Digital BW, The Print

>do you know if Costco's Kirkland paper has the same problems?

My Abbey Publications acid test pen (from (512) 929-3992) indicates the
Kirkland glossy paper base is much more neutral.  It probably is buffered.  

Whether it has enough buffering in it for the long haul is harder to tell.
The ratio of lignin to buffering is the issue.  Some standards call for less
than 1% lignin and more than 2% calcium carbonate.  In cheap paper with lots
of lignin, the acids they put out will eventually overwhelm the buffering.
Also, lignin itself is photo sensitive, turning brown in the sun.  Buffered
newsprint still turns brown. 

The Epson Premium glossy, etc. papers are well buffered and archival.

The new glossy papers -- Crane Silver Rag, etc. -- appear to be well
buffered and acid free.

As an old fan of Kodak and still faithful user of its discontinued Technical
Pan film, it pains me to say this, but I no longer believe anything they
say.  I tested one of their vaunted swellable emulsion dye papers and it was
the worst in the test.  They consider a "year" of display to be half the
amount of light Wilhelm and others use.  In general, my experience is that
failing companies engage in this sort of thing in an effort to survive, and
that appears to be the mode Kodak is in.

The cheapest archival papers (unless Kirkland is indeed archival) are the
low-priced, highly buffered matte papers like Premier Art Premium Matte.
See http://www.photowarehouse.biz/premier.html 

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com