Getting Wal-Mart to understand Kodachrome

capitalK

capitalK

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So I have read here and elsewhere that you can send Kodachrome via Wal-Mart. I live in Canada about 20 minutes away from a bridge that will get me to the US and another 10 minutes away from Wal-Mart.

They had no clue what I was talking about and said they send all slides to Fuji to which I responded "please don't send my K-14 Kodachrome to Fuji".

I left my number for her to get back to me but I have a feeling I won't hear back. I explained everything I know about sending to Dwayne's but she was clueless. The Wal-Mart on my side of the border was even worse.

I know I can send them myself but the border just makes it more of a pain. It would be much easier for me to drop them off 30 minutes across the border and pick them up than to worry about shipping and paying duty.

Any constructive advice is appreciated.
 
I don't know how much kodachrome you shoot or the going rate for a P.O. Box or rental box at a UPS shop, but it may be worth it to set up to receive your film back at a UPS store in the U.S. or a post office box in the U.S.?

As far as the duty goes, I think you owe that anyhow, and I'm certain you'll pay whatever is required when you cross back over the border ;)

edit: just did a little searching. http://www.theupsstore.com/products/altdelloc.html
 
They usually wave me through when I buy $50 or less in one day so I may not pay duty.

It's actually my first and, so far, only roll I've done. The ease of getting it done will be a big factor, along with image quality, of if I do it again.
 
London drugs will send your kodachrome to dwaynes also. Make sure they know what they're doing before you leave the clerk with your pictures. It takes 3 weeks so fi the clerk tells you it will be 'done in about an hour', you might want to speak to someone else.
 
All you have to do is write down "PROCESS K-14 ONLY! DEVELOP/MOUNT ONLY" and they will send it off to dwaynes. They send it off to the nearest fuji lab first who then sends it do dwaynes.


It took a total of eight days (from the time of droping it off in my local store's 'send off-service') to get it back in my hands. Pretty good I say.
 
jbf said:
All you have to do is write down "PROCESS K-14 ONLY! DEVELOP/MOUNT ONLY" and they will send it off to dwaynes. They send it off to the nearest fuji lab first who then sends it do dwaynes.


It took a total of eight days (from the time of droping it off in my local store's 'send off-service') to get it back in my hands. Pretty good I say.
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Ahh OK. I was worried if they sent it to Fuji it would come back E6 processed.
 
I wrote the few words mentioned above on the envelopes, and then I dropped them into the slot for mail out film developing at Walmart. I did not talk with anyone at Walmart about the film. In 14 days or so, I got back the film developed beautifully and also priced beautifully at $3.98.
 
capitalK said:
Ahh OK. I was worried if they sent it to Fuji it would come back E6 processed.
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Walmart and Sam's Club have millions of customers, so they have contracts with major photo labs. The people working at those labs understand what K-14 is.
 
Yup, I also drop of the rolls without speaking to anybody. In the "notes" section I put in bold letters "K-14 Process!!!." Takes about two weeks for me to get it back.
 
foggie said:
I'm in Vancouver and there's many locations all over BC. There's even two within walking distance of my house! Maybe there's no LDs in the gap. ??
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Sorry, I meant east. I was thinking they're all in the west.

I'm in Ontario. Thanks for the help though.
 
why so much agnst? When I want cheap I drop my Kodachrome off at walmart and they send it off to Dwaynes, the only place in the hemisphere that does K14. Never a problem.

If I take issue with walmart, then I pay a few extra bucks and send it direct to Dwaynes.

Now, if there are morons at the walmart store, they don't call the shots anyway. Fuji and walmart central know full well that Kodachrome goes to Dwaynes. This is a non-issue.
 
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35mmdelux said:
why so much agnst? When I want cheap I drop my Kodachrome off at walmart and they send it off to Dwaynes, the only place in the hemisphere that does K14. Never a problem.

If I take issue with walmart, then I pay a few extra bucks and send it direct to Dwaynes.

Now, if there are morons at the walmart store, they don't call the shots anyway. Fuji and walmart central know full well that Kodachrome goes to Dwaynes. This is a non-issue.
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Being a Kodachrome virgin, I didn't know that. The other people have informed me earlier in the thread and I'm now excited to try. No angst involved.
 
It sure ain't like the days when Kodak would have a guy drive around to all the shops in larger cities like Miami, pick up the Kodachrome and put it on plane to the Kodak lab in Atlanta. It'd be flown back next morning and delivered to your neighborhood shop before noon. Yup, overnight Kodachrome (or Ektachrome) processing by Kodak! If only they'd bring back Kodachrome II.
 
I take mine to wolf/ritz photo which is a national chain. They have mailer envelopes for the slides and there is clearly a kodachrome/K14 checkbox for type. The counter people sometimes don't understand what that means but if you make sure the checkbox is checked - and circled three times :) - it works.
 
raid said:
Walmart and Sam's Club have millions of customers, so they have contracts with major photo labs. The people working at those labs understand what K-14 is.
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Raid, I'm afraid that's not true where I live. In fact, the people around my lab have no clue about any film process at all. They simply put the rolls in a machine.

Some time ago I wanted a roll of Ilford XP2 developed there in one hour. The girl who took the roll said to me with a straight face: "We don't do Ilford film here"

"Why not, it's C-41 film" I said. "It's the same process for color film.."

"We don't do C-41 film here" she replied.

So, I grabbed a box of film from right there and said "You do, you sell it and you process it. See the roll, it's here: C-41 process."

"Oh, that one..."

Then she spoke to her supervisor...

Of course, before you shake your head in disbelief, remember: these are people working on minimum salary.
 
Raid's on the right track---just fill out the envelope. drop it in the bin, and let the people at the sorting center, not the store, sort it out. From what I've read here, they invariably get it right. No knock on the Wal-Mart store employees, I run into clerks in pro photo stores that vaguely remember Kodachrome, but have no idea who processes it. It's easier and quicker to send direct to Dwayne's, but costs a few more bucks.

Al's recollection of the old days was spot on. As late as the late 90's, I could get next-day service from The New Lab, including 120.
 
BTW, Raid and Chuck are right on the procedure.

The Walmart here gets the film back in about a week. And the price is very right.

Now, let me add something: you can ask for a CD with your images. Only the price goes up to $12 that way.
 
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