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10-08-2012
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: BLUE MOUNTAINS, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 333
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Priced Out Of Sheet Film Format by Shipping Fee!
I use 2 1/4' x 3 1/4' sheet film, usually EFKE which I buy from Freestyle at 100 sheets (4 x boxes) at a time.
I recently went to buy more from them and was totally horrified at their postage cost policy for international postage (I'm in Australia).
They actually add on the cost of what the local local US postage would be to whatever overseas posting method you select and call it a packing and handling charge. In other words they are double dipping on the postage charges in what is nothing more than a blatant rip-off. I have this clearly stated in an e-mail from Freestyle.
As a result of this policy I can no longer afford to buy from them and this leaves me with the need to re-think my use of this format.
Yes, there is FP4 and HP5 available in this format but only in a limited production/special order capacity. The cost of this film is over 2 1/2 times the cost of the EFKE.
I'm in a dilema no matter which way I turn.
I fully realise the cost of overseas poatage is rising every year - I have many eBay purchases to verify this - however for a company to charge postage in this way is very very wrong.
ARCHIVIST
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10-08-2012
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jmcd
Registered User
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I recently looked into shipping an 8x10 camera to Australia from the US, and the price was indeed horrifying. UPS was off the charts at $650, with USPS much lower but still at $330 before insurance. Something must be amiss.
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10-08-2012
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alan davus
Registered User
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Guys, haven't bought any thing from Freestyle for a couple of years now so don't know how this would work. But when I buy hiking gear from big US based companies like Rei and Backcountry Gear, I have it sent to a forwarding company in the States who send it onto Oz. Often if my order is over a specific price level eg. $50 the shipping cost within the States is free so I only have to pay the forwarding company whose charges are generally reasonable and competitive. Might be worth a try.
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10-08-2012
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ChrisN
Striving
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Agree with you about Freestyle's charges for postage - ridiculous, and also the reason I stopped buying from them either for personal purchases or for the last several group buys I organised. I've sent about $2k worth of orders to B&H instead over the last several years.
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10-08-2012
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funkydog
Registered User
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARCHIVIST
They actually add on the cost of what the local local US postage would be to whatever overseas posting method you select and call it a packing and handling charge. In other words they are double dipping on the postage charges in what is nothing more than a blatant rip-off.
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Hmm.. that's not immediately obvious. How much is the "handling" fee? Is this at the point where you whip the credit card out? They don't mention the extra charge before checkout.
Did you select the FedEx option? Could that be the "customs brokerage" tacked on by the courier and not Freestyle but which is also another shipping fee scam?
eg under "calculate shipping" they show this for 4 boxes of HP5+ in 4x5.
(quote)
Available Shipping Services
FIMS = $18.00
FIMS - Insured = $22.50
USPS Priority Mail International
(unquote)
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10-08-2012
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skibeerr
Temporary upside down.
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I found prices at macodirect in Germany to be competitive. Be sure to enter your location (if outside EU) on the site so you get the vat exclusive prices.
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10-08-2012
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vinyljunky
Registered User
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You could try a service such as http://www.myus.com/? They receive items locally in the US and then forward them to any address globally.You also have the option of consolidating multiple packages from different retailers and shipping them at once. I personally haven't used them, but some colleagues do quite regularly and find it quite economical. |
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10-09-2012
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pakeha
Registered User
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priceless...
you mean that a U.S. based company is ripping customers off? nah, that only ever comes up when Eastern Euro folks are mentioned.
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10-09-2012
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buzzardkid
packin' light
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skibeerr
I found prices at macodirect in Germany to be competitive. Be sure to enter your location (if outside EU) on the site so you get the vat exclusive prices.
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Another vote for www.MacoDirect.de
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10-09-2012
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daveywaugh
Blah
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I've found the postage to Australia high also - sometimes obscene. When it's been ridiculous, I've emailed Freestyle direct and sometimes they can work something out. Their commerce / postage system isn't that sophisticated, and there are times it just gets it wrong ;-) They are great to deal with and it's worth a try anyway.
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10-09-2012
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thegman
Registered User
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My brother lives in Australia (I will soon too), and he uses http://www.shipito.com/ to get stuff sent over to Oz from the U.S.
Another vote also for German companies, I find them often quite competitive (for the UK at least), as the Euro has also weakened. |
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10-09-2012
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jsrockit
Moderator
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARCHIVIST
As a result of this policy I can no longer afford to buy from them and this leaves me with the need to re-think my use of this format.
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How much did this go up? What is the exact amount of the fee we are talking about?
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10-09-2012
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ARCHIVIST
Registered User
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Below is a 'copy and paste' from the last e-mail I received from Freestyle after complaining about the high postage costs.
Peter
The "local postage" is a shipping/handling fee charged on all orders. International shipping is charged on all order outside of the continental USA.
Thank you.
Marv Keller
Manager,
Customer Service & Consumer Direct Sales
In every instance when I got to the payment section of the checkout the local US postage charge was equal to their shipping and handling charge. In my particular case the amount was an extra $13 on top of the FedEx $41. A lessor order was US8.90 local postage and, surprise surprise, that just happened to be the amount they wanted as a shipping and handling charge.
A clear rip-off.
Cheers
Peter
PS Sorry about the font issues.
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10-09-2012
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jsrockit
Moderator
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While I can understand being annoyed by the charge... on 100 sheets of film, we are really talking about $0.13 a sheet though. Is it simply you being mad at something you don't think you should have to pay or were you already at your threshold price-wise and the $0.13 per sheet truly makes it not an economical solution for you anymore?
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10-09-2012
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Gumby
Registered User
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Maybe it would be more cost effective for you to come to Los Angeles for a holiday, visit Freestyle in person, and handcarry your film back home.
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10-09-2012
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Brian Puccio
Registered User
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I find their shipping to be insanely overpriced and I'm a domestic customer. An order for $108 worth of 35mm film (say 7 rolls of Provia 400x in 35m @ $15.49 each) is $14, UPS ground, which takes over a week to make it to NY.
Thankfully, B&H is nearby and I can order 7 rolls @ $13.65 each (or $95 total) plus $5.15 UPS ground shipping, $9 cheaper. Plus, since B&H ships from a few miles from my apartment, I'm getting it on a next-day basis anyhow.
If I wanted to compare faster shipping prices, it would be $35 at free-style for 3-day shipping (which I assume is USPS Priority Mail) while B&H would charge $6.20. (Freestyle would take 3 days to cross the country while B&H's order would still arrive next-day for me.)
I'm sorry that Freestyle is charging way too much for shipping, I know it hurts more for international customers, but their domestic customers aren't seeing any deals either.
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10-09-2012
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valdas
Registered User
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buzzardkid
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I can second this, I have just ordered 300 EUR worth of film from macodirect
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10-09-2012
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zauhar
Registered User
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Puccio
I find their shipping to be insanely overpriced and I'm a domestic customer. An order for $108 worth of 35mm film (say 7 rolls of Provia 400x in 35m @ $15.49 each) is $14, UPS ground, which takes over a week to make it to NY.
Thankfully, B&H is nearby and I can order 7 rolls @ $13.65 each (or $95 total) plus $5.15 UPS ground shipping, $9 cheaper. Plus, since B&H ships from a few miles from my apartment, I'm getting it on a next-day basis anyhow.
If I wanted to compare faster shipping prices, it would be $35 at free-style for 3-day shipping (which I assume is USPS Priority Mail) while B&H would charge $6.20. (Freestyle would take 3 days to cross the country while B&H's order would still arrive next-day for me.)
I'm sorry that Freestyle is charging way too much for shipping, I know it hurts more for international customers, but their domestic customers aren't seeing any deals either.
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Residents of Philly and environs take note - If you ship via UPS from B&H, it also gets here in one day. And that has been the case when I order in the afternoon. Can't do better than that.
To the OP, I think that is horrible, and I hope you can work it out. I wanted to order some of the new Silvermax + developer from Germany, and the shipping cost nearly doubled the price of the order - so I can indeed put myself in your shoes. (In my case, I am sure the heavy bottle of fluid had something to do with it...)
Randy
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10-09-2012
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benlees
Registered User
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Indeed, shipping can be a brute. The bottom line is are you getting a product a) you can't get locally, or, b) a product you can get but is much cheaper on Freestyle? You have to think about what the product would cost you locally. I'm betting a lot more than Freestyle + shipping, if you can get it locally.
I can get 35mm b&w any number of places locally, but even with shipping Freestyle is still less than 1/2 the cost (for their own label). The bigger your order the less shipping stings.
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10-09-2012
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crispy12
Registered User
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Freestyle is too expensive for small quantities due to shipping. I end up buying a lot of film from eBay or vanbar in Victoria as it turns out cheaper. Otherwise you can consider a parcel forwarding service.
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10-09-2012
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ARCHIVIST
Registered User
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I have been using this format for over 20 years and now I think it may be time to start using roll film backs.
At just over $1 per sheet 8 exp on 120 roll is not all that much more (by Aussie prices).
I will miss the ability of being able to treat an image on an individual basis with regards processing.
So, off to eBay to find a bargain - I wonder how much the postage will be?
Cheers
Peter
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10-10-2012
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joeswe
Registered User
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARCHIVIST
I have been using this format for over 20 years and now I think it may be time to start using roll film backs.
At just over $1 per sheet 8 exp on 120 roll is not all that much more (by Aussie prices).
I will miss the ability of being able to treat an image on an individual basis with regards processing.
So, off to eBay to find a bargain - I wonder how much the postage will be?
Cheers
Peter
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Peter,
please check your inbox, I just sent you a private message! I don't have any film to sell, but I could order some for you locally and forward it to Australia...
John
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10-10-2012
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taylan
Street Dog
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Another vote for macodirect. I am buying there regularly and shipping rates are very affordable
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10-10-2012
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venchka
Registered User
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARCHIVIST
I use 2 1/4' x 3 1/4' sheet film, usually EFKE which I buy from Freestyle at 100 sheets (4 x boxes) at a time.
I recently went to buy more from them and was totally horrified at their postage cost policy for international postage (I'm in Australia).
They actually add on the cost of what the local local US postage would be to whatever overseas posting method you select and call it a packing and handling charge. In other words they are double dipping on the postage charges in what is nothing more than a blatant rip-off. I have this clearly stated in an e-mail from Freestyle.
As a result of this policy I can no longer afford to buy from them and this leaves me with the need to re-think my use of this format.
Yes, there is FP4 and HP5 available in this format but only in a limited production/special order capacity. The cost of this film is over 2 1/2 times the cost of the EFKE.
I'm in a dilema no matter which way I turn.
I fully realise the cost of overseas poatage is rising every year - I have many eBay purchases to verify this - however for a company to charge postage in this way is very very wrong.
ARCHIVIST
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You do know that EFKE ceased production of all of their products recently? If you like the EFKE film, you may wish to calm down, bite the bullet, and buy all you can get. Ilford will be your only option soon.
Wayne
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10-10-2012
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jsrockit
Moderator
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Puccio
I find their shipping to be insanely overpriced and I'm a domestic customer. An order for $108 worth of 35mm film (say 7 rolls of Provia 400x in 35m @ $15.49 each) is $14, UPS ground, which takes over a week to make it to NY.
Thankfully, B&H is nearby and I can order 7 rolls @ $13.65 each (or $95 total) plus $5.15 UPS ground shipping, $9 cheaper. Plus, since B&H ships from a few miles from my apartment, I'm getting it on a next-day basis anyhow.
If I wanted to compare faster shipping prices, it would be $35 at free-style for 3-day shipping (which I assume is USPS Priority Mail) while B&H would charge $6.20. (Freestyle would take 3 days to cross the country while B&H's order would still arrive next-day for me.)
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You can't blame Freestyle for your proximity to them.
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