Dealing with the great unwashed is always interesting and informative. Unfortunately, this gal will take the cheap film and tell everone within shouting distance how you tried to sell her up to the more expensive stuff AND then blame you for selling her stuff so that her pics did not come out looking like those professional ones. Talk about a lose-lose situation... -----Original Message----- From: William Robb [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 2:42 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Nasty Kodak rumor, or the sloppy truth: the dumbing down of NorthAmerica?? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shel Belinkoff" <snip> > How can subjective descriptions replace some knowledge about film > speed. However, if the cameras are all dumbed down to meet the > lowered and more simplistic descriptions of appropriate film, and > the sales people don't know squat, and everybody's satisfied with > their red-eyed, vignetted flash pictures, then this is truly a step > in the right direction - backwards! Very apt description. You must moonlight as a Ritz Camera salesperson Unfortunately, you are quite correct. Everything is subjective until the pictures don't turn out. Here is a sample conversation I had least week: <insert thoughts that are running through my head here> Customer: I need to know what film to buy Me: What are you planning to photograph? Customer: My grand daughters wedding. She is so very dear to me. Me: <SHIT!!> What kind of camera do you have? Customer: Nothing special, just an ordinary camera. Me: Is it 35mm? Customer: Whats that? Me: Does it take a film that looks like this? (brandishes a 35mm cassette from the recycling) Customer: Sort of, but usually there is something sticking out of it when I open the box. Me: <Usually???> Ok, its 35mm. Does it have a zoom lens? Customer: It's a good one. We paid over 300 dollars for it. It does everything for us. Me: <It's from the Minolta FL series> It probably has a zoom lens at that price. This will be mostly indoors, right? Customer: We want some pictures of them leaving the church, They have to be outdoors for that. Me:<I should have gone to med school> Well, I think I am going to recomend this brand new Kodak Max 800 film for you. Customer: I've never bought that film before, will it work in my camera? Me: <Its NEW, of course you haven't bought it before> Oh sure, it loads just the same as what you have been using. <I need a drink> Customer: It won't wreck my pictures will it? Me: <I will probably have a hit taken out on me no matter what> No, its a great film. It's from Kodak. They practically invented photography. Customer: (Taking 3 pack of Max 800 from me and looking at it like as if it is going to do something awful to her, and looking at the film bin) Well I don't know, usually we shoot 400 speed. Me: <She can read!!!!!!> Well the 400 is a pretty good choice too. I expect either one will do the job for you. <I really need a beer> Customer: So why is this better? Me: <OH GAWD> This one doesn't need as much light, so in the church your flash pictures will be better. Customer: What about in the hall at the dinner? Me: It will be just fine for that too, maybe better than the 400. Customer: What about this stuff? (Picks up a box of "Rave 400" which is our Konica made house brand) Me: It's the same speed as the Kodak 400. Customer: It's a lot cheaper, is it as good? Me: <It's a lot cheaper, how can it be?> Its a pretty good film. I think the Kodak is better, especially for something as important as a wedding Customer: Well, thank you for the help (walks away with the cheap Konica noname film) Me: <stupid moron> (smiles) No trouble at all, thats why I'm here. You can lead em to the river, but you can't make them drink. If your lucky, they will fall in and drown though. William Robb - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
