Ripped off?

filmnumpty · Mar 23, 2014

I live near Luton in Bedfordshire.

I have been using a lab really close to where I live recently, well actually the whole time since I've been shooting film, which is not long. 11 months. Though only the last three months exclusively.

The first set of rolls run through with them were scratched which was not a really good start.
The lab tech said the scratching was all my fault and most likely the camera.

I then got the camera checked out and they said it was fine. That cost £30.

The second set were also slightly scratched and dark, though the darkness more than likely was my fault.
Since then no more scratches but the price has gone up every time I've been in there, it just seemed it was me who was getting rinsed.

I ran in paid and collected my 4 developed films, stupidly I paid and left as I was double parked. When I got home I saw they had written on the paperwork £7.30 per roll and that I'd paid £29 odd for 4 rolls of E6 developing.

I felt sure they had made a mistake on the price so I looked on their website. The cost of the 4 rolls of E6 I took to them should have cost me £4.80 inc VAT per roll.

I rang them up to ask if this was a mistake and I got, "people don't process E6 anymore", "chemicals are impossible to get hold of", "times are changing", "times are hard", "these are my costs", "I've got them written in front of me", "the prices on the website should have been updated", "I have to stand my ground", "I'm running a business", "what do you expect me to do?", "this is how things are".

My response was I'm very sorry, from what your saying it's my fault for not checking your prices had risen almost double since 4 weeks ago, I'll have to use any of the other people out there who are charging £4.50 for E6. Their response was, "what!?, £4.50?, nobody can do it that cheap!", well you'd best go there then!"

My response was sorry but I'm having to go elsewhere as your prices are too high, goodbye.

No apology just excuses. I feel I somehow came off the worse. Not sure if I even feel better for moaning to you guys.

Anyone able to recommend a good lab, or should I just by the (readily available) chemicals for any of the numerous shops online or high street shops I've seen and do it myself?

Thanks in advance.

Simonh82 · Mar 23, 2014

If cost is a major issue I would recommend Genie Imaging in London. They do E6 dev only for £2.75 Inc vat. They charge a bit for return postage too but it is still the cheapest I've ever seen.

The processing has been fine and no scratches but I have had a few small finger prints on them.

Their website is like something from internet history but once you know where to look you should be fine.

paul_c5x4 · Mar 23, 2014

filmnumpty said:
I'll have to use any of the other people out there who are charging £4.50 for E6. Their response was, "what!?, £4.50?, nobody can do it that cheap!", well you'd best go there then!"

AG Photo Lab - 120 E6 process only - £4.49
Peak Imaging - 120 E6 process only - £4.55

Mounting and postage is extra in both cases.... The only reason to use a local lab if their prices and/or quality is questionable is speed of turn around. But if they are scratching your films, I wouldn't bother going there.

frank · Mar 23, 2014

Once you go black and white, you never go back. Easy to process at home.

railwayman3 · Mar 23, 2014

There have always been good and bad labs, but it sounds as though this one is just not interested in analogue customers. They'd be better to just exit the market than treat their existing clients as idiots....if the sad day ever comes when E6 or even C-41 chemicals really are no longer available,and the same serious or professional customers all have to go digital, these lost clients are not going to come back to this lab when they need high-quality prints.

Have a good moan, write off the losses and go to a reliable lab, like those quoted above, and give them the business to help them support E6 as long as possible.

DIY is the other option, not difficult and, like any darkroom work, very rewarding, but can be a little tedious if you have a huge batch of films to deal with.

Sirius Glass · Mar 23, 2014

I know the feeling. On the positive side you will never make that mistake again.

Chan Tran · Mar 23, 2014

frank said:
Once you go black and white, you never go back. Easy to process at home.

Yes but I am sadden thinking that film photography today is only for B&W.

Jim Taylor · Mar 23, 2014

Similar case with me, here in the north! I bit the bullet, bought all the Kodak E6 chemistry from processuk.net (not the cheapest option, but not too much more than the fuji-hunt 6 bath kit) and I've not looked back. It's given me the excuse I was looking for to use film exclusively. Totally moved away from digital now.

pentaxuser · Mar 23, 2014

I hope you can find the right developing house and the two mentioned by paul_c5x4 have good reputations but if you think you will continue to use the volume of E6 films you mention or eventually move to C41 or trad B&W processing then investment in your own equipment will pay for itself many times over and you will get the quality you deserve because the processing operator has a vested interest in getting it right

pentaxuser

gone · Mar 23, 2014

Do it yourself. I've had similar experiences (OK, not quite THAT bad, but bad) and it feels terrible. But, and this goes for everything in life, the more you can take out of other people's hands and do yourself, the better off you'll be. You had a terrible experience, just make sure it doesn't happen again. Once you get the hang of the process you will be happy that something like this gave you the impetus to learn it. I've said this too many times probably, but the moment I started doing my own developing and printing the quality of my work improved greatly.

Regular Rod · Mar 23, 2014

filmnumpty said:
I live near Luton in Bedfordshire.

I have been using a lab really close to where I live recently, well actually the whole time since I've been shooting film, which is not long. 11 months. Though only the last three months exclusively.

The first set of rolls run through with them were scratched which was not a really good start.
The lab tech said the scratching was all my fault and most likely the camera.

I then got the camera checked out and they said it was fine. That cost £30.

The second set were also slightly scratched and dark, though the darkness more than likely was my fault.
Since then no more scratches but the price has gone up every time I've been in there, it just seemed it was me who was getting rinsed.

I ran in paid and collected my 4 developed films, stupidly I paid and left as I was double parked. When I got home I saw they had written on the paperwork £7.30 per roll and that I'd paid £29 odd for 4 rolls of E6 developing.

I felt sure they had made a mistake on the price so I looked on their website. The cost of the 4 rolls of E6 I took to them should have cost me £4.80 inc VAT per roll.

I rang them up to ask if this was a mistake and I got, "people don't process E6 anymore", "chemicals are impossible to get hold of", "times are changing", "times are hard", "these are my costs", "I've got them written in front of me", "the prices on the website should have been updated", "I have to stand my ground", "I'm running a business", "what do you expect me to do?", "this is how things are".

My response was I'm very sorry, from what your saying it's my fault for not checking your prices had risen almost double since 4 weeks ago, I'll have to use any of the other people out there who are charging £4.50 for E6. Their response was, "what!?, £4.50?, nobody can do it that cheap!", well you'd best go there then!"

My response was sorry but I'm having to go elsewhere as your prices are too high, goodbye.

No apology just excuses. I feel I somehow came off the worse. Not sure if I even feel better for moaning to you guys.

Anyone able to recommend a good lab, or should I just by the (readily available) chemicals for any of the numerous shops online or high street shops I've seen and do it myself?

Thanks in advance.

Forget close to home labs. That's not a good qualification. You want a firm that can be trusted. I use Peak Imaging. They may not be the cheapest, but their work is first class. Telephone them on 0114 224 207 and ask them to send you their current price guide, an order form and one of their prepaid mailing boxes. Give them a try. You will not be ripped off.

RR

RalphLambrecht · Mar 23, 2014

jerrybro · Mar 23, 2014

My last 4 rolls of color film are sitting here waiting to be sent off. These are going to a highly recommended lab that can do high quality scans. After this I doubt I will ever shoot color film again. Since the 1980s I have been watching the quality of color processing decline. Consumer labs got away with it because consumers wanted fast and cheap, not quality. Pro and quality labs have always been more expensive and have disappeared more quickly as pros went D. Now we are left with a few local labs that typically suck, and some higher end labs that are pursuing a niche market. If you want to do color, and do it well, you have to do it all yourself.

wblynch · Mar 24, 2014

DIY - no scratched or dirty returns.

Easy, cheap, convenient. What's not to like?

Oh, I forgot to mention FUN !

filmnumpty · Mar 24, 2014

Thank you all for your show of support and advice. I'm in the process of developing my first two rolls of B&W unfortunately the first two rolls were not correctly developed and came out very dark. Oops.

As for the E6 Process and C41, I've ordered a proper thermometer so I can nail the temperatures. Hopefully this will yield something good.

Below is a contact sheet from a recent trip away. One roll of Acros (home developed) and a couple of shots from the lab developed roll of Fuji Velvia.
There is an issue with my long exposures with the Velvia, I did not know about reciprocity failure. I do now! Oops.

Ripped off?

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