I recently had a bad pack of 55 that the darkslide wouldn't pull on and just got off the phone with Polaroid for replacement. The woman I spoke with was quite knowledgeable about the manufacture process, so while I had her on the phone asked some questions about production levels and demand. Were they in fact still selling enough of the stuff and would they continue to make it?
The answer was "yes... for the time being". She said that the volume of the instant films purchased and used was dropping by the month, but for now there was enough of a demand for 55 to continue production. The reason she gave for shutting down 665 was that the components used became more expensive to manufacture at a level that would remain profitable. Polaroid decided demand didn't warrant ramping up to produce the components and decided to put all their effort and resources into keeping 55 alive.
Basically she said their philosophy was that they would create it until it was no longer profitable.
B.
The answer was "yes... for the time being". She said that the volume of the instant films purchased and used was dropping by the month, but for now there was enough of a demand for 55 to continue production. The reason she gave for shutting down 665 was that the components used became more expensive to manufacture at a level that would remain profitable. Polaroid decided demand didn't warrant ramping up to produce the components and decided to put all their effort and resources into keeping 55 alive.
Basically she said their philosophy was that they would create it until it was no longer profitable.
B.