Heads up - Ilford increasing prices worldwide from 11th May

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CharlesDAMorgan

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Just seen this on Emulsive.

Frankly not a problem for me as they've been pretty sensibly priced for some time and it's hardly Fuji / Kodak breathtaking.

Some gossip - I heard it from a birdie but Ilford is running low on stock and may well re-open the factory soon from its Covid 19 shutdown. Film shooters continue to order it at a rate they hadn't quite anticipated.
 
Up to 15% according to the article.
There’s a risk that the younger analogue users will say enough is enough and take to digital, and or shoot less film. What then? Raise prices even more until it forces more and more out of film photography?
I’m hoping Fomapan will hold their prices, and if so I’ll shift my allegiance. In this troubled time financially with a recession on the way, or possibly a full on depression, it can’t be a sound strategy to raise prices. They could kill it through greed.
 
Ricoh said:
Up to 15% according to the article.
There’s a risk that the younger analogue users will say enough is enough and take to digital, and or shoot less film. What then? Raise prices even more until it forces more and more out of film photography?
I’m hoping Fomapan will hold their prices, and if so I’ll shift my allegiance. In this troubled time financially with a recession on the way, or possibly a full on depression, it can’t be a sound strategy to raise prices. They could kill it through greed.
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So what's Ilford supposed to do, lose money on every product they sell? They make excellent products and sell them at reasonable prices relative to their competitors. In addition, they provide tons of technical information and content to their customers via their web page, YouTube channel, and social media, and are great ambassadors for film photography. We should support them.
 
Should point out it's not 15% across the board according to that article.

6-10% on it's single roll films is perfectly fine for me and not going to stop me shooting HP5 or Delta 400.
It's hardly Kodak whacking 30% on top of the already expensive Portra 400
 
Probably enough to keep me shooting Tri-X, though I've had half a mind to switch to HP5. I won't complain paying a bit more for Ilford chemicals and paper--as Alfano said above, they seem invested in analogue and do a lot (more than Kodak) to support and build the community. At least to my eye.
 
Ricoh said:
Up to 15% according to the article.
There’s a risk that the younger analogue users will say enough is enough and take to digital, and or shoot less film. What then? Raise prices even more until it forces more and more out of film photography?
I’m hoping Fomapan will hold their prices, and if so I’ll shift my allegiance. In this troubled time financially with a recession on the way, or possibly a full on depression, it can’t be a sound strategy to raise prices. They could kill it through greed.
Click to expand...
Exactly...

Not only younger. The greed will kill the greeders. Young and else will just use film as something fancy, not as working media. One roll per month, instead of dozen.
 
AAlfano said:
So what's Ilford supposed to do, lose money on every product they sell? They make excellent products and sell them at reasonable prices relative to their competitors. In addition, they provide tons of technical information and content to their customers via their web page, Youtube channel, and social media, and are great ambassadors for film photography. We should support them.
Click to expand...

Ilford has prices increase way to often and for way to high over last few years.
Looks like greed, not loosing money.
Kodak increasing prices due to over-bloated management and else not related to production chain as well.
 
Thanks for the post Charles .
I use Ilford products and ,until they recently shut down ,their processing and printing too.

I`m sure they regretted having to do this but equally sure that it will impact on sales too .

A niche product just became more niche .
 
Prior to the massive increase in Portra prices my local dealer was on back order for weeks before any came through. Since the change in price it sells out, just a little more slowly.

I very much doubt this will cause the end of the analogue revival!

Posted just in case anyone wanted to do a preemptive raid.
 
Fine for me. I will continue to support them. They have great products that I will continue to purchase as long as the pricing remains reasonable. I just hope they limit the price hike on the Kentmere and bulk rolls that students are likely to use.
 
Ilford will have my continued support. As with all price hikes, there will be someone somewhere discounting. Seek out the cheapest supplier. With me it is about materials I like and moreover trust.
 
"So what's Ilford supposed to do, lose money on every product they sell? "

"Ilford has prices increase way to often and for way to high over last few years.
Looks like greed, not loosing money.
Kodak increasing prices due to over-bloated management and else not related to production chain as well."

"Up to 15% according to the article.
There’s a risk that the younger analogue users will say enough is enough and take to digital, and or shoot less film. What then? Raise prices even more until it forces more and more out of film photography?
I’m hoping Fomapan will hold their prices, and if so I’ll shift my allegiance. In this troubled time financially with a recession on the way, or possibly a full on depression, it can’t be a sound strategy to raise prices. They could kill it through greed."

It's interesting to me how the pitch of voices rise when the topic of price increases comes up. Typically it's about consumables; film, paper. Rarely do you hear so much heat with regard to much-loved hardware. This coming from a forum where the possession of multiple cameras (used or unused) is the rule rather than the exception. In this case all over (as an example) a roll of 120 film that costs about as much as a Starb*cks coffee.

I don't shoot X-ray film in LF, and i avoid using film from makers whose film QC gives questionable results. There's still plenty of choice out there. I do question though, if costs increases can always be assumed to be caused by greed.
 
Deardorff38 said:
[...]In this case all over (as an example) a roll of 120 film that costs about as much as a Starb*cks coffee. [...]
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I dunno if that's great comparison. I think most serious film users aren't the Starbucks clientele. We think "hell no, that's a roll of film! Off to to independent coffee shop that I want to support anyway..."

I wish I'd known about this a week ago, would have ordered a bit more. Now it's a wash, pay for shipping again or pay the higher prices in the future...

Btw, paper is supposedly not affected!
 
Ko.Fe. said:
I'm not this rich or stupid to pay for overpriced, nothing special Starbucks.
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KF That was just used as an example. Do we howl when the cost of beer or vodka goes up 15%? How much does the price of gas go up (except recently) ? & do we stop driving? Why the big outrage at a 15% increase in price?
 
Hardly surprising. The dearth of competition and low volume (compared to the heyday of film) conspire to drive prices higher. However higher prices can result in a ‘death spiral’ , so that, each price increase causes more photographers to either give up film or cut consumption, which reduces sales, which impacts volume and the economies of scale which causes a price increase to continue profitability......and so it goes.

Just now finally have a working 6x9 and, checking 120 roll film prices I see that, for many types of B&W prices are nearly $1 per shot or even more. Equal to or even exceeding 4x5 per shot.
 
Zuiko, Ilford FP4 (4x5)is now $179/100. Ilford FP4 on 6x9 works out to 0.79/ frame So not really equal to or exceeding.
 
I probably didn`t make it clear in my previous post but the increase will not affect my usage .
I like the product and can afford to pay the increased cost .
I just worry that the increase might be significant for other users .
 
Deardorff38 said:
KF That was just used as an example. Do we howl when the cost of beer or vodka goes up 15%? How much does the price of gas go up (except recently) ? & do we stop driving? Why the big outrage at a 15% increase in price?
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, I largely stopped driving right before the prices dropped. The last time I filled up my car it was early March. So when I do rarely drive, it is still with the old highly priced fuel. On the other hand, by not driving I am saving enough to pay for some more expensive film. Sign of the times?
 
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