Ilford priced to leave Japan

[pentaxuser]

N.Y vs Tokyo
Ilford DD-X: $17.95 vs $66.14 (3.7x)
Microphen: $6.50 vs $31.36 (4.8x)
Rapid Fixer: $9.90 vs $21.56 (2.2x)

Well at those differences you'd need to be a diehard Ilford chemicals lover to pay for them

If Ilford are aware of these differences then I am sure it is very concerned and unless the Ilford buying public in Japan are all diehards( delusional at these prices would not be an exaggeration IMO) then sales will surely suffer.

It it were my business and not Pemberstone's and I thought that I had distributors who were liable to lose me a lot of sales and a reputation for pricing fairness, I'd take steps to change things

pentaxuser

 

[RattyMouse]

N.Y vs Tokyo
Ilford DD-X: $17.95 vs $66.14 (3.7x)
Microphen: $6.50 vs $31.36 (4.8x)
Rapid Fixer: $9.90 vs $21.56 (2.2x)

Well, the title of this thread is apt, as with those prices, Ilford WILL leave the Japanese market. $60 for a bottle of DD-X??!!??

If Ilford cannot bring down these prices then they deserve to lose the business that they surely will.

 

[RattyMouse]

That's fine and Dandy, if Fujifilm was actually making film instead of axing their product line. Where else are customers going to get their film supply ? And don't tell me to use ISO 50 and 100 only. It ain't enough. I love to use HP5+ because I can easily push and pull it for the effects I want....

There are many, many Fujifilm photographic chemicals available in Japan. Not so much film, but lots of paper and chemicals.

 

[ericdan]

No one ever claimed they have no right to do that.
I said from my very first post that I have a solution for myself.

 

[mooseontheloose]

It's not a complaint about why we can't get cheap film and chemicals in Japan (that has never been the case anyway), it's about why there was a sudden increase in prices (two to four-fold) that seemed to have no explanation. People get upset at 10% increases, we are dealing with a lot more than that here.

Ilford used to be priced fairly similar to other comparable products, however last year it literally priced itself outside the budgets of many darkroom users which is not what many of us want, despite the fact that there are cheaper alternatives here.

 

[dreamingartemis]

There are many, many Fujifilm photographic chemicals available in Japan. Not so much film, but lots of paper and chemicals.

True, but we mainly use film here. The price differences are quite staggering. It has gotten to the point I've had to stock up on film before coming into Japan in November.

Having said that, there is still something wonderful and exciting about photographing in Japan

 

[RattyMouse]

True, but we mainly use film here. The price differences are quite staggering. It has gotten to the point I've had to stock up on film before coming into Japan in November.

Having said that, there is still something wonderful and exciting about photographing in Japan

Agreed. There's no better place in the world to have a camera and a handful of film than Japan. I adore that country and pine for my next visit.

 

[ericdan]

ok, I am out of luck now.
My NY retailer stopped shipping chemicals.
Luckily I ordered in bulk just a few weeks ago.
But Ilford, you're probably gonna feel this one.

 

[ericdan]

That Microphen looks like it's been sitting there for a while.

 

[Lachlan Young]

ok, I am out of luck now.
My NY retailer stopped shipping chemicals.
Luckily I ordered in bulk just a few weeks ago.
But Ilford, you're probably gonna feel this one.

Fotoimpex, Freestyle, many others will ship chemicals worldwide.

 

[Anon Ymous]

That Microphen looks like it's been sitting there for a while.

View attachment 168003

Sorry for being off topic, but that Microphen box says that it contains (among others) p-Methylaminophenol sulphate and Sodium Chloride.

 

[AgX]

That Microphen looks like it's been sitting there for a while.

View attachment 168003

Ilford is on the sunny side!

 

[BetterSense]

When I went to Tokyo in 2014, I remember buying Ilford film for local consumption because it was the cheapest at that time compared to TMY, and there is no Fuji 400 speed film anymore. At that time it was cheap enough to buy there and save lugging film from across the globe, and not worry about xrays, but it looks like if I return, I should plan to bring my film with me.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

308 Yen for a 120 roll of Acros is pretty cheap. I'll have to stock up on it when I'm over in March. I'll buy SFX over here for sure, though!!

 

[mooseontheloose]

308 Yen for a 120 roll of Acros is pretty cheap. I'll have to stock up on it when I'm over in March. I'll buy SFX over here for sure, though!!

Not only for the price - it always seems to be short-dated or expired whenever I want to buy some (SFX, not Acros).

 

[miha]

That Microphen looks like it's been sitting there for a while.

View attachment 168003

Produced in 2012 and labeled wrongly as pointed out by Anon.

 

[benjiboy]

If the O.P is so keen on Ilford products, he should move back to civilization

 

[RattyMouse]

If the O.P is so keen on Ilford products, he should move back to civilization

If the choice is live in Japan or use Ilford products, I choose live in Japan every time.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Japan has many good reasons (and bad) to live there and if I had been single I would have stayed! Nice going back every couple of years!

 

[ericdan]

well, I am single and in Tokyo...

 

[mooseontheloose]

One of the reasons I returned to Japan is because I was and am single.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Start a family and your whole life is flipped upside down!

 

[ericdan]

tell me about it....
I was gonna put a ring on Ilford, but then it turned out maintenance was too high.
After a lot of back and forth I am back with my Tri-Ex.