Terrible experience with Retro Photographic. Don't know how to proceed. Help needed.

railwayman3 · Jun 4, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Laparn,

I've noticed what you mention as well; German suppliers not seeming to accept credit / debit cards (plastic money).

Tom.

I've read that some of the problem is that Bank Transfers within the euro-zone inside Europe are the norm and very inexpensive, hence German suppliers don't need, or are reluctant to accept, credit cards with their high charges. But we Brits get stung for huge bank charges for transfers from £'s to euros (which perhaps the suppliers did not realise).

It used to be the same on Ebay, where it wasn't worth buying stuff from continental sellers who didn't see the need to accept the costs of Paypal when a bank transfer seemed simple enough(but not realising that they were losing UK buyers who did realise the extra cost.). It seems that things are getting much better now, almost every Ebay seller accepts Paypal.

Edit:- Nearly forgot, seems that we can now thank the posters who flagged-up Retrophotographic problems....looks as thought they might have saved some of us money and frustration. I certainly held back on buying, and will now use Silverprint or RK Photographic.

Martin Reed · Jun 5, 2009

Ian Grant said:
The link from Fotoimpex (Berlin) no longer works it points back to Fotoimpex.de, as does the Fotoimpex.co.uk website, Retro haven't advertised in B&W magazine for 2 or 3 months.

If that's what Silverprint said it will be true.

Ian

I'm not sure who said here that Retrophotographic were closing, NOT CORRECT. Nigel Dear at Retro is re-profiling the range of products he is offering, but is certainly not leaving the business.

To help out with this we took a variety of his stock which is no longer in his catalogue, which we are adding into our range. The intention is that Nigel can then concentrate on stuff which he is best geared up for, while at Silverprint we can increase stock of more bulky Adox products, especially the papers.

keeds · Jun 5, 2009

Martin, will you be stocking Moersch chemicals?

Martin Reed · Jun 5, 2009

keeds said:
Martin, will you be stocking Moersch chemicals?

We've got some of the Moersch range in stock now, can you let me know what you use? It's such a large range taking into account all packing sizes that it's rather daunting to get it all established, a few indications of what people are using would help.

Tom Kershaw · Jun 5, 2009

Martin,

Will you be stocking the Adox Premium Variotone paper?

With lower VAT compared to Germany will Moersch products be less expensive purchased through Silverprint compared to directly from Moersch?

Tom.

Martin Reed · Jun 5, 2009

The VAT difference probably won't account for much, but by shipping the chemistry in bulk hopefully the end-user price will be lower. We are just sorting out our first Moersch order so I can't give on-going prices yet.

K-G · Jun 5, 2009

Martin !

I understand that Silverprint is not able to send chemicals outside the UK.
What is the reason for this and is there some way it can be solved ( certified transport company or something else ..... ? ) ?
Dribbling over your excelent chemistry menu and knowing that I can't get it over the North Sea to us in Göteborg, Sweden, thats tough !
best regards

Karl-Gustaf

Martin Reed · Jun 5, 2009

We'll have a look at it and see if there's any way round it that doesn't cost the earth. One of the problems is how chemicals leave the UK - for example hydroquinone, or any product containing it, even trace amounts, cannot be moved through the Channel Tunnel. This created a lot of problems for Agfa, amongst others, as shipments had to be rerouted if someone had ordered a routine monochrome developer at the last minute. We could miss-declare the products, but at some point something would go wrong and we'd have the powers of darkness down on us like a ton of bricks.

We really would like to be able to send everything we're listing outside the UK, but it has to be 'above board'. I'll investigate it over the summer.

K-G · Jun 5, 2009

Thank you, Martin !
Your efforts are appreciated.

Karl-Gustaf

keeds · Jun 6, 2009

Martin, mainly the Moersch Lith chemicals for me.

BarryWilkinson · Jun 6, 2009

I am also interested in Adox Premium Variotone paper and Tanol.

Barry

Mike Crawford · Jun 6, 2009

I need to get some Moersch lith dev as I'm a bit bored by the results of Fotospeed just now. Will call you next week Martin to see which ones you are thinking of stocking. Personally, I just need parts A and B which are available from Wolfgang seperately instead of buying the Master Kit. However, I don't know if the 'Easylith' is the same thing as I've only bought the Master Kit before. Not cheap but really good and responsive lith developer.

Is it worth starting a new thread about this like 'Moersch stuff now availabe at Silverprint,' but in your far more refined diction? The whole stuff that has gone before has rather a negative vibe and maybe you might get more hits if it is titled something a bit more positive.

Tom Kershaw · Jun 6, 2009

Mike,

For the moment you card order directly from Moersch.

http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/

Tom.

Solarize · Jun 7, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Mike,

For the moment you card order directly from Moersch.

http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/

Tom.

But jumping on a train to Silverprint is just so much quicker!

I love the fotospeed chems, but am going to put in an order for some Moersch. If Silverprint stocked it that would be great, and save the extra effort of preplanning an overseas shipment.... I wonder what the shipment charges are like?

Metroman · Jun 8, 2009

Well I can only speak from experience, in the four years I have used Retrophotographic I have never had any problems. One order for 50 rolls of Adox couldn't be filled but Nigel sent 30 and the rest followed 10 days later. Always had emails replied to and always helpful on the phone.

However, if Martin is going to stock some of the Moersch range then I would like to see the alkaline fixer now Retro has dropped it.

Martin Reed · Jun 9, 2009

Moersch stock

Metroman said:
Well I can only speak from experience, in the four years I have used Retrophotographic I have never had any problems......

If moderators are able to change the title of a thread then this one is crying out for it.

We've listed the Moersch stock we have so far and will 'publish' it on the Silverprint site during today. No alkaline fix yet, there's Easylith but no SE5 yet, various toners inc. Nelsons Gold, ECO 4812 & Tannol, but not large quantities of anything yet.

laparn · Jun 9, 2009

Mike Crawford said:
I need to get some Moersch lith dev as I'm a bit bored by the results of Fotospeed just now.

Aha...I got one ally at least.
Am I not the only one having poor results from Fotospeed LD20 or am i just too demanding? Can´t see the great in it as spoken of here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Sorry for hijacking the thread...

Martin Reed · Jun 10, 2009

Mike Crawford said:
I need to get some Moersch lith dev as I'm a bit bored by the results of Fotospeed just now.....Is it worth starting a new thread about this like 'Moersch stuff now availabe at Silverprint,' but in your far more refined diction?

As soon as the new stuff is in - Wolfgang reckoned we'd have the first shipment within the next 10 days or so.

namke · Jun 22, 2009

Hm.
I placed an order with RP on June 3rd. I have still not had my delivery - is this usual? No replies to the two emails either (tricky to phone in my office, but easy to sneak out an email of forum post!).

namke · Jun 23, 2009

... credit card statement arrived yesterday. Retro took payment in the date of the order (June 3rd). So, they've had my money for 20 days, and I haven't got my order.

Hm.

rternbach · Jun 23, 2009

namke said:
... credit card statement arrived yesterday. Retro took payment in the date of the order (June 3rd). So, they've had my money for 20 days, and I haven't got my order.Hm.

Thanks for the info. All I can say is be patient and continue to politely attempt to communicate directly with them on a 1:1 basis (both e-mails and phone calls but not too many). You might even send them a registered letter--signature on delivery. Don't get publicly emotional about it though no matter how mistreated you feel as it will be too easy for others to dismiss you as an axe grinder and a flamer. And keep posting your results.

Regards,

namke · Jun 23, 2009

I will definitely post my progress. I'm in no way against retro - I've ordered from them before; just a little disappointed at the moment..!

rternbach · Jun 23, 2009

namke said:
I will definitely post my progress. I'm in no way against retro - I've ordered from them before; just a little disappointed at the moment..!

Well put.

Best,

namke · Jul 2, 2009

Ok, well my order finally arrived today - although only one pack of paper instead of the two I ordered (the delivery note says that that's all they had, and have refunded the difference).

There's also a note saying that they "Tried repeatedly to contact [me] by email without success", unfortunately I have seen no replies, and my spam folders do not contain any emails from them...

Hey ho. On the plus side: my order arrived; on the minus side: it took a long time, and there was a communication breakdown...

rternbach · Jul 2, 2009

Glad to see you got some of your order, sorry to hear the classic e-mail excuse though, at least they didn't blame you for not calling and hounding them.

Best,

Terrible experience with Retro Photographic. Don't know how to proceed. Help needed.

railwayman3

Martin Reed

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keeds

Martin Reed

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Tom Kershaw

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K-G

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laparn

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Terrible experience with Retro Photographic. Don't know how to proceed. Help needed.

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