Anyone bought "used" photo paper from B&H before?

[adelorenzo]

I was looking for a box of 16x20 Ilford Classic which is out of stock at B&H right now. Lo and behold they had a 50 sheet box in their used section for half the price. It was listed at 10/10 condition and the only comment was the word "box." I bought it but am curious to know what I'm actually going to receive.

 

[DDTJRAC]

I bought tons of 'used' stuff but not from BH it was from Freestyle. That was all they sold for the most part in the 60s and 70s. Lots of old, repackaged military surplus film and paper and repacked expired movie film. Just make sure they guarantee it to be in usable shape. Great deal at half off.

Some of the expired stuff turned out Ok, other things were poor. Although you didn't know what the brand was since they repackaged it. I remember buying some ex military glass plates that were expired in the 50's Still worked great!

 

[beemermark]

If the paper is used isn't there already an image on it?

 

[rorye]

I've bought used inkjet printer from B&H, just a bash on the corner of the box, the paper itself was fine.

 

[mshchem]

It's paper that the used department bought. Probably a collection of stuff from a person on trade. I'm betting it will be a sealed box, sold by the Used department.

 

[AgX]

. Although you didn't know what the brand was since they repackaged it. I remember buying some ex military glass plates that were expired in the 50's Still worked great!

How then did you know it was expired in the 50s, as it being re-packaged?

 

[REAndy]

I recently bought a SEALED box of Kodak 5x7 paper. I could not find an expiration date on the box. But looking at the "graphics/style" of the printing on the box cover, I'm estimating it was produced in the 80's. The whole box was fogged (unexposed paper put in developer under no light conditions (safe lights off) produced about a 10% gray. Very noticeable.

 

[grainyvision]

I bought a box of supposedly new (at least I paid new price) Ilford FB Warmtone paper off B&H and it came pre-opened. Haven't counted the sheets or checked for fog yet, but definitely opened by an imperfect human, not some weird machine defect. I didn't even know they sold used paper

 

[mike c]

Must be out dated, cant be used!

 

[pentaxuser]

I bought a box of supposedly new (at least I paid new price) Ilford FB Warmtone paper off B&H and it came pre-opened. Haven't counted the sheets or checked for fog yet, but definitely opened by an imperfect human, not some weird machine defect. I didn't even know they sold used paper

At face value this statement raises some serious questions about what B&H consider to be used paper, what their sources are and what if any checks are applied before sale.

pentaxuser

 

[removed account4]

Must be out dated, cant be used!

LOL !!!

we all know out of date is worthless, no matter the media...

 

[trendland]

I was looking for a box of 16x20 Ilford Classic which is out of stock at B&H right now. Lo and behold they had a 50 sheet box in their used section for half the price. It was listed at 10/10 condition and the only comment was the word "box." I bought it but am curious to know what I'm actually going to receive.

The problem with bw paper from my point is the expiration date on the box. I can't remember I ever saw it on Ilford RC deluxe. Perhaps I had the need of glases long years before today - but I realy don't remember.
The same may be with other brands. No problem I would say because bw paper is good after years of good storage. But this is also the main issue (after years) how has it been stored.
So try your best if you have luck it is a good deal.
But I would not do this again if I were you.
I remember a roll seen in a store 1,40 x 30 (meters) it was in bad condition from the package. Sure nobody bought it - for a long time it stand in the store.
May be 8years may be 12 years who knows. And nethertheless if others report you about 20 years old papers with ecellent characteristics it is allways depending on the price. Because there is allways a RISC to buy scratch.
with regards

PS: Used paper would mean someone used it in a darkroom and there is a rest of paper in the box.
At a price less 90% - less 95% such offerings may result a great suspence while re-use it.
But (so it seams to be in your case) it could mean : A couple of boxes were used in a darkroom and the sale is in regard of unopened boxes from that batch.
At a half pricing - wy not if you are a risky loving man.

 

[trendland]

I bought tons of 'used' stuff but not from BH it was from Freestyle. That was all they sold for the most part in the 60s and 70s. Lots of old, repackaged military surplus film and paper and repacked expired movie film. Just make sure they guarantee it to be in usable shape. Great deal at half off.

Some of the expired stuff turned out Ok, other things were poor. Although you didn't know what the brand was since they repackaged it. I remember buying some ex military glass plates that were expired in the 50's Still worked great!

Same experience I made with Orwo Paper. Nothing to say against in general but after experience in darkroom (I got it from school) I hate just to read the name Orwo....
I decided to waste off all the papers they gave me and used my Ilford stuff.
Later I found out Orwo can't be that bad. It was my first (and last) experience with expired paper stuff.
But military stuff (AS you mentioned) I would give indeed a new chance. For example special films used for air reconnaisance....
with regards

 

[trendland]

LOL !!!

we all know out of date is worthless, no matter the media...

Not in any case - if you want to find exceptions from a rule you will find. With bw film, with developer,
sure that color materials react bad much earlier in comparison to bw media.
A friend used a Hp5 in its fathers old camera. More than 15 years not in use. The Film was outdated
(older HP5 design on film cardrige) it was expired for years, I saw his prints and noticed it looks much better than some of my prints from fresh films.....

with regards

 

[removed account4]

Not in any case - if you want to find exceptions from a rule you will find. With bw film, with developer,
sure that color materials react bad much earlier in comparison to bw media.
A friend used a Hp5 in its fathers old camera. More than 15 years not in use. The Film was outdated
(older HP5 design on film cardrige) it was expired for years, I saw his prints and noticed it looks much better than some of my prints from fresh films.....

with regards

sure
chemistry will go bad cause its chemistry and clumps or oxidizes or is in bad packaging..
ive shot color materials that were 15 years old no issues
black and white materials old, no issues
even gave a friend a box of nearly 20 year old rc paper ... no fog

unfortunately the fact that stuff goes old, and everything has to be frozen in a cave in a mountain
with the mormon archives is a bit much.

of course YMMV

 

[adelorenzo]

Well it's Ilford Classic paper so it can't be that out of date since the first batches only came out 5 years ago. I'm still printing with 20-year old Ilford RC and fiber papers with no issues.

I'm guessing that it's either a damaged box or else maybe a customer return that was opened but not used. Hoping I get 50 sheets of usable paper out of the deal anyways. It still hasn't shipped so I'll have to wait and see.

 

[MattKing]

It may be that B&H classifies something as "used" when the packaging is damaged/shopworn.

 

[trendland]

Well it's Ilford Classic paper so it can't be that out of date since the first batches only came out 5 years ago. I'm still printing with 20-year old Ilford RC and fiber papers with no issues.

I'm guessing that it's either a damaged box or else maybe a customer return that was opened but not used. Hoping I get 50 sheets of usable paper out of the deal anyways. It still hasn't shipped so I'll have to wait and see.

By the way do you use RC multigrade or RC graded paper?
with regards

 

[trendland]

Well it's Ilford Classic paper so it can't be that out of date since the first batches only came out 5 years ago. I'm still printing with 20-year old Ilford RC and fiber papers with no issues.

I'm guessing that it's either a damaged box or else maybe a customer return that was opened but not used. Hoping I get 50 sheets of usable paper out of the deal anyways. It still hasn't shipped so I'll have to wait and see.

By the way do you use RC multigrade or RC graded paper?
with regards

 

[trendland]

The ca

It may be that B&H classifies something as "used" when the packaging is damaged/shopworn.

The case is quite clear "used section" is a general name for "outdated stuff" so as some filters wich are such special nobody need it any more, expired stuff, lenses from showroom a.s.o. because B&H isn't a second hand store.

with regards

PS : I indeed also had need some time to got it because OP's question directed me in a wrong way.

 

[jvo]

USED ??!!??? then it should have an image - - a lost vivian maier! egads, another great discovery!!!

 

[pentaxuser]

So was earlz's experience of used paper in #8 a one-off? We certainly seem to be taking a light-hearted approach to the subject. If Ilford decides to sell "used paper" in the future and we get similar posts will we take as much of a "live and let live" attitude toward Ilford?

The seller is hardly a one person seller of the kind we might expect to encounter on say e-bay. Perhaps the U.S. approach is one of "caveat emptor" writ large. If this was a U.K. or European retailer I feel that we( that is those on this side of the pond) would expect higher standards

pentaxuser

 

[grainyvision]

I assume my experience was some mistake on B&H's part. Either way I developed a sheet and no fog or other defects present, so I'm keeping it and using it.

 

[pentaxuser]

I assume my experience was some mistake on B&H's part. Either way I developed a sheet and no fog or other defects present, so I'm keeping it and using it.

I am glad you are OK with what happened. I'd have had major concerns if I felt that since packing a human hand so to speak had been inside the box . So was the outer box was still sealed with sellotape which you had to slit but the inner black bag was simply folded over and tucked under on the bottom of the box? It has been a good number of years( Oct 2008) since I last went on the Ilford factory tour but certainly at one stage the inner black bag was sealed with white masking tape. I suppose it is just possible that Ilford at some stage decided that as long as the top of the black bag was folded over and the tucked underneath then this was as safe as using masking tape so if the outer box was sealed then maybe the box had not been opened and what you had was a new unopened box.

It still amazes me if retailers sell "used" paper i.e. older paper which has been stored for some time, somewhere, without describing the age and conditions such as "older paper returned unopened or stored in warehouse with expiry date of XXXX. i.e. something which allows the customer to make an assessment for himself. All the OP got was a rating of 10/10 which might or might not be accurate

pentaxuser

 

[grainyvision]

The paper I received had the outer ilford label torn that normally seals the box (along with 1-3 pieces of tape, depending on size). the tape was not broken, but it was possible to get into the box without breaking it. The inner bag was folded over with no tape. I've never seen any Ilford papers with tape on the inner bag though.