Anyone purchased film from the US?

[PAUL O]

I'm on a bit of a roll here ... second question today!
I'm wondering whether anyone has purchased sheet film from the US? Either Badger or B&H? I'm looking to buy Ilford Delta 100 in 5x7 sheets and the only stockist in the whole, wide world seems to be Badger ... then in boxes of 100 sheets!
If anyone has imported film what has been your experience (especially customs duties!).
TIA Paul

[Joanna Carter]

I'm on a bit of a roll here ... second question today!
I'm wondering whether anyone has purchased sheet film from the US? Either Badger or B&H? I'm looking to buy Ilford Delta 100 in 5x7 sheets and the only stockist in the whole, wide world seems to be Badger ... then in boxes of 100 sheets!
If anyone has imported film what has been your experience (especially customs duties!).
TIA Paul

See the figures I used in this thread ; the duty on film is 6.5%

[uniB]

Once again I find myself championing AG Photographic in Birmingham, they have it (13x18cm which is 5x7 they say) in boxes of 25 (ag-photographic.co.uk)

Dav

[Peter B]

You could always try buying it from Ilford directly, although they don't list sheet film on the Harman Express website. You can email them from the link below and ask though.
http://www.harmanexpress.com/page/57/Contact-Us.htm

[David Evans]

I'm on a bit of a roll here ... second question today!
I'm wondering whether anyone has purchased sheet film from the US? Either Badger or B&H? I'm looking to buy Ilford Delta 100 in 5x7 sheets and the only stockist in the whole, wide world seems to be Badger ... then in boxes of 100 sheets!
If anyone has imported film what has been your experience (especially customs duties!).
TIA Paul

Looking in the March/April 2008 View Camera Magazine, Ilford have an annual manufacture to order system for film sizes above 4x5, orders to be placed via the reseller. The resellers it lists in the UK are Silverprint, Morco and CM Enterprises.

Out of interest has anyone any idea who CM Enterprises is please?

http://www.viewcamera.com/documents/Ilf ... mOffer.pdf

[PAUL O]

Thanks for the replies!
Jo - very useful !
Dav - unfortunately 13x18 and 5x7 are slightly different The film holder is the same size but the septum that holds the film differs so a 13x18cm holder will fit a 5x7 camera but only accept 13x18cm film.
Peter and David - emails are being sent to respective suppliers although the special orders are for FP4 and HP5 Plus

[Peter B]

If you look up the Ilford Photo website (NOT the one on our sponsors page!), it lists 5x7 Delta as "Usually in stock" rather than being one of the special sizes for the annual run. http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/200 ... 402063.pdf Convince them they're destroying the planet if they send it all the way to the US just to have it sent back to you!

As far as CM Enterprises are concerned, I have a sneaking suspicion that they may be something to do with the late, lamented Creative Monochrome who became Arem Publishing and then folded in 2006. I remember exchanging emails with Roger Maile at the time and the paper, film and chemicals side was actually a different business and he was expecting to keep that going. Then again, it may be nothing to do with him.

[BarryWilkinson]

CM Enterprises are unrelated to Roger Maile's businesses. I would ring Martin at Silverprint as others have said this is a normally stocked item at Ilford.

[Patrick Dixon]

See the figures I used in this thread ; the duty on film is 6.5%

But, from Customs & Excise:
"Customs duty becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £120 but duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £7."

[Thingy]

MACO offer a range of B&W 5x7 sheet film which is always in stock, though not Delta 100. They do stock FP4 & HP5 however, as below.
http://macodirect.de/sheet-films-inch-c-1_386_388.html

Of you have a 13x18cm holder, the you can buy your Delta 100 below.
http://macodirect.de/sheet-films-c-1_386_576.html

[PAUL O]

I managed to speak to Harman today regarding the availability of 5x7 Delta 100 as listed on their website. Apparently it is a "special" order item and not normally held in stock or sold in the UK; however they do have 13 boxes (of 100 sheets) in stock

Now the bad news ... the price for a box of 100 sheets from B&H is £88.67 ..... Harman want (wait for it) ..... £175.55 AAARRRGGHHHHHHH

[Joanna Carter]

See the figures I used in this thread ; the duty on film is 6.5%

But, from Customs & Excise:
"Customs duty becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £120 but duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £7."

But, if you do the sums, at 6,5%, £120 worth of goods would attract a duty of £7,80. This is only really relevant to items with lower levels of duty than most photographic equipment.

[Patrick Dixon]

... and purchases of less than £120.

In practice, I have never been asked to pay duty (rather than just VAT) on any personal import, even over £120.

[Joanna Carter]

... and purchases of less than £120.

In practice, I have never been asked to pay duty (rather than just VAT) on any personal import, even over £120.

Yes, but buying goods from a commercial supplier doesn't count as a personal import, thus anything over £18 is liable to duty. Anything with a commercial invoice tends to get caught in my experience.

[Peter B]

I managed to speak to Harman today regarding the availability of 5x7 Delta 100 as listed on their website. Apparently it is a "special" order item and not normally held in stock or sold in the UK; however they do have 13 boxes (of 100 sheets) in stock

Now the bad news ... the price for a box of 100 sheets from B&H is £88.67 ..... Harman want (wait for it) ..... £175.55 AAARRRGGHHHHHHH

You have to wonder how these things get decided, but seems like we've been deemed to be metric and the US is imperial. What's below the belt is that they are pricing this as special order for you as if it was part of the general once a year run, yet somehow it's a standard size for elsewhere. I don't suppose they mentioned the expiry date by any chance? I think I'd follow Barry's advice and speak to Silverprint and see if they can get a better price.