Sweden is a small market with low turnover and many layers of distribution. The pros just stump up the asking price, and the snapshooters are happy with super-low price mail-order processing, but there is no real equivalent to the "advanced amatuer" type of service you find in larger markets.
I have some sympathy with retailers here (although not the ones who bullshit). They have high overheads, high sales tax, and high staff costs. Here in Lund we have a very good consumer photo shop (Mattssons) who seem to have effectively made the transition to profitably selling digital equipment and print-making services, but who also are prepared to dig through the catalogues and special-order anything I want. The problem is the distributors who vary from great to dreadful in their level of service, and always take a cut that makes local purchases uneconomic.
My impression is that the sheet film pros have almost entirely gone digital. Ikea used to order a batch of five lorry-loads of film from Fuji each year. No more. We amatuers who clung pimple-like to the backside of that industry cannot do so any more.
But. While efficient mail-order suppliers exist elsewhere in the world, the pain is mostly felt by local shops who would otherwise have a captive market. For me in Lund, buying from B+H is no more hassle than buying from anyone else, be they in Sweden, Europe or Japan.
One more tip: for Fuji film you might want to look at
Dead Link Removed
A 50-sheet box of b&w film still comes out 500kr cheaper from B&H(!) What is it with Europe and 8x10?
