JandC photo or Freestyle?

[Joe Symchyshyn]

As to the sponsorship issue, Freestyle is now a corporate sponsor of APUG as well...


joe

 

[gma]

I have purchased from both J&C and Freestyle with excellent products and service from both. I prefer J&C because it is a small enterprise that primarily offers films and supplies to a specialty market - us. It seems that they are always looking for new products. Freestyle does the same to a degree, but has a more mainstream product line. I really appreciate the fact that Freestyle e-mails a confirmation of receipt of order and a shipper's tracking number that allows me to monitor the shipping progress (or lack of progress).

 

[Mongo]

J&C emailed me to let me know when my last order shipped; this was something new for them in my experience. No tracking number, but it is progress and their customer service is getting better every time I deal with them.

FreeStyle also has great customer service.

Personally, I'm buying any film I can get from J&C, and anything that J&C doesn't carry I get from FreeStyle. For now, that includes a lot of accessories as well as some more "mainstream" films. I appreciate both companies, and I'm glad they provide the service and products that they do.

Given the nosedive I've sensed in customer service and packaging from B&H, I'm glad there are such capable alternatives available.

 

[gma]

Freestyle has been around for a long time. I bought bargain priced paper and bulk 35mm film from Freestyle in the 60's from their incredibly ugly ads in Popular Photography. They made it possible for poor students to get into photography on a shoestring. Now they have a slick catalog and a vast website.

 

[Howard R. Tanger]

I have been a Freestyle customer for 30/35 years or so. A friend and I used to shop their old store on Western Ave. in Los Angeles (Hollywood). If you think their Pop. Photo. ads were ugly you should have seen their small shop.
Great for browsing and as you say, great prices too. Howard Tanger

Freestyle has been around for a long time. I bought bargain priced paper and bulk 35mm film from Freestyle in the 60's from their incredibly ugly ads in Popular Photography. They made it possible for poor students to get into photography on a shoestring. Now they have a slick catalog and a vast website.

 

[bmac]

Given the nosedive I've sensed in customer service and packaging from B&H, I'm glad there are such capable alternatives available.

Boy, I thought I was the only one getting poorly packaged items from B&H. I got a 50mm 1.8 lens from them today with no packing materials, just a big box with the small canon box floating around inside.

Brian

 

[Aggie]

Boy, I thought I was the only one getting poorly packaged items from B&H. I got a 50mm 1.8 lens from them today with no packing materials, just a big box with the small canon box floating around inside.

Brian

I got a large order last Wednesday, of Ilford pan F 50 and a few other small things, that was in a huge box with all sorts of those air pillows. The stuff could have easily fit with smome packing into a box half the size. Strange how some things get packaged at B&H.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I'm still waiting for some sign from B&H about the status of my last order... At least, they haven't charged my credit card.

 

[Foto Ludens]

Yeah, all this sounds familiar. I haven't had any notable problems with B&H, but have gotten broken merchandise and the wrong chemicals (what? you wanted 1250ml of Neutol WA, not 125ml of Rodinal? There's a difference?) from Adorama. All was fixed (they credited it back to me both times), but it strongly influenced my decision to use Freestyle for all my non-film needs (I'm still stocked up on film from JandC). Not to mention that freestyles shipping rates can blow both B&H and Adorama out of the water...

And to keep this in topic (to the original question), both JandC and Freestyle are fine stores. Buy from the one that has what you need, I guess.

 

[Howard R. Tanger]

...
Given the nosedive I've sensed in customer service and packaging from B&H, I'm glad there are such capable alternatives available.

I have ordered a number of items from B&H in recent weeks and all have been shipped in a timely manner with notification by email. All items have been well packed and received in good condition and I was able to track their progress on the UPS web site. No "nosedive" in customer service and packaging that I could sense. Howard

 

[bmac]

Boy, I thought I was the only one getting poorly packaged items from B&H. I got a 50mm 1.8 lens from them today with no packing materials, just a big box with the small canon box floating around inside.

Brian

UPDATE!

I got home from work, mounted the lens, and all I get is a whine when it trys to autofocus! Gotta love it!

 

[Aggie]

..you can eamil me when you get back. I can give the national sales film rep's email if youd like it, Ed Warner, KODAK

regards
DW
www.dr5.com

Lol, I gave it to them weeks ago. He was so nice at the LF conf. I had his card and a personal number. I just didn't pass on the personal number.

 

[Aggie]

BTW, everyone you should try dr5. His negatives he had at the conference were spectacular. My only problem is patience. I usually want the film developed as soon as I get in the door from shooting.