Sic Transit Gloria B+H

[PVia]

So-o-o glad I live in Los Angeles...!!!

 

[Dennis S]

It's too bad Freestyle doesn't have an east coast warehouse though.

We are OK where it is located.

 

[cfclark]

So-o-o glad I live in Los Angeles...!!!

I would be much less inclined to give shooting film a serious go again if Freestyle weren't on my way home from work.

OTOH, maybe I don't need to work B&H into my next trip to NYC.

 

[B&Wpositive]

Looks like they also just increased film prices a bit. Portra 800 is now $9.50 per roll of 36.

 

[AgX]

Wasn't there a post recently about how B+H had increased the size of their film counter and it was selling like hotcakes or something? I don't know, it might have been some other store.
But it doesn't effect me at all, as I'm on the other side of the world. So, I'll be on my way - gonna go take some photos.

Yes, it was about B&H, three months ago.

 

[c.d.ewen]

People who want to buy paper already know they want to buy paper. They don't really need to see it first and they can find out what's available by looking at the B&H website. So probably it will result in a sales reduction, but maybe not much of a reduction.

Quite true, but I was there today just to pick up some paper and anticipated doing what I alway did - grabbing a bunch of impulse purchase items. They used to have a shelf of Photographers Formulary items, for instance, and I'd usually find a chemical or two I could use. Not today. I left with just the items on my shopping list.

Charley

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Wasn't there a post recently about how B+H had increased the size of their film counter and it was selling like hotcakes or something?

B+H shrunk the counter -- it used to occupy the
northwest corner of the store, a long counter
with a big stretch of the Ninth Avenue storefront
devoted to it. Now it is less than half the size
of the old space, in the back by the darkroom
department. (Telescopes now occupy the old
film counter space up front.) No one who knows
the store could have thought the counter was
expanded.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think there may have been a few weeks in there while the construction was still going on that the film counter was smaller than it currently is, and when the construction was finished, it was the current size, which is smaller than the previous size.

The unfortunate thing, to me, about the shrinking film counter is not so much about the availability of film, since it is still available, if they still stock it downstairs, but that it's not there to remind people who shop in the store that film is still a viable option.

 

[JMCS]

..."No one who knows
the store could have thought the counter was
expanded."

It wasn't. Or at least it surely doesn't seem that way. Maybe the selection of film expanded, since I never remember efke being sold there in the past (it could have been, I live close enough that I have never ordered something online from them, so I don't check the inventory often, or at all. I just walk in and ask.)

 

[c.d.ewen]

Small correction from my last post: I stopped by B&H again today, and the Photographer's Formulary shelves were still there; I had simply not looked at them the other day. I spoke with the people working there, and they said that, as far as they knew, there were no plans to make the darkroom area any smaller.

Charley

 

[2F/2F]

Another reason to support Freestyle.

Exactly. I still don't see why anybody who mail orders analog supplies goes to B&H instead of Freestyle. They don't need you to survive. Freestyle does. As such, they each act like it.

 

[mcfactor]

As someone who spends a ridiculous amount of time at B&H, i mean more than anyone else, I can say, do not listen to rumors about what is going to happen to the film counter. B&H will continue to sell film as long as you buy it from them, it is that simple. Yes, the film may not be on display, but does that really matter? It will be kept in the warehouse in the basement, not all of it, but im sure the most popular brands.

It is true that they are getting rid to the large format display to make room for DSLRs that shoot video and their rigs. But that does not mean that they will stop selling and supporting large format photographers. Nor does it mean they have abandoned film shooters.

It is amazing how people love to gang up on B&H (and Kodak for that matter). The truth is that they are one of the largest retailers of film in the world. People may be upset because they mostly sell digital now, but so does the rest of the photography world. There are still many people there who love, use, and are knowledgeable about film. It is very easy to bash the biggest for its faults, but they carry almost every brand of film, paper, and chemicals. And their prices for certain film is often lower than freestyle.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

How long have you worked at B+H? ;-)

 

[frotog]

Yeah! Go B&H! Lowest prices on film and paper. Remember how they special ordered a ton of 5x7 160nc after it had been discontinued? That wasn't that long ago...

 

[2F/2F]

Yeah! Go B&H! Lowest prices on film and paper. Remember how they special ordered a ton of 5x7 160nc after it had been discontinued? That wasn't that long ago...

Was it discontinued? I thought Kodak just increased their minimum order to 30 boxes.

 

[Mahler_one]

I try to give Freestyle as much of my internet and telephone business as I can, and I appreciate all of the cheering for the way that the people at Freestyle "help" analog photographers. I agree that the individuals there are top flight in every way, and that one can get items at Freestyle that one cannot find elsewhere. However, the "mixed emotions" about B&H-and ofter the severe criticism-to my mind is usually not warranted. For example, if you really want to get an eye opener, note that HP5 film, 8x10, 25 sheets is $78.95 from B&H and $96.99 from Freestyle. For those who criticize B&H, I assume that they will gladly and willingly pay the 20% plus premium for the same item from Freestyle. Just one person's opinion. Any by the way, I do continue to purchase items from Freestyle, e.g., enlarging papers that one cannot find elsewhere. Please correct my price information if I was wrong....to me, such differences were stunning. And, I do not work at B&H, nor have I ever!

 

[Moopheus]

As someone who spends a ridiculous amount of time at B&H, i mean more than anyone else, I can say, do not listen to rumors about what is going to happen to the film counter. B&H will continue to sell film as long as you buy it from them, it is that simple. Yes, the film may not be on display, but does that really matter?

Indeed--does anyone know what percentage of B&H's film/darkroom sales are mail order vs. in-store? It seems possible--likely even--that B&H saw that reducing display space wouldn't affect their sales very much. The main reason for me personally to prefer B&H to Freestyle (besides better prices on some stuff) is next-day delivery by ground shipping.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I ordered some film with a local photo store many years ago I waited for weeks and the film never came. They also claimed that they had problems with the vendor. I found out later that the vendor haven't been paying their film bill. I hope B&H isn't screwing their vendors like my photo store did.

 

[Mahler_one]

Maine...very unlikely, wouldn't you agree? Really.....:}

 

[Terence]

So long as B&H keeps selling it, I'll keep buying it. It and K&M are my "local" stores. I certainly order plenty from Freestyle, but the convenience of same-day satisfaction, even if the stuff's not on display, means I certainly won't be dropping B&H or K&M any time soon. If either stopped carrying such analog stuff in their stores and it had to ship from a warehouse, the equation would change and become one of pure cost.

The cost per square foot of retail in Manhattan means that stores have to use the space for whatever is more profitable. I'd rather keep them in business and in the analog business, than lose them entirely.

 

[cowanw]

From a photo tourist point of view, if it ain't on the shelf I don't know its there to look at.
I make a point of having these stores on my itinerary, when I get to New York (once a year) fron Canada.
Course for every one of me looking at darkroom and large format, there are 99 looking at digi.

 

[CBG]

There's a different perspective from the hinterlands. I'm too far from either alphabet city - NYC or LA - to shop in person.

I did once go to B&H in person. I decided I liked online shopping better after that. The people behind the counter were all fine but there was no advantage to the in person visit. Too many customers. Too much hubub. So, I shop on the web. Both B&H and Freestyle do very well for me. I order happily from both. They both get a gold star.

I am impressed by Freestyle's commitment to analog photography. Maybe they get two stars.

 

[2F/2F]

I would certainly shop at B&H if I was walking into the brick and mortar shop...and if they had something that my local Freestyle, Samy's, or Calumet could not special order...or an insane deal on something.

Oddly enough, Calumet was the only large retailer I could find who actually carries the Pentax Digital Spotmeter. Samy's and Freestyle were not even able to order them, as they were not even in the computer system. Same at Bel Air Camera. Same at B&H. My local Calumet had them not only in the system, but in stock. As a result, they got my 500 bucks, which I would have gladly given to Freestyle, Samy's, Bel Air, or B&H as well.

 

[Mahler_one]

There's a different perspective from the hinterlands. I'm too far from either alphabet city - NYC or LA - to shop in person.

I did once go to B&H in person. I decided I liked online shopping better after that. The people behind the counter were all fine but there was no advantage to the in person visit. Too many customers. Too much hubub. So, I shop on the web. Both B&H and Freestyle do very well for me. I order happily from both. They both get a gold star.

I am impressed by Freestyle's commitment to analog photography. Maybe they get two stars.

Of course give them two stars, but not when one can save so much money purchasing the exact same item from B&H. One simply must wonder why the price for the same film is so much more at Freestyle than at their competitor, B&H. A few dollars difference-OK. However, 20 % difference...well, if you like to give stars, and pay the difference, then hats off and best of luck. :confused:

 

[Mahler_one]

I would certainly shop at B&H if I was walking into the brick and mortar shop...and if they had something that my local Freestyle, Samy's, or Calumet could not special order...or an insane deal on something.

Oddly enough, Calumet was the only large retailer I could find who actually carries the Pentax Digital Spotmeter. Samy's and Freestyle were not even able to order them, as they were not even in the computer system. Same at Bel Air Camera. Same at B&H. My local Calumet had them not only in the system, but in stock. As a result, they got my 500 bucks, which I would have gladly given to Freestyle, Samy's, Bel Air, or B&H as well.

Thanks heaven that we still have choices to order our equipment from.