Kodalux: a modest proposal

[P3D <VOLCHECK@xxxxxxx>]

Photo-3D Folks,

I'm rather concerned to hear about the recent problems with Kodalux in
Dallas.  Part of the reason I made the leap from a Loreo to a Kodak Stereo,
as a newbie, were the good reports of Kodalux service.  These reports
were on the Photo-3D list in July.  At that time, there was discussion
about how Qualex was changing to Kodalux as part of a Kodak buy-back to
improve quality of service.  I think we can guess that some of the
experienced Realist format mounters got reassigned or left Dallas, or
that the organization and/or training degraded to the point where stereo 
slides are no longer being handled by trained people.  In mid-August,
I contacted Kodalux Dallas on two separate days to ask whether they
handled Realist format slides and was told the first day that they do
no stereo.  The second day I was told they only do half-frame format but
not Realist.  This to me is evidence of a lack of knowledge about stereo
processing by a typical supervisor.  

Yesterday I talked to Dalia Miller about the Kodalux situation.  She had
just started catching up with the photo-3D list after a hiatus due to
computer trouble.  She saw Paul Talbot's note and told me she was planning
to contact some supervisors at Kodalux Dallas to establish a point of
contact for stereophotography questions and service concerns.   

Folks, let's get Kodalux Dallas to notice us!  Please consider sending
a roll to the Dallas facility for developing.  I suspect there are only
a handful of people sending them stereo film on a regular basis.  If we
can double that, then Dalia will get a receptive ear when she talks to
management there.  If management gets too many complaints about bad
service, they will start to assign people specifically to stereo
processing.  That will benefit us all, particularly newbies like
myself.  I don't think I'll find time to mount slides by hand ever.
And if you want to sell stereophotography to an amateur, it has
to sound easy.  I propose this action item:

ACTION: All photo-3D subscribers who shoot Realist format slides, even 
experienced mounters, should send a (sacrificial) roll to be developed 
and mounted at Kodalux Dallas.  If you have problems, even minor ones,
you should call to complain politely, get the name of the supervisor
you talk to, and report to the list.  We should agree on a rough
window, say mid-October, for this campaign to take place.

What do you all think?


					--Emil Volcheck


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