$491.00

jmdavis said:

M&P refused to sell large quantities so that more people could have access. They could have raised their prices the moment Kodak shut down the line. They didn't. They could have bought enough for themselves and then said the "hell with the rest of you." The didn't.

Those are facts, not speculation.

Mike Davis

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If they are such saints, why didn't they sell AZO at cost so that even more people could have access? Face it, they stocked and sold AZO to assure that THEY always had access. Thye used everyone else to fund the large minimum purchases, sold what they personally didn't need and kept the rest. Now that AZO is cut off, no more grade 3 for you! And as soon as they are down to what they consider low levels of Grade 2, no more Grade 2 for you, either!

-R

Not many other people would spend a half a day showing prints to you and talking photography just to sell you a box of AZO. I would suspect that you have never met Michael and Paula. Why they put up with the hassle of selling AZO I will never know.

reggie said:

If they are such saints, why didn't they sell AZO at cost so that even more people could have access? Face it, they stocked and sold AZO to assure that THEY always had access. Thye used everyone else to fund the large minimum purchases, sold what they personally didn't need and kept the rest. Now that AZO is cut off, no more grade 3 for you! And as soon as they are down to what they consider low levels of Grade 2, no more Grade 2 for you, either!

-R

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Let's take a step back. This thread began with amazement that some people are willing to pay a hefty premium for old AZO. Now it devolved into dispersions on Michael's and Paula's character. For the rocket scientists taking that route, get something straight: Kodak cut off the supply of AZO. Michael & Paula (as well as Calumet and Freestyle; where are the slings and arrows at them?) kept AZO in production and available to the general for a number of years past Kodak's initial decision to cease production. And by the way, they are not saints. They are human. Get your facts straight.

michael

avandesande said:

Not many other people would spend a half a day showing prints to you and talking photography just to sell you a box of AZO. I would suspect that you have never met Michael and Paula. Why they put up with the hassle of selling AZO I will never know.

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No one said they weren't nice. They are. They also have to live. Their income is derived from three sources(this saccording to what I gather from MAS's writing): Prints(the biggest), Workshops(the second) and AZO a distant third. I could be wrong but don't think so.

As for selling it:From MAS's own writings

From time to time rumors surface that Azo is no longer being manufactured. These rumors are not true—yet. However, if demand is not sufficient, then this excellent printing paper will be taken out of production. My wife, Paula Chamlee, herself a fine photographer, and I have told Kodak that we would buy sufficient quantity to keep this paper in production at least in the near future.

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Quoted from Here

There is no way they could use enough to ensure production. they had to sell it so it would not disappear.

reggie said:

If they are such saints, why didn't they sell AZO at cost so that even more people could have access? Face it, they stocked and sold AZO to assure that THEY always had access. Thye used everyone else to fund the large minimum purchases, sold what they personally didn't need and kept the rest. Now that AZO is cut off, no more grade 3 for you! And as soon as they are down to what they consider low levels of Grade 2, no more Grade 2 for you, either!

-R

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This is absurd. Your want to criticize artists who saved Grade 3 azo in the first place (when Kodak dropped from the catalog several years ago) because they are holding enough of the grade that they use to do their art.

Indeed, you want to attack them. I've gone through the economics of azo here several times. Suffice to say that in 500 sheet quantity the 8x10 was less than $.67/ sheet for grade 2 or grade 3. Have you looked at the prices of seagull for grade 2 or grade 3? ($.88/sheet for grade 3 only available in 100 sheet quantities). How about Kentmere? ($.66/sheet including shipping for grade 3 also only available in 100 sheet quantities). Or even Ilford MG IV vc , which is over $.54/ sheet in the 250 quantity box.

The point is that M&P were selling graded paper in 500 sheet lots for well under the price of Seagull graded and about the same as Kentmere graded. Now if the attitude that you attempt to attribute to them were true, they would have tried to milk the market for as much as they could. They didn't! Let me repeat that, THEY DIDN'T!

I of course have never proclaimed Michael A. Smith a saint. To the best of my knowledge neither has the Pope. However, I do call him a true artist, an amazing educator, and a man who has committed his life to the art and craft of photography.

Mike Davis

michaelwjones said:

Let's take a step back. This thread began with amazement that some people are willing to pay a hefty premium for old AZO. Now it devolved into dispersions on Michael's and Paula's character. For the rocket scientists taking that route, get something straight: Kodak cut off the supply of AZO. Michael & Paula (as well as Calumet and Freestyle; where are the slings and arrows at them?) kept AZO in production and available to the general for a number of years past Kodak's initial decision to cease production. And by the way, they are not saints. They are human. Get your facts straight.

michael

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Thank you Michael. I did start the thread only intending to point out a particular sale. Michael and Paula are decent people and in my opinion don't deserve this public flogging that occurs whenever Azo comes up. They have done good, not harm to the photographic community and if they aren't perfect, well who is anyway?

Fools! While everyone was out buying up Azo I was quietly buying pixels, gazillions of 'em! Just wait till they stop makin' those suckers, I'm gonna be way rich!
The beauty of it all is that I don't need no stinkin' pixels so my entire supply will be for sale!

-Bob

laz said:

Fools! While everyone was out buying up Azo I was quietly buying pixels, gazillions of 'em! Just wait till they stop makin' those suckers, I'm gonna be way rich!
The beauty of it all is that I don't need no stinkin' pixels so my entire supply will be for sale!

-Bob

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You need help. Serious help