Not to come off as a total b*tch here, but this is a two-way street. I would give far more business to the indie shops if they would be just a wee bit competitive with film prices. Even if they were CLOSE to the prices charged by Target' and the other department and discount stores, but they are typically much higher for the most common film you can get anywhere, and I daresay that most of my photo purchases are film. If they were in the same ballpark, yes, I would take my business there to support them, but they tend to be steep. The one local indie shop (Rockbrook) just opened up a third location a while back, so they must be at least holding their own.
Same way with Central Camera in Chicago. I finally got there a few weeks ago after passing the place for years. Their over-the-counter film prices are somewhere between sky-high and obscene! They did seem to be doing a good business, so I guess they are holding their own too. I would surely give these places more of my business if they would be just a bit competitive.
It's all about volume buying. Target and Wal-Crap get a better wholesale deal from suppliers than the independents do. In the great scheme of things, the cost of film is just about the cheapest component of the hobby, and hardly worth losing sleep over.
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It's all about volume buying. Target and Wal-Crap get a better wholesale deal from suppliers than the independents do.
Actually, my take on the "why" side of this is that the indie shops just don't care very much for the high-volume film market and prefer to devote their resources to higher-margin items.
Target' probably makes several cents per roll, and the cost of selling it is very low. I serve myself, take it to the check-out with shampoo and whatever, and they scan it and take my $$$. At the indie shop, they need a live clerk to dispense it, write it up, etc., not really worth it for the same margin.
Now when they can make a couple dollars per roll, it gets to be worth it.
I would think they should carry the common film as a means to generate more traffic, but I'm not the one making those decisions.
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In the great scheme of things, the cost of film is just about the cheapest component of the hobby, and hardly worth losing sleep over.
Well, when the cost of a roll of film exceeds the cost to process it, that's when I think the film is too expensive. I guess I'm spoiled by the great 21st. century film at only a couple $$$ per roll, huh?
Doug, going "home" for me means going to Jacksonville. I used to look forward to visiting Orben's because they had a decent darkroom depart. Last time I went I was very disappointed. The store looked so bare because all the "stuff" of photography was gone.
Unfortunately, online is the only thing that works for me now. I'd love to be able to run to a camera store and pick up what I need *right now* rather than wait on shipment, but there is none-such where I live.
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n the great scheme of things, the cost of film is just about the cheapest component of the hobby, and hardly worth losing sleep over.
actually, my cameras are paid for ...
and i have paid more $$ on film, and paper
than i paid for all my cameras and lenses combined .....
while it is the cheapest component of photography
if i pay 40˘ more for each piece of film, or 4$ more for each roll of
film, when you buy 500 sheets, or 150 rolls, it adds up ...
it is unfortunate ... but i guess that is just the way things are ...
I guess I'm lucky. My local chain of stores, National Camera, still has a very decent darkroom section. They carry all of the big name films, Ilford papers, bar Galerie, most of their chemistry, some of Kodak's chemistry, Sprint and a few odds and ends like Diafine film developer. Edwal too. They also have darkroom supplies, and a 'used' section. There are quite a few stores in the area, and I'm very grateful for it. While it's great to have all of this down the road, their prices are sky high compared to the internet. And the staff is usually less than helpful.
I once went in there with the intent of purchasing a ball head. I wanted a 'one size fits all' tripod head until I could afford a geared head for my view camera. The guy helping me out was helpful and started looking in catalogs, while somebody else overlooking it exlaimed 'Why the hell would you want to put a view camera on a ball head?'. I walked up to him and said 'Because it's the only way I can afford it' and left.
That guy was fired eventually and I've since returned to purchase film, paper, Hypam, and Xtol.
- Thomas
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Doug, going "home" for me means going to Jacksonville. I used to look forward to visiting Orben's because they had a decent darkroom depart. Last time I went I was very disappointed. The store looked so bare because all the "stuff" of photography was gone.
Every time I'm in Jacksonville I drive over to Orben's expecting to see the store closed completely. I'm actually surprised they're still around since a lot of what they sell is also being sold in big box stores like Best Buy, Circuit City and such. I can't imagine how they pay the rent selling camera bags now and then, and the odd roll of film, but I'm glad they've survived nonetheless. Of course they do some rather sophisticated PS work on custom digiprints.....maybe that's what's keeping them afloat.
Anyone in Mass, Newtonville Camera still has a decent darkroom section. They have parking, too. I try to support them when I get up there because they're family owned. They're on Walnut St.
I'm lucky to live near the coolest camera shop in the world, Pat's Camera Cottage. It's just down the river from the quaint little town of Volant, PA. It really is a cottage and it sits right on, though about 15 feet above, the Neshannock Creek. You enter through a nice screened in porch that serves as the Free Leave an Item Take and Item used department and is the sleeping grounds of a lovely dog and kitty.
Inside you'll find old Pat selling digital and analog products and he passes nothing up... 8x10, 4x5, MF, 35SLR and RF. I bought a light table that holds 10 8x10 negs for $75 bucks last year and it was like new! Enlargers, Ilford MGIV, Sprint chems, Kodak chems and Kodak BW films. He's going to start ordering in my Kentmere papers now that Ilford bought them.
He even had a 40.5mm lens cap for my light meter in stock last week!? Long live the local guys!!!
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