No Film Sold at Costco

pgomena · Apr 14, 2009

I needed some film to shoot my kids' track meet the other day. I happened to be in Costco, so I looked for the familiar Fuji packages they always carry. Not there.

The helpful customer service person I talked to said they hadn't carried film for some time "because people don't use it any more. You can still get it processed here, though, and we do make prints from film and digital files."

This is the greater Portland, Oregon area. I guess Costco just didn't sell enough of a volume of film to be worth their while.

Peter Gomena

marylandphoto · Apr 14, 2009

Film as a consumer market in the digital age really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, so this is not surprising. But, like anyone else here, I don't like it when there's less film available somewhere. That being said, they still carry VHS tapes at my local super market, so I hope the film stays there for awhile.

mabman · Apr 14, 2009

It's my understanding film at Costco wasn't (or hasn't been for a while) a regularly stocked item to begin with - last year my local Costco *started* carrying film again, and the photo processing people indicated they only got it in because of demand, it's not something they would have regularly carried. So, I think it varies by market.

Robert Brummitt · Apr 14, 2009

Go to Ritz Cameras. They are having a close out sale of film and other goodies!

Photo Engineer · Apr 14, 2009

Wegmans supermarket chain closed down their processing units in each store about 6 months ago. I reported on that in another thread. They still sold single use cameras though. Recently, they took the single use cameras off the shelves. Now they have no film apparent anywhere in the store.

Our largest local photo store only had about 3 rolls of 35mm film on the shelf last month when I was there buying supplies.

PE

Anscojohn · Apr 14, 2009

For some years, some years back, the Kirkland "house brand" film was re-badged AGFA. It was great stuff. Alas......

Uncle Bill · Apr 14, 2009

Costco in my part of the world stopped stocking film a couple years back. Sad but not surprised.

2F/2F · Apr 14, 2009

Too bad, but I would not count it out. Costco buys enormous lots of random odd stuff whenever a profitable deal arises. They may carry film again at some point, if a deal arises on a huge lot of Fuji, Kodak, Ferrania, Solaris, etc.

On the other hand, for some odd reason, every CVS I have ever patronized stocks Tri-X 400 in 24-exp. rolls, and quite a few of them have had Kodachrome 64. Go figure! They all carry 100, 200, 400, and 800 consumer emulsions, Kodak C-41 b/w film, and Kodak Elite Chrome. I guess they must send the non-C-41 stuff out to Fujifilm U.S.A. for processing.

However, I would say you should do us all a favor and start patronizing one of the few shops that specialize in analog materials, or that at least carry the full line of Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford products. Freestyle is my number one favorite, and there are some other shops that specialize in film and alt. processes. Samys, B&H, and other pro shops carry a full line of Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford as well. Time to condense our collective buying power into the shops that are specialized and knowledgeable as to our specific needs and desires, IMO, while forgetting the places like drug stores and volume discount warehouses that simply carry film as an amateur consumer product.

ajuk · Apr 14, 2009

Ha I remember seeing film in my local Costco last time I was in there (about a year ago) even though I hadn't seen it there before. I actually live in sight of one, I live in site of one but I am not a member. It was quite expensive though so it wasn't for me.

BradS · Apr 14, 2009

I don't get over to Costco much but, it has always seems to me that nothing at Costco is a regularly stocked item...sometimes they have stuff and sometimes they don't. Last time I was there they had a whole shit load of Kodak color print film in special pacakging featured near the entrance.....but no maglites. The place is in an ever changing state.

Ektagraphic · Apr 14, 2009

CVS still has some good film choices...better than my local photo shop!

2F/2F · Apr 14, 2009

Ektagraphic said:
CVS still has some good film choices...better than my local photo shop!

Wow. Pretty hard to call that a "photo shop" if it is outdone by a chain drugstore. I have always been curious as to why CVS has such a better selection than your standard drugstore, or other consumer film supplier. Perhaps someone high up in the company is an old-school photographer, and just can't abide by a photo counter that does not stock the American classics Kodachrome and Tri-X!

Jeff Kubach · Apr 14, 2009

Where I live Costco hasn't sold film for a year or two but they still process it inexpensively.

Jeff

pgomena · Apr 15, 2009

Yes, 2F/2F, I patronize Freestyle and B&H and Photographer's Formulary as often as possible, and occasionally one of the two remaining decent-sized independent photo stores in town. I needed a batch of fast consumer film "now", and happened to be at Costco. I live in the 'burbs and it's a fair poke to the main stores in Portland. I agree we all should patronize the major marketers.

Peter Gomena

k_jupiter · Apr 15, 2009

2F/2F said:
Wow. Pretty hard to call that a "photo shop" if it is outdone by a chain drugstore. I have always been curious as to why CVS has such a better selection than your standard drugstore, or other consumer film supplier. Perhaps someone high up in the company is an old-school photographer, and just can't abide by a photo counter that does not stock the American classics Kodachrome and Tri-X!

Outside of Keeble and Shuate in Palo Alto, I haven't been in a photo shop in years that could outdo my neighborhood Walgreens. It's all consumer color stuff, nothing I buy unless I want to take the Zorkie out for an afternoon with the kids, but still... Photo shops around here (with the preceding exception) kinda suck. I went into a Wolfs a couple years ago and looked at the racks of cards advertising "film" for your digital camera. <Rolls eyes>

Whatever, most film these days is through Freestyle or K&S.

tim in sanjose

C A Sugg · Apr 15, 2009

Some of the "Dollar" stores used to. I picked up some Konica C-41 a while back at one of them. (so much for that brand) But they seem to have stopped. I bought a well in date Fujicolor400 5 pack for $4.50 at Staples last year, I think. But again, that was close-out. Haven't seen it since.
Has anyone tried the "salvage" shops?
The weather is supposed to be decent this Saturday. I'm thinking of checking out the Bellwood Flea Market. Who knows, somebody might have a case of usable APX100 in 120 for next to nothing.

terryw · Apr 15, 2009

My Costco still had Fuji 400 and 800 in 7 roll cartons. But, they used to carry Kodak and Fuji. I haven't seen Kodak in Costco in a long time (years). In a pinch, I find film at other big box stores. Target, WalMart, Rite-Aid, Savon, Longs, CVS still carry film. As 2F said, go to one of the venerable on-line retailers (B&H, Adorama, Freestyle). They have a great selection and will probably support us hobbyists for many years to come (fingers-crossed). For me, Freestyle is excellent (http://www.freestylephoto.biz/index.php). Lots and lots of choice. Really good deals on good B&W film; and in bulk.

dracblau · Apr 15, 2009

The dollar store around the corner from me currently stocks 24 exposure 200 speed film of unknown origin, and they had Samsung 36 exposure 200 speed film about a year ago.

I don't expect too much from these films and use them to test recently aquired cameras before running more expensive film through them.

B&Wpositive · Apr 15, 2009

Jeff Kubach said:
Where I live Costco hasn't sold film for a year or two but they still process it inexpensively.

Jeff

Over here, it's been more like 3 or 4 years, maybe 5.

Robert Brummitt · Apr 15, 2009

"Outside of Keeble and Shuate in Palo Alto."

Yea! Keeble and shuchat! That was my favorite haunt long ago. I bought my RB-67 there. Terry Shuchat let me buy it on installments. I was just a kid then, only 20. I still have that camera and think fondly K&S. Do they still have the giant John Wimberley prints on the wall?
Hey Pete go to Ritz Camera. They were selling 4 rolls of Fuji 400 24 exposure pack for $8 something.

Toffle · Apr 15, 2009

dracblau said:
The dollar store around the corner from me currently stocks 24 exposure 200 speed film of unknown origin, and they had Samsung 36 exposure 200 speed film about a year ago.

I don't expect too much from these films and use them to test recently aquired cameras before running more expensive film through them.

I would occasionally buy "Likon" brand colour film at our local dollar store, and sometimes got good results, but I've learned that you get what you pay for. I have looked at too many prints regretting that I had wasted a good shot on bad film.

Cheers,

flatulent1 · Apr 15, 2009

I only ever bought film at the local semi-pro shop, but the last time I visited them their 'wall of film' was shockingly empty. Just a few rolls of nothing I wanted, no EPP, nothing else I recognized. The other local non-chain camera shop has turned into a greeting card and wrapping paper place with a few photo items in one corner; they still call themselves Ballard Camera. I haven't been to Glazer's downtown for a few years, they used to have a walk-in refrigerator, open to the public, with a HUGE batch of film. I'm almost afraid to see it now. These days I get all my film and chems from Freestyle if I can, B&H and Adorama if I must.

Ektagraphic · Apr 15, 2009

2F/2F said:
Wow. Pretty hard to call that a "photo shop" if it is outdone by a chain drugstore. I have always been curious as to why CVS has such a better selection than your standard drugstore, or other consumer film supplier. Perhaps someone high up in the company is an old-school photographer, and just can't abide by a photo counter that does not stock the American classics Kodachrome and Tri-X!

You can get Tri-X at CVS!

dracblau · Apr 15, 2009

As I mentioned, I only use the film I get at the dollar store to test out any antique cameras I might buy, otherwise I usually use Freestyle for my film needs. I'm lucky I live 20 minutes away from Freestyle. I have to control myself when I see the selection there...I've even found 127 film for my old Kodak brownies there, not that I would buy that very often, but at least there's the option.

steelydam · Apr 15, 2009

Just last week here in San Antonio my local Costco had 6 packs of 24 exposure Fuji 400 color film for $5 something. At that price, how can I not shoot color film?

No Film Sold at Costco

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