Support Freestyle

[John Conway]

My return to large format photography required a retooling of equipment. Now I am ready to start stocking film and have fun again. Considering all the depressing info about film of all types being discontinued, I find Freestyle Photo supply, with their fantastic offerings in film and film related products, to be the place that I must support 100% , and purchase all my supplies from them.I think it is very important to support companies like Freestyle in order to keep them running strong, and continue providing us with wonderful products.

[Leigh]

I placed two orders with FS, one for ten filmholders for about $390, the other for two more film holders and a box of Acros for $174.

They tacked on an unexplained "fee" of $17 on each order.

Never again.

- Leigh

[Roger Cole]

I've never had any unexpected fees from Freestyle. Even shipping seems fairly reasonable for larger orders, given they're on the other side of the country. If I had I might be miffed too, but it's all been as disclosed. YMMV I suppose but they've been great to deal with. I wish their prices on paper were closer to those of the NY stores, but I usually order from them anyway because I'm often enough ordering other stuff and combined orders, plus I don't have to remember to specify special shipment instructions to get it sent without a signature required, which both B&H and Adorama seem to want to do. Big PITA for me if it's sent that way.

[Kevin Crisp]

Last time I posted about it, Freestyle's shipping was based on the $$, not the weight. Could be good for your order, or bad, depends what it is. Since it is on my way to work, I don't worry about it.

[Kirk Gittings]

I've known the CEO at Freestyle since 1968. They are serious about supporting this market for the long term.

[Roger Cole]

I've known the CEO at Freestyle since 1968. They are serious about supporting this market for the long term.

Good to know. I didn't think it was just ad talk, or they wouldn't be carrying some of the stuff they do. Most but not all may be available elsewhere, but nowhere I know has such a diverse selection.

For the most part if I can buy it there I do (since they have so much, this cuts down number of orders.)

[coops]

They tacked on an unexplained "fee" of $17 on each order.

Never again.

- Leigh

Did you question them? It might have been a mistake you know. Amazon overcharged me once by $40, and they credited my card after I brought it to their attention. My first reaction was not "never again", but I guess I would think that way if they refused to give me back the money.

[lbenac]

I use to purchase regularly from them.
When I started to pay more attention to the invoices, I also noticed that there was a charge for shipping/handling on top of the actual shipping.
I started comparing with B&H for both pricing and shipping cost to Canada.
B&H did not charge any handling fee and was similar if not better in pricing. On top of that they have made an arrangement with Purolator so everything can be charged at the same time shipping/brokerage/duties. The shipping and brokerage are one of the most reasonable I have seen coming from the USA - not like the thieves at UPS.
I am now buying from b&H.

Luc

[Roger Cole]

If I were in Canada and had that arrangement with B&H I'd buy from them too.

But I'm not. I don't mind some handling charge if it's reasonable. So far they seem to be.

I just wish B&H had a non-signature shipping method you could select from the web form without writing it in the instructions (per what they emailed me) and hoping someone reads the #$%^ thing.

[Leigh]

I just wish B&H had a non-signature shipping method you could select from the web form...
They do.

Just select USPS Priority Mail or First Class Mail.
It gets scanned on delivery but does not require a signature.

I get one or two shipments from B&H every week using this method.

- Leigh

[BradS]

Freestyle is great! They have a good selection of product, fantastic service and fair prices...oh and quick shipping. I buy all my film from them.

[Mark Sawyer]

I've dealt with Freestle for fifteen or so years as a high school photo teacher and as an individual, and never had an issue. I always feel good recommending them.

[Roger Cole]

They do.

Just select USPS Priority Mail or First Class Mail.
It gets scanned on delivery but does not require a signature.

I get one or two shipments from B&H every week using this method.

- Leigh

You're right. I double checked my mail and I had asked about sending UPS without a signature, because US Mail cost more and was usually slower. I can do that - and may, for paper they are much cheaper on or for things Freestyle doesn't carry / are out of. I will still buy a lot from Freestyle though.

[Richard M. Coda]

I started using FS back in the 1980s when they were the only place you could get Oriental paper from. Most recently, again, I ordered Oriental paper from them and needed it fast. I ordered expedited shipping. They called me the next day to tell me that regular shipping would be here one day earlier at a cheaper cost and credited my CC. Since all the brick and mortar stores are disappearing and I don't have to worry about religious holiday blackouts... they are my go to place going forward.

[Roger Cole]

I started using FS back in the 1980s when they were the only place you could get Oriental paper from. Most recently, again, I ordered Oriental paper from them and needed it fast. I ordered expedited shipping. They called me the next day to tell me that regular shipping would be here one day earlier at a cheaper cost and credited my CC. Since all the brick and mortar stores are disappearing and I don't have to worry about religious holiday blackouts... they are my go to place going forward.

And - once again, as far as I know, they are the exclusive dealer for a great paper, Adox. MCC 110 is my new favorite paper. I think Freestyle is the exclusive dealer for Adox in North America.

In warm tone papers I do use Ilford and the New York stores are less expensive on that.

[Jan Pedersen]

I try to spread my purchases between Freestyle, Adorama and B&H.
Freestyles film prices are a bit higher so i have purchased a lot of film from Adorama over the last two years and have had excellent service. Adorama often offer free shipping with USPS but they often ship UPS 3 days still without shipping charge.

Whether i get a UPS or FedEx delivery i don't sign anything, it is possible to sign a waiver with both companies after which they will drop any shipment at your door.

[Roger Cole]

I try to spread my purchases between Freestyle, Adorama and B&H.
Freestyles film prices are a bit higher so i have purchased a lot of film from Adorama over the last two years and have had excellent service. Adorama often offer free shipping with USPS but they often ship UPS 3 days still without shipping charge.

Whether i get a UPS or FedEx delivery i don't sign anything, it is possible to sign a waiver with both companies after which they will drop any shipment at your door.

Good to know. Maybe I need to check with them. I wouldn't mind if I were getting the rare shipment of something expensive but for a bit of film or paper it's a huge PITA.

See B&H's shipment info pop up and you'll see why I was reluctant. I've ordered from them in the far past with no problems.

[Jan Pedersen]

Actually forgot to include Badger Graphics, bought quite a bit of TMY 8x10 there before it was made special order.

[John Kasaian]

My custom is split between Freestyle (Foma paper and Arista .edu Ultra film) and Badger (Ilford) with a little B&H thrown in for good measure.

[Renato Tonelli]

Freestyle is one of my regular suppliers for paper and chemistry - great selection and service. I have incurred HAZMAT charges (in addition to regular shipping charges) for certain chemicals (Rodinal and other chemistry with the HAZMAT classification). This is standard practice; B&H and several other suppliers will no ship HAZMAT at all.

[Roger Cole]

I've bought Rodinal in the last few months from Freestyle. No hazmat charge. Some things are ground shipment only and no international but I don't think theres an extra hazmat charge anymore.

[Merg Ross]

Forty years without a problem, two day delivery to my door. Hazmat ships FedEx ground only with $20 per box charge on top of regular shipping.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I love Freestyle. They support us and have great people in the store. I love to go there and have gotten great deals on short dated film. Nice to have faces in the store to deal with and talk about what we do. On a first name basis with all of them and even showed them and told them about our adventures in x-ray film. Like Kirk said they will be here for us. So I'll always buy from them. Plus they are not that far away.

[Tim Meisburger]

Free style is great if you are in the US, but their shipping charges for overseas are super high. If they could find a convenient location overseas to open a new store they might clean up in the international market...

[HelenOster]

...... I don't have to remember to specify special shipment instructions to get it sent without a signature required, which both B&H and Adorama seem to want to do.

Unfortunately, doorstep theft of big ticket items is a factor. But if a package is low value and you live in a 'low risk' area, the UPS driver may have flexibility to leave it w/out signature.



....I have purchased a lot of film from Adorama over the last two years and have had excellent service. Adorama often offer free shipping with USPS but they often ship UPS 3 days still without shipping charge.



Great to hear of your good experiences purchasing from Adorama - but if ever things go pear-shaped, you are always welcome to email me directly for advice or after-sales support: Helen@adorama.com

[Roger Cole]

Thanks as always for your input - I understand about big ticket items. But I'm usually talking about a few rolls/boxes of film or paper. I'd make arrangements if it were a $500 scanner.

What's with the folks getting hit with hazmat charges from Freestyle? I haven't run into that in YEARS. (I did back in the 90s.) Everything in their catalog that's a hazmat shipment now says, "These chemicals may be shipped by ground ONLY with NO ADDITIONAL SURCHARGE. No air shipments of these chemicals are allowed." At least that's what's in the last catalog I have and that was the case with the last such shipment I got from them, September 20th of last year (which contained two gallons of Rapid Fixer, which is marked as hazmat - due no doubt to the sulfuric acid hardener.)

[HelenOster]

Thanks as always for your input - I understand about big ticket items. But I'm usually talking about a few rolls/boxes of film or paper. I'd make arrangements if it were a $500 scanner.



It's odd; I think there is an upper value - tho' I don't know what that is - for leaving packages outside the front door. But I think some UPS drivers make a lot of it up as they go along.......otherwise I wouldn't get to hear about $5,000 pieces of kit being left 'under the bush' during a thunderstorm!

[BrianShaw]

I love Freestyle. They support us and have great people in the store. I love to go there and have gotten great deals on short dated film. Nice to have faces in the store to deal with and talk about what we do. On a first name basis with all of them and even showed them and told them about our adventures in x-ray film. Like Kirk said they will be here for us. So I'll always buy from them. Plus they are not that far away.

Likewise. As a matter of convenience I deviated from this over the holiday season and spent about $130 on film at one of the big NYC stores. First package got loast and wasn't delivered on time (not really their problem), they replaced it but shipped an "alternative" -- gray market, short-dated film. Not at all what their ad depicted. What's worse, I ended up leaving an ebay "neutral" since the deal was 50-50 in terms of satisfactory... only to discover that those putzes only return feedback when positive feedback is left for them. I paid, I was patient, I was polite, I even paid for the 'lost" package when it eventually showed up. They were cooperative, polite, and responsive... but someone in their organizaiton is engaging in bait-and-switch. Not bad enough for me to start a separate "I hate XYZ thread" or return the film... but bait-and-switch nonetheless. From now on it's Freestyle... and if that isn't possible I might just have to go digital!

[BrianShaw]

But I think some UPS drivers make a lot of it up as they go along...

I've asked my UPS delivery person about that, because she sometimes leaves them (generally at the back door, though) and sometimes doesn't. She says they are allowed to excercize their judgement. The problem is that they don't all have good judgement! My delivery person pays attention to weather, and indications that we might be on vacation, etc. I'm blessed to have a UPS delivery person who is intelligent.

[uphereinmytree]

I support freestyle as does the photography facility where I'm an artist member. The facility is called Pittsburgh Filmmakers, which is a community darkroom/educational facility. They are the outsource for Pittsburgh university's and colleges such as Pitt and Carnegie Mellon among others. They provide courses for credit as well as a vast array of equipment and darkrooms etc. Freestyle provides student and facility discounts and i routinely save money using Freestyle while supporting film. I haven't been charged any extra fees and would say customer support and shipping is the same as B&H and others.

[Merg Ross]

I've bought Rodinal in the last few months from Freestyle. No hazmat charge. Some things are ground shipment only and no international but I don't think theres an extra hazmat charge anymore.

Roger, you are correct, Freestyle has dropped the hazmat surcharge; I was thinking of years past, (although they still show the charge on their website). Thanks for the clarification.


Forty years without a problem, two day delivery to my door. Hazmat ships FedEx ground only with $20 per box charge on top of regular shipping.

No longer a hazmat surcharge; ground shipment only.

[D. Bryant]

.I think it is very important to support companies like Freestyle in order to keep them running strong, and continue providing us with wonderful products.

I had an ad hoc meeting with Freestyle's Senior VP of Merchandising and Marketing, Eric Joseph, last March at the SPE national convention and he made it clear that Freestyle will remain committed to continuing their support of sensitized photographic supplies as their primary business strategy, simply because that is their niche and that business segment is their strong suite of product sales. He also added it would be irrational and very difficult for Freestyle to try and compete in the digital product arena.

So if you like Freestyle keep supporting them with your purchases.

[jwaddison]

Freestyle is a great company with excellent products at good prices. However, when you add in the shipping and handling charges to Canada, there is usually no cost advantage compared to buying locally. So now I buy from Freestyle when they have something I can't get locally, and will usually add in some film and Arista paper since it doesn't add much to the original shipping charge. However, I can only buy "locally" when I have another reason for visiting that city, a 5 hour round trip.

[SamReeves]

Cheap B&W film, that's why I keep coming back!

[Sirius Glass]

I have used Freestyle for years. When I am on the West Coast, I use them for paper and chemicals. On occasion I have them ship to Virginia, but I found that Adorama and B&H are more price competitive for film.

[D. Bryant]

I have used Freestyle for years. When I am on the West Coast, I use them for paper and chemicals. On occasion I have them ship to Virginia, but I found that Adorama and B&H are more price competitive for film.

Yeah shipping expenses have become a major issue for buyers and sellars in the past few years, ever spiraling upward. Having their operation HQ'ed on the left coast probably impacts their sales.

Still they have good prices on some products and products other vendors don't supply so as always I've tried to spread my purchases around as appropriate.

[SergeiR]

So if you like Freestyle keep supporting them with your purchases.

We are :) them and digitaltruth.com - for film/archival and chemicals (except for UFG which i like and neither carry it for whatever reason).

[Moopheus]

I think these days I am about evenly split between Freestyle and B&H. Freestyle I find better for darkroom supplies. For me B&H has the advantage that UPS ground is basically next-day service, and the UPS guy always leaves a box without signature. Expensive stuff I have shipped to my office. There's a Calumet store a couple of blocks from my house, but I hardly ever buy anything there; their in-store inventory isn't that great. They're supposed to be moving to a bigger space, but I'd guess that'll mean more digital stuff.