Ordering from Freestyle.

[Mike Kennedy]

Any canuck's order from Freestyle? Your experiences please.

Thanks

 

[Nick Zentena]

I ordered quite often in the past.

Just clicked on the website then waited for the postie.

 

[BWKate]

I ordered some Kentmere fiber paper and I got it delivered to my door in a week. They have an awesome catalogue.

 

[johnnywalker]

A few times, via the internet. In each case I get an email saying that because my credit card is not issued in the US, it will take some time to get the $ approved, and it may not even be possible. The first time this happened I phoned them, they apologized and said the item had already been shipped.
It appears this email goes out to anyone who orders with a non-US credit card, but in my case at least Freestyle has always shipped the item promptly in spite of what the email says.
Other than that little glitch, I've found them great to deal with. A phone order would get around the glitch I'm sure.
Anything ordered from the US takes a week or ten days to get to me, I'm sure because of Canada Customs.

 

[PhotoJim]

I've ordered from Freestyle probably three times.

Shipping is not the fastest on Earth but it's reasonable. Usually I get my package in about a week to ten days.

Order early enough that you can live with that (if it's film or other things you know you'll need). The prices and the otherwise good service make the slow shipping worth enduring.

 

[Alan9940]

I've ordered from Freestyle many times without a single issue. Recommended.

 

[juan]

I live in the US and it takes a week to 10-days to receive my Freestyle orders, too.
juan

 

[mabman]

I ordered about 1.5 years ago, and the only shipping option to Canada (or at least where I am, which isn't exactly the middle of nowhere) at the time was FedEx or UPS (don't remember which). I complained due to the criminal brokerage fees, but was told that was the only way they were set up for international shipping.

I guess that's changed - I placed an order last night (various things I can't get locally), and the shipping method was automatically USPS. I got a confirmation email this morning - I think I'm going to send them a note thanking them for the USPS shipping option.

 

[areaeleven]

I'm in your neck of the woods Mike (I'm in Halifax) and ordered from Freestyle a month or two ago (when the Canadian dollar was at 1.07). An enlarger lens, brick of film, some odds and ends. Not a hint of a problem, was shipped next day and got here in a week. I was happy with it.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Freestyle it is!!!!!!!
Thanks everyone.

 

[srs5694]

I live in the US and it takes a week to 10-days to receive my Freestyle orders, too.

That's my experience, too. I live in Rhode Island, and you're in Florida, so we're both pretty far from Freestyle in California. Ground shipping from the West to the East coast will take a while. Some parts of Canada are closer to Freestyle than either of us are, so customs inspections could account for some of the shipping time mentioned by others. If shipment is by ground, though, I'd expect any shipment to Canada to take at least a few days, even if there's no customs bottleneck.

 

[photo8x10]

I ordered some items two weeks ago, everythings well ok. I live in Italy, and the order arrived me in 10-14 days as they told me.
A very good experience, I recommended them, and they have a good catalogue.

Stefano

 

[Nick Zentena]

Stefano what fees did you have to pay? VAT? Anything else?
Thanks

 

[Snapshot]

I've ordered from Freestyle on a number of occassions. So far, there hasn't been any problems, which is good because I live in Canada. I recommend them.

 

[jeroldharter]

Freestyle is in the Los Angeles area and shipping takes a little longer to get to me in Wisconsin. You might check out Calumet, based in Chicago. I have no international shipping experience but the service and shipping are great. I often get my order in 2 days with regular shipping. Of course, their darkroom product selection is not as good as Freestyle and they no longer make a nice printed catalog. Freestyle is excellent to work with.

 

[photo8x10]

Nick I paid a fee to Poste Italiane, but not expensive as sometimes happen, I use a slow and chepear method to ship my order in Italy.
The Italian fees should be the sum of customs+VAT, so the amount of the fee depends of the order amount.

Stefano

 

[Krockmitaine]

I ordered once and have only nice words
Recommended
Marc

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

No issues from my side, except that the minimum order encourages me to spend... I try to limit my orders to stuff I really can't find easily in Canada (litho film, Rollei films, certain eastern european papers). Shipping is fast, not too expensive, and I never had border issues.

 

[mwdake]

Originally Posted by juan
I live in the US and it takes a week to 10-days to receive my Freestyle orders, too.

I too am in the US, Florida.
When I order from Freestyle I use the cheapest shipping option, UPS Ground, and it usually only takes 5 days.
I orderded last week on late Sunday PM and my order arrived on Friday of the same week; pretty good I think.
Their Ground shipping is cheap and flat rate no matter how many items, this is better than many other sites I have tried.

 

[nick mulder]

I order about once a year into New Zealand from them - big big packages ... No probs.

 

[davido]

Warning to Canadians: stay clear of UPS

I ordered about 1.5 years ago, and the only shipping option to Canada (or at least where I am, which isn't exactly the middle of nowhere) at the time was FedEx or UPS (don't remember which). I complained due to the criminal brokerage fees, but was told that was the only way they were set up for international shipping.

I guess that's changed - I placed an order last night (various things I can't get locally), and the shipping method was automatically USPS. I got a confirmation email this morning - I think I'm going to send them a note thanking them for the USPS shipping option.

You must of received your shipment through UPS. they are notorious for charging brokerage fees for items crossing the border into Canada, even if there isn't any duty!!
I will not order from the US if the company only uses UPS. It's a total crime.

-david

 

[PhotoJim]

You must of received your shipment through UPS. they are notorious for charging brokerage fees for items crossing the border into Canada, even if there isn't any duty!!
I will not order from the US if the company only uses UPS. It's a total crime.

-david

It's only a problem if the shipper uses UPS Standard. There are no brokerage fees with the premium UPS shipment options. KEH uses UPS on its shipments to me and I don't pay any duty. (I also get the package the day after they ship it, which is pretty amazing. I am paying for it, but next-day shipment is surprisingly affordable compared to standard shipment plus brokerage fees.)

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

It's only a problem if the shipper uses UPS Standard. There are no brokerage fees with the premium UPS shipment options. KEH uses UPS on its shipments to me and I don't pay any duty. (I also get the package the day after they ship it, which is pretty amazing. I am paying for it, but next-day shipment is surprisingly affordable compared to standard shipment plus brokerage fees.)

Now there's something to remember... I am always scandalized by UPS's extortion, and I ask for shipping with USPS with Freestyle and KEH whenever I can.

The one time I regretted using USPS shipping was when I ordered my Nikon FM2n with motor drive, two lenses, and other bits from KEH. It was a rather expensive order, and it took forever to arrive. I must have driven everybody around me nuts with my anxiety. It actually took me a few days to get over the stress, no kidding!

 

[copake_ham]

One of the "unsung heroes" in the shipping biz is USPS.

They have done an amazing job turning the old Parcel Post system into a 21st C. operation.

It's partly because they teamed-up with FedEx for their Priority Mail service (sorry, Canadians, only a domestic US option) but also because they (finally) adopted a "customer-friendly" culture.

I sometimes sell ham radio gear on eBay and nowadays, will only use USPS. Partly for my my convenience - but also because they've become very reliable. That's why they are now the "preferred shipper" on eBay.

I hope KEH, Freestyle etc. get the message soon and stop giving you folk up there grief with UPS brokerage rip offs!

 

[paxette]

I hope KEH, Freestyle etc. get the message soon and stop giving you folk up there grief with UPS brokerage rip offs!

I ordered something from collectible cameras/ritz last week and they wanted to send it via UPS. I balked. They had no clue that UPS charges Canadians ridiculous brokerage fee's so they sent my parcel another way. There's a class action lawsuit in BC (hmm ... quick googling shows there's one in Ontario and Quebec as well) against UPS and their brokerage fee's but I doubt much will come of it. It's been a problem for a long time.

I have nothing but nice things to say about Freestyle. Last year USPS held up a parcel from them and I received a notice in the mail saying I could pick it up in Seattle (wth!?) I called the post office in Seattle but Freestyle had already sorted out the problem for me.

I almost fell over when I got one of my packages 4 days (air mail) after I ordered it, typically it takes a week.