Fuji film price hike in the offing

[brbo]

Maybe they will announce that the March sales were so good, they don't need to raise the price.

Or there will be so little film left at Fuji that they will raise prices much more (they said 30% was MINIMUM increase) to get even more money from die-hard film fans...

Let's wait and see.

 

[css9450]

Because they know that Instax is used by people to have fun, goof around. They will lose interest in a hurry if prices of Instax are raised.

I'm already of the opinion that Instax is one of the more expensive formats. Well, maybe its not, because you don't have to send it in for processing, but its price has kept me away from it, even just to try it as a novelty.

 

[Rob-F]

Well, this is bound to help Ektachrome sales, then, if you can't get Velvia or Provia. Good for Kodak. I do prefer the Fuji colors, though.

 

[Ted Striker]

I'm already of the opinion that Instax is one of the more expensive formats. Well, maybe its not, because you don't have to send it in for processing, but its price has kept me away from it, even just to try it as a novelty.

Both my kids have INSTAX cameras. They love shooting film.

 

[brbo]

Well, this is bound to help Ektachrome sales, then, if you can't get Velvia or Provia. Good for Kodak. I do prefer the Fuji colors, though.

I'm afraid Kodak might adjust its prices to match Fuji. Or be just a bit bellow (Kodak needs to sell film, Fuji doesn't).

 

[willie_901]

What's all this talk about low demand?

Don't people regularly post about non-Instax analog photography growing at exponential rates?

 

[Ted Striker]

I'm afraid Kodak might adjust its prices to match Fuji. Or be just a bit bellow (Kodak needs to sell film, Fuji doesn't).

It would have been nice to attach film's future to a stable healthy company like Fujifilm. That would have been for the best. However, Fujifilm does not have much commitment to film and is clearly heading for the exits. That leaves Kodak for color and E6 film. It's hard to imagine a more unstable company (CEO just left after he sold of the most profitable part of the company), but that's what we have.

 

[jawarden]

What's all this talk about low demand?

Don't people regularly post about non-Instax analog photography growing at exponential rates?

Exponential? I don't know who's saying that. All I've read from manufacturers and fans alike are modest gains after hitting the painful bottom. In Kodak's case the lifeline of new interest is sufficient to reintroduce discontinued products and invest in quality marketing, but not enough for similar news from Fuji, who could be forgiven for wishing to focus on other areas of their business.

When people talk about low demand they're almost always looking to the past for a comparison rather than looking to the future. The correction that happened with digital cams and phones is still happening and the market has no choice but to right-size. Small players like Ferrania might be well suited to the future of film because their cost to produce film is matched to a smaller facility and smaller workforce that produces less product. (Perhaps the right amount of product, but I don't know.)

Fuji and Kodak have a more complex puzzle to solve due to existing facilities and a workforce designed to produce far more volume than is likely to be needed in the future. (Just my opinion.) That can work for a while but when those facilities need upkeep it can be an expensive dealbreaker. I'm hoping the challenges can be met by Fuji and Kodak because it would be a shame to lose all that history and talent those companies hold.

 

[Uncle Bill]

I'm going to be the contrarian, I think Fujifilm is managing their exit strategy with their film business. Fujifilm Canada no longer lists or carries traditional film stocks in their distribution centre. There is speculation out there that Fujifilm is cruising on master rolls kept in cold storage and have not been making traditional film for some years now.

With the re-introduction of Ektachrome in 35mm and later on 120, I don't really have a reason to buy Fujifilm products and I'm spoiled for choice when it comes to black and white films and I would rather support film manufacturers who in turn support and engage with the film photography community.

 

[roscoetuff]

"Ted" is close to right, but it's not cost that's driving Fuji so much as desire to kill off the market and profit on its shrinking size the same way cigarette manufacturers did. This is the reverse of product introduction where you cut prices as the market increases. Here, they just ride the curve back up and allow higher prices to shrink demand. It works and it is very profitable, but that doesn't change the objective of exiting this end of the film business.

 

[dourbalistar]

Aargh.......

You can groan and Pan F you want, but like the OP said, it's not time for braying like wounded donkeys. We have T-MAXimize and stock up before prices increase!

 

[jawarden]

I'm going to be the contrarian, I think Fujifilm is managing their exit strategy with their film business.

I don't think that's all that contrarian - lots of folks think Fuji is on the way out and Fuji has given plenty of reasons to suspect as much.

Kodak claims they worked on the efficiency of their production line so they could reintroduce Ektachrome (for instance) profitably, and I imagine that took some investment and creativity on their part. If Fuji isn't interested in investing in their lines and if Kodak doesn't follow their pricing lead I don't know how Fuji will be able to continue selling the newly expensive Provia in April. I would think their volume would go through the floor. We'll see.

 

[dourbalistar]

It's hard to peel apart Fujifilm's intentions. We'll just have to Washi and see. If they exit the film business, Fujifilm users may have to Kodak to the drawing board.

 

[maigo]

Fuji film price hike in the offing

If you are waiting for Fujifilm to develop new film products you should stop and fix your mind on a new supplier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dourbalistar]

We can't dwell on the negative. Maybe Fujifilm will stop the downward slide. We can't count on corporate transparency, but if we are Lucky, there will be a reversal.

 

[pyeh]

Fuji-sus sake, will you stop it already!

 

[dourbalistar]

Fuji-sus sake, will you stop it already!

Haha, good one, I'm Rollei on the floor laughing! Though, come April 1st, I'm afraid the joke will be on us.

 

[Rob-F]

Well, I think Fuji's plan is an Aberration, and a Distortion of proper marketing. They are Exposing themselves to criticism, and their thinking is Underdeveloped. I think they should Rewind. If they keep this up, they will only sprocket themselves.

 

[DanskDynamit]

its time to stock up... Kodak and Ilford films. **** fuji.

 

[Rayt]

Japan is the hardest country in the world to fire employees. Companies can’t lay off people just because a particular unit is unprofitable. So decisions need to be long term because once a company is committed to say another run of a particular product line it needs to ensure its capacities are fully utilised. And people’s jobs can’t be legally liquidated like other assets such as production lines or raw materials. HR is a factor in any business decision.