Tariffs and Film and Paper prices

[MattKing]

Harman's largest market is in the USA.
So disruption in USA markets is not going to help.
As I understand it, some of the Ilford branded chemicals are now being made in the USA, and some of the constituent components probably originate outside the USA, so anything is possible.

 

[c41]

There may in fact be increased sales for Ilford products in other countries....

Good point. Here's hoping that offsets any impact to Ilford's bottom line these tariffs may have. At least Pemberstone (owners of Ilford) are also (I think) a British company.

Good luck to all just keeping on keeping on using film and making photographs, wherever you may be.

 

[gbroadbridge]

No more Kodak for some time but hoping Ilford can weather this storm.

I can't live without Portra, Ektar and Gold. Dunno how much Kodak manufacturing costs will be affected but hopefully not much.

For B&W I only use Ilford anyway.

 

[c41]

Yes, Ilford not so great for colour and Fuji are ever increasingly a non-event - Might be time to stockpile your Portra, Ektar and Gold?
And noting your point Matt on markets/costs, fingers crossed.

 

[mshchem]

Americans can then smuggle darkroom supplies from Canada to the US , just like eggs!?

WHAT? CANADA HAS CHEAP EGGS??? I'M COMING!!!

 

[gbroadbridge]

WHAT? CANADA HAS CHEAP EGGS??? I'M COMING!!!

Everything is cheaper in Canada now

 

[GregY]

WHAT? CANADA HAS CHEAP EGGS??? I'M COMING!!!

Delta 100 /120 is cheaper by $2 a roll as well.....

 

[mshchem]

Delta 100 /120 is cheaper by $2 a roll as well.....

2 dollars CAD? Not sure I can make the swim from Detroit to Windsor. I'll have to come through BWCA probably die from mosquito borne illnesses before I get out of Minnesota.

 

[GregY]

2 dollars CAD? Not sure I can make the swim from Detroit to Windsor. I'll have to come through BWCA probably die from mosquito borne illnesses before I get out of Minnesota.

$1.50 USD.... / roll

 

[MattKing]

Not sure I can make the swim from Detroit to Windsor.

Have you something against swimming toward the south?

 

[mshchem]

Have you something against swimming toward the south?

Good point! I'll probably just cling to the bottom of a bus coming over the bridge, I don't like the tunnel.

 

[mshchem]

Best part of Canada is loonies and toonies! Stupid US dollar bills, disgusting! Vending machines don't even take US dollar coins. That and nasty 1 cent coins, zinc with a copper coating. Brilliant!

Whoops, back to film tariffs. Bad!

 

[gbroadbridge]

Delta 100 /120 is cheaper by $2 a roll as well.....

What does Delta 100 in 120 actually cost there?

 

[koraks]

Hoping this doesn't impact Ilford manufacturing costs within the UK. Does anyone have any idea on that?

That's an interesting question and without being able to look into Harman's supply chain records, it's hard to tell. But right off the bat, I don't expect there'll be a large cost impact on the supply side, no. Moreover, the tariff situation between US and UK is relatively benign and so far it doesn't impact imports from the US into the UK - only vice versa. Or has the UK also announced counter-measures? If so, you'd have to look at which product categories are affected and then see if it's likely Harman would suffer from that.

Overall, I don't think that's the issue. The biggest problem will be on the sales side as @MattKing pointed out, as this will surely affect demand for Harman products in the US.

 

[GregY]

What does Delta 100 in 120 actually cost there?

$12.87 Canadian Dollars

 

[gbroadbridge]

$12.87 Canadian Dollars

lol, $12.78 CAD here ($15.00 AUD)

 

[Romanko]

lol, $12.78 CAD here ($15.00 AUD)

A$14.25 if you buy from Decisive Moment.

 

[gbroadbridge]

A$14.25 if you buy from Decisive Moment.

I hadn't heard of them. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[gbroadbridge]

It's like watching China vs US table tennis at the moment.

Effectively a trade embargo so perhaps hobbies like Photography are in for a very difficult time in the US

 

[dhkirby]

Potentially worth noting that tariffs on UK goods are only 10%. Especially considering as someone pointed out earlier that that 10% applies to the wholesale price and not the end user price, we're likely talking about 0.5-1.0 USD per roll of most Harman product, depending on the exact emulsion. Obviously not ideal but far from catastrophic. If you switch to bulk rolling, for example, you'll pay significantly less per 36-exp with tariffs than you do per individually packaged roll without tariffs. Just a thought on how to survive.

Also worth noting that Starmer says he is working to negotiate to "remove or reduce" the US tariffs and that such a deal "is already within reach, possibly within weeks."

"Only" in the first sentence is used just in comparision with the higher rates on other countries.

Looks like B&H may have already adjusted prices. HP5 is up a dollar there to $9.99 this morning. (>10% increase). Other places still have it for $7.99.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

In the end I believe retailers will spread the impact across product lines regardless of origin to minimize the increases necessary on individual products to maintain margins. Or increase profits overall depending on the management. Nonetheless it won't be a positive impact. The next few years will be quite a ride for many. Can't see this being good for anyone really...

redacted the rest to avoid wandering into forbidden territory

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

What does Delta 100 in 120 actually cost there?

$13.44 , including taxes here on Vancouver Island BC..

Ilford Delta 400

Ilford's medium-speed black and white film. Shoots well at ISO 400, and pushes cleanly, too.

www.camera-traders.com

 

[dhkirby]

Yes the B&H increases are more concerning to me than the tariffs themselves, given that the increases are greater than the rate of the tariff, and that they've also increased the price of Tri-X to match (both films previously sat at $8.99/135-36 and now both films are $9.99/135-36). To me this implies the use of tariffs as an excuse to increase profits. The optimist in me wants to believe that other retailers will find competitive advantage to more "honest," for lack of a better word, price adjustments.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I don't even see how MAP can do it.... 25% wipes out profits. No Ebay seller is going to cover duty/taxes/tariffs....for someone in another country. Those are by nature on the buyer's dime.....
In theory it will work like this. You'll pay for your lens and shipping. You'll be contacted when the goods arrive in the USA by the courier or USPS....stating "the following amount is due on your goods." You'll have to pay before you receive the goods. Will MAP reimburse you?.....
The tariffs will upset a lot of photo trade. I remember when the EU was forming and Italy was changing frrom the lire to the €. There was much uncertainty. A pro photo friend of mine in Italy could not buy a Nikon F3....even though they were in stock. I happened to be in Japan and brought him one.

When I bought stuff from Japan, the duties were covered in the Paypal bill. Why couldn't the tariffs be covered just as the shipping, VAT, and other costs are? The seller just adds all the costs together, including the tariffs, and that becomes their selling price.

Maybe Kumar can educate us on how he intends to handle selling from China and Japan to America and elsewhere.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Yes the B&H increases are more concerning to me than the tariffs themselves, given that the increases are greater than the rate of the tariff, and that they've also increased the price of Tri-X to match (both films previously sat at $8.99/135-36 and now both films are $9.99/135-36). To me this implies the use of tariffs as an excuse to increase profits. The optimist in me wants to believe that other retailers will find competitive advantage to more "honest," for lack of a better word, price adjustments.

You're assuming the worst of B&H, that they're dishonest, which isn't fair. I've always found them ethical in my dealings with them. In any case, competition determines the final price in the market place. A seller is kidding themselves that they'll fool the public over the long term. That doesn't work if others are not including tariffs to fake the selling prices.