"Film experience Camera Store" goes to Mail order only.

[cmacd123]

speaking of social media news. I noticed that Film Experence is posting that "We will be closing the camera store on November 10th. The online store will continue as is. Thank you all for the support over the years, Dave" and when asked for an explanation they said "it will be closed for good. We need the space for Flic Film."

I have only used their Online/Mail order service, so hopefully this will not make a difference to me, and I guess it means that Flic Film is doing well.

 

[Bwbuff]

Never been to the store , but had bought films, chemicals and accessories from him. Great guy to talk to , and very helpful.

 

[GregY]

It was a very cool camera store in the Ian Tyson town of Longview Alberta. Pretty much next door to the hotel. They had a great selection of film cameras & darkroom chemicals and paper. Dave is a very knowledgeable photographer.

 

[cmacd123]

Dave is a very knowledgeable photographer.

I belive he is also the force behind Flic Film. (which is trying to fill in some of the Gaps in the market)

 

[GregY]

I belive he is also the force behind Flic Film. (which is trying to fill in some of the Gaps in the market)

I think you're right, but as I only work in B/W we never discussed that aspect of his enterprise.

 

[cmacd123]

I think you're right, but as I only work in B/W we never discussed that aspect of his enterprise.

he does re-spool Double-X negative, as XX-Cine

 

[GregY]

he does re-spool Double-X negative, as XX-Cine

Thanks... i might have to check it out, although i shoot much more120 than 35mm

 

[Don_ih]

Flic Film also sells chemicals, including C41, ECN, and b&w developers. I hope those products remain. I imagine the demand for the respooled film is so great, the actual storefront is practically a loss to operate - and a distraction.

 

[GregY]

Flic Film also sells chemicals, including C41, ECN, and b&w developers. I hope those products remain. I imagine the demand for the respooled film is so great, the actual storefront is practically a loss to operate - and a distraction.

Longview has a population of about 300 people. It's an hour south of Calgary. It takes me 1.5 hrs to drive there from Canmore. Each time i've been there, there were no other customers in the store. I'd guess the storefront takes Dave away from the work with the chem /film products.
At the same time, it's a shame since the selection of used film cameras and lenses he has is similar to the best big store selection in the early 90s. I imagine it might still be possible to find something on his website and arrange a time for an in person viewing....

 

[Don_ih]

it's a shame since the selection of used film cameras and lenses he has is similar to the best big store selection in the early 90s. I imagine it might still be possible to find something on his website

The issue with that, though, is that, since the walk-in store will be closing, he won't be getting his camera and lens selection replenished as easily.

It's always a shame when a real camera/photo store closes. One not too far from me (well, an hour's drive is normal here) that has been open for 60 years is closing this week.

 

[cmacd123]

At the same time, it's a shame since the selection of used film cameras and lenses he has is similar to the best big store selection in the early 90s.

I know he tempted me into buying a very fancy Pentax recently. delivered by Canada Post within the week.

 

[cmacd123]

tonight they mentioned on Facebook that they are offering walk in customers some things like manuals and used books for little or nothing. too bad I am about a 4 or 6 day drive away. (Google figures 36 Hours of straight driving to cover 3,485 Km.)

 

[GregY]

I'd better not drive over & knock on his door......i know he'll have something I want.....

 

[gordrob]

Whenever I was in there I didn't leave without something. Last visit in June I left with a like new 150mm lens for my Mamiya Super 23. Before that a mint 16x20 Saunders easel and a Plaubel 69W Proshift. If you look at his Facebook page you will see an impressive array of film cameras and accessories that he had. It is a shame that he has shut it down to expand Flic Film but understandable.

 

[cmacd123]

well, the other shoe has dropped. A social media posting says that Dave is dropping the Mail order shop. (I did see a few hints, and I understand that some of his Wholesale dealers might not want him to offer and products retail)

the newest Flic developers did not appear on the Film experience web site.

I am told that the end will come in a Month

 

[Sirius Glass]

And another camera store/resource disappears.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

But FlicFilm is okay, right?

 

[Don_ih]

But FlicFilm is okay, right?

I would imagine the reason to drop the online store is that FlicFilm is doing so well that the online store is a waste of resources - unfortunate as that is for anyone like me, who orders from there.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

But won't FlicFilm still have their online store?

 

[Don_ih]

But won't FlicFilm still have their online store?

They have a website - not an online store. Film Experience is the store - same company, same guy as FlicFilm. The store preceded FlicFilm.

 

[cmacd123]

But won't FlicFilm still have their online store?

Apparently No, the online store was a physical store, "Film experience" which came to be mail order only

Film Experience | Camera Store

filmexperiencecamerastore.com

Now Dave has announced on facebook a few days ago that he is closing THAT down, he also closed the Galary a while ago to make more room for the "Flic Film" business.


you will now have to buy any Flic Products from your local dealer.

https://flicfilm.ca/where-to-buy/

note that as of now, film experience is still on that list.

I am crossing my Fingers that DON_IH is correct that this is more to remove one distraction. Dave had said on many Videos that he was always looking for more space in his building.

For what it is worth, My dealings have been all handled quickly, the Credit card change comes from "flic Film" I even got carried away and bought a Lightly used Pentax 645 Nii from them. (I wonder if it was actually his own camera.)

Flic has been a positive disruption so far, and almost every product introduction, I can just imagine a twinkle in the management's eyes. Compaired to the average in the Re-spooled film market, they seem to be as open as posiblew about what they are doing. Just look at :

Film&Paper | Flic Film

flicfilm.ca

where everything but the Aurora and the Street Candy is identified as to the source

 

[Don_ih]

Given how many places FlicFilm stuff is sold, I can't imagine it's doing badly - I can only imagine the opposite. Anyway, I'll miss the online store - lots of stuff that I use all the time and none of the prices are blown up like other places. I'll have to make sure to get an order in (probably today) for anything I may want or need.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

The proverbial "analog film renaissance..."

 

[Don_ih]

The proverbial "analog film renaissance..."

Yes. But they're probably closing the online store because they're doing too well.

 

[Angarian]

Longview has a population of about 300 people. It's an hour south of Calgary.

That at such a tiny and remote location a brick-and-mortar store was opened, looks like a little wonder for me.
The closure now, and using the space for the production of Flicfilm instead make much economic sense, and should be seen as a positve step in the right direction.