Wal-Mart's Send-Out Film Service

mudman · Jan 29, 2009

Well I used them for a bit until the price went up to $7.00 at my local joint, and its only $10 at the prolab with next day delivery. To have my slides back in my hands in 24hrs, and to support local business is worth the extra 3 dollars. Same goes for my 8x10's which they do for $3.50.

mongo6407 · Jan 31, 2009

why can't pro labs reduce their prices?

One question that hasn't been asked by demonizing walmart is why the local pro labs charge such high prices for a rather simple service? I mean, we are only talking about a medium format roll having 12 measly exposures. Why should that service necessarily and invariably cost $15 for developing and prints when walmart, through fuji, only charges $1.56? Why can't we challenge that disparity? If the local labs charged a little less, swallowing the difference in price may not be so hard.

removed account4 · Jan 31, 2009

hi mongo6407

it used to be that the pro-labs charged more because they were consistent and offered custom services,
3 hour slide development ( 35mm-810 ) and very very good prints.
i know when i have slides or print film processed i don't want to cross my fingers,
and depend on a mini-lab handle my film, and i am willing to pay a few dollars extra for
the service, not to mention the client pays for film/processing.

accozzaglia · Jan 31, 2009

We here on APUG should consider setting up an arrangement where those of us outside of the U.S. could send to a fellow, trusted APUG member our rolls of Kodachrome with a U.S. money order in the amount per roll charged at Wal-Mart plus costs to mail it back home. It would be a voluntary thing where someone in the U.S. could post on classifieds, "Hi, I'll be heading to drop some of my rolls of Kodachrome at Wal-Mart in about a month. If you need some of yours processed and are needing x-number of rolls minimum processed, please email me."

I keep hearing "$4.88" in American dollars over and over, and I must say, I'm envious. In Canada, we pay upward to CAD$13 (~USD$10 lately) a roll for having them redirected to Dwayne's. Other locations -- Australia, NZ, China, Japan, I'm sure -- probably would pay a lot more. It's probably a futile idea, but if there's anywhere that such a grassroots system could work, I can't think of a better meeting place/bulletin board than APUG. The peer system would assure that everyone collaborates together honourably. And as peers, we all share a commitment to film here. Anything we can do to encourage an increase of use, I'd say, then all the better, yes?

Just a thought. Thx.

p.s., I'm adding a note to American APUGers: Wal-Mart in Canada offers nearly none of the special services you can obtain at a Wal-Mart there (like E-6, 120, K-14, etc.). In fact, Wal-Mart is fairly barebones for film services here.

BetterSense · Feb 1, 2009

The whole "real photo labs are better quality" argument has not played out in my experience. In my experience local photo labs are total hacks and I wouldn't trust my film with them, especially not for what they charge for the privilege. Maybe things used to be different. You pay your money and you take your chances.

aluk · Feb 1, 2009

accozzaglia said:
We here on APUG should consider setting up an arrangement where those of us outside of the U.S. could send to a fellow, trusted APUG member our rolls of Kodachrome with a U.S. money order in the amount per roll charged at Wal-Mart plus costs to mail it back home.

I agree...I wonder what will be happening when Qualex closes down - I imagine that Shoppers routes their 'specialty' film through them...

accozzaglia · Feb 1, 2009

My understanding, according to another APUGer living in Ontario, is that when your local Shoppers accepts your film order for Kodachrome, they phone Fuji just as they do for other pick-up orders they handle (e.g., 8x10 enlargements, E-6 processing, etc.). For Kodachrome, Fuji sends to Kodak (either in Canada or the U.S., not sure which). Kodak sends to Dwayne's. Once Dwayne's completes, it's a reversal of this chain. This is why it requires about three weeks give or take to have your processed roll of Kodachrome returned for $12.99 + [x]ST.

I don't mind the time or the cost so much as the time combined with the cost. I'll continue it if there's no other option -- Henry's is, to my knowledge, no cheaper -- but it puts a crimp on how much Kodachrome I can afford to buy, shoot, and process.

eddie gunks · Feb 1, 2009

accozzaglia said:
We here on APUG should consider setting up an arrangement where those of us outside of the U.S. could send to a fellow, trusted APUG member our rolls of Kodachrome with a U.S. money order in the amount per roll charged at Wal-Mart plus costs to mail it back home. It would be a voluntary thing where someone in the U.S. could post on classifieds, "Hi, I'll be heading to drop some of my rolls of Kodachrome at Wal-Mart in about a month. If you need some of yours processed and are needing x-number of rolls minimum processed, please email me."

I keep hearing "$4.88" in American dollars over and over, and I must say, I'm envious. In Canada, we pay upward to CAD$13 (~USD$10 lately) a roll for having them redirected to Dwayne's. Other locations -- Australia, NZ, China, Japan, I'm sure -- probably would pay a lot more. It's probably a futile idea, but if there's anywhere that such a grassroots system could work, I can't think of a better meeting place/bulletin board than APUG. The peer system would assure that everyone collaborates together honourably. And as peers, we all share a commitment to film here. Anything we can do to encourage an increase of use, I'd say, then all the better, yes?

Just a thought. Thx.

p.s., I'm adding a note to American APUGers: Wal-Mart in Canada offers nearly none of the special services you can obtain at a Wal-Mart there (like E-6, 120, K-14, etc.). In fact, Wal-Mart is fairly barebones for film services here.

i will do it. send me a PM. i use skype so i can call you very cheapky if needed.

i spent many years of my life in thailand. i send my 120 film there to be processed and scanned! i get an entire roll of 120 (6x7) scanned and burned to DVD for 5-10 dollars (c41 and e6). i get TIFF files. this saves me HUGE money for sure. they are doing 30 rolls for me now. i get it shipped back EMS....it even arrives on sunadys too! i have been working with this lab for 7 years.

eddie
eddie

TerryM · Feb 1, 2009

Wal-Mart Services

accozzaglia said:
p.s., I'm adding a note to American APUGers: Wal-Mart in Canada offers nearly none of the special services you can obtain at a Wal-Mart there (like E-6, 120, K-14, etc.). In fact, Wal-Mart is fairly barebones for film services here.

Are you sure about this? I used to send my Super8 Kodachrome through Wal-Mart which sent it to Qualex and then to Switzerland. I got the developed Reel back in as little as 9 days flat! You need to specify instructions (on the Envelope) for Qualex to send it to Dwayne's. They don't know anything at your local Wal-Mart -- send it to Qualex.

accozzaglia · Feb 1, 2009

TerryM said:
Are you sure about this? I used to send my Super8 Kodachrome through Wal-Mart which sent it to Qualex and then to Switzerland. I got the developed Reel back in as little as 9 days flat! You need to specify instructions (on the Envelope) for Qualex to send it to Dwayne's. They don't know anything at your local Wal-Mart -- send it to Qualex.

How long ago did you attempt this? Last summer, I went to a couple of Wal-Marts and they basically said the same thing: "we do print film here and we print digital pictures."

BetterSense · Feb 1, 2009

That's what they say here in TX too. It's not true, because you can apparently do pretty much anything that Fuji labs can do.

brofkand · Feb 1, 2009

Are all the envelopes that are put in the bins processed by the photo techs at the Wal-Mart, or are they sent directly off to Fuji without even being touched by the photo techs?

I guess that would determine the likelihood of getting back slides and a CD or ruined Kodachrome and prints. If the techs touch it, you'll probably get crap.

BetterSense · Feb 1, 2009

I'm not sure about that. In my old walmarts in OH, the envelopes for in-store (blue) were different than the ones for send out (more colorful, with different options), and they got dropped into a different box altogether. In the link I posted earlier, the topic starter urged writing 'send out' all over the envelope, just to be safe. I don't worry about it, because my local walmart sends everything out; they don't even have any film processing equipment in the store.

removed account4 · Feb 1, 2009

how about emailing fuji directly?
they are apug sponsor / partners ..

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

you can send them a PM and ask them how
to send film to them through the canadian walmarts ...

or better yet go to walmart and speak with the manager,
not a lab tech, of the photo department. if you can't find
the lab manager, ask for the store manager.

good luck!
john

TerryM · Feb 2, 2009

accozzaglia said:
How long ago did you attempt this? Last summer, I went to a couple of Wal-Marts and they basically said the same thing: "we do print film here and we print digital pictures."

You need to ask the staff people who is Wal-Mart's "external developer", and which Envelope to use for that developer. They can phone Wal-Mart's Head Office if necessary. The Swiss Kodachrome Lab closed in October 2006. I'm not sure if Wal-Mart in Canada still deals with Qualex which Kodak is closing down at the end of March -- unless there's another buyer. By using Qualex for my S8 Kodachrome, I saved $7 on Postage, and saved Kodak $7 in return Postage. I wouldn't want to trust the Mail with possibly losing my Films -- nor pay the Postage!

spotulate · Feb 3, 2009

Fujicolor FAQ

brofkand said:
Are all the envelopes that are put in the bins processed by the photo techs at the Wal-Mart, or are they sent directly off to Fuji without even being touched by the photo techs?

The on-site photo techs at walmart will scan the barcode on the envelope before it leaves and when it comes back into the store. That is all they are required to do. When I worked there we would also re-run prints if they came back bent or mangled. They do not unspool your kodachrome or fire up the e6 machine they do not have on site. In addition, they are not handling your b&w film in such a fashion either. All they do is scan the barcode when it leaves, and scan it again when it comes back.

Would anybody be opposed to a member writing an FAQ to this? The questions keep coming up..you know frequently. I would be happy to organize it into a friendly format and get answers "from the inside" to any other questions you may have. Feel free to send me a message.

CRK

BetterSense · Feb 3, 2009

Perhaps a FAQ would be nice. I just tried out my local walmart with a roll of C41. I had crossed big lines through all the options on the envelope, I checked the "Special Instructions" box and wrote "develop only". I got back 4x6 prints that I didn't want and got charged $5.36. And the negatives are kind of just thrown in the envelope, I had kindof expected plastic negative sleeves like I got at Target. Since my special instructions were ignored, it makes me think that if it had been a roll of E6 or anything else that it would have gone right through the C-41 machines.

spotulate · Feb 4, 2009

BetterSense said:
Since my special instructions were ignored, it makes me think that if it had been a roll of E6 or anything else that it would have gone right through the C-41 machines.

Fujicolor does not do 'Develop only' for negs. If you want negs only I suggest you find a lab with a film processor and have them do it on site as the process only takes about 7 minutes on a roller transport machine. They can also sleeve your negs. At Fujicolor the film is strung together with lots and lots of other rolls, and everything is run together and sorted automatically. Your order does not get the kind of personal attention it normally would. Rest assured that if you sent in a roll of E6 it would come back as slides. I have seen on multiple occasions customers accidentally sending in a roll of slide film and then being upset that they didn't get double prints back like they wanted!

My suggestion is any time you have an issue with the service provided, make it THEIR issue to deal with. Make THEM explain to you why such-and-such happened instead of assuming the worst. Also remember that Fujicolor processing is a large scale outprocessor, not a custom lab. They can do some things, but not others. Never hurts to make the guy behind the counter call the lab first

BetterSense · Feb 4, 2009

OK that might be the case. I know that multiple people on that skateperception.com link were getting things developed-only, but if I think back it seems it was either slide film, or in cases where it was C41, it was 120 size film. I guess 35mm XP2 was an undesirable niche case, which figures for me that I would fall into such a category.

spotulate · Feb 5, 2009

Did they specify 1hr vs outlab? In the store they offer negs-only as a 1-Hour service, here it's $1.76. This depends on the store having a film processor on site, of course. In the worst case scenario you can ALWAYS negotiate the price if you're unsatisfied. The pricing rules are very gray, you could even get a refund on your order if you still have the receipt since you specified on the envelope that you only wanted negs and no prints. If you really feel ambitious you could ask them to sleeve up your negs in the store while you wait. After all, it does not specify ANYWHERE on the drop box or pamphlet that negs-only is not an option from the outlab.

Chan Tran · Feb 5, 2009

Newly open Walmarts don't have a film processor in house any more. They only scan and print your already developed negatives and print the digital files. They do send them out though if you wish.

wilson · Feb 5, 2009

http://calypsoinc.com/

nuckabean · Feb 7, 2009

I sent out a roll of E-6 120 over a week ago. When I called yesterday they told me that they couldn't find it in their computers and that I'd have to come fill out a claim for lost film. Has anyone else had this issue or is this just 1 time bad luck?

removed account4 · Feb 7, 2009

nuckabean said:
I sent out a roll of E-6 120 over a week ago. When I called yesterday they told me that they couldn't find it in their computers and that I'd have to come fill out a claim for lost film. Has anyone else had this issue or is this just 1 time bad luck?

do you still have your bag receipt ?
there is a 1800# on there to track your photos.
for 120 E6 it takes about 2 weeks ...

spotulate · Feb 8, 2009

"Lost" film

Sometimes those guys miss an envelope while scanning them out, other times maybe they don't even get scanned at all! The walmart computer system only tracks when it went out and when it's back in the store. If your envelope was not scanned, it's not in their system. I would assume this is the most likely scenario.

Once it reaches Fujicolor, it will be entered in their system which is independent of walmart's tracking system. If you call the 800 number on the slip and give them the store number (typically 50xxxx, the xxxx referring to the wm store #) they can usually pinpoint it. Since 120 is a "two week" service, I would give it another week, though. They do have a 'tracer' form which can be used to look for "lost"/mis-shipped/etc photos, but this is really only useful if you have the envelope and store #'s, both of which are found on the tear-off tag from the envelope. Before filling out a tracer I would call the 800 number and see if they have tabs on your photos as the tracer will not reach the lab until the next time film goes out (which has been cut back to 3x/week here).

Wal-Mart's Send-Out Film Service

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