How dependent on the internet is your continued use of film?

[jky]

Voted "most", but really 100% dependent online now. At nearly double the price, I'd be foolish to buy locally (even after including shipping and duty fees).

Edit: I'm referring to 120s

 

[shimokita]

None was not an option of the survey...

Just did a quick ( very quick ) check and seems that for the film I mostly use it's about 4 yen ( USD 0.04 ) more expensive per roll if I shop online. With Yodobashi about 30 minute walk from home it doesn't make much sense to shop online for film at this point.

Remote flash triggers ( RX/RX ) were about 3.5 times less expensive in the US ( for the brand that I wanted ), so I ordered online for delivery to a friend in the US and picked it up on a recent trip. Shipping from overseas is way too expensive, and I still make the trip every couple of years. Don't get me started about software...

Local retail ( discount shop ) for film works for me.
_____________

Edit: From Yodobashi's web-site a few minutes ago...

コダック Kodak トライ-X400（TX） 135-100フィート ￥7,180 (718ポイント)

So the effective price is for TRI-X 400 35mm x 100 ft is Yen 6,462 or about USD 65.00
_____________

Casey

 

[Keith]

And an update, want to get it from Freestyle or Adorama? Still cheaper here. I'm getting pretty sick of this "its so much cheaper online" garbage. It sounds like you're just lazy or somehow feel like the camera salespeople are beneath you (not directed at anyone in particular btw)

Michael

You seem to be basing your argument around this one example from one supplier!

 

[michaelwj]

You seem to be basing your argument around this one example from one supplier!

Hey Keith,

The three common ones online, B&H, Freestyle, Adorama (over two posts, sorry), and of course only my one local shop (which was the subject of the outrageous prices). Vanbar beats all the usual online suspects.

Don't get me wrong though, there are plenty of reasons to buy online (others have mentioned better range etc...), but in this case, its not the price if you're buying Tri-X from Vanbar is all I'm saying. AND... prices going up by 10%, the A$ just fell by 10%.

btw, I don't work at Vanbar, or in the industry, but I did work in the bicycle industry and saw (lots of) people getting duped buying things online that they thought were cheaper, only to find we sold it for the same price in store.

Michael

 

[skibeerr]

And an update, want to get it from Freestyle or Adorama? Still cheaper here. I'm getting pretty sick of this "its so much cheaper online" garbage. It sounds like you're just lazy or somehow feel like the camera salespeople are beneath you (not directed at anyone in particular btw)

Michael

Yes I realise $70 is cheap, that's why I went there. The Kodak bulk film is the only thing that is cheaper and short dated, maybe that's the reason.

Want to compare Ilford mg 8x10, 100 sheets= $133 in oz , $90 in Europe.
Adonal 500ml $21, $11 in Europe

It is the lack of realism at the wholesale level that is killing retail, not the customer.
Read this thread, do the numbers. These guys are all serious film consumers and they all choose with their feet.

and btw I am not above salespeople, I am one myself in a butcher shop and we work hard to keep our customers. We fight Woolies and Coles with quality and service. We actually give an added value.
But then we do not have a monopoly.

 

[Gareth Rees]

I would buy film locally but there isn't a camera shop very near. So all my film comes from on-line suppliers, and I must say the service is excellent.

 

[Keith]

Hey Keith,

The three common ones online, B&H, Freestyle, Adorama (over two posts, sorry), and of course only my one local shop (which was the subject of the outrageous prices). Vanbar beats all the usual online suspects.

Don't get me wrong though, there are plenty of reasons to buy online (others have mentioned better range etc...), but in this case, its not the price if you're buying Tri-X from Vanbar is all I'm saying. AND... prices going up by 10%, the A$ just fell by 10%.

btw, I don't work at Vanbar, or in the industry, but I did work in the bicycle industry and saw (lots of) people getting duped buying things online that they thought were cheaper, only to find we sold it for the same price in store.

Michael

I never thought you worked at Vanbar ... I'd be hitting you up for a discount if I did. 😀

Vanbar are a good company and I've bought a few things from them and found them good to deal with. I just catch my breath when I see HP5 at thirteen dollars and Provia at twenty four dollars per roll ... that I just don't get! (Photo Continental prices)

 

[Rayt]

I buy a lot of film from B&H but never on purpose. Say I need a B+W Series 7 yellow filter but none is available here in Hong Kong so I buy it online from B&H. The shipping for this $60 filter is $50, so I fill up the order with TMax and Tri-X to get that $50 shipping's worth.

 

[skibeerr]

I never thought you worked at Vanbar ... I'd be hitting you up for a discount if I did. 😀

Vanbar are a good company and I've bought a few things from them and found them good to deal with. I just catch my breath when I see HP5 at thirteen dollars and Provia at twenty four dollars per roll ... that I just don't get! (Photo Continental prices)

I don't want to single out Vanbar I drive to Fitzroy instead of walking to Michaels.
I would pay a reasonable surplus at a local store, we are at the other end of the world, and talk to real people who care and advise; and buy meat 😀

On the other hand think of all the poor casuals who will lose their job if the distribution/postal sector collapses.

 

[michaelwj]

We are getting a little off track here, but I think its up to the distribution ultimately. Why is Delta 400 over A$100, when TMAX400 is A$75? Overseas (USA) its almost the inverse? I'm pretty sure the retail store isn't saying "hey, we can sting those Ilford users another $30!".

With expiration dates, at least you check when you're in store and make a decision.

On topic, I (obviously) voted "not much" for film. If it was a different item, I might go the other way.

Skibeerr, where is you're butcher? I've been looking for a good butcher in Melbourne? They're hard to find!

Michael

 

[skibeerr]

We are getting a little off track here, but I think its up to the distribution ultimately. Why is Delta 400 over A$100, when TMAX400 is A$75? Overseas (USA) its almost the inverse? I'm pretty sure the retail store isn't saying "hey, we can sting those Ilford users another $30!".

With expiration dates, at least you check when you're in store and make a decision.

On topic, I (obviously) voted "not much" for film. If it was a different item, I might go the other way.

Skibeerr, where is you're butcher? I've been looking for a good butcher in Melbourne? They're hard to find!

Michael

Just a sec mate, i'm adjusting the prices 😀

Old Italian shop in Altona North.

 

[Rodchenko]

I buy most film online, since camera shops are pretty much wiped out in the UK. I work not far from the Strand, where there are (I think) just two left of the loads I used to visit. Of course, I don't get a chance to get to these shops during work time. Nor (usually) do I get to Silverprint, but I did pop in on Friday on my way back from banking some cheques for work. I would like to support them whenever I can.

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/

 

[helen.HH]

You took the words right out of my brain! Sorceress!

Hehehe...😀

 

[michaelwj]

Just a sec mate, i'm adjusting the prices 😀

Old Italian shop in Altona North.

Whats your website so I can buy online😀

 

[jsrockit]

I don't buy anymore. My friends give me some when I need it, since I only do a couple of rolls a year.

 

[ReeRay]

I voted most of it but in reality it's all of it. I'm also very lucky living here in Thailand as one of the biggest film suppliers on eBay (films-festival) is based here in Bangkok. A phone call to establish prices and availability and it's with me in 2 days. it's this ease of purchase and his competitive pricing that keeps me using film.

 

[rbsinto]

Right now, I don't buy film because I have several hundred rolls of various colour slide films courtesy of my now-digital Photobuds.
"Here Robert. I was cleaning out the freezer and found this brick of_______ and you're the only person I know still shooting film, so here ya go."
One hundred (+/-) members in my club and I'm the only film shooter left.
They even added "Digital" to the name of the club. Ugh!
I suppose at some point I'll have to go on-line to get film from Adorama or B&H, because the availability of slide film here in Toronto has been greatly diminished in the last year or so, but for now, I'm OK.

 

[meso]

I buy mostly online, only times I buy in my local store is if I need the film ASAP, but at a premium price.

 

[peter_n]

I've been buying exclusively online for many years. I still have a huge stash of APX 100 both in bulk and cassette and a good supply of Rodinal. I mostly buy from Freestyle (they sell Adox CMS II in 120 size!) and sometimes from B&H (last purchase was Acros 100 also in 120). I live within walking distance of Fenway Park but you can't buy decent film downtown any more. Also my dealer EP Levine moved from the city center to the 'burbs years ago and they don't sell film any more either. The last time I was actually in that store was to buy an MP3 and they're still selling film Leicas but not film. Weird.

 

[k__43]

Having one of Germany's best film shops in the city I could live w/o buying from internet sources. I still do shop online tho (for some specialties and discontinued films)