Buying film in the UK

I'm scared to use 7dayshop, haha - My local jessops only carries a few ilfords though.

I have been very interested in the films shown on silverprint recommended by hans. I really want to try some of the more unusual black and white stuff, just as a treat. Will be checking out the rest of the links after this has been posted.
 
I'm scared to use 7dayshop, haha
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Why not try them once and see? Kuvvy seems to be the only person who has had a real problem. If you want film urgently and can't afford the possibility of a delay if it isn't in stock, you don't go to the cheapest supplier you can find. And they don't charge extra postage for split orders - if that happened to sweathog then it should have been queried (In fact, are they allowed to charge your card again without your permission?)

My local jessops only carries a few ilfords though.
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If you really like Jessops, you can get all the film you want from them online - you can usually even order online for pickup at a local store. But they're not cheap.
 
I bought a pack of 10 rolls of xp2 from www.retrophotographic.com, along with some adox CHM, panF and fomapan for experimentation. They were great, email communication was good - a bonus for me was I could pay by cheque.

This is my fiirst experience of xp2, I just got 2 rolls of it back and I must say from first impressions - I flipping love it. (rated 300 [I think] on the yashica35cc)

I must also reccomend for excellent C41 development and scanning to cd - www.photoexpress.co.uk
I posted 6 rolls total to them on monday, got them back wednesday morning, and they did an outstanding job. This was the second batch which they have developed for me, and I've been impressed equally in both instances. Praise is due.
 
Have also had real problems with 7DayShop - a Canon lens that arrived faulty. Took 6 months and the threat of the small claims court to get money back.

Having said that, I still use them because they're very cheap and lightning fast. You just have to accept that when they're good, they're very good, but when it goes wrong you'll have a fight to get it put right.

BTW, never trust their developing service...

Cheers
J
 
Have used 7dayshop for years without problems, but only for buying film (prices unbeatable) or for E6 processing (quality very good). The delay of a week or so is a small irritation but tolerable if like me you never require an urgent return...

Have also been impressed with the services offered by Silverprint and Retrophotographic; but they can't compete with 7dayshop on film prices.

Regards,
D.O'K.
 
jamiewakeham said:
Having said that, I still use them because they're very cheap and lightning fast. You just have to accept that when they're good, they're very good, but when it goes wrong you'll have a fight to get it put right.
J
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You're right Jamie, when theyr'e good they're very good. As I said I've used them years and had no problems. In fact I've been recommending them to everyone for years too.
My last order was placed about a month before I needed it. plenty of time to send it I would have thought. The fact that my account shows 'payment required' means something was not right. Whether their fault or something to do with my credit card I don't know. But the fact is they never replied to e-mails I sent via their site.
It was only when i had trouble contacting them that I searched for a phone number on the net and found a number of disgruntled customers. Seems to be the after sales service that is poor.
 
Just to add that I've just used Silverprint for the first time and bought a load of processing gear (gonna start doin my own B&W) and they were very quick and efficient.
 
D.O'K. said:
Have used 7dayshop for years without problems, but only for buying film (prices unbeatable) or for E6 processing (quality very good). The delay of a week or so is a small irritation but tolerable if like me you never require an urgent return...

Have also been impressed with the services offered by Silverprint and Retrophotographic; but they can't compete with 7dayshop on film prices.

Regards,
D.O'K.
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Retrophotograpics' prices are pretty darned good and for some items they're as good as 7day's (and their postage will be faster). I'll probably be getting some 120 HP5 from Retro when I'm back in UK. They charge £15.50 for 10 rolls which is exactly the same as 7day and their postage is only £0.05 more.

Matthew
 
D.O'K. said:
Have also been impressed with the services offered by Silverprint and Retrophotographic; but they can't compete with 7dayshop on film prices.
.
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As with many things it can depend on what and how you purchase, for example 10 rolls of 135-36 FP4 are £24.56 from Silverprint and £21.50 from 7dayshop. If you add on the £3.95 postage from 7dayshop then Silverprint works out cheaper if you can pick up the films directly from their shop - a short walk from Southwark tube or Waterloo East.
 
The places I tend to use are:

7 Day Shop - used them since they started trading and haven't had any problems. Hard to better on price.
Silverprint - I use them a lot for chemistry and sometimes it's as cheap to drop some film into the order as it would be to get it elsewhere.
Retro Photographic - great selection of less common films.
First Call Photographic - outstanding customer service and very, very fast. They're also one of the few places that I can get everything I use (except ADOX films) in one place. They also carry the Ilford Pan films if you're looking for cheapness.
Process Supplies - slightly more limited stock, but really fast delivery and some good offers come up from time to time.

It's great really that we've got as many options as we do when it comes to buying film products. Long may it continue.
 
Right, thank you very much to everyone and anyone who replied in this thread!

I will now proceed to waste all my money, every penny, on film.

If you never see me again its because i'm busy shooting my freezerful of film (no, i'm not sharing it)
 
You've clearly not heard of leeching off family members for money, you must not be a real artist - real artists leech beer off other people all the time!
 
Cat Face said:
You've clearly not heard of leeching off family members for money, you must not be a real artist - real artists leech beer off other people all the time!
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Next time I'm in Birmingham I want a beer!

And seriously, where is this mysterious place in Aldgate East? Are RFF'rs going to have to team up and scour the edge of the City of London in search of this source of cheap and local film or is someone going to be kind enough to tell us?

Please please pretty please!
 
Next time you're in birmingham you want a what? sorry.. I keep my wallet in my other rangefinder forum..

76 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 7QX
United Kingdom

That seems to be their address, if i'm not going mad!

If you do go, please tell me about this mystical place that only wintoid can get to is like (I bet he just walks through a wardrobe and there he is)
 
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