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Rollei superpan / retro 400s: why different prices for 120

kingbuzzie

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Sorry, I know this has been brought up here and there. If superpan 200, retro 400s and IR400* are all the same film, why the different prices. I noticed on freestyle the retro 400s five pack was by far the cheapest (thinking of picking so up). I already have some superpan 120. Soooo... is it purely marketing?
 
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mehguy

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I thought retro 80s is a different film? I thought it was repackaged Agfa aviphot pan 80?
 

Trask

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I believe that it's Superpan 200, Rollei Retro 400s and Rollei IR400 that are all the same emulsion -- Aviphot 200. Rollie IR400 is confectioned/packaged in the UK, per prior posts, which makes it less susceptible to the mottling that some have encountered in 120 Superpan and 400s -- myself included. IR400 is a bit more, but eliminates problems -- all reportedly, because I haven't personally tried the IR400 yet. I really liked how the Superpan 200 looked, until I started to really look closely.
 

MattKing

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The cost of the film stock itself is only a small portion of the total cost. Cutting/slitting, edge printing, backing paper, packaging and distribution cost much more.
 

37th Exposure

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Now can someone explain the huge markup here in the USA on any Rollei film. They are half the price if you order direct from Germany. I think Freestyle is just gouging us. I don't think the import costs would add that much or do they?
 

mehguy

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37th Exposure said:
Now can someone explain the huge markup here in the USA on any Rollei film. They are half the price if you order direct from Germany. I think Freestyle is just gouging us. I don't think the import costs would add that much or do they?
Click to expand...
B&H charges the same amount freestyle does when it comes to rollei film.
 

pentaxuser

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37th Exposure said:
Now can someone explain the huge markup here in the USA on any Rollei film. They are half the price if you order direct from Germany. I think Freestyle is just gouging us. I don't think the import costs would add that much or do they?
Click to expand...

Order some direct from Germany. Unless Rollei who export the film to you deliberately avoid U.S. customs and excise duties then the price you pay includes import costs. You can then compare the prices and work out if Freestyle is "gouging" you

Let us know

pentaxuser
 

37th Exposure

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37th Exposure

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I have done so several times. I place one big order a year of 200 rolls. Even with airmail shipping the cost per roll is half the US price. Most of the boxes have the customs inspection stamp but were passed free of duty.
 

MattKing

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How much did you pay your staff for the extra work, your banker for the extra time your money was tied up, and your customs broker for their in-bond services? (insert gentle sarcasm emoji here).

I'm not saying that it can't be worthwhile to go to the extra effort of doing your own importation. I am saying that US (and Canadian) retailers and distributors incur real and substantial costs when they bring in photographic products for sale, and that the difference in price is not just "markup".

There is a very real possibility that the sellers in Germany are making more profit on their sales than the US retailers are.

At the risk of repeating myself: "The cost of the film stock itself is only a small portion of the total cost."
 

37th Exposure

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I just order direct from the Rollei Maco online store and use my credit card. The package shows up about two weeks later through the post office. The foreign exchange fees still aren't enough to add to the cost of the film. I still save half. If I win the lotto I will buy all my Rollei film from a USA dealer which is what I'd rather do. Right now the five bucks I save per roll is still..... Say over two gallons of gas to get to and from work for about three days.
Don't get me wrong. I love Freestyle and B&H and have been a customer for over 25 years. I just wonder why Ilford and Fuji and Foma b&w film doesn't cost ten bucks a roll despite being imported. But as you said there are costs besides the film itself.
 

Athiril

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Average retail markup in general is around 100% I found out when I had access to market research docs.
 

Jeff Bradford

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American retailers buy through a local agent who works for an import company. That's where the extra money goes. When you buy direct, you are doing that work yourself.
 

destroya

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i to have wondered why the difference in price. but I order my rollei retro film from germany as well and they also have the price difference. so when i buy bulk rolls of superpan200/RR400s/IR400s i just buy whatever is cheaper. last time turned out to be IR 400s. and the cost is more than half off. when i factor in all costs including shipping i can get almost 5 bulk rolls for less than the cost of 2 from the two US retailers. 120 rolls work out to about $3.50 each when you factor in x-change rate. shipping of course depends on how many rolls. Like mentioned above, wait and make a big order once or twice a year and it is a great deal.
 
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