RE: buying HIE through B&H

[Rolland Elliott <rolland_elliott@xxxxxxxxx>]

I'm forwarding the below message to the list so people
can get both sides of the story. Thanks to responding
to this message Henry.  It clears the air.  However, I
would like to point out that I just bought 2 rolls of
70mm HIE less than a month ago, it is deffinitely
available.  Kodak's L-9 catalog lists it under Aerial
films.
Sincerely Rolland


I am distressed that this misinformation was posted in
a public forum. First, the statement <All of their
KODAK film is grey market.> is entirely inaccurate. As
our FAQ points out:
	We advertise Kodak film in three types: 
        USAR -- made in the USA for sale in the USA.
This film includes Kodak's Proof of Purchase and
qualifies for their current frequent
buyer promotions. 
          USA -- made in the USA for sale outside the
USA. This film is identical to the USAR film in every
respect except that the package
lacksthe Proof of Purchase indicia. 
          "IMP" -- made outside the USA and imported
for us. 

At present, the HIE 135-36 in our inventory
corresponds to our "USA" type.

Second, Kodak's aged bugaboo that "grey" film bakes in
the deck of some
tramp steamer while Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre
share martinis on the aft deck is hogwash. Kodak
manages to get their pro film (made in
Rochester, NY) to Europe w/out danger, and Fuji
manages to get their pro
film to the USA from Asia. The avenues they utilize
are not restricted to them alone.

Third, do you realy for one moment think that the film
we do get from Kodak in Rochester goes from there to
here or to your local retailer under
refrigerated conditions, transported by drivers who
never park their trucks in the sunny side of the lot
when they stop for lunch? 

I hope youi will take the same effort to repair this
inaccuracy you took when you created your original
post. Thank you in advance for your
cooperation.

regards,
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com

<It takes B&H four to six weeks to ship me a roll of
70mm HIE, while it takes Unique Photo about 12 days, I
wonder why?>

	Perhaps because both
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f13/f13.shtml#4
7598 and Kodak's 1999 L-9 Professional Photographic
Catalogue indicate
that
HIE is not available in 70mm at this time.

<all I know is that within the past year, two Kodak
reps have told
me (over the phone) that Kodak will not guarantee
Kodak infrared film
sold
through B&H.>

	There may be a reason for this. Kodak asked all
dealers to sign a no
pro-"grey" film agreement about 2 years ago. Those who
signed became
part
of Kodak's "ProPassport Network." We elected not to
sign, feeling that
the
customer deserved to decide for him or herself how to
spend his or her
hard-earned dollars. When Kodak makesa roll of film in
Rochester and
can
sell it cheaper in Europe than in the USA, even
thought the cost to get
it
to Europe HAS TO make their total cost per roll
greater, the custoemr
SHOULD be asking, "Where's my money going."  Further,
when we make the
same
penny or nickle (or whatever) per roll we don't care
which you buy as
long
as you know what you're asking for and get what you
paid for. Kodak,
OTOH
does have a vested financial interest in which you
buy, so I am not
suprized that their answers would be skewed. 

<AT that point, the Kodak technician told me that B&H
is NOT an
authorized
Kodak
dealer and that they (B&H) purchase all of their Kodak
items on the
grey
market.>

	Ooohh. This would be an uncharacteristically
INACCURATE statement on
Kodak's part. We get the vast majority of our Kodak
products (except
the
"grey stuff) from Kodak USA, and you can call Alan
Niederman, our Kodak
Key
Account Manager (who operates out of Kodak's Fairlawn,
NJ offices) who
will
verify this. 

regards,
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com




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