| Grex > Consumer > #47: What's the Gimmick? |
| What's the Gimmick? | 
Nov 21 07:20 UTC 1995 |
OK, what IS the gimmick?
| response 1 of 6: |
Nov 21 07:24 UTC 1995 |
"NOTICE" received today:
"35mm Vivitar Camera with Tripod and Flash Adapters
Plus Lifestime Supply of Kodak Film (Up to 100 Rolls)"
for "Total Amount Required for Immediate Delivery $ 12.75"
(Offer from Sweepstakes Clearinghouse of Texas)
So, what's the gimmick?
| response 2 of 6: |
Nov 21 12:55 UTC 1995 |
This response has been erased.
| response 3 of 6: |
Nov 21 13:36 UTC 1995 |
Valerie is right on. The "free" film will be based on exclusive processing which will cost a lot. The camera won't last 100 rolls and it will be a "focus-free" model not much advanced over the throw-aways.
| response 4 of 6: |
Nov 21 14:41 UTC 1995 |
Methinks I'll send this "Offer" to Consumers Reports, and let them check it out. It costs that much to buy a throw-away camera with flash, so what you get on this "Offer" must be much worse than a throw-away.
| response 5 of 6: |
Nov 21 21:27 UTC 1995 |
Let us know what they find.
| response 6 of 6: |
Dec 9 18:52 UTC 1995 |
There's a frequent scam involving free film. If you want your film to be processed at normal places, look for color print film to say C-41 and color slide film to say E-6 on the package. Those are the only two processes that are done regularly at many one hour labs and other places like the firms that pick up your film at local stores. Kodak's Ektachrome slide film and all black and white film can be done by many of the same outlets if you give them enough time. But if you see an ad about free film and you get negatives and/or slides in color, be suspicious. Be even more suspicious of "Seattle Film Works" or anything about how this is the same film used by movie studios (unless you've got access to a movie studio's film processing lab). This film requires special handling and you'll be locked into sending it back to the people who gave you the film to have it processed. Another thing to watch out for is when they say this film is made by Kodak but it's not in a yellow box. Movie producers don't want to run out of film in the middle of a shot, so they change film before the end of the roll. Seattle Film Works buys some of this surplus film (Feature movies are shot on film with the same width and sprocket holes as normal 35 mm film that the rest of us use for still photos.) and packages it for their scam.