless sales of digital products drops to a point where they are less profitable then film products, (or costs of production increase) it's only a matter of time before they sell the recipes to the film stuff to someone else and bid farewell to the film users.

Guess what. Ilford is not in the charity business, either, unless they have some not-for-profit status that I'm not aware of. Without knowing the financials of Ilford, I will venture to say that they will continue to sell film-based products, so long as those products remain their highest profit margin product. May not be long before the competition ceases to exist, and it'll be much easier for Ilford to produce at larger margins, but never assume you have a voice with them, any more so than you lack a voice with Kodak.
Shareholders are the only real voices of influence. (Maybe we can organize ourselves and buy 51% of Eastman Kodak!)

For the record, I'm going to continue to buy and use Kodak b&w films, D-76, Dektol, fixer and stop bath until they are no longer available.

PatTrent · Mar 26, 2007

Photo Engineer said:
And, if Kodak does get out of film sales entirely, you can get color film from Ilford?

Well, if Kodak does get out of film sales, you can bet that posts like Dave's are at the root of it. Spread things around a bit! I buy both.

PE

I agree with Photo Engineer.

Until the fateful day arrives, we really don't know who will be "The Last Man Standing" when it comes to Kodak or Ilford providing us with film, especially B&W. So until then, I continue to buy from both Kodak and Ilford, choosing my favorite products from each, until only one of them remains.

My only regret is that I cannot possibly buy/use enough film and chemicals to support either, much less both, Kodak and/or Ilford--not to mention other deserving film-related manufacturers whom I'd also like to support.

Dave Wooten · Mar 26, 2007

RobLewis said:
Just like when you say a corporation has no human-side, they also have no desire to operate at less than optimal profit margin.
Do we have voices at Kodak and Ilford? Yes. They live in your wallet. Kodak is not going to produce film at a 5% profit margin, when they can produce digigizmos at a 10% margin. (I made those numbers up, but you get the point) Unless sales of digital products drops to a point where they are less profitable then film products, (or costs of production increase) it's only a matter of time before they sell the recipes to the film stuff to someone else and bid farewell to the film users.

Guess what. Ilford is not in the charity business, either, unless they have some not-for-profit status that I'm not aware of. Without knowing the financials of Ilford, I will venture to say that they will continue to sell film-based products, so long as those products remain their highest profit margin product. May not be long before the competition ceases to exist, and it'll be much easier for Ilford to produce at larger margins, but never assume you have a voice with them, any more so than you lack a voice with Kodak.
Shareholders are the only real voices of influence. (Maybe we can organize ourselves and buy 51% of Eastman Kodak!)

For the record, I'm going to continue to buy and use Kodak b&w films, D-76, Dektol, fixer and stop bath until they are no longer available.

Agreed

Photo Engineer · Mar 26, 2007

Well, for those that disagree with me consider this.

If you don't buy Kodak analog products, you are fulfilling Perez' theory that the analog market is insignificant, and so you help his premise that 'analog is dead'.

It has no effect on him but bolster him and increase his bonus because what he said appears to be turning out to be true.

He lays off the little people in the analog department, and they are the ones hurt.

So...... You take it from there.

I do buy Ilford film. It is excellent, but I buy all color and 50% of my B&W from Kodak and the other 50% of my B&W from Ilford.

PE

jd callow · Mar 26, 2007

I'm having a hard time understanding this thread It sounds like an argument about an unsupported rumor that, even if true wouldn't mean much.

Can someone correct me?

Colour is 80-90% Kodak. I bought 4x5 Fuji 64T because I prefer it over Kodak’s T balanced reversal sheet film and NPL for mixed lighting. Otherwise I buy all Kodak.

B&W is also mostly Kodak.

So I'm SOL without big yellow and tend to support Ron in his statements.

Dave Wooten · Mar 26, 2007

I have e mailed Scott R. DiSabato, Marketing Manager, Professional Film Photographer Trade Relations at Kodak, the posted question. I am sure he will bring some clarification.

braxus · Mar 26, 2007

Well all I can say is 1 chain of stores seems to be effected by the info they have given out on Kodak. I called another big lab in Vancouver and they are also effected.

The one chain says the distributor is no longer dealing in Canada. Another store says this:

Basically what this means is most smaller outfits that are used to dealing with Kodak directly are now having to go through a select distributor(s) that brings in Kodak materials. Some stores do not like this way of dealing with Kodak and are thinking of dumping Kodak as a result. Since I work for a big corporation that has a big account with Kodak, we are allowed to deal directly with Kodak and get our products direct. Smaller companies cannot do that. They now have to go through a middle man which decides what will be brought in to sell at their price. This is info I got from a big lab here in Vancouver. I also found out by this lab TMAX films in 120 were discontinued as well. So add that to the list.

Kodak pulling its distributor out of Canada?

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