Truly GREAT Kodak customer care !

[italy74]

Hi guys

I'm sooo happy you can't imagine.. A few days ago I wrote to Kodak USA to know when the new Portra 400 would have been released in Italy.

The day right after I wrote, a manager from Kodak Italy wrote me back and took care of my interest, offering to let me try a few rolls of the new film once he had available. I told him I was really thrilled to test it since I'm looking for a do-it-all film for my adoption trip to Ethiopia and the new Portra may be definitely the way to go.

A few minutes ago, I got his confirmation mail which sounds more or less like this:

Dear Mr. Brusco
we have already shipped to your address some rolls of the new Portra just arrived. So you will be able to test the film in a very early and exclusive preview (in the whole Italy) - I'm looking forward to the results of your tests.
Best regards

Now, THIS is really a very simple and effective way to make a customer happy, isn't it ?
Brava, Kodak !

 

[Zonan]

Smart indeed! There is hope....

BEst wishes on your trip and adoption- please post some shots when you get back.

 

[hipsterdufus]

Kodak is picking up Fuji's slack in the customer care department, apparently... Let us know how the new film works out!

 

[oftheherd]

Kodak was known for this type of customer service, and more, back in the 50s and 60s. Glad to see there are a few who still uphold that standard.

 

[italy74]

No problem for pictures, although for adoption there's still time: God willing I might go there within 2011 and I wanted to test a lot on the field to be sure when I go there I can rely on it and my findings blindingly.

 

[Keith]

In Australia Kodak could care less it would seem ... their decision to stop bringing in HC110 a year or so ago had a few people muttering oaths.

 

[Keith]

Actually out of curiosity I just went to Kodak's Australian web site for a gander ... it's a joke!

No black and white film beyond BW400CN is mentioned or listed anywhere on that site and no information that goes beyond basic consumer products exists.

 

[40oz]

Actually out of curiosity I just went to Kodak's Australian web site for a gander ... it's a joke!

No black and white film beyond BW400CN is mentioned or listed anywhere on that site and no information that goes beyond basic consumer products exists.

You need to go to the drop-down list in the upper right and select "Pro Photographer/Lab". Then select "Product Information," and you can find info on all their B&W film and chemicals. It's basically the same organization used for the US site.

I find Kodak provides a great deal of info on their products. It's not immediately obvious you need to look in the "Pro" area, but it IS there.

 

[Keith]

You need to go to the drop-down list in the upper right and select "Pro Photographer/Lab". Then select "Product Information," and you can find info on all their B&W film and chemicals. It's basically the same organization used for the US site.

I find Kodak provides a great deal of info on their products. It's not immediately obvious you need to look in the "Pro" area, but it IS there.

Damn .... I spent ages searching the Oz site cursing them every second of the way and was finding it a little hard to swallow that there appeared to be absolutely no pro product information there at all.

You've partially restored my faith ... thanks! 😀

 

[italy74]

Hi guys,

my wife called this morning to tell me I have 10 new Portra 400 rolls waiting for me at home... it's ME who can't wait 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[BillBingham2]

The Great Yellow Father learns, perhaps slowly, but he does learn.

Dino, drop a line to the manager to say thanks and offer to share your results (negatives, written view of results, opinion, etc.). Could start a great new relationship.

B2 (;->

 

[Tom A]

I have been a Kodak customer for 50+ years (after all they make Tri X) and I have always had good service from them. Used to have the kodak Pro card with a contact number in Rochester - when in doubt about filtration, bracketting, cold/hot weather shooting etc. It was one phone call and they came back with answers!
They still make Tri X and XX so I am still a customer!!!!

 

[BillBingham2]

So Tom, you started photography when you were 3 years old!! I can see why it's in your blood!

B2 (;->

 

[italy74]

Portra 400 - the 10 sample rolls are here:
1) the box is half way purple between the two existing models
2) the new side of roll is black as Ektar
3) Mine has its end of life expected for Sept. 2012.
4) A funny note I couldn't think of: is "grain" translated in German as "Korn?" (as a cereal?)

Can't wait to test it....

 

[Florian1234]

Wow, they send you 10 rolls at once 😱😱 Great!! I should email the German site, huh? 😀

 

[Ljós]

4) A funny note I couldn't think of: is "grain" translated in German as "Korn?" (as a cereal?)

Yep, when German photogs have their heated (only exception: discussions about Rodinal take place at 18 deg. Celsius ;-)) discussions about films and developers and agitation and so on, it's all about the "Korn" 🙂 It has many different meanings in German.

Greetings, Ljós

 

[RichL]

Tom A You gave me a flashback to when I was 13 and Kodak had actual Kodak stores (2 in Seattle) that carried nearly anything Kodak. With Kodak stores, Tall's camera supply and Shorey's book store in town I lived in heaven.

 

[italy74]

Almost half a roll was shot tonight while visiting a colleague who just had a baby. I might state with a reasonable certainty that tonight the first pictures with such film have been taken in Italy.

 

[Riverman]

Dino. Have you finished the roll yet? I'd be interested to hear what you think of the film.

I'm a big fan of 400NC (probably my favourite colour film in all formats and I'm stocking up on it now) but obviously will have to switch to the new Portra 400 fairly soon.

It's great that Kodak sent you some to try. I just wish Kodak had not axed their lower contrast RA4 papers. I dearly miss Supra Endura matte sheets.

 

[Jamie123]

4) A funny note I couldn't think of: is "grain" translated in German as "Korn?" (as a cereal?)

Yes, ''grain'' is ''Korn'' and the use of the word ''Korn'' in German for the most part corresponds to the use of ''grain'' in English. I.e. you can speak of a grain of salt, a grain of rice, a grainy film and also the whole grain found in some cereal (i.d. mostly granola). One exception I can think of is the English term ''wood grain'' which one would not use the word ''Korn'' for.

However, there's nothing cereal-specific in the word ''Korn'' and a native German speaker would usually not think of cereal when hearing it.