I couldn't figure out the possible best place to post there, so anyway, here goes. Perhaps because almost all of us buy film?
I've made recent purchases from both of the above. Full disclosure, I've been an intermittent Freestyle customer since 1965! Perhaps their, uh, oldest customer? I have also purchased from B&H, most notably my Pentax DSLR, and Adorama, most notably Canon and other inkjet papers.
I find FS's website very easy to navigate. UF/PW is a hierarchical nightmare with no filtering searches.
Until my most recent delivery from FS, I've received most orders in two days here in Texas, three in Florida. FedEx Ground. Last order, over a week.
Ordered from both companies on the same day, and PW/UF took two more days to get here and that's with the unusually long time for FS and FedEx. Otherwise it would have been six or seven days difference. UPS to last mile USPS mailbox delivery. The two companies are about 20 miles apart geographically.
Freestyle has no minimum order and charges reasonable shipping cost based on dollar amount of order. UF/PW charges a flat $10 handling and insurance, but has a $25 minimum order. So, sometimes one or the other meets needs of the moment. (UPS has $100 insurance included in the charges anyway, so for smallish orders, it's all handling charge. That's OK.)
When I've done a CS contact at FS, I get a response in 30 minutes or so. Recently, a wonderful personable woman, Kristina several times. I've asked UF a few questions two different times, crickets. Can't even tell me when something might be in stock. Then again, I don't know if they even got the inquiry, their web mail system is obviously messed up when you use it.
I complained to Kristina at FS about the use of packing peanuts. She told me that they weren't styrofoam, but water dissolving biodegradable. OK, that's better, but still annoying to keep herded and dispose of. And, if I don't want them, just let her know when I place an order and they will use other packing. That's CS!
I wanted a knock about, cheap film for mucking around and developer testing. The bulk roll prices were $38 for UF 100 which is well established as Kentmere, or Arista Ultra.edu for $50, which is well established as Foma. I've used the latter, it's OK marginal. Much better overall comments and reviews for Kentmere, so that's what I bought. I bought that and 5 rolls of alleged T-grain Ultra Max, see review around here.
UF doesn't even include a packing list with the shipment! Amateur hour.
As you can tell by now, I find my experiences with these two companies like the proverbial night and day. Not saying I wouldn't ever buy from UF/PW again, but it would only be because of unique products not available elsewhere. Maybe by the time I need more UFX/Kentmere film, Alaris will have brought back Plus-X.
I've made recent purchases from both of the above. Full disclosure, I've been an intermittent Freestyle customer since 1965! Perhaps their, uh, oldest customer? I have also purchased from B&H, most notably my Pentax DSLR, and Adorama, most notably Canon and other inkjet papers.
I find FS's website very easy to navigate. UF/PW is a hierarchical nightmare with no filtering searches.
Until my most recent delivery from FS, I've received most orders in two days here in Texas, three in Florida. FedEx Ground. Last order, over a week.
Ordered from both companies on the same day, and PW/UF took two more days to get here and that's with the unusually long time for FS and FedEx. Otherwise it would have been six or seven days difference. UPS to last mile USPS mailbox delivery. The two companies are about 20 miles apart geographically.
Freestyle has no minimum order and charges reasonable shipping cost based on dollar amount of order. UF/PW charges a flat $10 handling and insurance, but has a $25 minimum order. So, sometimes one or the other meets needs of the moment. (UPS has $100 insurance included in the charges anyway, so for smallish orders, it's all handling charge. That's OK.)
When I've done a CS contact at FS, I get a response in 30 minutes or so. Recently, a wonderful personable woman, Kristina several times. I've asked UF a few questions two different times, crickets. Can't even tell me when something might be in stock. Then again, I don't know if they even got the inquiry, their web mail system is obviously messed up when you use it.
I complained to Kristina at FS about the use of packing peanuts. She told me that they weren't styrofoam, but water dissolving biodegradable. OK, that's better, but still annoying to keep herded and dispose of. And, if I don't want them, just let her know when I place an order and they will use other packing. That's CS!
I wanted a knock about, cheap film for mucking around and developer testing. The bulk roll prices were $38 for UF 100 which is well established as Kentmere, or Arista Ultra.edu for $50, which is well established as Foma. I've used the latter, it's OK marginal. Much better overall comments and reviews for Kentmere, so that's what I bought. I bought that and 5 rolls of alleged T-grain Ultra Max, see review around here.
UF doesn't even include a packing list with the shipment! Amateur hour.
As you can tell by now, I find my experiences with these two companies like the proverbial night and day. Not saying I wouldn't ever buy from UF/PW again, but it would only be because of unique products not available elsewhere. Maybe by the time I need more UFX/Kentmere film, Alaris will have brought back Plus-X.
