Price increase along the way

[Deleted member 88956]

I don't see any other option....unless we wish to see Ilford produce their film, paper and chemicals at a loss?

I don't think we know what Ilford is or isn't making on film sales. Multiple price increases in a short span does not bode well for corporate planning. Pandemic is an easy excuse, too easy in fact, as it not only appears like a don't-argue-with-it line of defense, but implies a requirement for sympathy. I said it earlier, airlines raped customers after 9/11 with similar excuse, only to go even further well after it no longer applied (not to the extent it actually did earlier on). In other words, if reasoning is true and there is no rest-of-the-story, prices will come down in a year or two. Do you really see it coming? Not unless film market changes to competitive and price starts cutting into sales in a measurable way. And I personally don't want China to become market leader either.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

I don't think we know what Ilford is or isn't making on film sales. Multiple price increases in a short span does not bode well for corporate planning. Pandemic is an easy excuse, too easy in fact, as it not only appears like a don't-argue-with-it line of defense, but implies a requirement for sympathy. I said it earlier, airlines raped customers after 9/11 with similar excuse, only to go even further well after it no longer applied (not to the extent it actually did earlier on). In other words, if reasoning is true and there is no rest-of-the-story, prices will come down in a year or two. Do you really see it coming? Not unless film market changes to competitive and price starts cutting into sales in a measurable way. And I personally don't want China to become market leader either.

I can reassure you that at Ilford they are very correct to the customer, I once had problems with a Panf+ roll. They asked to send it in which I did. Thet analyzed the problem and returned me 10 (yes, you read well) TEN different blank films worth £60 or more. In my entire life I've never experienced a customer service like that,
It's useless that I say to you that from that point on I'm sold on all Ilford products and that I will do all that is in my power to sponsor them. They are truly unique.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

I don't see any other option....unless we wish to see Ilford produce their film, paper and chemicals at a loss?

As I've said above, I will stand by Ilford no matter what.

 

[NB23]

Probably, I only shoot 2-4 rolls a week, and I don't collect cameras.

So it's peanuts at this stage for me.

And if Ilford was catering to you (and people like you), men-that-do-not-fear a 50% increase, they’d go bankrupt. But not without selling at least 4 rolls of film.

Joke aside, price increases, as well as being real, have a psychological effect. Going from 6,96$ to 7.38$ is quite steep, even if it’s only 6%. But people will gradually swallow it and accept it.

 

[BrianShaw]

But people will gradually swallow it and accept it.

Your bottom line is their marketing department’s bottom line. All the rest is just chatter.

 

[faberryman]

For you Ilford shooters out there, this is the perfect time to go digital.

And in a COVID related development, just wait until you get your new property tax bill. You are probably going to give up your house and move to a cardboard box under the overpass.

 

[Auer]

And if Ilford was catering to you (and people like you), men-that-do-not-fear a 50% increase, they’d go bankrupt. But not without selling at least 4 rolls of film.

Joke aside, price increases, as well as being real, have a psychological effect. Going from 6,96$ to 7.38$ is quite steep, even if it’s only 6%. But people will gradually swallow it and accept it.

Speaking only for myself, the difference is not even a cup of coffee a week.

But if you go thru a lot of large format I'm sure it adds up.
However, LF shooting is most likely not done by many that have severe financial restrictions, with some exceptions of course.

 

[removedacct1]

For you Ilford shooters out there, this is the perfect time to go digital.

And in a COVID related development, just wait until you get your new property tax bill. You are probably going to give up your house and move to a cardboard box under the overpass.

How is this helpful??”

 

[faberryman]

How is this helpful??”

None of the comments are helpful. Mostly two pages of bitching and moaning. The 6% increase is what it is. Is anyone really going to change film over a 6% increase? I guess nobody is going to buy any of that Ferrania film everyone is gushing about. It is already way more expensive than Ilford. Give me a break. We are lucky to have film at all.

 

[BrianShaw]

How is this helpful??”

It’s an opinion, whether you or I want to agree or not, and it’s a reflection of the personal financial reality and strife a lot of our brothers-and-sisters face. Might not “help” but it clarify some folks reality.

 

[NB23]

Hoarders unite!

 

[removedacct1]

None of the comments are helpful. Mostly two pages of bitching and moaning. The 6% increase is what it is. Is anyone really going to change film over a 6% increase? I guess nobody is going to buy any of that Ferrania film everyone is gushing about. It is already way more expensive than Ilford. Give me a break. We are lucky to have film at all.

Frank, if I am not mistaken, I stated that a 6% price increase would not deter me from buying Ilford's products. I suppose its possible that you think that sentiment falls into the "None of the comments are helpful" category.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I can reassure you that at Ilford they are very correct to the customer, I once had problems with a Panf+ roll. They asked to send it in which I did. Thet analyzed the problem and returned me 10 (yes, you read well) TEN different blank films worth £60 or more. In my entire life I've never experienced a customer service like that,
It's useless that I say to you that from that point on I'm sold on all Ilford products and that I will do all that is in my power to sponsor them. They are truly unique.

I'm only questioning their price increase strategy, which to me stinks from pure planning perspective. Nothing changed over last 2 months that should not have been part of their pricing hike the last time. That of course unless their grand plan was to ... go slow, hike here a bit, then over there a bit more, then possibly again. Film making is a separate issue. I always liked Ilford's products, always preferred their paper over Kodak's. But most of all, I could do without pandemic excuse because it is a lame one. You want to bring the price up, do it. Don't make me feel like I need to support you because of something I had nothing to do with. hence my reference to airlines and 9/11. And I will be quite surprised, if prices ever come down again after pandemic excuse expires.

We all have different priorities. I will continue buying Ilford or any other brand when it is makes sense, both economically and performance wise. What Ilford and others do to prices is beyond my control, so I can either go along or forget it.

 

[Pioneer]

I'm only question their price increase strategy, which to me stinks from pure planning perspective...

You are absolutely right of course. All of us have been able to adequately plan ahead for the consequences of this virus so why can't we expect a global business to know what is going to happen in advance?

 

[faberryman]

Frank, if I am not mistaken, I stated that a 6% price increase would not deter me from buying Ilford's products. I suppose its possible that you think that sentiment falls into the "None of the comments are helpful" category.

Yes, you were the lone voice in the wilderness who said you would continue to use Ilford film. Not sure how that is helpful, but at least you were positive in a sea of negativity. Thank you.

 

[BrianShaw]

Nothing changed over last 2 months that should not have been part of their pricing hike the last time

Maybe they had an incremental plan... two smaller price changes rather than one big price change. That possibly would make sense as a good-business approach.

 

[faberryman]

Maybe they had an incremental plan... two smaller price changes rather than one big price change. That possibly would make sense as a good-business approach.

God save us. That would have given people two chances to whine instead of one.

If this is a financial issue for you, my advice is to improve your keeper rate. Do you print all 36 frames on a roll? Probably not. Show a little restraint. Think twice before pulling the dark slide. You are likely wasting a lot of film on, shall we say, substandard shots. All of this is within your control. You are not the helpless victim of an international film cabal.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Maybe they had an incremental plan... two smaller price changes rather than one big price change. That possibly would make sense as a good-business approach.

I wrote what I wrote because pandemic should not be used as an excuse. That's in spite of many businesses having been affected, in fact many to a far greater degree than Ilford. And the reason I disapprove of pandemic excuse is because it implies a temporary measure , and I don't don't see it as a smart business move by that alone. In the end people will by the product if they want it, need it, and can afford it. This price hike is no nuclear alarm anyways, but it does play into how some will have to deal with it.

 

[BrianShaw]

I don’t like “pandemic excuses” either, but in some cases, even with major industry, there’s some evidence that there are real impacts.

 

[MattKing]

There seem to be a lot of people posting here who think that the film business is buying all their materials and services from an easily accessed, well stocked "supermarket" that they can go to at any time and pick what they need off the shelf.
That isn't the case at all.
Many components need to be contracted for months in advance. And their prices reflect current market realities, not long term supply contracts - film manufacturers buy so little now that they rarely enjoy any priority from component suppliers.
Distribution costs - which form a huge portion of the final retail cost - are difficult to lock in and are highly variable in any period of upheaval.
We know that Harman had to close down for months. They may very well have lost employees that are expensive to replace.
If anyone things that we are nearing the end of the economic disruptions due to Covid 19, I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed.
6% was probably the best guess they could arrive at. Their lenders would, at least indirectly, have had to be satisfied by that as well.

 

[Pentode]

There seem to be a lot of people posting here who think that the film business is buying all their materials and services from an easily accessed, well stocked "supermarket" that they can go to at any time and pick what they need off the shelf.
That isn't the case at all.
Many components need to be contracted for months in advance. And their prices reflect current market realities, not long term supply contracts - film manufacturers buy so little now that they rarely enjoy any priority from component suppliers.
Distribution costs - which form a huge portion of the final retail cost - are difficult to lock in and are highly variable in any period of upheaval.
We know that Harman had to close down for months. They may very well have lost employees that are expensive to replace.
If anyone things that we are nearing the end of the economic disruptions due to Covid 19, I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed.
6% was probably the best guess they could arrive at. Their lenders would, at least indirectly, have had to be satisfied by that as well.

Agreed, 100%.

Ilford is one of very few remaining companies which are very committed to film and film is a tiny market. They are not reaping giant profits. They are doing what they can to survive.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of too many hobbies that get progressively cheaper. I am not a big Ilford customer but I'll continue to patronize them to the degree I ever have.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hoarders unite!

No buy now to keep it from the hoarders!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Traditionally on this website, if instead of Ilford it had been Kodak had raised the price 6% the Kodak haters would start the "Boycott Kodak" mantra.

 

[BrianShaw]

Agreed, 100%.

Yup... and more. Few industries are stockpiling supplies and materials. Just-in-time delivery of those supplies and materials are part of the manufacturing cost and schedule formulii. Break that and the formula breaks. So even if the supplies and materials are available but delivery is delayed could cause serious cost impacts. And we all have seen delivery delays because of COVID.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

Traditionally on this website, if instead of Ilford it had been Kodak had raised the price 6% the Kodak haters would start the "Boycott Kodak" mantra.

Get your Kodak persecution mania under control please.