Ilford dying (if not dead) in Ottawa. Simon Galley....

Lopaka · Mar 21, 2007

The retailer who complains about Wynit's 'unreasonable' minimum order policy is pumping bullbleep. This from Wynit's own website:

"MINIMUM ORDER

All orders under $100.00 are subject to a $5.00 handling charge."

A retailer's restocking order for film, paper and chemistry doesn't have to be for very much to get to $100. They just don't want to handle it.

http://www.wynit.com/reseller/reseller.asp

Bob

PhotoJim · Mar 21, 2007

My retailer (Don's Photo) has a pretty good supply of Ilford stuff, and can get what I want reasonably quickly. The only problem I've had is getting postcard paper (which I got from Rob Skeoch instead).

Honestly, I don't care where I can get it from, as long as I can get it economically. We're getting to the point in the b&w world where, unless you live in a massive city, you have to plan ahead a bit about what you need.

I get to Eight Elm in Toronto once a year or so - it's a great little store. I try to buy something every time I go. I got some 4x5 sheet film holders last time since I had a ton of paper and chemistry. The time before I got some Forte paper (which I will miss now that it's gone).

panchromatic · Mar 21, 2007

I work in a small retail photo in PA USA, and I never have any problems ordering from Wynit. 100 dollars is easy to obtain even at cost, and its not 100 dollars of each product either.

-R

Mike Té · Mar 22, 2007

Bullbleep?

Bullbleep? Can't get that up here, either....

From what I understand, the minimum order is much higher for retailers across the border here in Canada. Duty, brokerage, restrictions and paperwork with respect to liquid chemicals, etc.; all that enters into play when there's a border (and homeland security, don't forget) involved. If it was $100, I can't imagine anyone complaining.

Anyhow, always a chance you're right. We'll see if we get an answer and a solution.

Lopaka said:
The retailer who complains about Wynit's 'unreasonable' minimum order policy is pumping bullbleep. This from Wynit's own website:
"MINIMUM ORDER
All orders under $100.00 are subject to a $5.00 handling charge."
A retailer's restocking order for film, paper and chemistry doesn't have to be for very much to get to $100. They just don't want to handle it.
http://www.wynit.com/reseller/reseller.asp
Bob

panchromatic said:
I work in a small retail photo in PA USA, and I never have any problems ordering from Wynit. 100 dollars is easy to obtain even at cost, and its not 100 dollars of each product either.
-R

Mike Té · Mar 22, 2007

And about internet/mail order

I have no problem with internet/mail order. There are a lot of great suppliers out there and their service is great. I do tend to patronize hometown grass-roots enterprises first, though. Whereas big-box retail and internet sales are here to stay, I give them a lower priority (and appreciate them when I do need to use them). We have to make a bigger effort than ever in our society to keep things face-to-face and personal.

I'll repeat that I think that it's not true that one last small retailer cannot make a go of an analog/darkroom supply section in a region of over a million people, three schools that teach darkroom and 4 photo clubs. To be able to keep the basics in stock and to special-order more esoteric items should not be that hard. The contact with an eager retailer that understands the needs of the community adds to the local interaction and the survival of the medium.

So, if one of the major problems is a barrier in the form of an arbitrary minimum order policy that is actually counter productive, then it should be fixed. Maybe it will be fixed.

But, maybe our retailers have simply stopped believing. Nothing new there.

Cheers

Simon R Galley · Mar 22, 2007

Dear All,

Heard from Canada this morning, they are contacting our resellers to discuss the issues raised. Also as Mark said we have seen issues in Nova Scotia as well.

Yes we do class Canada as North America, but we obviously see it as a distinct market place on its own, its why we have HARMAN marketing and technical people based in country.

Once again, thnaks for all the feedback

Simon. ILFORD photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Mike Té · Mar 22, 2007

Thanks, Simon.

I've seen your responses to other questions and sometimes concerns with Ilford products and have always been impressed.

I do hope you get frequent feedback about this very appreciated involvement on APUG.

Cheers.

Solinar · Mar 22, 2007

tmike said:
I have no problem with internet/mail order. There are a lot of great suppliers out there and their service is great. I do tend to patronize hometown grass-roots enterprises first, though. Whereas big-box retail and internet sales are here to stay, I give them a lower priority (and appreciate them when I do need to use them). We have to make a bigger effort than ever in our society to keep things face-to-face and personal.

My local full-line photo retailer has a good selection of Ilford paper, but does not not stock all of their chemistry. Still, I try to do as much business as I can with the store under the "shop from your neighbor philosophy".

Freestylephoto.com is less expensive and has a wider selection of chemistry. That said, it's much nicer to keep things face-to-face and personal in an increasingly impersonal society.

tom_bw · Mar 23, 2007

Eight Elm

PhotoJim said:
My retailer (Don's Photo) has a pretty good supply of Ilford stuff, and can get what I want reasonably quickly. The only problem I've had is getting postcard paper (which I got from Rob Skeoch instead).

Honestly, I don't care where I can get it from, as long as I can get it economically. We're getting to the point in the b&w world where, unless you live in a massive city, you have to plan ahead a bit about what you need.

I get to Eight Elm in Toronto once a year or so - it's a great little store. I try to buy something every time I go. I got some 4x5 sheet film holders last time since I had a ton of paper and chemistry. The time before I got some Forte paper (which I will miss now that it's gone).

Another note: On several occassions, I've mail ordered Bergger / Forte papers from Eight Elm. I just phone them up, tell them what I want and give my credit card info. In a few days, the goods arrive at my door! Shipping is very reasonably priced.

DaveOttawa · Mar 30, 2007

Ilford not dead in Ottawa

But, yes, at the retail store level there is not much available. I hear this complaint a lot in Ottawa.
I recently organised a bulk order to Rob Keoch (Big Camera Workshops) which worked out well, I can recommend that as an alternative for frustrated APUGers in "the Nations Capital".

Dave.

tom_bw · Apr 12, 2007

I just received an order from Photoco out of Pte.Claire. 100ft of HP5, 10 rolls of HP5 120, and 5 rolls Delta 100 120. Buying at the local Henry's in Ottawa would have cost $159.42 with PST/GST. The Photoco cost with shipping and GST was $132.07. A net saving of over $27! Delivery was fast also!

Yes, I would like to support local stores. But when the prices are what they are, I am more than happy to take my business elsewhere. In fact, perhaps this is the root of the problem - the prices are significantly higher to the point where not enough people buy here.

midlife crisis · Apr 13, 2007

Same problem in England

If it makes you feel any better I have the smae problem in England. High street retailers stock little or no darkroom materials. I have completely abandoned them in favour of mail order companies.

With £500 digital cameras becoming obsolete every 12 months why bother stocking darkroom stuff.

Good Luck finding a supplier

N

Removed Account · Apr 16, 2007

Simon, I'd like to thank you for your attention to this, and hope that it gets pushed until something happens. I am living in Nanaimo, BC, and to my knowledge there is only 1 place here to get chemistry, aside from the college, which only carries 1 developer and not fixer or stopbath or any other chems, strangely enough... I believe the one place, Westwind Photo, may have stopped carrying, but I must call to check. They also told me about a minimum order, if I remember correctly he said it was about $1000, it could be more, my memory is foggy on this. Even London Drugs told me to go to Victoria or Vancouver, or Courtenay, but as I don't have a car by the time I get there and back I would have no money for supplies! Again, thank you for looking in to this, hopefully something will come of it

Linhof-fan · Apr 30, 2007

tmike said:
Hi, Simon; Mike from Ottawa writing...

Ginn's will soon have no more darkroom stuff (they have no more papers). Henry's, being a big chain, keeps a couple of token boxes of papers and can order stuff in from Toronto, but they obviously don't care to keep up their analog section here in Ottawa. Galaxy seems to want to continue supporting analog photography.

Cheers.

With Vistek taking over Ginn's May 1st, it could be interesting to see what influence Toronto will have over the Ottawa store. More telling would be who they hire from Ginn's.

Ginn's was IMHO driven into the ground by bad decisions made by the top-heavy management. Vistek should watch the foxes within the hen house.

Linhof-fan · Apr 30, 2007

cafeharrar said:
Simon, I'd like to thank you for your attention to this, and hope that it gets pushed until something happens. I am living in Nanaimo, BC, and to my knowledge there is only 1 place here to get chemistry, aside from the college, which only carries 1 developer and not fixer or stopbath or any other chems, strangely enough... I believe the one place, Westwind Photo, may have stopped carrying, but I must call to check. They also told me about a minimum order, if I remember correctly he said it was about $1000, it could be more, my memory is foggy on this. Even London Drugs told me to go to Victoria or Vancouver, or Courtenay, but as I don't have a car by the time I get there and back I would have no money for supplies! Again, thank you for looking in to this, hopefully something will come of it

Wynit does have a $1,000 minimum for Canadian dealers. Liquid chemicals have other Canadian Government rules that makes it hard to ship cross border. The answer could be a Canadian warehouse to clear customs and other regs.

richard ide · May 1, 2007

I remember the convenience of Ilford's warehouse in Markham, and the great service. If I ran out of paper in the middle of a job, I could pick up a new roll with 1/2 hour notice.

Darrell · May 1, 2007

That is the advantage of having an importer and a warehouse in Canada. The chemistry and paper has already cleared. If I order chemicals they are shipped ground. My recent solution was to order Dektol, D-76 and Kodak Fixer as I could order a box (10 units) of each. I like choice though! We at Galaxy are watching Vistek to see what they do with Ginn's.

Daniel Grenier · May 1, 2007

Darrell said:
....We at Galaxy are watching Vistek to see what they do with Ginn's.

(Off topic for a sec) Did Vistek buy Ginn's ??? That'd be news to me... and say hi to Ali for me.

Darrell · May 2, 2007

Daniel Grenier said:
(Off topic for a sec) Did Vistek buy Ginn's ??? That'd be news to me... and say hi to Ali for me.

Ginn's will operate the lab, but as of May 1st Vistek will do the equipment sales.

cellison · May 6, 2007

Darrell said:
Ginn's will operate the lab, but as of May 1st Vistek will do the equipment sales.

That's news to me as well! I sure hope ppl like Frank and Nick are still there.

Chris

ps. I just found apug.org and this is my first post... hi

Darrell · Jun 27, 2007

Galaxy (Was: Ottawa)

Our Ilford order arrived, while not a huge shipment I did get in 4x5" FP-4, 8x10RC, and 11x14 RC paper. Delta 100/400, FP-4, HP-5, PanF, in both 35/120

Darrell · Jun 27, 2007

cellison said:
That's news to me as well! I sure hope ppl like Frank and Nick are still there.

Chris

ps. I just found apug.org and this is my first post... hi

Jerome is manager, Marc is Assistant Manager of Vistek Ottawa. I understand most of the Ginn's staff was hired by Vistek. However for how long? They don't have experience with the core product lines of Vistek...

Phillip P. Dimor · Jun 27, 2007

I used to work for a lab that ordered Ilford through Wynit, although based in the USA we'd order two cases of MGIV RC 25sht. packs, probably about 2000 sheets of paper every 4-6 months. We would however order quite a bit of Ilford 'Gallerie' inkjet paper.

Mike Té · Jun 28, 2007

Good to hear the good news, Darrell.

tom_bw · Oct 30, 2007

FYI - I was just in Henry's (Kanata). It was a long time since I have seen so much black and white stuff! A full complement of film (Kodak and Ilford) in both 120 and 35mm, as well as the more common chemicals / papers. What was surprising was a batch of Kentmere RC paper, presumably resulting from the recent Ilford / Kentmere merger.

Ilford dying (if not dead) in Ottawa. Simon Galley....

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