Digital BW, The Print

>    Has anyone on this group attempted to contact Costco's purchasing
> department for the purpose of finding their vendor, or MORE likely
> pursuing
> COSTCO themselves for a LARGE QUANTITY buy of 13x19 cut sheets by
> interested
> members of this group...


Yes, I have contacted the Costco buyer and found him very un-receptive to
the idea that larger sizes would have a reasonably large market.  His
response was essentially that such a market might look large to us, but not
to Costco.

I've had the feeling the Costco paper might be either a giant beta for a
future Ilford or Epson paper, and/or Costco's contract may limit them to the
letter size to avoid competing with the supplier either now or in the
future.  At any rate, the message seemed to be that I was wasting my time.

> 
> Is there any chance that the Kirkland/Costco Glossy paper has the
> same origins as some of Ilford's paper? It too is made in Switzerland.

Yes, I think it is made by Ilford.  But, while it's very similar to their
Galerie Smooth line, it is better in almost all respects.  Among other
things, it has a buffered interior paper like Epson Premium Glossy paper.

Incidentally, when Costco was between batches, just before the current paper
was released, they had paper in the box that was made in Japan.  I received
a box that actually had the Epson logo on the back.  When I mentioned that
to the buyer he was a bit aghast, saying that should not have happened.  


> 
> And if it is Ilford rebranded, perhaps one of Ilford's other
> inexpensive papers will have similar characteristics.


I've not found such a paper.  The Printasia was a disappointment to me.  The
Galerie smooth is the closest I've used.  I suspect we'll see essentially
the same paper eventually appear as a premium paper sometime in the future.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com