Fujifilm price increases

[colyn]

Supposedly from Fuji...

http://photorumors.com/2015/07/11/a...hic-film-some-products-will-get-discontinued/

 

[f16sunshine]

The notice is confusing. Does it look like acros is being cut.... Price cut?
I'm looking on my mobile.

 

[sevo]

The notice is confusing. Does it look like acros is being cut.... Price cut?

"CUT" is in the film size column. It obviously is a bad translation for "sheet film".

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Confusing to say the least. Reading the news on a smart phone with it's limitations i first thought that Acros in 135 and 120 had been cut and almost panicked and was getting ready to stock up. I hope it will be around for a few more years.

 

[f16sunshine]

I just sold over 300 rolls of acros because it was expired or expiring soon ($3-$3.50 per roll like a fool!).
When I saw that cut I just about lost it 😛
Love the across... I hope they never give up on it!

steering. by Adnan, on Flickr

 

[zuiko85]

Looks like a classic 'death spiral'.
Demand decreases so that production volume must decrease.
This leads to higher prices per unit that causes customers to shift to alternative supply.
This further limits demand with more production cuts which increases unit prices again and so it continues until there is no longer enough demand to continue production on any scale.
End of story.......

 

[zuiko85]

Come to think of it this might not be the "End of story..."
Because. If company 'A' goes into death spiral then company 'B' could become the 'alternative supply' with a product that, if not identical, is a good enough substitute. Therefore company 'A's death spiral could enable company 'B' to increase sales and at least save the product line from extinction.

 

[goamules]

There is no company B for color film.

 

[zuiko85]

There is no company B for color film.

Forgive me my black and white brain. I sometimes forget there are still color negative and color slide shooters.

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

Me too, I use mostly use black and white films, and I don't use digital for colour like many. Fujifilm died in my heart the day they discontinued the Neopan 1600.

Sorry to hear the bad news to whom it matters. As to my needs, colour print films and slide films are totally substitute goods. If both Kodak and Fuji stop making colour films, someone else will. It is the beauty of capitalism.

 

[colyn]

I doubt Fuji is going under. As with everything price goes up when the economy makes the slightest change..

 

[Bisakok]

Here's hoping that Film Ferrania is "Company B" for color film.

 

[zuiko85]

I doubt Fuji is going under. As with everything price goes up when the economy makes the slightest change..

When I mentioned death spiral I was only thinking about their film division. Their company profit margins would probably improve if they finally decided to quit film. Interestingly I believe their instant film sales are robust and doing well. So it is not all doom and gloom for their film division.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Photo film accounts for about 2% of Fujifilm's business now as I remember from reading their detailed stockholder information. Fujifilm is a very profitable company. If the tiny division that makes photo film ceases to be profitable, it will be closed so the company will remain very profitable.

Regarding letters encouraging them to support film manufacture, please remember their sole business objective is to create long term economic return for their stockholders. Keeping film users happy is simply not a part of their objectives. So total sales of a particular film, and the resultant profitability, is the only thing that determines if a film stays in production.

 

[bence8810]

Regarding letters encouraging them to support film manufacture, please remember their sole business objective is to create long term economic return for their stockholders. Keeping film users happy is simply not a part of their objectives. So total sales of a particular film, and the resultant profitability, is the only thing that determines if a film stays in production.

As much as what you say sounds reasonable, I hope you are wrong!

 

[jonmanjiro]

Photo film accounts for about 2% of Fujifilm's business now as I remember from reading their detailed stockholder information.

Your memory is quite accurate. In FY2011, photographic film sales (that thin sliver in the green part of the pie on the right) accounted for just 1% of total sales. Down from 19% of total sales in 2001! I assume that this number has continued to decline in the ensuing four years.

Source of the graph is here.

 

[skibeerr]

Well I quit smoking four months ago which leaves me with au $80 a week for film, chemicals and paper.

She'll be right mate.

 

[shadowfox]

Your memory is quite accurate. In FY2011, photographic film sales (that thin sliver in the green part of the pie on the right) accounted for just 1% of total sales. Down from 19% of total sales in 2001! I assume that this number has continued to decline in the ensuing four years.

Source of the graph is here.

Fuji, just like Kodak, has to downsize their film manufacturing facility *if* they chose to continue making it. Because Fuji is different than Kodak, I hope they already make some adjustments to this effect.

I imagine downsizing at that scale would be a costly venture that would only pass through shareholder meetings if they perceive that Fuji -- film division -- can still make a small but sustainable profit in the years to come. Not only that, there has to be also a common enough "For the love of film" persuasion (or vibe) within the company for this to happen at all.

It's heartbreaking for those of us who appreciate film photography. I just hope that we don't rob future generations from this wonderful part of photography history.

 

[Keith]

No worries .... when all their cheap nasty little digital cameras fail in the market the tech department will be beating at the door of the film division, begging to be let back in! 😀

 

[nongfuspring]

Sucks that Fuji seems to be pricing themselves out of the market, but hopefully smaller companies like Foma, Ilford and Ferrania that are more committed to film will benefit from the extra customers. Bit sad about the Acros though, I think I'll be switching to Foma (which is half the price as it is).