Portra price increase?

[zauhar]

I was just shocked to see Portra 400 going for $42.99 for a 5-roll pack at Freestyle. A year ago I paid ~$30. B&H is almost as high (I think $38).

I haven't been shooting much color recently - did it just shoot up or did I miss a gradual inflation?

Randy

 

[Lauffray]

It's 53$ where I live

 

[donkee]

Been getting away from Kodak myself. They have discontinued all but 1 of the films that I use. Now they jack the price up. Ilford and Fuji are all I use anymore.......

Figures Kodak would take one of their profitable divisions and try to kill it. What else is new?

 

[zauhar]

Been getting away from Kodak myself. They have discontinued all but 1 of the films that I use. Now they jack the price up. Ilford and Fuji are all I use anymore.......

Figures Kodak would take one of their profitable divisions and try to kill it. What else is new?

I agree - a typically cynical and asinine corporate move.

A division is making money, but you ultimately want to kill it, so you make the "business decision" to squeeze all you can out of it in the short run.

Big short term profit (looks great on the manager's annual evaluation!), coupled with eventual decline and the justification to do what you planned on in the first place (even better!)

Randy

 

[jippiejee]

Big short term profit (looks great on the manager's annual evaluation!), coupled with eventual decline and the justification to do what you planned on in the first place (even better!)

I wished you weren't right, but you probably are... 🙁

 

[Aristophanes]

Kodak is raising prices. The creditors want their money. It's that simple. There is no long term supply and demand equation right now. No one is investing in film cameras or labs, so why would a creditor go for volume sales. Max it out for profit now, now, now.

 

[RObert Budding]

Kodak has screwed up every other business, so why not film?

 

[zauhar]

Kodak has screwed up every other business, so why not film?

The only "good" scenario here is that after they have squeezed what they can out of the film business, they will have demonstrated that it still has economic value, and so get a good price when they sell said business to someone who actually cares about it.

Not sure how to approach this - I really like Portra, but I do not feel like playing this sucker's game.

Randy

 

[Noll]

Not sure how to approach this - I really like Portra, but I do not feel like playing this sucker's game.

Randy

Be nice, they gotta pay for those $13.5 million executive bonuses some how, don't they?

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/04/09/bankrupt-kodak-asking-for-permission-to-pay-13-5m-in-bonuses/

 

[Chuck Albertson]

I agree - a typically cynical and asinine corporate move.

A division is making money, but you ultimately want to kill it, so you make the "business decision" to squeeze all you can out of it in the short run.

Big short term profit (looks great on the manager's annual evaluation!), coupled with eventual decline and the justification to do what you planned on in the first place (even better!)

The rules are different in Chapter 11. You don't exactly take the long view.

 

[zauhar]

Be nice, they gotta pay for those $13.5 million executive bonuses some how, don't they?

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/04/09/bankrupt-kodak-asking-for-permission-to-pay-13-5m-in-bonuses/

Unbelievable (actually, very believable if you have any knowledge of modern business).

I wonder what part those "talented" executives played in running the company into the ground?

Randy

 

[Jubb Jubb]

I just purchased 30 rolls, what's annoying me is that I was going to do it the day before the increase and didn't.. Ahhh!!

The funny thing about it though is it is cheaper to buy 5 individual roles than purchase the 5 roll pro pack. It's the exact same amount of film!! I was however lucky purchasing 50 rolls of Kodak e100vs right before that rapidly increased over $2 per roll!!

 

[Ruhayat]

Portra prices have increased twice this year at the place where I usually buy my film. Portra 160 now costs the same as Fuji slide film. :bang: But I still buy it because the processing price is still lower than that of slide. What to do? I tried Fuji Pro 400H and didn't like it that much. So I guess I'm stuck, unless I want to go back to digital again, which I'd rather not.🙁

 

[Aristophanes]

Unbelievable (actually, very believable if you have any knowledge of modern business).

I wonder what part those "talented" executives played in running the company into the ground?

Randy

It could just be accounting and distribution people plus IT staff who have turnkey knowledge of the company; very difficult to replace. Talent generally does not row back to a foundering ship.

Strategic people are probably licking the boots of the court-appointed administrator, just hopeful to have a job.