What I don't see: advertisement/marketing for film

[charjohncarter]

When the sale of film was a viable, profitable business, Kodak, Agfa, GAF, Fuji, Konica and others used to advertise in big spreads in all the photo magazines and many others.

Those days are long past. My local photofinisher tells me that D&P (develop and print) sales are down to less the 5% of what they were 5 years ago. His photofinishing business is now almost completely digital. Film is barely cost recovery for most dealers nowadays. There's little value in advertising except in niche markets.

My Costco, which doesn't advertise much (or any Costco), has been turning out horribly dust encrusted film. When I complained, they said, 'we can't get the air filters (Noritsu) any more,' and they do plenty of of disposable rolls. They are, I guess, just giving up. I would go anywhere for my color development. As Costco doesn't do 120, I went to Walmart which, they say, they send to Fuji America, and it is really no better. But at least with the larger negative it is easier to fix. I hate to do my own color development, but I will; just for dust control.