Is Your Local Photography Shop Running Out of Film - Paper - Chemicals ?

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

I have plenty of film, but I need to get some more rapid fixer- which my camera store doesn't sell anyway and has been out on freestyle

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

No retailer with a low markup overall is going to survive very long, especially now, unless they have an exceptionally low location lease. They might have to be careful about the price of certain obvious items. But probably none of us go to such places due to lower price, but for convenience and to support local jobs. But due to the preponderance toward lower and lower paid people, with less product knowledge, and only catering to current fads in photography, there is quite a business risk involved in the long haul. It has caused me to look to big internet sources first and routinely, just because I can't waste the time trying to convince prior local suppliers why they should still maintain a solid darkroom department. The newer staff doesn't even understand the language. There is a good option across the Bay in SF itself, but that, as close as it is per miles, can be an awfully hectic drive due to real world daily traffic chaos.

My assumption is that local stores would have to cater to pros who need personal attention for at least some of their business. Regular retail is hard as non-pros tend to use the web.

One caveat about that. I've ordered batteries and film from Amazon and in both cases, it was dated. I won't do that again. The stuff lies around and/or games are being played by the sellers. I'd rather order from people like B&H who have a reputation to protect.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I got tired of running out to local stores and being told: we don't have that right now but we can order it.

I call ahead and have them set my order aside.

 

[markjwyatt]

I call ahead and have them set my order aside.

Freestyle or Sammys?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Freestyle or Sammys?

Either or both, but usually FreeStyle.

 

[lantau]

I don't have a local shop for film supplies in our small town. I work in Munich (big city) and there are two shops having a decent selection of film. There are probably some other small ones. And Calumet used to sell film at their Munich branch in 2016, but it looked like they were selling off what they had. Maybe they are stocking film again, now, with the revival going on.

But it is inconvenient for me to go out of my way to visit them (after work), and I only go there if I really need a certain film right now. Which rarely happens.

But I just noted that the big three online film shops in Germany have run out of 35mm Kodak Colour negative almost entirely. Some Portra 160 left at one, or two of them. Apparently the shortages of consumer film have driven people into raiding the Kodak Pro Range. Even Portra 800 is gone. And this is more expensive, now, than Velvia was 2-3 years ago, when people were already complaining it is unaffordable.

I also noted that Fuji E6 sheet film is more or less sold out. In 35mm and 120 every E6 stock is available.

 

[gone]

Walmart has plenty of stuff

It's amazing, sometimes they have better deals than Freestyle. Lord knows where they get it, it's surely sold by 3rd party vendors, but the Ilford Delta film here is priced right, and free shipping! One of these days I'll try ordering from them. Maybe this evening, I want that Ilford film, now that I saw it.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DELTA-10...475Fbsets&athancid=null&athposb=0&athena=true

 

[Henning Serger]

I don't have a local shop for film supplies in our small town. I work in Munich (big city) and there are two shops having a decent selection of film. There are probably some other small ones. And Calumet used to sell film at their Munich branch in 2016, but it looked like they were selling off what they had. Maybe they are stocking film again, now, with the revival going on.

They are probably also selling film in their local store in Munich: They have opened a new local store in Hannover just last autumn, and are selling film there (and Hannover is much smaller than Munich). They are also selling film online, just like all of their other products.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[SchwinnParamount]

The Seattle area has three local stores:

• Glazers in Seattle (south Lake Union district). They have all the film, paper, and chemicals you'd need.
• Kenmore Camera in Kenmore (north end of Lake Washington). I don't know their supply status
• Robis Camera in Lakewood. They used to have a full supply of everything you needed. They still develop color and black and white film but their printing is optical. They have only a small supply of the basic darkroom chemicals and just a bit of paper now. Their retail sales floor is 99%
  digital. They don't carry any new film cameras but still have a few used cameras and lenses around.

 

[benjiboy]

My local photographic shop is a professional dealer, the majority of whose customers only shoot digital, the only paper they sell is inkjet paper, and they don't sell photo chemicals.

 

[markjwyatt]

The Seattle area has three local stores:

• Glazers in Seattle (south Lake Union district). They have all the film, paper, and chemicals you'd need.
• Kenmore Camera in Kenmore (north end of Lake Washington). I don't know their supply status
• Robis Camera in Lakewood. They used to have a full supply of everything you needed. They still develop color and black and white film but their printing is optical. They have only a small supply of the basic darkroom chemicals and just a bit of paper now. Their retail sales floor is 99%
  digital. They don't carry any new film cameras but still have a few used cameras and lenses around.

I was up there a couple times late last year and stopped in at the Shot On Film Store (picked up some HP5+). They have a huge number of used cameras and lenses and a pretty decent supply of film (Ilford, Kodak, Foma, Shanghai, Fuji, Cinestill, maybe others). Nice people too.

https://www.shotonfilmstore.com/

 

[MattKing]

Interesting - Shot on Film is sort of on the way between Glazer's and Kenmore Camera .

 

[BobUK]

"Local Photography Shop"
I have heard about them in history, and old photography books.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

I was up there a couple times late last year and stopped in at the Shot On Film Store (picked up some HP5+). They have a huge number of used cameras and lenses and a pretty decent supply of film (Ilford, Kodak, Foma, Shanghai, Fuji, Cinestill, maybe others). Nice people too.

https://www.shotonfilmstore.com/

How about that! Not even the other camera stores around here know about/are willing to acknowledge "Shot On Film". I'm gunna have to go pay them a visit.

 

[abruzzi]

• Kenmore Camera in Kenmore (north end of Lake Washington). I don't know their supply status

I'm not local, but I've found some great deals on used cameras from Kenmore. I got my Technikardan 45 from them a couple years ago for a GREAT price. I was very pleased with their service.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I thought what WalMart was dealing with in volume these days was Covid infections. The local camera store won't even let you in without a mask, temperature check, and use of hand sanitizer right than and there first. But I'm quite certain no chain outlet is going to carry any film I happen to use anyway. I'm waiting for a porch package sheet film shipment right now. I stock up the freezer in advance of projected usage. I'll fill in some roll film from the local store in a day or two - want to help keep them in business too.

 

[DF]

Walmart has plenty of stuff

It's amazing, sometimes they have better deals than Freestyle. Lord knows where they get it, it's surely sold by 3rd party vendors, but the Ilford Delta film here is priced right, and free shipping! One of these days I'll try ordering from them. Maybe this evening, I want that Ilford film, now that I saw it.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DELTA-10...475Fbsets&athancid=null&athposb=0&athena=true

I can't believe what I'm seeing - Walmart - for Film Photography? Never in all my years shooting Film did Walmart come to mind. I must add, grudgingly, that I can't believe the prices. I'm tempted....

 

[George Mann]

Walmart is the new Amazon.