Hi Brent and Chris,
Fear-mongering and a hoax? Well, Chris, I think the photo lab owner got it
at least partly right, according to a front-page article in the Rochester
(NY) Democrat & Chronicle for Wed., 2 May 2001. According to the D & C
staff writer, it's not the film itself, but rather the *packaging*, that's
being changed. I've excerpted the article below. Pretty humorous or pretty
damned pathetic, depending on how you look at it:
============================================================================
===============
<<Coming soon to a store near you: a new look for the little yellow box.
Eastman Kodak Co. today will announce a complete packaging makeover for its
most recognizable and profitable products -- consumer film and single-use
cameras. The new boxes incorporate new names, photos and self-help icons
designed to make it easier for consumers to shop for film, Kodak says. It's
the first complete redesign of film packaging in almost 20 years, the
company said, and comes in direct response to feedback from consumers.
Customers were telling Kodak they didn't understand film speeds, which
dominated the old packaging. The new design has self-explanatory goof-proof
names such as "Kodak Bright Sun" for 100 speed and "Kodak Max Versatility"
for 400 speed. "We think this will be a lot more relevant to consumers than
it is to be talking about film speed", said Glenn Patcha, Kodak's vice
president of film for the United States and Canada. He said Kodak's
decision fits a trend in corporate America. Companies such as Quaker State
are taking numbers such as 10W-30 and 10W-40 off motor oil packaging. The
new containers now identify whether the oil is best for sports cars or
recreational vehicles. The decision was also based on extensive research,
including focus groups and surveys involving vetween 600 and 1,000 consumers
nationwide. Also significant: the addition of pictures. The best consumer
product companies usually include images of their "end products", Patcha
added. Real snapshots appear on the new film packages. The company will
replace the old packages as retailers place orders, starting in mid-May.
The redesign extends to Kodak Advantix and black-and-white film. Other
films will be changed next year.>>
============================================================================
===============
The pictures included with this article show that in addition to losing the
prominent display of film speed, the new four-roll consumer packaging will
also *not* include a picture of the four enclosed film cassettes.
Apparently this is too confusing or complicated for consumers as well? The
packaging will no longer indicate "96 EXP", but rather the more
arithmetically tractable "4 ROLLS". I also love Kodak's new television
commercials for their single use cameras, wherein they proudly exclaim,
"Picture quality as good as a 35 mm point and shoot camera!!" What will the
marketing pinheads do next, add chrome plating and tailfins?? It's the end
of a great civilization, I guess. :-)
Bill Peifer
Rochester, NY
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Brogden [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 11:09 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Nasty Kodak rumor, or the sloppy truth
>
> On Tue, 8 May 2001 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > I went by the closest thing to a pro lab today to buy some Kodak Royal
> Gold
> > 100 print film. The manager/owner behind the counter said something
> similar
> > to the following:
> > "We're all out of that....and chances are we might not ever get
> anymore
> > in ever. Kodak is about to discontinue 70% of their print films.
> > Everything that the do keep will be renamed. They will no longer call
> it ISO
> > 100 or 400, but they will give them names like 'sunny-bright', etc."
>
> This is fear-mongering and a hoax. Kodak's print films are probably the
> company's largest moneymaker. Be skeptical of extreme rumours like
> that; I'm surprised the manager was that gullible, since (s)he's in the
> industry. Sheesh.
>
> chris
>
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