25% off Foma products at Freestyle until Feb 28th

mshchem · Feb 21, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Really? That's good to know. I always thought they were something like a mom & pop shop in a CA strip center.

They've been around longer than B&H. I remember when I was a kid Freestyle sold all manner of government surplus stuff, super inexpensive imported film and paper from everywhere on the planet. This is Freestyle's 75th anniversary year. 1946 there were cool WWII surplus aerial cameras, film, chemistry etc, a lot of it brand new never been touched. I remember the tail end of the big aerial cameras in the early 70's.
God I'm glad I didn't have money back then, I'd still be trying to get rid of that stuff.

mshchem · Feb 21, 2021

urnem57 said:
Freestyle is solid. They have been in LA since the 1940’s. It’s “Kid in the candy store time”

I bought 3 100 sheet boxes of 8x10 DW paper, 8x10 film 50 sheets, 5x7 film 50 sheets, 10 rolls of 35mm @ $3.30 a piece. I'm pretty loyal to Ilford and Kodak on b&w film. But I can't afford Kodak sheet film in Black and white, I still have TMY in 4x5. But I'm pretty much newly enamored with Ilford FP4+ in rolls and 4x5, and I still buy TMX and TMY in 120, but not as much as before the FP4 thing. The conventional emulsions are fun.

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 21, 2021

mshchem said:
Freestyle isn't a small struggling company. These guy's make enough chemistry to float a aircraft carrier. They have made Foma a major player in the US especially with education and government accounts. B&H doesn't have stock of half of what I ordered, they will need to order from Freestyle. I buy plenty of stuff from Freestyle and Unique photo. I ordered Fomatone that's going in my freezer. People are always so breathless about Forte Polywarmtone, I've still got Polywarmtone in good shape, I would choose Fomatone over PWT if I could only have one.

I bought from them for decades. When I lived in LA back in the 90's, I visited their store. They always ship fast, pack things well in compostable peanuts. They're a bit unconventional offering unusual products. I've never had a complaint about them. What I miss is their paper catalog though. They're trying to be green like everybody else.

mshchem · Feb 21, 2021

Mainecoonmaniac said:
I bought from them for decades. When I lived in LA back in the 90's, I visited their store. They always ship fast, pack things well in compostable peanuts. They're a bit unconventional offering unusual products. I've never had a complaint about them. What I miss is their paper catalog though. They're trying to be green like everybody else.

I've never been to the store. The corn starch peanuts are a hoot. I freaked out my wife when I popped a couple in my mouth, they dissolve, can't say I can recommend, maybe a little Dorito seasoning?
Shipping is very reasonable. I've bought quite a bit of liquid chemistry over the years.

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 21, 2021

mshchem said:
I've never been to the store. The corn starch peanuts are a hoot. I freaked out my wife when I popped a couple in my mouth, they dissolve, can't say I can recommend, maybe a little Dorito seasoning?
Shipping is very reasonable. I've bought quite a bit of liquid chemistry over the years.

Corn starch? I could throw a handful to thicken my sauces when I cook.

btaylor · Feb 22, 2021

mshchem said:
I remember when I was a kid Freestyle sold all manner of government surplus stuff, super inexpensive imported film and paper from everywhere on the planet. This is Freestyle's 75th anniversary year. 1946 there were cool WWII surplus aerial cameras, film, chemistry etc, a lot of it brand new never been touched. I remember the tail end of the big aerial cameras in the early 70's.
God I'm glad I didn't have money back then, I'd still be trying to get rid of that stuff.

My family was traveling through LA when I was a kid and I convinced my dad to stop at that store that always ran a 2 page spread for “short date” film and paper in Popular Photography. On Cahuenga I think. Probably in ‘66 or ‘67. I remember two older gentlemen and mountains of govt surplus gear. As you said there was stuff from all over in there at very thrifty prices. Thank goodness I didn’t have any money to buy that gear either! (Paper route money bought film and paper though.)

Wallendo · Feb 22, 2021

FreeStyle has been my go-to store for products that B&H chooses not to ship. I tool advantage of this sale to order a FOMA reversal kit.

Wayne · Feb 22, 2021

order placed for some 400 in 120 and some Fomatone 132. Never tried either one.

Sure wish Freestyle would offer free shipping,They not only don't offer free shipping at Freestyle, they charge more the more you buy instead of the opposite. I would have ordered from B&H except they are out of stock and I can't be sure I'll be near my darkroom in another month.

mgb74 · Feb 22, 2021

mshchem said:
...
Shipping is very reasonable. I've bought quite a bit of liquid chemistry over the years.

Their shipping system frustrates me. I've often wanted to order a number of items that took me just into the next shipping cost tier. I had to remove an item or 2 to avoid paying an additional $7 to ship $6 worth of product.

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 22, 2021

Too paranoid having film shipped over the border. Might get zapped.

Donald Qualls · Feb 22, 2021

That's tempting -- I wonder if 25% off Foma branded film will offset the price differential over .EDU Ultra (same film in a different box). Or if it will offset the free shipping from B&H if I buy a couple boxes of 4x5...

Wallendo · Feb 22, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
That's tempting -- I wonder if 25% off Foma branded film will offset the price differential over .EDU Ultra (same film in a different box). Or if it will offset the free shipping from B&H if I buy a couple boxes of 4x5...

The price between Arista EDU Ultra and Fomapan is now very small. With this sale, Foma-branded films are now significantly cheaper than the rebranded film. The Freestyle website doesn't show the discounted pricing, but does reduce the price by 25% when you enter the code at checkout.

Donald Qualls · Feb 22, 2021

Wallendo said:
The price between Arista EDU Ultra and Fomapan is now very small. With this sale, Foma-branded films are now significantly cheaper than the rebranded film. The Freestyle website doesn't show the discounted pricing, but does reduce the price by 25% when you enter the code at checkout.

I can do that level of arithmetic in my head. Question is, if it's cheaper to get it at Freestyle, 25% off, and pay shipping, than to get it at B&H (and the next question is, does B&H have stock)?

mshchem · Feb 22, 2021

mgb74 said:
Their shipping system frustrates me. I've often wanted to order a number of items that took me just into the next shipping cost tier. I had to remove an item or 2 to avoid paying an additional $7 to ship $6 worth of product.

Yeah, I've been there. It's some sort of NASA algorithm . You can ship 5 liters of rapid fix for the same price as ten rolls of Tri-X. One time it took me a 8 or 9 swings at it before I found the spot.
Nobody really gets free shipping, someone is paying for FedEx to drop-off a single 77mm UV filter and 3 rolls of film from B&H just over the 49 dollar threshold to get "free" shipping.
Manufacturer volume rebates to these big joints must be the goldmine.

mshchem · Feb 22, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
I can do that level of arithmetic in my head. Question is, if it's cheaper to get it at Freestyle, 25% off, and pay shipping, than to get it at B&H (and the next question is, does B&H have stock)?

The prices are the same. Some Foma items don't have free shipping from bh, most do. I am sure that most of the stock for EU goods flow through eastern ports. If Freestyle is the USA distributor there's probably product in a couple regional distribution centers around the country. I ordered a weird Arkay SS reel rack from B&H, they send a PO to Arkay, Arkay fabricates the part and drop ships it to me. Then Arkay collects from B&H. I have the B&H credit card that discounts the amount of sales tax 6% in Iowa.

markjwyatt · Feb 23, 2021

Wallendo said:
The price between Arista EDU Ultra and Fomapan is now very small. With this sale, Foma-branded films are now significantly cheaper than the rebranded film. The Freestyle website doesn't show the discounted pricing, but does reduce the price by 25% when you enter the code at checkout.

Freestyle is out of 120 Arista.EDU 100 & 200, and has low stock on 400. I wonder if they are just clearing out of Foma altogether...?

Ernst-Jan · Feb 23, 2021

Wayne said:
Sure wish Freestyle would offer free shipping,

Shipping never is free...

mgb74 · Feb 23, 2021

mshchem said:
....
Manufacturer volume rebates to these big joints must be the goldmine.

Years ago, when I worked for a Fortune 50 firm, the cost to send an overnight letter under our contract was less than 1/4 the price of a "walkup". I'm sure B&H and other are paying a fraction of what it costs us.

Wayne · Feb 23, 2021

Ernst-Jan said:
Shipping never is free...

Sure wish they wouldn't charge me for shipping.

Wallendo · Feb 23, 2021

markjwyatt said:
Freestyle is out of 120 Arista.EDU 100 & 200, and has low stock on 400. I wonder if they are just clearing out of Foma altogether...?

I hope not. I enjoy using Fomapan/Arista 100 films in 35mm and 120.

It has been my long-term impression that Freestyle is always out of half of their European films at any given time. In their defense they typically do give an estimated arrival date, however. It seems that trans-atlantic shipping has been markedly delayed during COVID, but trans-pacific shipping has not - at least that has been my personal experience.

Wayne · Feb 23, 2021

markjwyatt said:
Freestyle is out of 120 Arista.EDU 100 & 200, and has low stock on 400. I wonder if they are just clearing out of Foma altogether...?

They weren't low on Foma film, the Foma paper they are low on they expect to be restocked and B&H expects to be restocked too so I don't think you have to worry.

mshchem · Feb 23, 2021

mgb74 said:
Years ago, when I worked for a Fortune 50 firm, the cost to send an overnight letter under our contract was less than 1/4 the price of a "walkup". I'm sure B&H and other are paying a fraction of what it costs us.

Absolutely

Arthurwg · Feb 23, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
I viewed your original post as "hey support freestyle, they're a small company selling film." And instead everyone went to B&H.

I have found that Freestyle shipping is very expensive.

Donald Qualls · Feb 23, 2021

Arthurwg said:
I have found that Freestyle shipping is very expensive.

It is on the high side, IMO, vs. B&H who give "free" shipping (TANSTAAFL, it's actually priced in, of course) for orders above $50. Freestyle is doing it fairly -- the more your order weighs, the more shipping they charge. However, their prices are generally the same as B&H, who still manage to find enough margin to ship for no extra charge. And it's hard to argue overhead; B&H is in New York City, some of the highest rent, property values, and property taxes in North America -- probably costs a good bit more just to keep the lights on than in California.

markjwyatt · Feb 23, 2021

Wayne said:
They weren't low on Foma film, the Foma paper they are low on they expect to be restocked and B&H expects to be restocked too so I don't think you have to worry.

Looks like they restocked. It was low when I posted. That is good news.

25% off Foma products at Freestyle until Feb 28th

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