C41 Processing for 120 film. $0.84/roll

[venchka]

Hi Wayne, you mentioned Texas. Last time I dropped a roll of 120 C-41 at the Valley Ranch Walmart (around Irving area), they almost charged me $12 with prints. I was told prints are a must and the development is almost $8. Any tips on what I did wrong?

Ouch! Ask to see the special film process price list. Or some such name. It's in a 3 ring binder below the price scanner/credit-debit card reader. I find that hard to believe. I think the bar code price label is put on by Fuji. I think somebody on the other end made a mistake. I do hold my breath expecting Fuji to wake up one of these days and charge market price.
Valley Ranch, hey? Maybe those folks graduated from the Irving Plowboys training camp. 😀

 

[stewmander]

Bah! my local walmart no longer does processing, only didital prints =[

 

[Robert Lai]

Stewmander - don't use the in store photo booth. Use the send-out envelope!

 

[Roger Warren]

Walmart maybe? Target HELL NO!

Walmart maybe? Target HELL NO!

I tried a roll of 135 and they mangled the film in processing it. No one there had any knowledge of the machines.

 

[PatrickT]

Sendout is key...there's no way I'd trust my film to the workers employed at the stores...

 

[kuzano]

This post is about "Send OUT ONLY"....

This post is about "Send OUT ONLY"....

I tried a roll of 135 and they mangled the film in processing it. No one there had any knowledge of the machines.

They MANGLED it for two reasons... you had it processed IN-Store, and you spoke with them... the two biggest no no's.

I feel for you, but you did not use Walmart properly....

This post, and most recent posts regarding Walmart are about using their "Send Out Only" service where the film is sent to a professional labs (most often Fuji, often Dwaynes depending on store location).

Rules that apply:

1) Never ask anyone in the store about the process!!
2) Never expect anyone in the store to KNOW anything about the process!!!
3) Expect a ten day wait... you will get a call.
4) Use the Fuji envelopes that should be in a cardboard FUJI kiosk.
5) Fill out the envelopes per previous posts here. (I HAVE PREVIOUSLY POSTED IMAGES OF THE ENVELOPES FILLED OUT FOR C41 AND E6)
6) Drop the envelope in the "SEND OUT ONLY" slot of the FUJI kiosk.
7) You may smile and say hi to Walmart employess in any part of the store, even behind the film counter , but for GOD'S SAKE, DO NOT RAISE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR FILM!
8) Only in store employees are adept at mangling film, which is why you send the film out (Yes Mable...even the 35mm)
9) No one in the store will open the envelope when it goes out OR when it comes back, as long as you use "SEND OUT ONLY"
10) If an in store Walmart employee attempts to discuss your film with you, simply state that the film is "SEND OUT ONLY,,,, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS!!"

In my case, I know that film is first sent to Fuji, and what has to go to Dwaynes is forwarded to them. I found that out by calling the toll free FUJI telephone number on the envelope (not the store number) Either way, I always get a call from the store on the tenth day that images are returned.

I process only and ask for sleeved negs/trans, and often get sample prints on negs without asking.

The processing is as good or better than the other labs I have used out of the area.

Having Walmart take care of the shipping both ways saves me about $10 to 12 dollars, as they do not charge me for any shipping.

I don't have another local option for MF in my town, so 120/220 ofen costs me in the $20 plus area counting shipping. I don't think I have ever paid over $6 for Walmart Send Out.

 

[kuzano]

This post is about "Send OUT ONLY"....

This post is about "Send OUT ONLY"....

I tried a roll of 135 and they mangled the film in processing it. No one there had any knowledge of the machines.

I feel for you, but you did not use Walmart properly....

This post, and most recent posts regarding Walmart are about using their "Send Out Only" service where the film is sent to a professional labs (most often Fuji, often Dwaynes depending on store location).

Rules that apply:

1) Never ask anyone in the store about the process!!
2) Never expect anyone in the store to KNOW anythint about the process!!!
3) Expect a ten day wait... you will get a call.
4) Use the Fuji envelopes that should be in a cardboard kiosk.
5) Fill out the envelopes per previous posts here. (I HAVE POSTED IMAGES OF THE ENVELOPES FILLED OUT FOR C41 AND E6)
6) Drop the envelope in the "SEND OUT ONLY" slot
7) You may smile and say hi to Walmart employess in any part of the store, even behind the film counter , but for GOD'S SAKE, DO NOT RAISE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR FILM!
8) Only in store employees are adept at mangling film, which is why you send the film out (Yes Mable...even the 35mm)
9) No one in the store will open the envelope when it goes out OR when it comes back, as long as you use "SEND OUT ONLY"
10) If an in store Walmart employee attempts to discuss your film with you, simply state that the film is "SEND OUT ONLY,,,, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS!!"

In my case, I know that film is first sent to Fuji, and what has to go to Dwaynes is forwarded to them. Either way, I always get a call from the store on the tenth day that images are returned.

I process only and ask for sleeved negs/trans, and often get sample prints on negs without asking.

The processing is as good or better than the other labs I have used out of the area.

Having Walmart take care of the shipping both ways saves me about $10 to 12 dollars, as they do not charge me for any shipping.

I don't have another local option for MF in my town, so 120/220 ofen costs me in the $20 plus area counting shipping. I don't think I have ever paid over $6 for Walmart Send Out.

 

[kuzano]

Now how did that happen?

Now how did that happen?

Sorry for the double post... how come it only happens when I write a book😀

 

[Carterofmars]

Okay- Just dropped off 8 rolls of 120 and tri-x to Walmart in Long Island, NY. Popped them in the envelope and indicated "Processing only/develop Only" in the Special Instructions box. Lets see what happens. In Manhattan those eight rolls would cost me $40.00 in Manhattan Color lab on 20th. Street. If I dropped them off at a spot around the corner from work I'd be looking at $64.00! And that is just processing. I'll still have to do the work of cutting the neg and scanning.

I hope this pans out. Ten bucks for 6 rolls of 120 c41 and 2 rolls of Tri-X sounds very sweet. Worth the drive out to Westbury with the kids screaming in the back. 😉


*Update*

Monday: Walmart couldn't quote me a price on just processing for 120 so they gave me the phone number (1-800-937-4686) for FujiFilm in South Carolina, the lab they use. I just called, and after being put on hold twice, the woman got back on the line and said her supervisor said just processing on 120 is 3-4 dollars. I asked her how they came about tis price because I have heard their developing is around a buck a roll, and she repented that her supervisor told her 3-4 bucks. I then asked abot Tri-X and she didn't know what Tri-X was?!?

Not looking too good...

 

[venchka]

We never ever said that the send out service would work for Tri-X or any other traditional B&W film. Buyer beware. Good luck.
As for the $0.84/roll price: On one occasion I had to pay $2.80/roll. The order before & the oreder after were $0.84/roll including 220. Don't complain if the price is more than $0.84/roll. It's a crap shoot.
Even $2.80/roll is a bargain.

 

[venchka]

One more time: C41/E6 are the only emulsions covered in our (my) experience. The real black and white film is virgin territory. Carterofmars will keep us posted.

 

[Carterofmars]

One more time: C41/E6 are the only emulsions covered in our (my) experience. The real black and white film is virgin territory. Carterofmars will keep us posted.

No worries Ven. I heard ya the first time 😉 I dropped off the Tri-X as an extra test.

Keep checking back all that are interested. I will post my findings when the film is back.

 

[PatrickT]

One more time: C41/E6 are the only emulsions covered in our (my) experience. The real black and white film is virgin territory. Carterofmars will keep us posted.

I have sent in BW film with no problems. Price is a little higher (around $4 IIRC).

In fact, I've sent all three film types to them (C41, E6, BW) without problem.

 

[EdSawyer]

I used to send out C41 via Walmart to fuji. I'd say about half to 2/3 of the time it came back w/o problems. The rest of the time the usual flaw was the staple left in the end of the film ended up getting compressed against other negs, sometimes ruining one or more of them. WTF they leave the damn staple in the film I don't know - totally insane and stupid.

The price varied but was always cheap - sometimes $1-2 roll usually including prints. 120 or 220 seemed to be the same price.

Sometimes the negs looked a bit thin, hard to say.

I gave up using Walmart and do C41 at home now. It comes out better, and I know it's done right, and without the all-to-common flaws from the fuji/walmart processing.

 

[venchka]

No worries Ven. I heard ya the first time 😉 I dropped off the Tri-X as an extra test.

Keep checking back all that are interested. I will post my findings when the film is back.

My apologies. I just didn't want a newbie to come around in 6-12 months and think B&W worked. Maybe it does. Maybe I'll try a roll for grins. On the other hand, I enjoy doing B&W myself.

 

[loquax ludens]

Due to distractions from having my house remodeled four years ago, my dark room became a junk room and I stopped shooting film. I'm about to get back into shooting and developing and printing again now that I've just gotten my new Voigtlander 50/3.5 Heliar.

I prefer to process my own B&W. I've done E6 and C-41 in the past when I had enough film to justify the cost of the kits, but I've only used the Kodak single-use kits, and those are now discontinued. I do have two Kodak E6 single-use kits sitting under my darkroom sink. They are now four years old, but unopened, so I hope they are still usable.

I've also used the Walmart processing in the past for E6 and C-41 and had good results. Four years ago I even had Kodachrome Super 8 and double 8 film processed via Walmart. They sent it to Dwayne's, I'm sure. The warning from everyone who used Walmart for movie film was the same as the advice given in this thread - do not talk to the Walmart photo desk people. They do not know what Super 8 film is. They will tell you that movie film doesn't need processing. You just rewind it and play it back on your camcorder!!

 

[venchka]

Rewind and play back.
I love it!

 

[kuzano]

Many are doing it WRONG!!!!!

Many are doing it WRONG!!!!!

It's quite clear from reading many of the posts that some people are doing the Walmart "SEND OUT ONLY"... Wrong!

CARDINAL RULE 1)
DO NOT talk (speak, verbally interact with, converse with) store employees on Walmart processing.

CARDINAL RULE 2)
Read cardinal rule 1)

Cardinal Rule 3)
Rinse and Repeat

Find the envelopes, Fill out the envelopes (Cross out the normal processing section, in the Special Instruction section state the type of film and "Process and Sleeve". Drop the envelope in the Fuji Kiosk slot, or hand it to a person behind the photo desk. Some parting pleasantry is acceptable, based on your own humanity.)

Leave the store.

Reread CARDINAL RULE 1. Pricing will be written on the envelope on return. In years of using this process myself at Walmart, pricing has been inconsistent, but it has never been high or unacceptable.

I won't bother to ask you to "trust me" on this.

If you don't.....:bang:

 

[zhengpeng]

Got my RDPIII (135 format) back from Walmart last week. They charged me about $7 (including tax). So far so good. I don't think Walmart here sent it to Dwayne, otherwise I should be able to tell from the cardboard mount. Anyway, I dropped another roll of Ektar 100 (120). Let me see how thing goes.

 

[zhengpeng]

By they way, I also tried Walmart's 1-hr service several times. The quality is not consistent. Don't waste your precious time and film on it.