BLKRCAT
75% Film
It used to be pretty good to buy from BH. I would do a couple hundred dollars and get a pretty good haul. This was when we were like 0.85usd to on par.
Now with it being 80 or less it's not so great. The prices can get high. Think like $10-12 for a roll of Tri-X.
I used to slam the local camera shops for having such high prices when BH could be had for much cheaper. Since the dollar went back down the shops are much more reasonable because of the competition with BH.
Downtown Camera in Toronto was a pretty big target for me back then but in the last couple years they have really helped bolster film in the city. They do great work and I always make the effort to recommend them.
(right now I'm bulk rolling so I couldn't tell you what film prices are like there at them moment)
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Marcelo,
I'm hoping for the best, but this is all very dangerous.
We talk about the cost of film, but the effects and consequences should be of great concern and worry. There could be great disruption on a scale we can't ever imagine.
Generally they say in a trade war no-one wins.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
B,
Thanks for this post. I was not aware of how the exchange rate tempered things. On one trip to Montreal the Loonie was on par with the Greenback. Then on a trip to Toronto the Loonie dipped in my favor.
The other way around must be brutal.
Cal
Emile de Leon
Well-known
Just look at rising gas prices to see whats on the horizon for photo and a lot of other goods..
It hasn't looked great here for awhile now..no matter what the politicians etc are sayin..
And most economists are indicating..we are at the top of the economic cycle now..and due in for a major fall soon..
I'm in business..and except for the wealthy..esp overseas wealthy..those are the only people spending..as in..weak usd..
I would say..buy now..what you need..before inflation and rising prices come to fruition..even an extra camera body or 2..just so you are covered..
Or wait..for a depression to buy up the scraps..
....pick your poison..
The US has never been so weak and debilitated both psychologically and in a world sense..in my lifetime..
It hasn't looked great here for awhile now..no matter what the politicians etc are sayin..
And most economists are indicating..we are at the top of the economic cycle now..and due in for a major fall soon..
I'm in business..and except for the wealthy..esp overseas wealthy..those are the only people spending..as in..weak usd..
I would say..buy now..what you need..before inflation and rising prices come to fruition..even an extra camera body or 2..just so you are covered..
Or wait..for a depression to buy up the scraps..
....pick your poison..
The US has never been so weak and debilitated both psychologically and in a world sense..in my lifetime..
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
So sit on my dollars or buy film to fill my fridge?
Marcelo
Marcelo,
One thing that has to be remembered: when economies collapse the first thing that is done is currencies are manipulated, devalued and debased. This can be performed by dropping interest rates or revaluing the currency.
I'm close to retirement so I have to consider the worse case, and there are two extremely bad outcomes under a full blown economic war: China could launch their "Nuclear Weapon" and sell some or all of the U.S. Treasuries (Bonds) that would kinda destroy the market for them.
This would prevent our government from operating since we borrow money to fund our government. Also our banking system would collapse, and so would other markets. This is not the U.S. devaluing or debasing their currency, but this is China taking down and destroying the U.S. economy.
Of course China would have to absorb huge loses, but realize they have a massive stockpile of bonds to basically kill the U.S. economy and can be used as a weapon, a deadly weapon. I say the U.S. is in a very bad space and vulnerable. Most Americans don't know it.
A while back China did sell some bonds to punish the U.S. over some other trade policy. They only released a tad, and the effect was it immediate: it took down the markets and there was a massive sell-off. This happened under George W. Bush when he was President.
So imagine a country with enough U.S. Bonds that they could create a U.S. recession on demand. The U.S. could be literally choked by its own debt.
Another Chinese weapon is that their government could devalue their currency which has been "pegged" as undervalued in relation to the U.S. dollar. I expect China to do this first before using their "Nuclear Weapon." Pretty much China takes a loss on the devaluation, but gains the upper hand by being able to maintain a competitive advantage. This is like in a game of Chess: a forced move.
The advantages of the U.S. is that it is the largest economy, an import economy, and that it has the dollar, but that dollar in the above example because of debt is a liability and weakness.
If I can say that Europe is tied to Germany's export economy for prosperity, and that China is also an export economy that is the second largest, I say in the squeeze between the U.S. and China, Europe will suffer greatly as collateral damage. Perhaps the worse off will be developing countries that supply raw materials to the developed world.
This is a very-very dangerous game to play. I don't think Trump is much of a Chess player, I don't think he can think three or more moves ahead.
Sorry if talking the "end-game" is unplesent. Film prices are the least of my worries. In this game everyone looses.
Cal
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Huss, I order my film from B&H. I've also bought from Keith Canham (5x7 TMY-2). Customs fees are not a concern. The biggest difference is the U.S./Canadian Exchanges rate.....currently at roughly 1.3x. A few years back the U.S/Cdn $ was at par.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Not so many cost effective shipping from USA by most of on-line USA based film sellers. Except BH. Free shipping after 100 USD. It used to be by reliable and Canadian Purolator with USPS. But yearler this year for some next to laughable reasons BH switched to most crappiest courier company a.k.a UPS. The reason BH gave - someone complained about Purolator. No kidding... Which is totally ridiculous official reason to switch to ridiculous UPS.
But I was able to get some items via UPS from BH here already.
Just don't know if we will bomb Voronezh here and increase our taxes and tariffs on film just because.
Right now Downtown Camera Toronto wants 252 CAD + 13% on 100f bulk of Kodak BW film.
https://www.downtowncamera.com/category/film/film-stock/35mm-film/
BH has it for 80 USD. With shipping and taxes fully paid it is ... 100 USD.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/sear...tive+fct_number-of-exposures_7032|100ft-roll&
Comparing to 285 CAD from BLKRCAT local favorite.
100 USD vs 285 CAD for exactly same bulk of film. Obviously, 0.80, 0.85 or 0.75 as exchange rate is not an argument, it is totally irrelevant at this huge price difference.
BLKRCAT
75% Film
Ko.Fe.;2821284 Right now Downtown Camera Toronto wants 252 CAD + 13% on 100f bulk of Kodak BW film. [url said:
No one buys bulk tri-x. But their price is high for it. I can't explain it. However being an AM/FM member gets you 20% off all kodak and 10% off all darkroom and other film so if you wanted to get a bulk roll of tri-x from DT camera it could cost you $227.80.
Right now with AM/FM club membership a brick of tri-x 36 exp is $87.51. Tax in.
BH same brick $98.35 in CAD with duty shipping and taxes.
No shipping, pick up in store. Downtown camera you can get an extra roll for the cost at BH.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Back on topic, these Canadian film prices are of great interest to me.
Cal
Cal
Emile de Leon
Well-known
Canada is nice!
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
"Relocated" meaning coming back to the USA? So who decided to move them there in the first place? Not the Chinese, surely....
Regards, David
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear David,
OF COURSE it was the wicked Chinese! Can't trust 'em, you know! A decent, God-fearing American company wouldn't consider moving production offshore except at gunpoint. Or of course unless they saw the possibility of a 0.01% increase in profits and a 50% increase in executive bonuses.
Cheers,
R.
Corran
Well-known
Average profit margin for US business across the board is 7.5%. Where I live state and local taxes are 8%, so the state makes more than the (average) business per dollar spent.
Increasing the margin 0.01% is a big deal for a big company with millions/billions throughput.
Increasing the margin 0.01% is a big deal for a big company with millions/billions throughput.
David Hughes
David Hughes
David Hughes
David Hughes
You're right Roger. Who else would do such a thing? I'm just glad the USA is not driven by profit; there's hope for us all.
Regards, David
Baby of Macon
Well-known
A number of years ago I hired a Chrysler PT Cruiser during a trip to the midwest. It was great fun in an American road trip context. But quality-wise, it was laughably poor. Actually, indescribably poor. European and Japanese cars sell in the US because because of their design, engineering and overall quality. All of those things require the kinds of public investment that the US economic model doesn't support.
In any event, the predominance of global supply chains for most consumer goods makes unilaterally aggressive moves on trade even less sensible (or effective in the short term - and they are only ever effective in the short term) than they were previously.
Even an economy as large as the US can't operate on a closed basis.
In any event, the predominance of global supply chains for most consumer goods makes unilaterally aggressive moves on trade even less sensible (or effective in the short term - and they are only ever effective in the short term) than they were previously.
Even an economy as large as the US can't operate on a closed basis.
BillBingham2
Registered User
But they teased us, all dolled up in low cost wages, non-existent worker safety rules, no unions, government health care, how could any executive with his (or her) sole responsibility to improving the bottom line in a company resist?
It's our fault when the responsibility to shareholders became more important than the responsibility to customers, employees, retirees, and civilization in general.
We lost it when changed the companies vision from bringing new products and services to the market to that of bringing more profit than we did last year to our shareholders. It's been a race to the lowest common denominator that the 1% has won and the 99% has lost over the past 40 years.
B2 (;->
Emile de Leon
Well-known
Back in the 70's..the auto industry lost it to Japan..remember the Vega..and Gremlin..and..Matador..and a host of others.. Poor quality..they thought they could be successful with that..lol..
I bought a 78 Chevy to show support for USA workers..biggest pos I ever bought..always breaking down..switched to Japanese..and never returned..
Then..people wanted cheap Chinese everyday goods..middle America just couldn't get enough of it..and still cant..Walmart and such..prospered..we lost manufacturing.. and jobs..and business ethics..
The American public..didn't give a rats ass..just wanted $10- jeans and cheep appliances..still do..
We made our bed over many years...we have to lie in it..
I bought a 78 Chevy to show support for USA workers..biggest pos I ever bought..always breaking down..switched to Japanese..and never returned..
Then..people wanted cheap Chinese everyday goods..middle America just couldn't get enough of it..and still cant..Walmart and such..prospered..we lost manufacturing.. and jobs..and business ethics..
The American public..didn't give a rats ass..just wanted $10- jeans and cheep appliances..still do..
We made our bed over many years...we have to lie in it..
Emile de Leon
Well-known
Ever heard of a greenhouse..lol..
Where did ya get those figures???
Any business..with a 7.5% profit margin..is soon..out of business..
Unless its Wall street..makin money..off..nothing..
raid
Dad Photographer
My college car was a AMC Hornet, which was the cousin of the Gremlin! I used to refer to it as a "faithful car". It broke down regularly but only locally and never on trips.