Film prices (Kodak TMY in particular)

[k_redder]

Did I miss something? At the end of last week I could have purchased a 50 sheet box of Kodak T-Max 400 (4x5) for $85 from B&H. In the next day or so, I start seeing ads from B&H saying that $85 is the sale price and the retail price is $99.95. On Sunday I go to place an order, and the price is $109.95! Now I'm seeing ads from B&H that shows $109.95 as the "sale" price with the retail price now at $128.94!
I always expect that film and paper prices are going to go up, but up by over 50% in less than a week? That kind of increase starts to make me nervous.
I have noticed that B&H is also increasing prices on Ilford films and papers also, just not quite as big as that TMY increase.
What happened?

[vinny]

Greed.

[BetterSense]

Supply+demand+overhead costs (taxes, materials, labor...)

I'm watching the situation and wondering if it will become profitable for a domestic competitor to appear. Given the capital investment needed, uncertainty of future demand, I think prices will have to go much higher first. I've only been shooting since 2007 and even I can remember $1/sheet for TMY 4x5.

[Jmarmck]

Try clearing your browser history or better yet, check the price from a computer that had not looked for that item using your account if you were using one. I would be interested to know if they are storing your searches.

[Jmarmck]

Yep, that is what I thought. I looked and Kodak T-Max 50 sheets is $85. I may have to start dealing with another distributor.

[Michael Cienfuegos]

I checked Freestyle and their price is 109.95 for 50 sheets.

m

[k_redder]

I checked Freestyle and their price is 109.95 for 50 sheets.

m

That's up $15 from their price last week also.

[Jmarmck]

$97 for me. I am telling ya, try it anonymously and from a clean computer. They are putting cookies and trackers on your system that keeps records of what you look at.

That's up $15 from their price last week also.

[k_redder]

$97 for me. I am telling ya, try it anonymously and from a clean computer. They are putting cookies and trackers on your system that keeps records of what you look at.

You are looking at TMX (Tmax 100). I'm talking about TMY (Tmax 400), currently showing $109.99 at both Freestyle and B&H.

[jnantz]

some call it the best film on the market and worth every penny they charge.
only 10 maybe 13 years ago it was 65$ shipped for 100 sheet boxes .. and
100 sheets from pw were 25$ ...
times change

there is a film being being made as we type this thread which will cost 300$/ 50 sheets ..
photography has never been for those with very little money ( even on the 1800s )
the first kodak cameras cost hundreds / several month wage in the 1880s ...