Kodak

[Boyd]

Poor Eastman Kodak, their stock is trading at $0.67/share this morning and they have been warned by the NY Stock Exchange that they could be de-listed. When I lived near Rochester in upstate NY, I knew people who worked there and it was quite an impressive place. Now it's a mere shadow of its former self and their main strategy seems to be selling off their portfolio of patents for whatever they can get.

When was the last time you bought a Kodak product? I can't even remember... it was probably a roll of film sometime back in the late 1990's. My daughter used to buy Kodak disposable cameras frequently when she was a kid. I got my first digital camera in 1997 and have never looked back. I guess this is what happens when a company can't evolve along with technology, but it still makes me sad.

 

[ecampbell]

They do sell digital cameras now, probably made in China for them.
It's amazing how a company could be at the top and then loose it. This wasn't sudden, it must be about an entrenched corporate personality unwilling to change.
Sears is going the same way. We used to buy a great deal from them, especially when they had the catalogs. They could do that with the internet if they wanted, but they just don't get it. I bought a $200+ microwave last fall. Sears had the model I wanted but they wanted $67 to deliver it, no in store pickup. Best Buy delivered it for free. I will no longer consider Sears.

Old, senile companies.

 

[Boyd]

Yeah, Sears is another one. They recently announced a large number of store closings (but none in NJ). There's one near me in the Hamilton Mall, and I've gotten several things there recently and been very happy. Got a 20" chain saw and gas powered log splitter last year. None of the other big box stores had the model I wanted. Also picked up a toaster oven that was on sale for cheap. Ironically, the reason I like to shop there is related to their problem... it's never crowded and I can get in and out a lot quicker than Home Depot or Best Buy.

When I was a kid in St. Louis back in the 1950's, my Dad was a huge fan of Sears - we bought everything there and I still have all his old Craftsman tools (along with my own). They had several huge multi-story locations in different parts of town and it was a fun weekend expedition to go shopping there. On the way, we'd stop at Howard Johnson's and I'd get a clam roll.... something else that is gone today.

 

[Gibby]

I recently bought a Kodak Zi8 pocket video recorder. A great device and has a top ten rating. The problem was, I had never heard about it. Kodak would do much better if they advertised and promoted their products more aggressive. The company has no market approach. I believe the corporation thought consumers will purchase their products because of the Kodak name. It is sad, another American company dying a slow death.

 

[bobpbx]

I've always shopped at Sears for appliances. About, what, 15 years ago, when they started strong-arm tactics for buying their service plans I backed off for awhile. If I buy a refrigerator, it damn better work for 3 years! I now just say no.

 

[RednekF350]

My first digital camera was the Kodak 5mp Easyshare. It was a great unit and withstood a lot of woods abuse.
Most of my gallery photos were taken with that camera.
It is sad to see such an American icon whither away.