Cheapest Ilford Film in Europe?

arigram · Dec 29, 2006

(product availabillity sounds like the correct subforum for this question)

I am planning to make a large order of 200 to 300 pieces of Ilford PanF+ in 120 format and I'm investigating prices around Europe. Last year I bought 100 rolls from Nordfoto in Germany which gave me the lowest price of less than two euros per roll, but now they seem to have risen, atleast for half a euro. Still, they seem lower than others.
Any suggestions? For such an order, every cent counts.

John Bragg · Dec 29, 2006

Hi Ari,

Try this site.

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cat=1&type=1180&man=34&filterwords=&go=SEARCH&comp=

Regards, John.

Magnus W · Dec 29, 2006

7dayshop unfortunately only sevices Great Britain, but try http://www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk/

-- MW

Steve Smith · Dec 29, 2006

That's a coincidence. I just ordered some Pan F from 7dayshop this morning. It costs £1.35 per roll which is just about two euros.

I'm not sure if there is a similar benefit anywhere else in the world but if you buy from 7dayshop in Britain, you do not pay VAT (value added tax).

Steve.

Magnus W · Dec 29, 2006

Steve Smith said:
I'm not sure if there is a similar benefit anywhere else in the world but if you buy from 7dayshop in Britain, you do not pay VAT (value added tax).

It's unfortunately a benefit available only for the Brits. Since 7days are shipping out of the Channel Islands, the merchandise is tax exepmpt for citicens of Britain. But since the Channel Islands for tax purpouses lies outside the EU, VAT (and customs fee) is added to the price when ordering to f'rex Greece or Sweden.
Now, the customs officers doesn't always have a very keen knowledge of the intricacies of British geography, and to my experience there is a 33% chance that VAT and customs will be added when ordering to Sweden from Jersey. Greek customs may be more strict -- or more leninent.
BUT it is more or less a moot point since 7days (and some other Jersey based companies) only deliver to Britain nowadays.

bemoaning this -- MW

John Bragg · Dec 29, 2006

Hi Steve,

Used them for my film for many years. So good not paying tax. Feels like a small victory every time I place an order !!!

Regards, John.

Ole · Dec 29, 2006

Hmpf.

7dayshop is (so far) the cheaper, but no use to the world outside Britain (and Ireland). Nordfoto is the cheaper of the "useful ones" at €2.19 per roll excluding MwST/VAT. The €200 minimum order for buyers outside EU has never been a problem - at least not to me.

BarryWilkinson · Dec 29, 2006

Remember that Germany's VAT rate goes up from 16% to 19% from 1st Jan.

Barry

BarryWilkinson · Dec 29, 2006

Magnus W said:
7dayshop unfortunately only sevices Great Britain, but try http://www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk/

-- MW

These people offer discounts for quantity. Their 20 pack price is Euro 2.40 each. Might be worth an email for the quantities you are purchasing?

Their postal charges are expensive, but this may also be negotiable?

Barry

rst · Dec 29, 2006

Another good option here in Germany is PhoBaTec. Sometimes they are cheaper than Nordfoto, sometimes Nordfoto is cheaper. But I think they do not stock Ilford PanF. Maybe you can ask them by email, as far as I know they are very responsive.

ciao
-- Ruediger

arigram · Dec 29, 2006

I have emailed both Nordfoto and PhoBaTec and I will let you know of their responses. I don't think there is any way to escape the german tax rise any more though, I wish I knew that before.
Thank you for the suggestions of british stores, the UK has definately some very fine merchants but I consider the island to be off shore the North American coast and not the European (and I am not talking about politics).

George Papantoniou · Dec 30, 2006

If you are a professional photographer in the EU (and so have a VIES registered VAT number), you can avoid paying VAT for merchandise bought from other EU countries. You just send them your (VIES registered) VAT number and tell them that they should produce an invoice that'll be VAT-free. I know Ari can do that (but he has to register his VAT number to VIES first).

On the other hand, I have been ordering tons of CD's and DVD's from play.com (they are based in Jersey, I think) and never did the Greek customs ask me for the VAT (Shhhhhh!!!)...

Fotohuis · Dec 30, 2006

Remember that Germany's VAT rate goes up from 16% to 19% from 1st Jan.

Indeed, that's why we have great news on *NEWS*

Best regards,

Robert

haris · Jan 1, 2007

Try www.fomei.com, they are in Czech Republic.

Fotohuis · Jan 1, 2007

Fomei is the official Ilford distributor in the Czech Republic. Greeting to Mr. Michal Velc.

Further a happy New Year to every one!

haris · Jan 1, 2007

Robert, I am sorry for telling bad news to you but Mr. Velc is not longer with us. This is copy of E_mail I received from Fomei:

-----Original Message-----
From: MiloÅ¡ Å½alman [mailto:Milos.Zalman@fomei.com]
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 5:30 AM
To: 'Haris'

Dear Mr Haris,
Unfortunatelly, Michal Velc hade tragic accident. We hade to make some
changes in our company.
Please read this message:

========================================================
Dear business partners,

After a severe loss our company suffered from the tragic end of our
foreign trade manager - Mr. Michal Velc, we consolidated our activities so
that we could continue the work Mr. Velc succesfully began with.

I can assure you that we all will do our best to fill Mr. VelcÂ´s
position as soon as possible so that our co-operation can continue and
develop as we all wish.

I would like to inform you about several changes which were caused not
only by this situation.

Surrogate for Mr. Velc:

We are looking for someone for the position of foreign trade manager.
We will inform you as soon as this post is filled.

Until then Mr. Milos Zalman â€“ manager of foto division â€“ is dealing
with all concerns of foreign business.

All your requirements please direct to:

E-mail: milos.zalman@fomei.com,

Office: +420 495 056 501

Fax: +420 495 056 511

In urgent cases you can call +420 603 587 451.

Fotohuis · Jan 1, 2007

Jesus, indeed bad news. I am very sorry. I spoke to him a few weeks before the Photokina on the phone.
Well you can see now what the risk is to be export manager. I did the same job for a long time and got also a severe car accident. Still not 100% recovery but this I concern as a real tragedy. Well, I was not informed by Fomei so far.

Ian Grant · Jan 1, 2007

Has England moved since I relocated to the Aegean?

Ian

arigram said:
the UK has definately some very fine merchants but I consider the island to be off shore the North American coast and not the European (and I am not talking about politics).

arigram · Jan 1, 2007

Ian Grant said:
Has England moved since I relocated to the Aegean?

Ian

The act like it though. The outrageous shipping charges and having to deal with currency exchange don't feel very E.U. too me...

Ian Grant · Jan 2, 2007

Yes I quite agree with you about some UK postage & packing charges, I've found it cheaper to buy from Fotoimpex in Berlin compared to a similar supplier in the UK for that reason.

I should add I've had no problems with the UK suppliers who support & are listed on this site.

Ian

arigram said:
The act like it though. The outrageous shipping charges and having to deal with currency exchange don't feel very E.U. too me...

arigram · Jan 3, 2007

I ended up making an order with Phobatec for 400 rolls of film.
They are giving me PanF+ in 120 for 2.20 euros a roll which is quite good and they took my greek tax registration details with no further paperwork so I escape the german tax.
The shipping is 25 euros and the bank wants 15 euros for the money transfer which is also pretty good.
It all sounds great and I will soon have PanF+ to last me for some time!

Fotohuis · Jan 3, 2007

The bank transfer should be (almost) free of further charges when using the right IBAN - BIC/Swift codes. We are paying Eur. 0,06 for each int. bank transfer in the Euro zone.

George Papantoniou · Jan 4, 2007

Greek banks are incredible crooks. They'll charge money for things you can't imagine.

Ask around, Ari. Some banks ask for more, some for less money for a EU transfer. Try Emporiki and Ethniki, or even Kyprou. Stay away from Alpha and Eurobank...

I told you you could escape paying the VAT...

Fotohuis · Jan 4, 2007

Greek banks are incredible crooks

ALL banks are crooks

arigram · Jan 16, 2007

I am writting to let you know that everything went well.
I used the online banking system of Alpha and the charge is as low as you mention, nothing like the 15e they wanted at the desk.

Nordofoto send me an offer as well, unfortunately too late, as I had placed the order with PhoBaTec:
200x ILFORD Pan F 120 2,19 Euro without 19% TAX (2,61 inclusive)
300x ILFORD Pan F 120 2,09 Euro without 19% TAX (2,49 inclusive)
The shipping costs for this article would be 31,50 Euro without 19% TAX (37,49 inclusive).

So, in all, you can get very cheap film in Europe if you buy in quantities.

Cheapest Ilford Film in Europe?

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