Is mailing new unexposed film via regular post safe?

[ryca]

Hi Guys!

I'm in Australia. I'm thinking of having a friend of mine in NYC buy me around 20 rolls of Ilford FP4/HP5 (for uni) and send to me here via a regular US Post Flat Rate International Box.

Is this safe for the film? I read something about XRay machines spoiling high ISO films (1600) but will I be safe with the above products (125 & 400)??

thanks in advance!

ps: yes the savings are substantial!

 

[DanielStone]

so far, i haven't had any problems so far (albeit i'm in the US).

try opting for a faster way of shipment though, just to minimize hot delivery vans, etc...

otherwise, I'm almost certain that the film I order from B&H gets zapped numerous times on its way to my doorstep. count however many times for me, and double it.

try it with 2 or 3 rolls, and take the slowest method of shipping, remember this is a test, and shoot, develop as you normally would. then you can say you have an accurate test.


best of luck,

Dan

 

[BradS]

Q: Is mailing new unexposed film via regular post safe?

A: here in the USA it is.

 

[bdial]

I have mailed film within the US, and received film mailed from Germany with no problems.
I think a few of your countrymen have purchased film from Freestyle successfully.

 

[aluk]

I have shipped Canada-US and vice-versa without any problems. I doubt very much that the film gets x-rayed enough times to damage it (if at all).

 

[ryca]

thanks all! i'll take the plunge then...

 

[Alexander Ghaffari]

Heat and humidity are my enemies when getting international shipments (sometimes salt, if shipped via transoceanic liner).

 

[OldBikerPete]

I have ordered film from the US of A (Badger) and had it delivered vis US post with no problems.

 

[polyglot]

Do it! I'm in AU as well and buy film from all over the globe (US, UK, EU, Asia), all of it shipped by normal post. No problems whatsoever, though I tend to be into slower films - the fastest I've shipped is HP5 and it was fine.

 

[Willie Jan]

In the past i suspect that my film was x-rayed (from japan to europe). The fresh film used had no visible problem. When i took the 3rd package after a year i got strange lines that i could not lead back to light leaks or other thingies. Maybe aging will help to show up these things.

I now buy film from the UK (to the netherlands) with regular post and did not have any problems.

 

[Timberwolf]

Seems like the consensus here is not to worry about ordering film or paper to be mailed to you, even during hot weather. I'm still a bit paranoid about doing it. My local store closed so now I have to drive 90 miles or order it shipped to me. With the price of fuel now overnight delivery might be something to consider. Am I being too careful about this? Is it a reasonable concern?

 

[albada]

Seems like the consensus here is not to worry about ordering film or paper to be mailed to you, even during hot weather. I'm still a bit paranoid about doing it. My local store closed so now I have to drive 90 miles or order it shipped to me. With the price of fuel now overnight delivery might be something to consider. Am I being too careful about this? Is it a reasonable concern?

I don't know where you are in the US, but Freestyle is on the west coast and B&H on the east coast. Ordering from whichever is closest will presumably yield the shortest journey. I'm in California, and I've had no problems with film bought from either Freestyle or B&H.

Mark Overton

 

[Timberwolf]

I don't know where you are in the US, but Freestyle is on the west coast and B&H on the east coast. Ordering from whichever is closest will presumably yield the shortest journey. I'm in California, and I've had no problems with film bought from either Freestyle or B&H.

Mark Overton

Yes Freestyle is closest to me. I don't like going to LA. Maybe I'll try their overnight shipment.

 

[bdial]

At 90 miles you should be within the overnight zone for any of the shippers with standard shipping. I certainly understand the concern, but generally film and paper are resilient to temporary temperature spikes.
It may also be worthwhile to consider that the materials your local shop sold likely were shipped to them via UPS or Fedex with “standard” shipping from wherever.

 

[AgX]

Seems like the consensus here is not to worry about ordering film or paper to be mailed to you,..

Well, I worry.
Already because of the chance of the parcel being X-rayed.

 

[Agulliver]

Parcel/post x-ray is a *completely* different process to taking the stuff with you on an aircraft. Dealers and manufacturers mail and courier photographic materials across the world.

Has anyone here on Photrio had any problems with photographic material they ordered via mail, UPS, Fedex or similar?

Equally photographic material in a container or truck for a couple of days has never done it any harm. It's manufactured on the understanding that it's going to be shipped from A to B before it can be looked after in a store....and then from B to C before you can look after it at home.

Sure, letting it sit in the front window of your car in Arizona all summer is a very bad idea. Having it flown or driven in a truck for a couple of days is not.

 

[bags27]

Within the States, I can't believe anyone has had a problem. I order from B&H, Freestyle and others all the time, and never a problem.

When I travel, rather than take unexposed film on the plane, I have one of the stores mail the film directly to the first place I'll be staying. Before I return home, I mail the exposed film back to myself. No problems so far.

 

[foc]

When I operated a minilab a few years ago, customers from all over Europe and the USA posted (mailed) their films to my lab for processing (C41 & B&W). Never once was there Xray damage to any of the films.

 

[BobD]

I pity those poor USPS X-ray technicians. All day long they sit in front of that screen beside the x-ray machine watching as billions of parcels go by. Their trembling hand poised over that big red button that stops the conveyor belt and sounds the alarm.

I hear their average life expectancy is only a few years.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I don't know where you are in the US, but Freestyle is on the west coast and B&H on the east coast. Ordering from whichever is closest will presumably yield the shortest journey. I'm in California, and I've had no problems with film bought from either Freestyle or B&H.

Mark Overton

For an international shipment to Australia, the US West Coast or East Coast is not necessarily closer. The mail will be sent to some sorting facility and then placed on aircraft. That might be Los Angeles (at LAX) or some other location. And no regular mail goes by ship any more.

 

[BrianShaw]

Yes Freestyle is closest to me. I don't like going to LA. Maybe I'll try their overnight shipment.

They have a warehouse in the OC if that is more to your liking.

 

[AgX]

Has anyone here on Photrio had any problems with photographic material they ordered via mail, UPS, Fedex or similar?

A photo dealer from the EU I know in person, and quite knowledgable, reported a film he sent overseas (to Australia) having been X-rayed.

And german customs X-ray parcels from abroad, as well from overseas as from within the EU. As they only do samples chances to be hit likely are low.
But my very own experiences with my parcels being customs "treated, included sitting at customs for several months, already were of being near to total loss, that I hardly would import a 1000' roll. Actually I avoid customs at all...

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Why not order directly from B&H?

 

[Timberwolf]

I don't think I'll worry about shipping film and paper any longer based on all or your experiences. Thanks for your input.

 

[Huss]

Yes Freestyle is closest to me. I don't like going to LA. Maybe I'll try their overnight shipment.

Make Freestyle a stop on a photo excursion/hike to the Griffith Park Observatory. It's almost next to it.