Let me begin by saying that it's March and not April 1st, because what I'm about to reveal is not a joke. After 75 years of business, Calumet Photographic is closing their U.S. stores. This morning they announced through Facebook their "immediate closing in the United States".
After reading this I could barely believe it, I live in Chicago where their major headquarter is, so I picked up the phone and tried calling, but no response. I tried rentals, sales and any number I could find to make sure the information I was reading through Facebook was correct.
After getting in contact with a few assistants in the area, I discovered it was true. Nobody could get their rentals. Nobody is answering the phone. Calumet Photographic is closed. Facebook is blowing up with unanswered questions "What about my rentals?" "What about my orders?" "What about compensation for the employees?" I guess we won't know any answers to these questions until they issue a major press release or someone gets in touch with a Calumet Representative.
What do you think this means for our industry?
As commenters Frank and John Harrington point out below - Chapter 7 Bankruptcy paperwork has been filed.
No wonder they had to close their doors...
I had one experience with them when they sent me a damaged product (and they failed to fix the problem when I contacted their customer service dept several times), so this won't affect me at all, nor does it sadden me. I do hope all the workers are able to find new work quickly, though...
Calumet also just posted this. i was a bit shocked as well, as I is (was) sponsored by them. I do know Bowens was rebranding a lot of the Calumet stuff (I have 4 lights from cal, all the same, but 2 branded as bowens and 2 branded as calumet) with their own name, so perhaps they are acquiring the calumet brand, which makes sense with how prevalent they are in the UK...?
Bowens made the Calumet travelites for Calumet for the better part of 20 years. Although 2 distinct separate companies, they were owned by the same holding companies. Different management but common ownership. Then Calumet went off and started rebranding Chinese monolights from Jinhui with their Genesis units.
I'm a Chicago resident. Calumet had the best, most knowledgeable, most helpful customer service of any business I've ever dealt with anywhere. They were simply wonderful and went out of their way to do right by their customers. The Goose Island store was a home away from home and a hub of the photographic community. I rented equipment on a regular basis, bought equipment and supplies, took classes and attended meetings and events. Sometimes it was just nice to talk to all the great staff. It is a sad day for me.
Penn / Calumet has always had some of the most dedicated staff. It always amazed me that they always recognized me walking in the door, even though I only had reason to visit a few times a year on average. Quite a shame for sure.
They were pretty great. They provided rental gear for Help Portrait events in Chicago for free the last couple of years
Update: Apparently they're looking at keeping select locations open. No word on which ones though.
This is in their FB page now... "Stay tuned, as we are exploring opportunities to reopen select locations to keep serving our customers. We will post any updates here if there are any."
I wanted to order a Matthews c stand from them a couple months ago and they told me there would be a long delay. I was puzzled so I called Matthews and was told they refuse to sell to them. I guess their financial history finally caught up to them. The Calumet products I did recently purchase will of course no longer have a valid warranty.
Very sad. I wish the best for their employees and hope they are able to find good work elsewhere.
They filed for Chapter 7 Liquidation. I wrote about it- http://www.chicagonow.com/interesting-chicago/2014/03/calumet-photo-closes/ and the Chicago Tribune covered it at 10:30 am
.
also Chicago native, huge loss for the community. So sad to hear this news!
22nd Street branch in Manhattan right now
Manhattan 22nd street branch as of right now
bleeeeee shit happend :(
Not for nuthin', but there's no way in hell I'm gonna drop my rentals off next door. How do you know they just wouldn't take that stuff and claim you never dropped it off?
And, technically, being as they filed chapter 7, aren't those rentals a freebie for you to keep? Even if not, I'd just hold on to them and keep using them. They can't charge you for the extra days!
On a positive note, all the camera equipment left in their stores will be liquidated... Sounds like one hell of an auction to me.
This is really the end of an era here in Chicago . I was in the business for 30 years and worked for some of the biggest commercial studios in the city . Hopefully Calumet will take care of their employees in due time , but unfortunately it doesn't always end that way . We had some pretty solid choices of suppliers back then . The old Central Camera is still standing here in the Loop and maybe they can pick up the slack . Bummer .
So what happens to what I owe on my credit with them? If the card is closed does it look bad on my behalf for credit or on theirs?
Adapt or die. There will always be casualties in a free market.
Australian stores are the same. REFUSE to come close to pricing that we can get on B&H etc as they're imported stock.
Sorry champs but these stores are your competition in this day and age. Wake up or close up.
Nooo way!!!... Bad news for Los Angeles, Now we have to deal whit the
unfriendly people in Samy's Camera, specially the Fairfax location
I asked a manager if we would get paid next week and he said he didn't know. I just worked for slave labor
Another thing they did was only pay for our insurance up to February. Apparently any bill we have for march will not be paid. So people will get a bill with a full price without realizing that the company decided it wasn't worth their while. This on top of the fact that they never bothered to contact us til last minute. I got contacted the night they closed shows you how horrible the district manager Dustin Pearson and Gabe CEO has treated his loyal staff.
On top of this, they are busily trying to get another store going so they can start fresh without anyone they owe money to to hold them back. They basically choose chapter 7 so that they won't pay any past vendors. For them to try to create a new company and screw past workers is ridiculous. Apparently those in power want to stay in power without any morality and without any thought of the people they hurt. If you wish to believe that Calumet was somehow kind to the photography community then you are delusional.
I can go on and on. Like we haven't received any help to get our unemployment nor the paperwork confirming the end of this company. This is totally on the heads of the execs and the owner to get it to us. But apparently they are holding meetings for a new store without debt to bother helping those they threw out on the streets
Thanks Calumet
I feel sorry for you guys. I bought a new Nikon D60 at Christmas there and my husband went back to get the copy of the receipt, only to find the doors locked. Not the way to run a company.
I'm done shopping at big stores, I wouldn't be surprised Adorama disappears next. The only online camera shop that seems to know anything real about HD/motion shooting is Hot Rod Cameras, which is why I always call them first.
Really sad. I'm a NY'er..... I rented from there often and purchased my seamless there all the time. Plus, picked up various random items there all the time. Was my favorite spot. I can't stand having to go into B&H. They have EVERYTHING it's true, but it's like a circus in that place and for whatever reason, it gives me an anxiety attack everytime I go. Plus, few if anyone in B&H "knows your name!" Oh well...
I paid Calumet Cambridge MA $1,145 for an Epson Stylus.
Please, does anybody know what recourse do I have? What possible actions can I
take? Waiting until the case is closed - which takes a very long time - and
distribution of assets I will be lucky to get $100!
Please, Please, Help
Thanks a million
soacst@gmail.com
I'm curious how those of us that have credit ($1400+ in my case), get reimbursed?