Ilford Price Increase ?

[david b]

I just got the new Freestyle catalog (Weston's on the cover) and nearly fell over when I saw the new pricing on Ilford paper.

The last catalog I received (David Burnett Spring 2007) had Multigrade Glossy fiber paper at 66.99 for 100 sheets of 8x10.

The new catalog has the same box at $81.99

If I did my math correctly, that is a 22 percent increase.

What happened?

 

[blaze-on]

Freestyle was bit behind on the last ilford price hike...they caught up..

WARMTONE is/was cheaper at Calumet last I ordered about as month ago

 

[Mick Fagan]

Don't forget that the value of your money is going through the floor. This is another part of the equation, that you have to take into account.

Recently I purchased some FP4+ sheet film from Badger, with the drop of your dollar, combined with the then rise of our dollar, I purchased the film at close to 50% of the price in Australia. That also took into account, delivery and banking charges.

Badger seems to have very keen pricing on certain items, by being selective and waiting for currency changes, one can sometimes win quite well.

Mick.

 

[tim_walls]

Don't forget that the value of your money is going through the floor. This is another part of the equation, that you have to take into account.

Yep, very true - the dollar is so weak compared to sterling at the moment it's beyond a joke. On the one hand, this is great for me - I've been ordering all my gear from the US and importing it myself over the last 9 months, because I save a fortune paying in dollars.

On the other hand, it must be a right bugger for a company like Ilford which sells stateside, as the weak dollar makes importing anything from the UK a decidedly less attractive prospect.

 

[Ian Grant]

At one time companies like Ilford had to bite the bullet when the US $ weakened and absorb the loss of profit, but with no US competitor any longer prices now vary more with the exchange rate. After all it's the same now for all manufacturers selling into the US market.

Ian

 

[Tom Kershaw]

82 USD for a box of 100 sheets 8x10 fibre is more in line with the cost over here in the UK.

Tom.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

FYI : Our prices went up in the USA and UK February 1st 2007 and the rest of the World went up on May 1st.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Mick Fagan]

Simon, it must be taking a long time to filter through below the equator.

I purchased 6 boxes of Ilford paper in February, 4 boxes in April and last Saturday I purchased another 2 boxes.

All the same paper, all the same price.

Perhaps I should go back and buy some more, before they eventually increase the price

Mick.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Mick,

Obviously these are price increase dates to distributors, we then have shipping time to them post the firct order after the increase, and then existing stock remains in resellers and they typically do not increase before they get the next order from the country distributor so it does take some time to work through.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Mick Fagan]

Thanks for that Simon, looks like I'll be heading off on Saturday and pick up a dozen or so boxes.

If it goes up about 5 % or so at retail, then I may as well buy paper, as the bank doesn't pay 5% interest, more like 1 to 1 1/2% at the moment.

Mick.

 

[gr82bart]

At the end of the day if we want to support film and the respective manufacturers, we have to put our money where our mouth is. Unfortunately, it's the cost of our commitment.

Regards, Art.

 

[Neanderman]

...they typically do not increase before they get the next order from the country distributor...

Would that the (American, at least) oil companies were so honest...!

Ed

 

[rusty71]

The U.S. dollar is becoming nearly a fiat currency. We'll be paying more for everything imported, except from China. I hear they're using lead for photo materials instead of silver....
Unfortunately I've had to cut back on my Ilford purchases. Foma is about all I can afford these days. But I still gladly pay top dollar for my Pan F and HP-5+!

 

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, you can "save" some money by buying a 250 sheet box from Calumet ($156 for 8x10 and $300 for 11x14). Inside the box are two envelopes with 125 sheets each.

Jon

 

[Papa Tango]

Don't Whine

Art said it best. And we should be reasonably content that a major manufacturer is interested in BW products. Like it or not, the demand is dropping and as a result of that and deflation of the dollar on the international market makes things more expensive.

 

[haris]

At my seller, Ilford MG FB, 8x10 (20x25cm) 100 sheet pack, 39 USD.

Interesting, ID11 for 1 liter of stock was (I think) 3,30 USD, now is 3,10 USD.

Didn't check other prices.

 

[w35773]

At my seller, Ilford MG FB, 8x10 (20x25cm) 100 sheet pack, 39 USD.
QUOTE]

39 Bucks!! I'm moving to Bosnia!

 

[haris]

But, then transport prices (up to kg):

5 kg 31 EUR
10 kg 42 EUR
15 kg 52 EUR
20 kg 63 EUR

transport prices only, without export custom (seller country custom) fees,

and to all add 28 percents for my country (import country) custom/tax

You know, in my country nobody import/sell this material, I must import everything from other country(ies) for myself...

 

[tim_walls]

At my seller, Ilford MG FB, 8x10 (20x25cm) 100 sheet pack, 39 USD.

Interesting, ID11 for 1 liter of stock was (I think) 3,30 USD, now is 3,10 USD.

Didn't check other prices.

I think the chemicals are actually manufactured under license in the US, aren't they (I know the under license bit, I'm sure at least one of my bottles has a made-in-USA on it, but that could just be my faulty memory!)? If so the changing $ rate would have less impact presumably.

Another reason for film/paper to go up more than chemistry would be silver. Simon mentioned at the factory tour (and it stands to reason anyway) that the price of silver was one of the main costs involved in emulsion production.

Silver prices hit (for recent years) record highs in 2006 if the data I've found on the web is anything to go by - $14/ounce in December '06 compared to $6, $6.5, $8.5 for the previous three years. Obviously picking December is rather unscientific, but the general trend was upwards peaking in 2006. I imagine that could have been part motivation for Ilford's price rises in January. (I've no idea how silver trading works; but presumably part of that rise will be accounted for in the weakening of the dollar - maybe trading in sterling is actually a benefit in this instance.)

The spot rate for silver actually appears to have drifted down a little this year, despite the continued weakening of the dollar, so that might be good for Ilford's bottom line. Of course if the stock markets continue to tank people may decide to invest in precious metals, which could see them start to rise again, I guess...


All pure speculation on my part, but interesting stuff nonetheless. Well, interesting to me. Your mileage may vary . Any experts who want to chime in would be welcome!