Film Developing at Local Sam's Club

[raid]

For over two years, the film lab technicians at the local Sam's Club have been warning me about a possible end to film developing at Sam's Club, and today, finally, I was informed that on March 30 will be the last time they would develop film there.

I told her that I have bought digital cameras.

I see this as a strong signal that film developing will become more expensive overall.

 

[Gumby]

I don't know if that is a good corellation to future processing cost or not, but it sure does indicate the future availablity of processing in general. What a shame. My local Costco still processes film but very little any more. Sooner or later they will stop too. Fortunately there are mailorder places that still ahve a decent volume and can provide prompt service, but as you indicate... at a slightly higher cost when one factors in the price of postage.

 

[John Bragg]

I am all for supporting local film labs but my local Walmart Asda made such a mess of my other half's colour film that I vowed never to use them again. She now shoots HP5+ and I soup it for her.

 

[raid]

I was told that all Sam's Club outlets will follow.
When such a large size club with thousands of customers per club each day closes film developing, it is a strong sign.

 

[zuiko85]

Our Costco here (South Puget Sound, Washington state) stopped C-41 last year. Don't know that Walmart does it, never have occasion to visit.


The local Walgreen's still do (but for how long Mr. Spock, for----how----long?)

B&W is no problem. I haven't had a lab do my B&W since 1974, too easy and cheap to do at home.

 

[Gumby]

Ya, I suppose you may be right. Especially when one compares the price at the clubs and the prices at pro labs, which have always been higher. So far, the pro lab I still uses charges just as much as they ever have (about triple the cost of the club store)... but not more yet. The number of pro labs has shrunk too but for some reason the remaining labs I know of are slow to jackup their prices based on less competition. The day may come, as you indicate.

 

[Gumby]

... the other issue is becoming the smaller number of film photographers and the smaller amount of film to be processed as may people do as you (and many others) are doing - transitioning to digital photography. Demand for film processing is certainly going down.

 

[charjohncarter]

I am a commited B&W film user, and I develop my monochrome film. Frankly I like some digital conversions to monochrome better than the straight color pictures. I hope I'm not bias (I have a tendency to be) but I find color film images much better than digital. To me digital color is all the same unless it has been hopelessly screwed in PS.

Hope somebody develops E-6 and C-41.

 

[Aristophanes]

Mail order will soon be the only way to bulk develop film. Drop off services will disappear entirely.

Of course, this was how it was done in the first place (Kodak Brownie)!

 

[gb hill]

My Sam's stopped doing in house over two years ago. I take my color to CVS develop only for less than 3 bucks then scan it in with my Epson V500 scanner. B&W I do it all myself.

Sure film prices are increasing but look at the rate used digital camera's are falling in resale price. One reason why I'm focusing on the gear I have instead on buying more. Using such monies on shooting & processing.

 

[charjohncarter]

Of course, this was how it was done in the first place (Kodak Brownie)!

Oh yes, the wait, it seemed so long.

 

[Gumby]

I just completed a mailorder film processing transaction. here's an approximate log of events:

Monday mid morning. Dropped film pre-paid mailer in box at post office.
Monday mid afternoon. Box at post office was "emptied" and delivery process initiated.
Tuesday morning. Received email of receipt of film at processing place
Tuesday morning (a little later). Received email that film was being processed.
Tuesday evening. Received email that scans were available on-line (one of two rolls)
Wednesday morning. Received email that scans were available on-line (other roll of film, different process than the first).
Wednesday afternoon. Received email that negs were shipped.
Thursday afternoon. Received negs and CD with scans in the mailbox.

Not bad and not too much longer than it took when I dropped the film off at the lab myself. Only difference was the $4 shipping charge.

I can live like this.

Pricewise... hard to compare, but I think it actually was about the same as the prolab I used before they closed their doors. Compared to Costco, CVS, and Sam's, however, considerably more expensive.