Sources for Graded Paper

[Bill McMannis]

I have had an awful week searching for graded paper. I went to my first choice local retailer looking for some Grade 3 paper and was told "We have not carried that for fifteen years." I know I bought some since I moved to town in late 2005, but why argue. A trip to my second choice local retailer was equally unsuccessful.

I ordered a box of graded paper from the large NY mail order operation that so many of us use and have enjoyed success with. The order arrived today and to my disappointment, the seals on the light safe box were broken! The shipping container was intact, but I can only assume someone in NY mistook the stuff for inkjet paper and opened it to check out the paper. I am not looking forward to the hassle, but this stuff is going back.

Where is a source of graded fb paper that is not years old and has been stored properly?

Many thanks for your suggestions.

[benrains]

I order film and paper from both Adorama and Freestyle Photo. I've not had any problems with either--

http://www.adorama.com/
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

[chuck461]

Bill

I've had paper from the same place and the tape on the box had been broken. This has happened several times. The paper has always been good. As long as the inner plastic bag has not been opened or damaged it should be OK.

Certainly give them a call to cover your...you know what (and email to further cover it), but if the inner bag looks OK I would give it a try.

I hope this helps. Let us know how it works out with both the paper and the vendor.

Chuck

PS. I can wholeheartedly recommend Freestyle, also.

[Drew Wiley]

I use Freestyle, B&H, plus a local dealer. Never had a problem.

[Eric Woodbury]

Freestyle for over 35 years. Wow, maybe that's too long.

[John Powers]

Sort of related. More about Freestyle service than Ilford-Kentmere which may have discontinued most of their graded paper.

Several years ago before Ilford bought Kentmere, I ordered a 50 sheet box of 16x20 Kentmere Fineprint FBVC from Freestyle. The outer box arrived in Ohio intact. The inner Kentmere box was damaged. This indicated the problem was at Freestyle or earlier in the process rather than UPS. The corner of the bag was slightly cut. I tried two or three sheets and they printed black in the margin on that corner. I called Freestyle. They shipped a new box overnight to OH the day I called and said keep the old box for small prints. It is pretty hard to beat that kind of service.

John

[Robert Skeoch]

I carry a few of the graded papers since I use them myself. I have a cool head enlarger and the multigrade system doesn't really work for me.

I try and keep the Bromide in stock and have a bit of Gallerie. The Bromide is getting hard to get because they have recently put on a minimal order of 10 boxes of each size/grade you order. I think fewer stores will want to be ordering in 10 boxes of a paper that doesn't move that fast.

Of course this might not be of interest to you since I'm in Canada.

-Rob
www.bigcameraworkshops.com

PS - I wouldn't worry about the broken tape.... I get fresh stock in with broken tape fairly often.... never had a problem.

[Gary L. Quay]

I use freestyle.biz and Digitaltruth.com. Both are fine operations.

--gary

[Bill McMannis]

Thanks to everyone for their replies and suggestions. The NY operation will ship me a new and sealed box upon the return of my original shipment. Store credit was offered, not a refund.

In the future I will give Freestyle a shot.

Thanks again.

[John Bowen]

Bill,

If the "NY operation" is B&H, I highly doubt that they ship anything directly from the storefront. For all the times I've been in B&H over the years, I've never seen anyone taking something off the shelves to put in a shipping box. I believe all the mailorder stuff is shipped from a warehouse.

I've purchased from B&H for over 30 years and have never had a problem with them.

PS, I lived in NYC for a few years, but have lived in Richmond, VA for the last 25 years. I still get to NY on rare occasion and when possible visit the B&H retail store.

As always, YMMV

[David E. Rose]

Another source that has not been mentioned is Calumet Photo. I normally use B&H, but sometimes Calumet stocks things that B&H does not have. They tend to be a bit more expensive than B&H, but I have always had good service from them.

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks to everyone for their replies and suggestions. The NY operation will ship me a new and sealed box upon the return of my original shipment. Store credit was offered, not a refund.

In the future I will give Freestyle a shot.

Thanks again.

Assuming this is B&H, make absolutely sure you get the paper back to them before the refund period expires. Even if the paper is no good, if you let it go past the refund period they may not accept a return. At least that's what happened to me when they sold me a defective scanner (for $1,000) that I spent too much time with the manufacturer's tech support trying to get operational and let the refund period go by assuming that since they sold me a defective product I could return it any time within reason. Wrong.

[Greg Blank]

I can tell you factually that is true, B&H has a warehouse in Brooklyn and Adorama's is in NJ.


Bill,

If the "NY operation" is B&H, I highly doubt that they ship anything directly from the storefront. For all the times I've been in B&H over the years, I've never seen anyone taking something off the shelves to put in a shipping box. I believe all the mailorder stuff is shipped from a warehouse.

I've purchased from B&H for over 30 years and have never had a problem with them.

PS, I lived in NYC for a few years, but have lived in Richmond, VA for the last 25 years. I still get to NY on rare occasion and when possible visit the B&H retail store.

As always, YMMV

[Bill McMannis]

Assuming this is B&H, make absolutely sure you get the paper back to them before the refund period expires. Even if the paper is no good, if you let it go past the refund period they may not accept a return. At least that's what happened to me when they sold me a defective scanner (for $1,000) that I spent too much time with the manufacturer's tech support trying to get operational and let the refund period go by assuming that since they sold me a defective product I could return it any time within reason. Wrong.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the reminder. They almost "got me" with a malfunctioning scanner s couple years ago. B&H has a good refund policy, but you MUST adher to their timetable and guidelines.

Thanks again.