Cheapest place to buy photo paper in the UK?

Jarvman · Feb 12, 2008

Does what it says in the title... Where's the best place to buy photo paper? I want to get a big stock of 12x16" ilford multigrade. I missed out on 100 sheets on eBay earlier. It's a shame but I don't know what finish the paper was in. Still i'm wary about buying it there.

pentaxuser · Feb 12, 2008

Seems to depend on sizes. Not all stockists cover the full range and those that do often, and understandably, charge a little more. If there is a Jessops near you, I'd explore their order on line and delivery to the nearest branch. It's quick and there's no postage charge. Secondhand Darkroom Supplies on the other hand have to charge unless your are close enough to Witney in Oxfordshire to collect but their actual prices excluding postage probably puts them close to Jessops.If it is a close run thing then SDS deserve support as they cover all manner of items and we need such stockists to stay in business. They are especially competitve in Warmtone paper at 5x7 and 8x10 and postcard paper. Can't say about 12x16

We've had a few harsh words to say about Jessops recently and justifiably so but my very recent experience of its order on line and delivery to its Northampton branch has been very positive.

I'd trawl the sites to see what you come up with in 12x16. I know of the the two mentioned above plus Nova, RK Photographic, Silverprint, Keyphoto, Firstcall and MORCO.

You may see 100 +20 sheets in 8x10 Ilford MG IV Deluxe in either finish come up as brand new on e-bay. It most likely will be just that. Jessops it appears have been selling off the student packs for £9.97 per box. I 'd be surprised if a few enterprising souls or is it profiteers haven't bought a stock just to re-sell on e-bay.

pentaxuser

Trevor Crone · Feb 12, 2008

Try: http://www.ekmpowershop5.com/ekmps/shops/rogermailecouk/index.asp

Roger will always try and give you a good deal on quantity.

Regards,
Trevor.

Jarvman · Feb 12, 2008

I've got a big stack of 10x8 but am maily looking for bigger paper to make my uni exhibition/final show stuff on and maybe to sell if anybody is interested. Not sure whether to get RC of FB to be honest. I'm thinking it'd be easier to make multiple copies of the RC because it lays flatter and doesn't have to be mounted. It's cheaper to buy the fibre from Jessops suprisingly. I normally buy my stuff from RK and it works out the same price but more expensive with the postage on top. Is there a markup in the price between Jessops website and store prices? I'll have to buy it online and pick up I think.

pauliej · Feb 12, 2008

Does the Ilford factory have a store where they sell out-dated or other types of random film/paper/etc stuff? Or day-old donuts? Maybe they should. Just wondering...

paulie

Paul. · Feb 13, 2008

Javman,
Have used Retro Macro and Mathers of Bolton all good prices and if you can get a few of you to put an order together split the postage, if the order is over £100 or so delivery is usualy free.

Regards Paul.

Martin Aislabie · Feb 13, 2008

I use 7dayshop for film
They do paper too - but only Ilford RC
They are worth checking out - its only a click away
http://www.7dayshop.com
Martin

Ian Grant · Feb 13, 2008

I've been buying paper from Berlin, as it's far cheaper, I'm now buying film from the US for the same reason. I've set up an account at B&H which was easy.

Ian

Matt5791 · Feb 14, 2008

Ian Grant said:
I've been buying paper from Berlin, as it's far cheaper, I'm now buying film from the US for the same reason. I've set up an account at B&H which was easy.

Ian

That's interesting Ian - I might look into that - what about customs and VAT etc?

For the UK you can often avoid postage charges if you are spending more than £100. The people I usually buy from are Silverprint, Nova Darkroom, Morco.

Ian Grant · Feb 14, 2008

Buying from Europe there's no customs, just VAT at the rate applicable in the country your buying from, often less than the UK.

For buying from the US, duty & VAT is paid on packages plus the postage over £100, but as Ilford sheet film is almost half the UK price in the US big savings are possible.

Ian

pentaxuser · Feb 14, 2008

Ian Grant said:
I've been buying paper from Berlin, as it's far cheaper, I'm now buying film from the US for the same reason. I've set up an account at B&H which was easy.

Ian

Ian. Can you say which company in Berlin? Assuming it was Fotoimpex I had a look at the site but my German is very poor. Some of the catalogue can be translated into English. It looked a very comprehensive catalogue but nowhere could I see prices.

If it was Fotoimpex it refers you to Fotoimpex England which is in fact Retrophotographic who are their main or possibly its only retailer in England. If the Retro prices reflect Fotoimpex prices in euros then it's no cheaper than other UK stockists for Ilford but then again Retro competes in the UK marketplace and you'd hardly expect it to be cheaper. Of course Fotoimpex prices once converted and allowing for postage might well be cheaper than UK prices as indicated by your reply.

It may be similar to a few years ago when it was cheaper to buy a left hand drive Ford in Belgium than buying it from a UK dealership.

Anyway any help you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks

pentaxuser

Fanshaw · Feb 16, 2008

Ian Grant said:
Buying from Europe there's no customs, just VAT at the rate applicable in the country your buying from, often less than the UK.

For buying from the US, duty & VAT is paid on packages plus the postage over £100, but as Ilford sheet film is almost half the UK price in the US big savings are possible.

Ian

I don't think that you are right about the £100. I think that duty has to be paid on anything over £18 imported from the US to the UK. Certainly on the one occasion I bought film from the US costing around £30, I had to pay import duty plus the fixed Royal Mail handling charge, which is something like £8. The cheap US prices weren't worth it when this was paid.

Fanshaw

Dave Miller · Feb 16, 2008

That's correct. Import Duty plus handling charge, plus VAT on the lot. That's why the Channel Island companies split their deliveries into sub-£18 packages.

On the other hand I have recently imported items LF items from the USA valued at around £500 without duty being claimed. So it seems you pays your money and takes your chance.

Akki14 · Feb 16, 2008

It is really a bit of russian roulette as far charges. I think on the actual customs & excise website they say it's anything over £18 but they usually won't bother charging duty unless it's over £10 for them, which I assume just covers their administration in some cases.

Strangely this also works if you're in an airport standing right there in front of them, too. I've stood there with a list of VAT/Dutyable items and prices and basically was told to go away (!)

Cheapest place to buy photo paper in the UK?

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