Kodak XTOL trade concern announcment

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

If you have XTOL Catalog #1058338 with the following Date Codes: 2019/10/07, 2019/12/19, 2020/02/25, 2020/02/26, 2020/02/27, we are facing a trade concern with these batches and would like to get this taken care of for you."

D23 always works.

 

[mshchem]

I ordered a package of Flexicolor C41 developer replenisher, received today. Made in China, same as last time. This stuff was made in September of 2019. Not sure if the 2019 is Alaris or retailer issue. It's fine and super cheap. So no worries.

 

[lantau]

D23 always works.

For me D23 is a lot more expensive than Xtol. Metol isn't that cheap in my market.

 

[spark]

It's been several weeks, and I have sent my information. What was your delivery time for the replacement Xtol?

 

[Donald Qualls]

I originally emailed on December 31st. I sent a second message (as a "reply all" to the first) on January 16th. I just sent a third, on February 7th.

Still waiting for any response (and yes, I've checked my spam folder -- nothing from any address including "kodak" newer than 2014).

 

[removedacct1]

It's been several weeks, and I have sent my information. What was your delivery time for the replacement Xtol?

“ Rest assured that your replacement product directly and it will meet all appropriate criteria. I expect the replacement product to be sent to you by mid-February.”

So there’s a chance it will show up within the next week. Note that the quote does not indicate a promise - the mid-February date is an estimate based on their expectations regarding ability to come up with replacement product. It’ll be great if it happens, but I suggest you be prepared for the possibility it might take longer.

 

[removedacct1]

I originally emailed on December 31st. I sent a second message (as a "reply all" to the first) on January 16th. I just sent a third, on February 7th.

Still waiting for any response (and yes, I've checked my spam folder -- nothing from any address including "kodak" newer than 2014).

Have you searched for “ProPaperChem”?

 

[foen]

Here my experience:
Last year I bought 4 bags from a famous reseller based in Europe.
I wrote 3 times to kodak without any reply.
I am very disappointed.

 

[Wallendo]

At this point, the only Kodak I care about is Eastman Kodak's film manufacturing business. I fear the day that Kodak's film trademarks are awarded to some random company in a possible future bankrupcy which labels non-Kodak films with the Kodak label.

Since HC-110 is a new formulation, there is currently no reason that other companies cannot manufacture or distribute all Kodak-labelledt products under other names. Other than film, the only thing separating Kodak products from other products is the Kodak trademark. That trademark may well be the only thing of value that Kodak Alaris sold to the Chinese. I am not going to boycott Kodak-labelled products. In fact the Chinese may do a better job of controlling quality than Kodak Alaris who seemed to have outsourced everything, including quality control.

 

[AgX]

Is already being done...
Agfa since some years market their microfilms exclusively via a former Kodak split-off that rebrands them with former Kodak tradenames, after Kodak cancelled manufacture of microfilms.

 

[mshchem]

I suspect that their will be plenty of companies that try to fill the void created by the Alaris screw up. Timing is everything, Ilford has a product for everything that Alaris (black and white) marketed. Adox has products, not as widely available in the US, same with Foma. Education business has already adopted Legacy, Eco Pro, Freestyle products, (equivalent products, lowest bid to purchasing departments) .

I suspect I'm done with Sino Kodak chemistry in black and white for the present.

I am worried about what could happen to Eastman Kodak, I can't imagine how any buyer, could move the operations in building 38, and be successful.

I hope Fujifilm doesn't abandon reversal film, that would be a shame.

 

[Kino]

Despite the prompt response from ‎ProPaperChem@kodakalaris.com on January 4th, I have as of yet to get any more communication or results on replacing the 2 x 5 liter bags of XTOL. I am starting to think I may never hear from them again, but I will be patient a bit more...

 

[warden]

Despite the prompt response from ‎ProPaperChem@kodakalaris.com on January 4th, I have as of yet to get any more communication or results on replacing the 2 x 5 liter bags of XTOL. I am starting to think I may never hear from them again, but I will be patient a bit more...

With the last Xtol problem I only heard back when the replacement product shipped (with tracking number, etc). I imagine they will do the same this time so I don't expect to hear anything until the package is on the way to me.

 

[Kino]

With the last Xtol problem I only heard back when the replacement product shipped (with tracking number, etc). I imagine they will do the same this time so I don't expect to hear anything until the package is on the way to me.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[urnem57]

....except that I’m going to need to waste a tankful from each bag testing it to see that it works....very disappointed that after 50 years Kodak really let me down on this one.

 

[pentaxuser]

....except that I’m going to need to waste a tankful from each bag testing it to see that it works....very disappointed that after 50 years Kodak really let me down on this one.

Once you have made the stock of 5L then what I do normally is to use about 50 cc to develop a film leader at the start and use that leader as my standard for fresh Xtol against which to measure development of leaders from the same stock weeks/months later. Could you not use that 50 cc to test the stock's efficacy. So yes you use 50cc but nothing like a tankful

Just a thought

pentaxuser

 

[Kino]

If they are going to replace it and you can test it with just a few ounces (which is always suggested), I would think it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Inconvenient? Perhaps...

 

[urnem57]

Solid advice, thanks. I have never tested it in all the years of using Kodak Products. I just kept track of how many rolls I have run with it. I will adopt this into my workflow. Thank you! (stops grumbling about Kodak)

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I'm sure you won't have any problems. I've been happily developing film for several weeks now with stuff from suspect batch. All is well.

 

[DonW]

I still haven't heard from them!! Grrrr

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Same. Just developed two rolls of Delta 100 in Xtol-R after a 4 week break. Did not notice any loss of activity, and my replenishing bottle 100% consists of two defective batches (started on the 2019 batch and replenished with the 2020 one).

I am starting to suspect/hope that perhaps the "trade concern" is about some kind of corner case, like the storage or mixing temperature is not correctly reported. For that reason I am using Xtol in ideal conditions: distilled water, amber bottles with no air, stored at 60F.

I'm doing exactly what you are doing. Xtol-R giving me consistency from negative to negative.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'll keep listening to you guys for updates. I store my tank solution and replenisher in PET bottles in a cabinet in my darkroom (pretty danged dark in the cabinet, with the door closed and lights off). I'd be very happy to find that the "trade concern" is a printing error or something similar, rather than something that will affect the developer. As Old Gregg noted, I occasionally go three or four weeks between processing, and haven't seen any changes. Further, my current batch had an expiration of 2002 when I mixed it last September.

At this point, I'm almost as concerned over no response from Kodak Alaris or Sino Promise as I am about the developer. I can switch to Legacy Pro, or get a minimum order of reagent grade sulfite and borax if I need to mix my own, but I'd really prefer to be able to keep buying the yellow bags.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I'll keep listening to you guys for updates. I store my tank solution and replenisher in PET bottles in a cabinet in my darkroom (pretty danged dark in the cabinet, with the door closed and lights off). I'd be very happy to find that the "trade concern" is a printing error or something similar, rather than something that will affect the developer. As Old Gregg noted, I occasionally go three or four weeks between processing, and haven't seen any changes. Further, my current batch had an expiration of 2002 when I mixed it last September.

At this point, I'm almost as concerned over no response from Kodak Alaris or Sino Promise as I am about the developer. I can switch to Legacy Pro, or get a minimum order of reagent grade sulfite and borax if I need to mix my own, but I'd really prefer to be able to keep buying the yellow bags.

I'm wondering if they were overwhelmed with emails, and there's just one little old lady manning the keyboard...

 

[MattKing]

I'm wondering if they were overwhelmed with emails, and there's just one little old lady manning the keyboard...

And that lady was the one just assigned to the new line that they just bought!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

And that lady was the one just assigned to the new line that they just bought!