It is kind of true... your local independent store probaly can't buy direct from Kodak like he can from Ilford, or most of the other distributors.
He has to buy from a re-seller like Treck-Hall. There's a couple of them out there. Anyway by the time the re-seller adds their margin to the product it's no longer competitive with a large store like Henry's that can buy direct.
I know when I called Kodak to see if I could get sheet film to sell at my on-line store the lady who answered the phone just kinda laughed and gave me the number of a re-seller.
when I contacted the re-seller to buy the film the mark up was so high I could buy it retail cheaper than I could get it wholesale.
Finally I was able to work a deal with a store that could still buy the film direct.
It's a weird way to run a business when people can't get your products.... yet profits are down.
go figure.
Rob Skeoch
www.bigcameraworkshops.com
