Jessops film availability

I've heard much grumbling about Jessops over the years here at APUG, and how all they sell now are point and shoots, and forget about buying anything else.

I was recently on holidays in London and was running low on Delta 100 in 120 for my Fuji rangefinder. I was walking from the British Museum down New Oxford Street, and saw a Jessops. Just for amusement and faint hope, I went in. The main floor pretty much looked like what others had described all digital point and shoots, and little cases for them. Then I noticed the stairs and the sign over them saying "extended range downstairs".

Down the stairs I went, and here was the good stuff. A display of Manfrotto tripods, high end slr's (not film, but that's not too surprising) a good selection of canon L glass, and right in front of me, a film counter with fridge in behind!

They had the full Ilford range in 35mm and 120, as well as sheet film in the fridge, both Ilford and Fujichrome, with some 4x5 Polaroid thrown in for good measure. The guy behind the counter was knowledgeable too, and I was soon on my way with my film stocks replenished.

I was pleasantly surprised, and pleased to be able to get what I needed.

A nice experience for you. They have a fridge full of film in a little place called Leamington Spa as well and a good on line order and collect from store system. They may just have turned the corner and not a moment too soon. Jessops were looking into the financial abyss a little while ago. They may still be now but at least they may have at last recognised the difference between the edge which represents potential safety and the abyss into which you step without any hope of return.

pentaxuser

That store is their flagship shop; the basement used to be stuffed full of darkroom and printing supplies, as well as a very good stock of medium and large format kit. Then came the digital stampede.

pentaxuser said:

They may just have turned the corner and not a moment too soon. Jessops were looking into the financial abyss a little while ago. They may still be now but at least they may have at last recognised the difference between the edge which represents potential safety and the abyss into which you step without any hope of return.

pentaxuser

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That's a very eloquent description. I've seen the situation briefly a few years ago, where just seeing a couple of stores, it was obvious where Jessops were placing their priorities. It is a great thing that they seem to have recognised this.

I'm glad to hear of this good experience. I walked into a Jessops last September (it was in London but I don't remember where; I came upon it serendipitously) but there was precious little that interested me. Grays of Westminster was a much more interesting place, even though it isn't a place to buy film. (I bought an E screen for my Nikon F5 there.)

Here at home, I've gotten in the habit of ordering my film by mail. I imagine I'd probably do the same if I lived in the UK.

went into my local Jessops in Aberystwyth and they had 1 box of HP5+ in 5x4, after explaining to the young lady what it was I baught it, that was teusday last, today Monday went in to see if their stock had been replaced, not yet but we can get it for you by tommorow, there was some in central stores. Paid for it and will see if it arrives. In fairness the manager is a decent bloke, it's the company that sucks.

Regards Paul.

Well Jessops supposedly offer a 2 day service for ordering film (professional service), but when I needed to order urgently 3 weeks ago I was told it would take at least 4 weeks.

Jessop's publicised the service in a Press release, printed in the BJP a few weeks ago, it shows what scant regard they really have for film photographers.

Ian

They are like the "curate's egg" - good in parts. When they were selling off Ilford paper at bargain basement prices - it was the leftovers from the Ilford student offer - I ordered one evening and it was at my branch of choice the next day. Other Ilford products such as DDX and fixer have been two days max for delivery or one working day if, in fairness, you count an evening order as belonging to the next day.

pentaxuser

Ian Grant said:

Well Jessops supposedly offer a 2 day service for ordering film (professional service), but when I needed to order urgently 3 weeks ago I was told it would take at least 4 weeks.

Jessop's publicised the service in a Press release, printed in the BJP a few weeks ago, it shows what scant regard they really have for film photographers.

Ian

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Well, if it makes you feel any better, I ordered a batch of film from Calumet last night. 100 sheets of 4x5 FP4+, FP4+ 35mm bulk roll, and Fuji FP100C 4x5 are all anticipated to ship in "2-3 weeks." (Of course, when I placed the order all bar the FP100C were shown as shipping in 2 days.)

To be honest, every time I visit Calumet's UK site there seems to be less and less film or film related gear .

Without wishing to resurrect this thread, in the interests of balance I feel duty bound to just add that although Calumet said 2-3 weeks, in fact everything bar the FP100C has actually been delivered within 1 week (albeit in 3 separate deliveries on different days). (The FP100C45 is the one I would expect to take a while, so I'm not grumbling about that.)