OK, what IS the gimmick?

6 responses total.

"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?

This response has been erased.

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.

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.

Let us know what they find.

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. 

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