glennchandrews Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 I'm working with my cousin in Myanmar, Burma, to try to buy a reconditioned grade 9 fuji frontier 330 or similar model fuji minilab - for a low price - because for me this is an investment in a sustainable development project in Myanmar (Burma) to help some of my relatives. The prices I looked at both here in the USA and BURMA are relatively high - in the $25,000-$30,000 range. What can a low budget person like myself (not a company) who is interested in starting a small business like this in Myanmar (BURMA) can do? Any suggestions? BURMA has no loans or micro-finance or any finance - for that matter!! It's all strictly cash down!!! Any suggestions??? Thank you. glenn andrews (Not a photographic equipment expert) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Rose Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 hi, price you mentioned above almost same for frontier 330 ( 25K - 30K US$). but feels slightly higher. may be its because of doller rate is higher than earlier. such a price 330 is a right choice with great print quality and less maintenance. but if you go thru the right slot, you may get little more cheaper. i feel so. regards.. Baiju. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennchandrews Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Dear Baiju, I was born in Burma and grew up in Bangalore, India. How do I get to import from India a reconditioned Frontier 330 machine to Burma (Myanmar). I am paying for this machine myself - so, I don't have much money. I can pay about $10,000. Do you know anyone in India who can sell a good reconditioned Fuji Frontier 330 for shipment to Burma. Do you know anyone who has contacts with import/export to Myanmar (Burma). India does a lot of trade with Myanmar (Burma) and I'm hoping I can get some good benefit in price from this angle. Let me know. Thank you, Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Rose Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Hi, Glen, if i say very frank, its very difficult to get a working frontier for 10K US$..its too less. i can understand your situation. but 10k is not at all sufficent for any kind of good digital minilab. i have good contacts in INDIA and abroad who is importing and exporting digital minilabs to various places. but 10K is very less and no chance at all. otherwise you go for some other digitaly converted machines which are not laser like D- carrier or similler. thanks Baiju. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NattSoe Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Hi Glen According to your problem , please let me know your location and your plan. if i know your detail information may be i can help you with your plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennchandrews Posted September 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Hi Nattsoe, I live in the USA - but, my plan involves Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). My plan is based in Yangon, Myanmar where I hope to purchase a Fuji Frontier 330 equipment for use in Myanmar in a small business. The income from this photo business will be used to help my relatives (7 families) get some money for their day to day living expense. I will be the one buying the equipment. My cousin in Myanmar (Burma) will run it and the net profit will go to the 7 families of my relatives in Myanmar. As you know, Myanmar is facing some tough times economically. People are not able to get jobs. So, this is my plan for now to help some of my relatives. It is using a business investment to help families with their own livelihood. It is subject to change because I cannot afford a large sum of capital outlay. Thank you for your attention. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Rose Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 hi Glen, for you information. I would like to appreciate your intention to help your family relatives. also everywhere there is always a consistant and standered rates for used minilabs and reconditioned minilabs. as u said you check USA and burma found price ranges between 25K- 30K us$. (i would say 20K- 30K US$ depends on how old, what will be the condition of machine,condition of laser unit, usage etc..will also affect machine price.). i understand ur financial issues and present situations in burma. so i humbly request you please make sure the machine is good before buying. ( if you get much cheaper like 10K ) because as u mention you are not a photographic expert... regards.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwijadas Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 No Offense. You can try with a Labnet based machines. I know its not 330 but quality isnt bad, I am using one for last 2 yrs .. its value for money. easy on maintenance. I am zero on minilab but I could fix almost every problem I faced with it. I am not marketing any product, sharing my experience, in fact Galen and me are on same boat. I am an IT Professional but helping my cousin to earn their living. my shop is in Kolkata-India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennchandrews Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Please tell me further what a labnet machinie is? Where can I find the information on the Internet. Thank you for your suggestion. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Rose Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Labnet machine is simply say a digitally converted analog minilab.. checkout below link.. http://www.labnetplus.com/ Baijunj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NattSoe Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Hi Glen I am a technical adviser from Yangon. For regular income, photo lab business is good idea but problem is location and investment. If you want to establish a photo lab in Yangon, you have to consider not only equipment price but also other add on materials, such as UPS , Generator, Computers, etc... Those things will surely require for new users. For your information, Frontier 330 is not in production line anymore. If you interest in Labnet base machine, I own one FUJI 238 with Labnet base system, trust me, you cannot fight in Yangon market with that machine. No offense with labnet machine quality but this is the truth. According to my latest information for Yangon Photo market, for machine and other add on equipments it will cost you round about USD 150000 for new shop. this dun include rental charge for location. I can mail to you if you want to know actual photo price and cost and turn over. You can contact to my mail hnw.tharnge@gmail.com if you need more information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwijadas Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 you have a real helper here. You must Study your local before you Start anything new. For your 238 problem will you be able to describe more to me on this ? there are many problem that may give you bad print. My prints are not flat bad. I can Stay In business in competition with frontier machine. please elaborate your problem. you may open an new thread on this. thanks dwija Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Rose Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 "I can Stay In business in competition with frontier machine" hope this statement doesnt mean that both frontier and SFA have about same print quality............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwijadas Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 I am using a 1501 with Labnet system. You understand that there are many ppl run machine without proper knowledge, the nearest rival has a 330 and I can say my prints are same or better in many occasions. Also downtime is more than my machine.this maybe one reason. we help our customer in many ways, we have grown from 400 avg prints to 1200. if our prints is that bad i wouldnt have chance to stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Rose Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 I believe ur statement. i dont want to argue on print quality of SFA and frontier....because I think no need. I appreciate your commitment to the customers and good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwijadas Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 you have done a great job by helping me with the manual. if you could send me your address(postal) and send me some images that you would like to see printed. I can print those pictures and post you across. It will be my pleasure, also would like to hear some comment from expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burkina Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 be careful about frontier 330.dont buy any over 5years old.the optical lens/laser goes out around that age and it costs about 15 thousand to replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photographis Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 For my own choice, in the situation you describe, I would avoid a Laser printer alltogether, simply because of the cost of maintenance, and probable difficulty in obtaining reliable servicing. High humidity and temperature also shorten the laser units life expectancy. A contact printing unit (Fastlab) is easy to maintain, and cheap to replace if damaged. The print quality is phenomenal, when setup properly, and being an IT person would be relatively simple for you to do this. In the last PMA 'shootout' it out performed all but three other printers, which are high-end laser printers (even 2nd. or 3rd. hand would go many times over your budjet). A digital 'carrier' is an option, but the quality of print for the capital outlay is poor. and that is being kind. Fastlab's contact printing unit can be fitted to a wide variety of machines, and they would be the best people to advise you on which machine would suit your situation best. I would urge you to speak to Fastlab headquarters in Poland, rather than one of their 'agents', as each agent has his own bias as far as machines go, and Fastlab make the units and software, and are not selling machines. Whichever rout you choose, I wish you every success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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