interesting snippets from the Freestyle Photo "industry snapshot"

[Mcary]

Use to buy a good amount of film from Freestyle back when I was shooting 35mm as I really liked their AP100, AP400, LegacyPro 100 and 400 films. Not so much any more as FS prices on Tri-X, Across100, HP5+, FP4+ and PanF+ in 120 seem to be an extra.40-$1.00 a roll then Adorama.

 

[mfunnell]

Someones angry...

Yes, I guess I was, and a little over the top. But I'd just spent much of the day trying to disengangle a visa-extension mess someone had got himself into because he didn't seem to fully understand that Australia has immigration laws and, really, no-kidding, they apply to him. My frustration spilled over a bit.

...Mike

 

[Rayt]

mfunnell,

i am surprised you had problems with ordering with fs.

we did a mass sale in Oct /Nov 2011, around 2k+ with 300-400 usd of frieght charges to singapore with no issues.

of coss, they had to assign a sales person specifically to handle my order.

raytoei

I am in HK and usually buys about US$1000 at a time to better spread out the over $100 shipping charge. One time I ordered a Digilux 3 and the manager (Marv) emailed me saying he has to cancel the order due to potential fraud. I replied I had up to now spend nearly $4000 on film purchases with his company. He replied that people don't usually buy film to resell under a hacked account but would do so with digital cameras. He went ahead and processed a huge film order for me anyway. I was left scratching my head but I am no Mr. Spock.

 

[35mmdelux]

I've seen enough of these items languish in the classifieds when someone int'l is willing to buy at the asked for price, that it baffles me why the seller doesn't reconsider.

One word: fraud. I used to sell abroad until I got taken by a thief. now I just sell here in the good ole USA AND I don't have to fart around with the customs forms. In country sales are far less hassle.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

Film sales increased for Kodak by 20%......not necessarily profits from the film group.

All they are saying is for the period they sold more film.

 

[R.MacDonald]

Placed my first order from Freestyle this week. They were charging $3.79 for a roll of Tri-X 120; while B&H as of two weeks ago were only charging $3.75, the amount jumped up to $4.99 a roll last week. It induced some head scratching...

 

[Bingley]

Freestyle is more expensive than B&H for Provia 400x by almost $2 per roll!

Not just for Provia. I like Freestyle and have bought a lot of film from them, but B&H often has better prices, including for Kodak films. My most recent film orders have gone to B&H.

 

[Stefan Wood]

Shipping from the US to any overseas countries has become very expensive. Prices have just went up again this past month, if using the US Postal Service. International tracking is cost prohibitive (to the seller and the customer). I will never use UPS for my shipping because I find their service to be even worse than the USPS.

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . is it fair to write off a large portion of Americans as knuckle dragging Neanderthals. . .

Depends on your definition of 'large'. As a percentage, or in absolute terms? A larger population implies a larger absolute number, even for a constant percentage.

(Sorry. Couldn't resist. Nor could my wife, who is American.)

Cheers,

R.