Tri-X sales up? 'cause something's up.

TheToadMen · Nov 11, 2014

Tri-X seems still available here in Europe at the moment (online ordering). But I didn't see much Tri-X in the few brick and moter stores overhere, that still carry film. Mostly Ilford FP4+ or HP5+ on the shelfs nowadays, sometimes even Fomapan.

RattyMouse said:
My film supply store often runs out of Kodak films. I'm told it has nothing to do with sales and everything to do with inability to get stock. Kodak distribution is horrible. In the few years I have been shopping for film here in Shanghai I have seen Kodak shelf space in several film stores dwindle down to less than half of what it once was. With such an irregular supply, my "film guy" pushes Fuji, Ilford, and now Foma films far more than Kodak.

Also, last year I had great difficulty finding any Kodak film in Rome. Same problem, no stock could be obtained from Kodak.

If Tri-X distribution isn't reliable, it won't be ordered by stores. If it isn't offered in stores on a regular basis, it won't be bought often. If it is bought less, it will be offered/ordered by stores less, if it is ordered less, Kodak will produce & distribute less.

Doesn't this sound like a beautiful vicious circle and/or a self fulfilling prophecy?

At the moment - for no unbiased or confirmed reason - I have more trust in the longtime availability of Ilford and Fomapan B&W film, than in Kodak B&W film. So that doesn't help Tri-X either. And it is Kodak Tri-X that I learned analogue photography with in the first place. I guess sentimental feelings are very good for running threads here on APUG, but not for keeping Tri-X alive, I'm afraid.

Bert from Holland

Nodda Duma · Nov 11, 2014

Tri-X 400 shows currently available in 35mm at freestyle. They're running a special on it.

Xmas · Nov 11, 2014

Different here both wholesale and brick pshop good stock of Kodak mono and colour.

Fomapan can vanish cause pshop is in/on art uni campus and when a large student class get a task they buy on price...

Very annoying.

Our largest pharmacy chain has 30% of stores shelving C41 colour Fuji and Kodak, HP5+, XP2+, & BW400CN, many open on Sunday.

Very convenient.

TheToadMen · Nov 11, 2014

Xmas said:
Fomapan can vanish cause pshop is in/on art uni campus and when a large student class get a task they buy on price...
Very annoying.

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly. Are you saying that:
- students rather use Photoshop than film,
- students find Fomapan too expensive, since something else is cheaper?

Thanks,
Bert

kb3lms · Nov 11, 2014

Bert, he's saying that the photography/camera shop he likes is on a university campus and when the students get an assignment they all buy they cheapest film they can get, which sounds like it is Fomapan. Therefore, all the Fomapan disappears and only the more expensive films are available.

-- Jason

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 11, 2014

Nuff said:
I think you are taking it wrong way. Some people like to speculate and make conspiracy or non-conspiracy theories. Others get on with their lives and do things.
I'm in a former category, I don't want to spend time and effort on speculating about trix, what happens happens and I will use it and recommend it to others as well...

Well said. Though I think you mean you're in the latter category not former...

benjiboy · Nov 11, 2014

I notice that I can buy Kodak Tri-X 15-20% cheaper than Ilford HP5 Plus here in the U.K. where it's made, how can that be.

Xmas · Nov 11, 2014

kb3lms said:
Bert, he's saying that the photography/camera shop he likes is on a university campus and when the students get an assignment they all buy they cheapest film they can get, which sounds like it is Fomapan. Therefore, all the Fomapan disappears and only the more expensive films are available.

-- Jason

Confirmed thanks Jason.
The students get a 72 page PDF emailed. They are told to buy a system film camera and wet print.
All the film camera shops and street stalls inflate camera prices to suit.
The Uni has an open campus if you take a few paces outside the shop door a student on a bicycle on sidewalk will body check. There are cycle lanes on sidewalk.

Xmas · Nov 11, 2014

@Ben

Tmax 135 is cheaper than Delta400 as well

http://shop.silverprint.co.uk/Kodak-TMax-400-135-36-single/product/27616/8947947/

by some margin

cept if you need 100 foot.

http://shop.silverprint.co.uk/KodakTMax-400-Bulk-35mm-x-30-5m/product/97579/1587716/

TheToadMen · Nov 11, 2014

kb3lms said:
Bert, he's saying that the photography/camera shop he likes is on a university campus and when the students get an assignment they all buy they cheapest film they can get, which sounds like it is Fomapan. Therefore, all the Fomapan disappears and only the more expensive films are available.

-- Jason

Thank you for clarifying that. I thought "pshop" meant "Photoshop". Now it makes sense.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 11, 2014

Xmas,

I spook with our usual camera and film stall this Sunday about their sales of Tri-X and Plus-X. They can't get enough Tri-X, but can't sell the discontinued Plus-X in 120.
They sold over the weekend almost all the expired Chinese colour film I gave them.

hdeyong · Nov 11, 2014

Nodda Duma said:
Tri-X 400 shows currently available in 35mm at freestyle. They're running a special on it.

I haven't checked today, but yesterday, and maybe even now, if you actually read the ad, it said "Out of stock, please call for availability". Somehow, that sounds to me like they didn't have any.

Roger Cole · Nov 12, 2014

hdeyong said:
I haven't checked today, but yesterday, and maybe even now, if you actually read the ad, it said "Out of stock, please call for availability". Somehow, that sounds to me like they didn't have any.

Only in 135-36. They have all others in stock - 24 exposure 35mm, 120 single rolls, 120 5-roll propacks and the absurdly overpriced 100' 35mm rolls. For those who insist on bulk loading I understand the complaint - Kodak has gone insane on bulk prices. Cheaper to just buy the pre-rolled rolls.

hdeyong · Nov 12, 2014

Nuff said:
I think you are taking it wrong way. Some people like to speculate and make conspiracy or non-conspiracy theories. Others get on with their lives and do things.
I'm in a former category, I don't want to spend time and effort on speculating about trix, what happens happens and I will use it and recommend it to others as well...

I carefully wrote that I wasn't speculating, but quoting retailers's ads, and looking for solid information. Perhaps it's not me who can't read.
And as for living my life and doing things, it would take quite a while to describe where I've been, what I've seen and what I've done in the last 40 years.

Nuff · Nov 12, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Well said. Though I think you mean you're in the latter category not former...

Thanks, I should proof read my posts more often

Nuff · Nov 12, 2014

hdeyong said:
I carefully wrote that I wasn't speculating, but quoting retailers's ads, and looking for solid information. Perhaps it's not me who can't read.
And as for living my life and doing things, it would take quite a while to describe where I've been, what I've seen and what I've done in the last 40 years.

And I stick what I said, since you are looking in wrong place. Who on this forum would have this kind of information? If you want to know, you would contact Kodak, a distributor or a retailer. I don't think many people on APUG work for them, all of us are in the same situation as you. So all we could offer to you is theories and speculations.

You got me there on lifespan, I have only lived for 37 years so far.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 12, 2014

I went today to one of the brick and mortar shops in London and they had plenty of Tri-X. They also had plenty of freshly made, long dated to 2019 Ilford and Kentmere.
Apart from a few showers, it was a very nice day.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 12, 2014

Ricardo Miranda said:
I went today to one of the brick and mortar shops in London and they had plenty of Tri-X. They also had plenty of freshly made, long dated to 2019 Ilford and Kentmere.
Apart from a few showers, it was a very nice day.

You think the showers have any meaning towards the availability of film??

Roger Cole · Nov 12, 2014

No, he's just shocked by rain in London.

Sent from my iPhone via Tapatalk using 100% recycled electrons. Because I care.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 12, 2014

Nope! I just had a nice day, despite the rain, there was plenty of sunshine, good enough for a roll of ISO 100.

Tri-X sales up? 'cause something's up.

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