Gast
I came across a lengthy discussion about the FB roll papers on a German-language forum. As I don’t read German, I can only speculate about the content of that discussion.
Would someone please provide a brief translation of the main points of this discussion and let us know in English about the availability of the ADOX / EFKE / Forte FB roll papers?
I have enquired about the availability of ADOX Fine Print Polygrade Warmton FB, semi-matt surface (PW-15), 1.06 x 10m roll paper from FOTOIMPEX. They have replied to me that it is currently out of stock and that Mirko is negotiating with the manufacturer regarding new stock.
What is the current situation? When will the new stock be available?
Kind regards,
RTK
MirkoBoeddecker
RTK,
Matt paper in rolls, unfortunately, doesn’t sell at all.
We stopped stocking matt rolls about two years ago because nobody was buying them.
In theory, it is possible to produce it, but we will never stock it in our warehouse again.
So if you want to order this, we can order it for you and the delivery time will be around December.
Thanks for posting this because if my staff tell you that I am negotiating this with the manufacturer, it is nonsense and I need to tell them this ;-)
As for the rest of the thread, here is my summary:
1) Some people have enquired about rolls 30.5 cm wide and 85 m long to cut their own formats (e.g. for 6x6 or 6x7 negatives).
2) They wanted a huge discount because other manufacturers charge different prices for pre-cut sizes and rolls.
3) I looked into the possibility of producing this and we can offer ADOX Fine Print Vario Classic.
4) The price difference isn’t as great as the customers wanted it to be because our prices are already low and based on production costs for energy, paper, silver etc., rather than marketing prices like those of Ilford and Kodak.
5) The customers understood this and accepted it, and ordered the rolls (ADOX Fine Print Vario Classic); we are now waiting for the next batch because, due to the long length, our current stock of paper is insufficient to cut this format.
Regards,
Mirko
By the way, we have FN15 50x60 cm in stock in case you can make use of this format.
cfb_de
Hi Mirko, hi "RTK" (don't you have a real name?),
we didn't ask for a "huge discount"; Mirko simply didn't have a price. Together, we agreed on one for this order in a businesslike manner (it was just like negotiating prices in my job in the automotive industry :-).
Okay, our price is quite good. But Mirko should have been able to make some money from it and the factory certainly didn’t take any risk of going hungry over this.
Unfortunately, the factory told us about a higher price afterwards and Mirko offered to split these extra costs between FOTOIMPEX and us. We were very grateful for Mirko’s kindness!
Our part was to combine orders so that Mirko could save on shipping costs. Some of us live within a 250km radius and meet a few times a year.
However, for future orders from other customers, Mirko certainly won’t be able to maintain that price. So, FB Vario Classic will cost more in future and will still require an order of at least ten rolls (10 rolls measuring 30.5cm x 85m, which is quite a lot: 245.5 square metres).
Forte actually didn’t want to supply us with rolls of PW14 at a reasonable price. They wanted more than their price for cut-to-size ranges. That’s why we agreed to go with Vario Classic FB.
Okay, next time, we’ll post our enquiry in ‘the English section’ as well.
Best regards,
Franz
Gast
Hi Mirko!
Thank you for the straightforward answer.
"Matt paper in rolls unfortunately sells like old bread"?
That’s quite surprising to me. Have you people never seen the surface of this paper (PW-15)? There are many different types of matt-finish paper. This paper isn’t a dead matt. It has a semi-matt finish with a luminous and very deep feel. But this is, of course, a matter of taste. In my opinion, the glossy paper (PW-14) is also brilliant, but better suited to different subjects than semi-matt paper.
If you no longer stock this paper, why is it still listed in your catalogue?
(Polywarm Baryt 1.02x10 m roll CL510 €110.20)
MirkoBoeddecker
Dear RTK,
Of course we’ve seen the matt finish on our paper!
That’s a funny question....
We’re all photographers at FOTOIMPEX (except for Ms Mikloska) and yes, we work with our own materials. I do so exclusively, myself. However, I’m not particularly fond of matt; I usually use gloss.
But mathematics cannot be overcome.
No orders for matt rolls in three years and two rolls being sold well below cost due to ageing mean we can no longer stock this as a regular item.
The catalogue does not specifically list matt rolls as out of stock.
In fact, we have many disclaimers on numerous items informing you that not every size, grade and finish is always in stock.
Glossy rolls are in stock, as I said. Matt can be ordered on special request, and this will be done as soon as you confirm that you can wait four months.
Look, given the current sales levels, the alternative would be to order one roll every year just in the unlikely event that someone orders it, and then throw it away after a year – which would triple the price – or we could just leave it sitting there for years and, if someone like you gets in touch, sell you old paper and clap our hands......(which we won’t do).
So I think the way we do this by placing an order on demand is the best way for all parties involved.
We have PW15 in formats up to 50x60 back in stock. We’ve just received a shipment.
Regards,
Mirko
PS what does RTK stand for?
Gast
Dear Mirko,
Yes, I fully understand your explanation regarding the difficulties in stocking PW-15 rolls.
In this situation, it really is wise to order rolls only when needed.
And yes, I believe that you at FOTOIMPEX know what the surface of this paper looks like, but if it “sells like old bread”, then I think that your customers haven’t seen the luminosity of this paper’s surface. But as already stated, this is a matter of taste.
But OK, I would now like to order three rolls of “Polywarm Baryt 1.02x10 m roll CL510 110.20”.
MirkoBoeddecker
Dear RTK,
We’ve just unpacked the new shipment and noticed that Forte has sent two rolls of PW15 instead of PW14. I’m sure I didn’t order this......;)
So this works out well for all three of us, as this is exactly what you’re looking for.
We don’t need to send anything back and you can receive your rolls straight away.
Please send your order to info@fotoimpex.de and we will process it as soon as possible.
Regards,
Mirko
cfb_de
Sorry for the inconvenience. I need to have a frank word with Mirko; perhaps he’ll clarify the matter.
Mirko: Hey? Your last post saying “Forte has shipped two rolls of PW15 instead of PW14” – does that *actually* mean PW *is* available in rolls after all? What’s that all about?
If I weren’t such a loyal customer, I’d feel like I’d been had.
[Mirko: “Does your last post mean PW *is* available in rolls? Up until now you’ve told us otherwise. Nice.”]
An extra discount of around 10% would be appreciated. That makes €150 per roll. I await your reply.
However,
best regards,
Franz
MirkoBoeddecker
Dear Franz,
Now you’re making the same mistake as Sabine did when she replied to RTK ;)
Rolls 10 metres wide (full factory roll width) and 10 metres long have always been available as a standard catalogue item and continue to be available at roughly the same price per square metre as the pre-cut and boxed paper.
It’s just that PW15 and PW17 are only available on special request.
I even told you earlier that if you want to buy rolls of this full width and perhaps 300 metres in length, all the extra packaging work is unnecessary, so no problem, and the price will be even better ;-)
>>This order has nothing to do with the special rolls you requested, which are only 30.5 cm wide!!! <<
And because I was discussing this topic so much with the manufacturers, Sabine got confused and thought RTK’s order meant these small rolls, so she told him they weren’t available at all until I’d finished my discussions.
Then he posted this and I saw he meant the standard large-format printing rolls, so I cleared it up and spoke to Sabine.
Regards,
Mirko
PS RTK, I’ve sent you an order confirmation and have also included the 4x5" 100 ASA sheet film, which wasn’t in stock last week but is back now.
