Local consumers' rights committee in west China's Yunnan Province received early this week complaint from several professional photographers saying that several rolls of Kodak film they bought last year show white spots after being developed at a Kodak chain store.

After careful monitoring over the developing machine and raw materials, technical experts sent by Kodak company came to the conclusion that it was the film that was the problem.

Kodak then issued a circular, announcing that it will retrieve all the problem film and compensate consumers with good-quality film. Used film can be exchanged for four new ones according to the usual routine, the circular said.

However, consumers refused to accept the offer, arguing that their loss can be hardly be compensated by having four new rolls of film.

Officials at Kodak's Chengdu office responded saying that nobody can assure that Kodak film will always be in good quality although it is a first-class brand. Further consultation is needed to meet out satisfactory results, he said.

(Xinhua 03/08/2001)