The Kodak Vs. Collins Ink Business War Heats Up

[Anonymous]

The Kodak Vs. Collins Ink Business War Heats Up

Kodak left Collins on the hook for roughly $1.9 million in unpaid invoices
It’s probably safe to say that even the combined efforts of Godiva Chocolatier, Cornell’s Jewelers and Nicholas Sparks could not mend the schism between former business chums Eastman Kodak Co. and Ohio ink manufacturer Collins Ink Corp. Maybe there had been some sniping behind closed doors, as couples sometimes do. But the ugliness went public in 2011, when Kodak sued Collins for trying to exit out of an ink supplier agreement.

Then Kodak left Collins on the hook for roughly $1.9 million in unpaid invoices when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. And what had been a major customer/key supplier relationship between the two ended for good in May, when Collins said it finally had been able to end the decade-old contract under which it made most of the inks used in Kodak’s Versamark inkjet digital printing presses. Now post breakup, prepare for some major back-and-forth snark and sniping. Collins Ink on Friday announced a new printhead refurbishment program aimed at Versamark users. According to Collins, “Kodak’s recently announced policy, tying the prices for printhead refurbishment to the brand of ink being used, would seem to indicate Kodak’s intention to force Collins Ink out of a market it has operated in for over 20 years.

” Then Collins in its announcement to customers let loose. “Since 1995, Collins’ inks have been consistently more reliable than comparable Kodak inks.” “Kodak asserts that only Kodak can assure customers of being able to supply inks with ‘maximum performance and highest print quality.’ Kodak’s statement is factually incorrect. Kodak knows that.

Customers know that.” And then, the coup de grace – “In addition creating a program to deal with Kodak’s policy of tying inks to printheads, Collins has also been moving forward with solutions that should help alleviate customers concerns about what will happen if and when Kodak finally fails.” (emphasis added). Daaaaang.  And here I thought I had to tune into “Mob Wives: Chicago” for some hair-pulling name-calling drama. I’m popping popcorn now.

[Author]

June 26, 2012 at 10:50 AM