UK carry on luggage restrictions -- plan B for film

markbb · Aug 11, 2006

tim atherton said:
You can check prices at Calumet UK as well - one I use regularly is Ilford HP5 4x5 = £17.99 (Jessops is a bit cheaper) - but even so, that still works out to about 1/3 more than I pay across here (then you need to add a huge chunk of sales tax - what is it in the UK now for VAT 17.5%? I've lost track)

I generally find UK prices for film to be about 1/3 to 1/2 more than in N America, even for Ilford (and that's generally without VAT)

If you buy things once you arrive in the UK, you can claim back the VAT payment ( http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...eVAT_InfoGuides&columns=1&id=VATFORTRAVELLERS ) as a non resident, although you may have to proof it hasn't been 'consumed' within the EU. Note that mail-order goods are not covered.

On a personal level, this is a real PITA! I'm off to Ibiza with my family tonight, and will have to leave my proper cameras behind (I doubt I'll be able to buy 120 or 5x4 film there)

leeturner · Aug 11, 2006

markbb said:
If you buy things once you arrive in the UK, you can claim back the VAT payment ( http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...eVAT_InfoGuides&columns=1&id=VATFORTRAVELLERS ) as a non resident, although you may have to proof it hasn't been 'consumed' within the EU. Note that mail-order goods are not covered.

On a personal level, this is a real PITA! I'm off to Ibiza with my family tonight, and will have to leave my proper cameras behind (I doubt I'll be able to buy 120 or 5x4 film there)

Only problem is that you are consuming the film within the EU. Once the film has been exposed and developed it is classed as consumed. It may be worth giving it a try but as you have to produce the goods "to be exported" when making the claim it may be quite difficult. There is also a time limit from purchase to export.

The rules are here: Vat Refund

leeturner · Aug 11, 2006

Another good mail order/retailer for 35mm and 120mm is Mathers.

http://www.mathersoflancashire.co.uk/

Gabe Racz · Aug 11, 2006

David Henderson said:
Its unlikely that you'll need to hunt around for retail sources of film in the UK and indeed by far the best prices- and I suspect the best range- are available from online/telephone sources, with same/next day shipping.

Try www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk or www.mailshots.co.uk or www.speedgraphic.co.uk. Whilst I'm not saying these places are as cheap as B&H, they may well be close to the US retail price from other sources and a lot less hassle than walking the streets of London looking for film and cursing Jessops for failing to carry what you need in any quantity.

I've excluded 7dayshop.com from this list because they are slow by comparison.

Thanks for those suggestions! I'll have to consider those shops. I'll be staying near a friend in Edinburgh, so mail order (or stopping at Jessups in London) could work out for my film supplies -- if necessary.

Follow-up question: where would be a good choice to have my color film (and maybe my b&w) processed before I leave the UK? Is Jessops pretty much the only game in town?

Early Riser · Aug 11, 2006

roteague said:
If I lived on the US mainland, I don't think I would fly anymore - it is getting to the point where the time/cost to drive is beginning to outweigh the hassle of airline travel.

Within North America, I don't fly anymore. My last 5 north american trips through the US and Canada have each been about 6 weeks and 12,500 miles of driving. It takes me about 4 days to go coast to coast, I've driven as much as 970 miles in a day. But with the amount of gear I carry it's the only way to go and I have far more control over my itinerary. However $3.30 gasoline hurts when you burn 650 gallons a trip.

FrankB · Aug 11, 2006

Hi Gabe,

For C41 there are various high street processors who are mostly as good (or as bad) as each other.

E6 is a different story. I've tried quite a few mail-order processors and the best one I've found is Metro Colour Labs in Birmingham. Great service, great prices, great quality. I don't shoot much E6 any more so it's a while since I've used them, but they've done several hundred rolls for me and my friends and have never let me down.

Contact details are -

Metro Colour Labs
Unit 2
Summer Hill Industrial Estate
Goodman Street
Birmingham
B1 2SS

Tel - +44 (0) 121 212 3334
Email - e6@petergaffney.f9.co.uk

All the best,

Frank

Gabe Racz · Aug 11, 2006

leeturner said:
Only problem is that you are consuming the film within the EU. Once the film has been exposed and developed it is classed as consumed. It may be worth giving it a try but as you have to produce the goods "to be exported" when making the claim it may be quite difficult. There is also a time limit from purchase to export.

The rules are here: Vat Refund

The biggest problem is that the goods must be presented to customs at the airport:

If you are not travelling to any other country within the EC, you must present your goods and the refund form to UK Customs at your port or airport of departure.

But, this tip is useful, maybe I'll be able to bring back a bit more whisky (in checked baggage of course) than I had planned!

Steve Smith · Aug 11, 2006

Early Riser said:
However $3.30 gasoline hurts when you burn 650 gallons a trip.

That's cheap!!! We pay about 98 pence per litre. at 4.55 litres per gallon thats about £4.46 per gallon. exchange rate is $1.89 to £1.00 so we pay $8.43 per gallon!!

I know the US gallon is not quite the same as the UK gallon but even so we are paying more than twice as much as you for petrol!

Steve.

poutnik · Aug 11, 2006

Early Riser said:
Within North America, I don't fly anymore. My last 5 north american trips through the US and Canada have each been about 6 weeks and 12,500 miles of driving. It takes me about 4 days to go coast to coast, I've driven as much as 970 miles in a day. But with the amount of gear I carry it's the only way to go and I have far more control over my itinerary. However $3.30 gasoline hurts when you burn 650 gallons a trip.

And in Europe, the price for fuel is around 2-3 times higher, so you're on the cheap side there...

poutnik · Aug 11, 2006

Steve, you were just a bit faster, so sorry for my double post...

FrankB · Aug 11, 2006

The Times (UK) has initiated a (moderated) page to allow people to comment on the impact of a ban on hand luggage - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,10295-2308710,00.html

The Guardian have a similar page - http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2006/08/11/cabin_fever.html

Early Riser · Aug 11, 2006

poutnik said:
And in Europe, the price for fuel is around 2-3 times higher, so you're on the cheap side there...

I just got back from 6 weeks in Norway where deisel cost me $ 6.60 a gallon.

David Henderson · Aug 11, 2006

"I know the US gallon is not quite the same as the UK gallon but even so we are paying more than twice as much as you for petrol!"

Hmm. Not quite the right measure though. When in the USA I drive a rental SUV which gets me around 18 miles per (US) gallon. At home in the UK I drive a 3 litre turbodiesel that gets me almost 35mpg. Cost per mile- historically far in the US favour- is now much closer. Even if I drove a SUV here the models available have generally much smaller/more fuel efficient engines

"Is Jessops the only game in town". By no means and whilst the number of pro labs continues to fall there are still enough around to create some semblance of choice and hopefully a better quality than you'd get from a retailer. In London you can get your E6 done in two hours - maybe less if its a slack day. And same day for b&w dev only is not unusual either. I use Bayeux , 78 Newman Street just off Oxford Street, (0208 436 1066) but if you're staying in Edinburgh there will surely be a similar service available there which maybe your friend can identify or someone here can indicate.

copake_ham · Aug 11, 2006

Tom Stanworth said:
.... What they going to do, conduct internal cavity searches on everyone who sets off the detector even when they have cleared their pockets...I dont think so.

Most likely they won't allow that person to board the plane.

roteague · Aug 11, 2006

Tom Stanworth said:
I think this is a major major problem but hope that given a while it will calm down. Still, I am likely to be screwed on my trip, esp for the mono side. I dont want to pay for processing nor have to wait for it.

It is my understanding that the "no carry-on" luggage restriction is only from the UK to the US, not from the US to the UK.

Simon R Galley · Aug 11, 2006

As an FYI I have just posted on this subject on the Black and white thread

Regards

Simon ILFORD photo / HARMNAN technology Limited

markbb · Aug 11, 2006

Note that you are allowed to buy stuff once you've passed security (a cunning plan to increase 'duty-free' shop's income?). If you can find somewhere that sells it, you can be sure it won't get fried*. Presumably the best advice is to get it processed before returning to the UK.

Slightly good news then for people who shoot 35mm and are happy with the popular film types.

* on flights to the USA, you will be re-searched at the gate & any liqueds will be confiscated.

Gabe Racz · Aug 14, 2006

I'm glad to say that the UK have relaxed their baggage restrictions -- enough to bring film on board, anyway. Thanks for the information above, though -- in case things change back (which could happen in a hurry as we've seen). I'm glad I'll know a few places where I can get film or (more critically) film processed if I need to.

In fact, I think I'll probably try to get my color film processed before I leave, no matter what (I'll have to pay for that back home anyway).

UK carry on luggage restrictions -- plan B for film

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