Anyone buy from Freestyle Photographic Supplies before?

[roundg]

I am thinking to order some file from Freestyle Photographic Supplies , but they never reply my inquiry submitted via their website's contact form. Anyone had experience with them before? Are they reliable dealer?

Thanks a lot for your inputs.

BTW, they website is
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/index.php

[yossarian123]

I order from them all the time. They're a pretty big name when it comes to selling rebranded film. Very reputable.

[colyn]

As stated above

Very reputable

.

I have dealt with them many times without a single issue and will continue to do so...

[Terry Christian]

Same here -- I'm a very happy customer.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've bought rom them for many years. I've seen a lot of people complain that their international shipping charges are high, which would be the only negative I can think of, since you're in Singapore. I've seen a lot groups outside the US, in Australia and Europe, get together to make a large group purchase to make the shipping less burdensome, since Freestyle's prices for their rebranded films (Arista Premium 400 is Tri-X!) are very low.

[NaChase]

They're awesome, ship immediately, and have a great selection.

[f16sunshine]

They are only good if you prefer fresh supplies at low prices with quick shipping.

[msbarnes]

Like everyone else, I highly recommend them.

[maxwell1295]

Never heard of them....

[boomguy57]

Nothing but great experiences on my end. Buy with confidence!

[DanP]

many times

[kdemas]

They're great to deal with.

[nikon_sam]

Never ordered on-line since I'm less than an hour away from their store in Santa Fe Springs, CA...
They normally have had what I needed and I can be in and out in just a few minutes...
Next time I'm in the area I have a few things I need to pick up...so they are one place I will return to for supplies...

[loquax ludens]

I buy from them frequently. They are quick and reliable and they have excellent customer service by phone. They are super nice folks to deal with. Freestyle is by far and away my favorite dealer for film and common darkroom supplies.

Their prices are not always the lowest though. Check B&HPhoto and Adorama too. Don't forget to add in shipping costs from each when comparing. Sometimes Amazon is cheaper too.

If their website says "Low stock - please call for current inventory status", I recommend that you do that. Their system will let you order when stock is low for an item, but they might actually be out. The website updates can lag behind orders that are in progress. With a quick phone call, you can find out if a low stock item is available, and they can reserve it for you. Or they can tell you when it'll be back in stock.

I have never had an unsatisfactory experience with Freestyle. They are the best.

[Thardy]

I've bought "tons" of stuff from them. It's great to have everything show up at your front door.

[roundg]

Thank you so much for the inputs. Now I am confident to order from them.

Thanks again.

[cepwin]

I ordered from them with no problem so I would feel confident ordering from them again.

[MichaelW]

I buy from them, but it is worth comparing the prices with B&H, particularly with shipping included. Freestyle have recently introduced the cheaper FIMS shipping option but iIm hearing reports of very long delivery times. A guy I know in Sydney said it took ten weeks for some film to arrive. So group orders splitting the faster postage are probably still the best option.

[gb hill]

Someone there stole my cc info after buying some film online. It was a new cc & that was the only place I used the card. A few days later I was charged 45 bucks for a lamp bought in Canada being shipped to the same city my Freestyle order came from. I got my money back & was issued a new card. Haven't bought from them since, but don't have to because Peace Camera orders film from Freestyle & I can walk in the door & buy it. Would I buy from them again? Yea I think it was a freak event. If it was a real problem I think more ppl. would complain.

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by gb hill

Someone there stole my cc info after buying some film online. It was a new cc & that was the only place I used the card. A few days later I was charged 45 bucks for a lamp bought in Canada being shipped to the same city my Freestyle order came from. I got my money back & was issued a new card. Haven't bought from them since, but don't have to because Peace Camera orders film from Freestyle & I can walk in the door & buy it. Would I buy from them again? Yea I think it was a freak event. If it was a real problem I think more ppl. would complain.

I've had similar happen, not with Freestyle though. Blaming the vendor or their employees is a natural reaction but not necessarily fair becuase while that is possible, there are many other opportunities in the credi processing chain for theft to occur. In one situation where mine was stolen an dused, and the culprit was tracked down... it did not appear to be a store employee in the loop. Now I hesitate to assign blame without proof.

On another aside, Greg... one of my local shops bought/re-sold Freestyle product. They even described themselves as "branch" of Freestyle. But everything was marked up about 25%. Are the Freestyle products at your local shop marked up or beign sold at Freestyle prices?

[Vics]

Totally reliable. I buy all my Tri-X from them. I called them on the phone the other day. They were there and very helpful. I just order online.

[muser53]

I'm a frequent and satisfied customer but I've always called in my orders by phone or dropped by the shop on trips to LA.

[emayoh]

When I lived in L.A. I bought from the main store all the time.
Now that I don't live in L.A. I mail order from them 2x a quarter.

Very legit. Wish they still had their rebranded Ferrania

[zauhar]

Sorry to hear Greg's bad experience, but I have been ordering from them regularly without incident.

Might be better to call them instead of using the on-line form. I needed to call a couple times with questions and always got someone courteous and knowledgable.

Randy

[zuiko85]

I knew this would be a chorus of YES so might as well add my positive too.

Another reason I order from them is because they seem intent to do all they can to support film and traditional wet process printing. I think that is worth something also.