Freestyle sends out their last printed catalogs

gone · Jul 25, 2015

I'm not too happy about this. Went to the mailbox just now and there was a Frestyle catalog in it. Great I thought. But then I saw what it says on the front cover.... "Save This Issue". They aren't going to be making any more catalogs. Just the online stuff. I'm sorry, but that is not the same thing.

trythis · Jul 25, 2015

If it makes film and chemical prices lower I am all for it.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

redstarjedi · Jul 25, 2015

I don't find that to be too troubling, it's not an indication of the companies demise. I used to get their catalog, but really their website is great so i don't need the catalog anymore.

Chris Lange · Jul 25, 2015

Eco-friendly as well...I'm all for it.

trythis · Jul 25, 2015

Mcmaster Carr (mcmaster.com) has an awesome catalog but they only send them out to big companies. The web site and phone app are so damned good that i just stopped wanting one.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

pschwart · Jul 25, 2015

momus said:
I'm not too happy about this. Went to the mailbox just now and there was a Frestyle catalog in it. Great I thought. But then I saw what it says on the front cover.... "Save This Issue". They aren't going to be making any more catalogs. Just the online stuff. I'm sorry, but that is not the same thing.

I agree, especially as they will continue mailing a digital supplies catalogue, so promoting digital at the expense of analogue. E-mail Eric Joseph at ej@freestylephoto.biz
and let him know what you think.

BrianShaw · Jul 25, 2015

Maybe we should do a crowd funding effort to periodically print and Mail a catalogue to subscribers?

nsurit · Jul 25, 2015

Their catalog tended to not be very comprehensive and one needed to go to their website to a get a view of what they really had available. I did recently send them an inquiry about something in the catalog, bu not on the website. In other words, I was interested in buying something from them . . . and I got no response. Not a warm and fuzzy feeling. Bill Barber

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 25, 2015

I'd rather they save the printing and mailing costs. I order off the web anyway.

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2015

I do not find the catalog very useful. If I have a question about their products or some darkroom technique et al I just drive over there and talk to them directly. That probably will not work for most of you.

Ektagraphic · Jul 25, 2015

I enjoyed that they were the last of the bunch to still offer such a lovely catalog. I will miss it! I remember getting my first catalog from them a few years back when I was getting into photography and being amazed to see all of these types of products in a catalog!

cmacd123 · Jul 25, 2015

as A Canadian Customer, I only got the catalogue when I asked for it, they had a copy available and it was part of my order. they never sent them separately because of the postage.

I still miss the Freestyle ads in the back of Popular Photography. (Items not marked fresh are out of date but fully Guaranteed)

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
The computer has destroyed the printing business, and nobody knows that hard fact better than me.

The computer et al has not been a great thing for film photography other than APUG.

MattKing · Jul 25, 2015

I receive at least two copies of each B & H catalogue, which surely is more expensive.

Jeff L · Jul 25, 2015

I read that American Photo has moved online as well - no more printed issues.

Vaughn · Jul 25, 2015

The physical catalogs were great to have on hand when I was managing the university darkroom. Even towards the end of my time there, I could just grab the catalog and show a student a product and price -- show them alternatives, talk about the differences, pros and cons, etc. And do it faster than checking the website. The physical catalog was easy to upload and navigate; and was always compatible with older systems. Then the students could go to the website, know what they were looking at, and order.

hoffy · Jul 25, 2015

I agree - the days of a print catalogue is well and truly dead.

Now, if only they had a decent interface on their website.....

pschwart · Jul 25, 2015

hoffy said:
I agree - the days of a print catalogue is well and truly dead.

Now, if only they had a decent interface on their website.....

I don't think so. A catalogue provides a better browsing experience than a website, and it's an immediately accessible and portable reference. If enough customers demand a catalogue, they will get one. Even one a year for reference is sufficient. Even a pdf provides a better experience than a website, and there are no mailing expenses and vastly reduced production expenses. We should not be shy about telling vendors what we want. and voting with our dollars.

hoffy · Jul 25, 2015

I choose a retailer based on range, price, service and availability of stock.

9 times out of 10, a catalogue is out of date before it hits my door step. A properly designed and updated website will quickly and easily show me what is in or out of stock......

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2015

hoffy said:
I choose a retailer based on range, price, service and availability of stock.

9 times out of 10, a catalogue is out of date before it hits my door step. A properly designed and updated website will quickly and easily show me what is in or out of stock......

That is my experience. If I have a question about the webpage I call FreeStyle, B&H, Samys, et al ... and ask the questions. A webpage is often faster than searching for the latest [incomplete] FreeStyle catalog.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 25, 2015

No more printed catalogs for Freestyle?

I feel a bit sad.

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2015

Please combine threads

pschwart · Jul 25, 2015

hoffy said:
I choose a retailer based on range, price, service and availability of stock.

9 times out of 10, a catalogue is out of date before it hits my door step. A properly designed and updated website will quickly and easily show me what is in or out of stock......

Have you been receiving the Freestyle catalogue, or did you ask to be removed from their mailing list?

MattKing · Jul 25, 2015

Already discussed here: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

But thanks for the "art".

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 25, 2015

Threads merged.

Freestyle sends out their last printed catalogs

gone

trythis

redstarjedi

Chris Lange

trythis

pschwart

BrianShaw

nsurit

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Sirius Glass

Ektagraphic

cmacd123

Sirius Glass

MattKing

Moderator

Jeff L

Vaughn

hoffy

pschwart

hoffy

Sirius Glass

Mainecoonmaniac

Sirius Glass

pschwart

MattKing

Moderator

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Freestyle sends out their last printed catalogs

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