kuzano
Veteran
Two weeks ago, consistent with my standard practice of never talking to the employees at Walmart, I stuck a roll of Fujicolor 120 Velvia in a "send out" envelope and dropped it in the slot for "Send Out".
I received a call, and the young lady who called informed me that I would not get my negatives back, as they had followed suit with other stores who are no longer returning negatives, and putting the images on CD. (turns out that is what is happening in many stores beside Walmart FOR 35MM film)
Consistent with my normal conviction that the in-store employee are woefully uninformed, thus I do not talk with them, I responded, "Yeah, fine, no problem"
Today, I went in and asked if they had my prints back. Yes, they did. In the envelope were 8 nicely done 4X6 prints (right aspect ratio for 6X9 from 120). Then in the side pocket were 8 nicely processed 6X9 cm negatives.
$1.46
Now, IF they had changed the way they handle 120 Roll Film, and put the images on a CD, that would at least mean they had to scan them. Alas, no CD, so there is no change in Medium Format at Walmart "Send Out". No scans, No CD, but I have the negs.
Nothing has changed and the store employees are still clueless for the most part. There is one young lady who i've spoken with who did know what Medium Format was, about 6 months ago.
I received a call, and the young lady who called informed me that I would not get my negatives back, as they had followed suit with other stores who are no longer returning negatives, and putting the images on CD. (turns out that is what is happening in many stores beside Walmart FOR 35MM film)
Consistent with my normal conviction that the in-store employee are woefully uninformed, thus I do not talk with them, I responded, "Yeah, fine, no problem"
Today, I went in and asked if they had my prints back. Yes, they did. In the envelope were 8 nicely done 4X6 prints (right aspect ratio for 6X9 from 120). Then in the side pocket were 8 nicely processed 6X9 cm negatives.
$1.46
Now, IF they had changed the way they handle 120 Roll Film, and put the images on a CD, that would at least mean they had to scan them. Alas, no CD, so there is no change in Medium Format at Walmart "Send Out". No scans, No CD, but I have the negs.
Nothing has changed and the store employees are still clueless for the most part. There is one young lady who i've spoken with who did know what Medium Format was, about 6 months ago.
paradoxbox
Well-known
not worth supporting walmart by giving them your business. they don't pay their employees well and they don't provide adequate training.
mail out somewhere else
mail out somewhere else
jordanstarr
J.R.Starr
I'm flabbergasted
JayM
Well-known
Good to know because I often suggest Wal-Mart "Send out only" to people I meet that complain about development costs though I basically agree with paradoxbox.
Then again they probably lose money developing your film that cheap so as long as you don't buy a 40 pack of tube socks on your way out it might not be such a bad thing
Then again they probably lose money developing your film that cheap so as long as you don't buy a 40 pack of tube socks on your way out it might not be such a bad thing
van_d
Established
I can't even comprehend the point of not giving negatives back. I've never had to deal with this (though I don't use Walmart), but I've seen more than a few stories (usually from the States) about this happening. Can anybody explain the point of not returning negatives to their photographer?
I mean, it's not like there's an extra hassle of bringing back the negatvies with the scanned CD, it's not like they have to go through extra effort to produce the negatives like they would to scan to CD (the negatives are what come with the processing envelope). It's like not returning an SD card for digital prints. What's more surprising is people are willingly accepting this as part of their film processing. Why? If I didn't want negatives back, I'd just shoot digital.
I mean, it's not like there's an extra hassle of bringing back the negatvies with the scanned CD, it's not like they have to go through extra effort to produce the negatives like they would to scan to CD (the negatives are what come with the processing envelope). It's like not returning an SD card for digital prints. What's more surprising is people are willingly accepting this as part of their film processing. Why? If I didn't want negatives back, I'd just shoot digital.
Mcary
Well-known
That's because Wal-mart doesn't process your 120 film Dwayne's does.
Richard G
Veteran
You have nerves of steel. Kennedy could have done with your help in October '62. "Yeah, fine, no problem." Brilliant.
Bobbo
Well-known
I had a similar experience about six months ago. They called me later about some damn thing, I rolled my eyes, and said just send it out. Two weeks later, I had a couple strips of negs (all I wanted) for something to the tune of $1.25 or so (don't remember the exact cost).
I need to get a 120 camera and start shooting film again... Walmart's about 10 blocks from my house, instead of an hour away now, and short of mailing it out on my own at a much higher cost, there's no way to get 120 developed in my area.
Just remember the rules of 120 Walmart Development Fight Club:
Rule #1. Don't talk to Walmart employees.
Rule #2. Don't talk to Walmart employees.
I need to get a 120 camera and start shooting film again... Walmart's about 10 blocks from my house, instead of an hour away now, and short of mailing it out on my own at a much higher cost, there's no way to get 120 developed in my area.
Just remember the rules of 120 Walmart Development Fight Club:
Rule #1. Don't talk to Walmart employees.
Rule #2. Don't talk to Walmart employees.
kuzano
Veteran
Nope... they go to Fuji on Walmart trucks...
Nope... they go to Fuji on Walmart trucks...
I know that in some parts of the country (midwest?) Duanes does the processing, but on the West Coast... Fuji is the processor. The toll free number on the envelopes is a Fujifilm number, and I've talked with them a few times.
Nope... they go to Fuji on Walmart trucks...
I know that in some parts of the country (midwest?) Duanes does the processing, but on the West Coast... Fuji is the processor. The toll free number on the envelopes is a Fujifilm number, and I've talked with them a few times.
Mcary
Well-known
Not sure how they break up the country to determine if film is sent to Fuji or Dwayne's. But from here VA/East Coast seem to got to Dwayne's.
kuzano
Veteran
Not buying your politics.
Not buying your politics.
I'm not going to respond to your "politics" on this. Your position is as weak as mine would be in responding to you. It's a losing argument both ways.
It's almost 200 miles to the nearest film processor, and the three times I have sent out to other processors, the postage both ways and the cost to process and print, or scan a roll of 120 film has cost me over $20.
Yes, I have electricity and running water, and an indoor toilet, but the last roll of film I processed myself was in the mid 70's. Just not gonna happen for me.
So, Walmart is a definite first option for me for 120 roll film. I don't do 35mm there (no negatives back) and I don't buy other goods there.
The only thing I do is walk back to the electronics department, put the roll in the "send out" envelope, mark instructions on the envelop, drop it in the slot, and go back in ten days and pay my 84 cents, or $1.46 and pick up.
they certainly aren't making a profit from me, so I am as much a part of the problem as they are if you want to be honest about it.
No Walmart employee ever touches my film, prints, or neg/transparencies. They come out of the envelope at Fuji, and they get sealed back in the envelope by Fuji employees and remain sealed until I pick them up.
I simply use Walmart as a transportation outlet to get my film to Fuji and back. It's rather a sweet system. It would only be better if I could walk in the back of Walmart directly into electronics and leave that way, but there's a McDonalds in the front of the store, so I can have a snack while I am in the area.
Not buying your politics.
I'm not going to respond to your "politics" on this. Your position is as weak as mine would be in responding to you. It's a losing argument both ways.
It's almost 200 miles to the nearest film processor, and the three times I have sent out to other processors, the postage both ways and the cost to process and print, or scan a roll of 120 film has cost me over $20.
Yes, I have electricity and running water, and an indoor toilet, but the last roll of film I processed myself was in the mid 70's. Just not gonna happen for me.
So, Walmart is a definite first option for me for 120 roll film. I don't do 35mm there (no negatives back) and I don't buy other goods there.
The only thing I do is walk back to the electronics department, put the roll in the "send out" envelope, mark instructions on the envelop, drop it in the slot, and go back in ten days and pay my 84 cents, or $1.46 and pick up.
they certainly aren't making a profit from me, so I am as much a part of the problem as they are if you want to be honest about it.
No Walmart employee ever touches my film, prints, or neg/transparencies. They come out of the envelope at Fuji, and they get sealed back in the envelope by Fuji employees and remain sealed until I pick them up.
I simply use Walmart as a transportation outlet to get my film to Fuji and back. It's rather a sweet system. It would only be better if I could walk in the back of Walmart directly into electronics and leave that way, but there's a McDonalds in the front of the store, so I can have a snack while I am in the area.
kuzano
Veteran
Just so Walmart doesn't get blamed for this also...
Just so Walmart doesn't get blamed for this also...
I don't think you are pointing the finger at Walmart here, but I do want to mention that Walmart locally (two Superstores in Central Oregon population three counties 250,000) was one of the last to stop in store processing for 35mm, and most other store, Big Box or Pharmacy style have ceased to give negatives back. In that population number, only two Fred Meyer stores and one Walgreens still return negatives on 35mm film.
I have a few rolls of 35mm processed about two weeks ago at Walgreens. I asked the young lady in charge of the processing machine what the future holds for her in this store. She told me that Walgreens has already stopped returning negs in many of their stores. However, she is in a low profile Walgreens, and they will have to fight her before she will give up her film processing machine. Good for her, but these do seem to be management decisions, so it remains to be seen how long she will be able to "fight" them off. Also, her level of traffic allowed her to easily process 5 rolls of Fujicolor in just over one half hour. She called me when the rolls were ready to pick up.
Just so Walmart doesn't get blamed for this also...
I don't think you are pointing the finger at Walmart here, but I do want to mention that Walmart locally (two Superstores in Central Oregon population three counties 250,000) was one of the last to stop in store processing for 35mm, and most other store, Big Box or Pharmacy style have ceased to give negatives back. In that population number, only two Fred Meyer stores and one Walgreens still return negatives on 35mm film.
I have a few rolls of 35mm processed about two weeks ago at Walgreens. I asked the young lady in charge of the processing machine what the future holds for her in this store. She told me that Walgreens has already stopped returning negs in many of their stores. However, she is in a low profile Walgreens, and they will have to fight her before she will give up her film processing machine. Good for her, but these do seem to be management decisions, so it remains to be seen how long she will be able to "fight" them off. Also, her level of traffic allowed her to easily process 5 rolls of Fujicolor in just over one half hour. She called me when the rolls were ready to pick up.
van_d
Established
I'm not pointing the finger specifically at Walmart. I'm pointing the finger at any retailer that does not return the negatives to their rightful owner. If that includes Walmart, then so be it.
I just cannot see the point of it. Really...it isn't any extra hassle to them to put negatives in an envelop like they've been doing for over half a century. So why not return them? The negatives are a huge point to actually shooting the stuff. It doesn't cost them extra. And on the flip side, I can't see how a photographer wouldn't want their negatives back. Just baffles me is all. Like I already said, if a photographer doesn't want their negs, they probably should just be shooting digital.
I just cannot see the point of it. Really...it isn't any extra hassle to them to put negatives in an envelop like they've been doing for over half a century. So why not return them? The negatives are a huge point to actually shooting the stuff. It doesn't cost them extra. And on the flip side, I can't see how a photographer wouldn't want their negatives back. Just baffles me is all. Like I already said, if a photographer doesn't want their negs, they probably should just be shooting digital.
Classique
Well-known
That is glad to know. Once my c41 chemicals expired, I searched long and hard for the best priced processing. One of those places was walmart but after I saw that "no negatives will be returned" I walked right out. At least for 35mm, costco is the cheapest by far at 1.59 per roll for developing and cutting (no prints).
When I get some 120 films, I'll try your method at local walmart. I hope west coast will be the same.
When I get some 120 films, I'll try your method at local walmart. I hope west coast will be the same.
kuzano
Veteran
Not singling you out here...
Not singling you out here...
I was not intending to single you or your post out. I simply wanted to make sure others reading the post did not feel it reflected on Walmart.
This no negs back on 35mm is happening all over, and I gathered you felt that at well.
In concert with you, I also think the decision to throw away OUR negatives is simply ridiculous, if not bordering on unethical. Who, of us, ever gave away our rights to the negatives. We bought and own the film, and as a result of that we have the same ownership rights for the processed film, be it negs or transparency.
What other merchandise that we bring back into these people for tuning or maintenance, do they simply throw in the garbage.
It seems rather clear to me that not returning part of my film order is one of the biggest slaps in the face we are confronted with.
I also know full well that the only reason I am getting my negatives back on 120 film through Walmart is that neither Fuji nor Walmart are equipped, or prepared to scan my medium format film and put digital files on a CD. Considering I have to pay to have them scanned after, I might actually be OK with a CD in this case. But not to the extent of losing the original film processed into negs/transparencies.
Sucky, Sucky, Sucky.
Not singling you out here...
I was not intending to single you or your post out. I simply wanted to make sure others reading the post did not feel it reflected on Walmart.
This no negs back on 35mm is happening all over, and I gathered you felt that at well.
In concert with you, I also think the decision to throw away OUR negatives is simply ridiculous, if not bordering on unethical. Who, of us, ever gave away our rights to the negatives. We bought and own the film, and as a result of that we have the same ownership rights for the processed film, be it negs or transparency.
What other merchandise that we bring back into these people for tuning or maintenance, do they simply throw in the garbage.
It seems rather clear to me that not returning part of my film order is one of the biggest slaps in the face we are confronted with.
I also know full well that the only reason I am getting my negatives back on 120 film through Walmart is that neither Fuji nor Walmart are equipped, or prepared to scan my medium format film and put digital files on a CD. Considering I have to pay to have them scanned after, I might actually be OK with a CD in this case. But not to the extent of losing the original film processed into negs/transparencies.
Sucky, Sucky, Sucky.
p324
Newbie
another film option
another film option
Recently I have been using Mpix for C-41 35mm development. They charge $0.19 per frame to develop, and they cover shipping both ways. Negs are returned. Prints and scans can be ordered separately. I have no affiliation with Mpix other than as a customer, and I hope they continue this service. More information is here: http://www.mpix.com/products/film/ .
- Mike
another film option
Recently I have been using Mpix for C-41 35mm development. They charge $0.19 per frame to develop, and they cover shipping both ways. Negs are returned. Prints and scans can be ordered separately. I have no affiliation with Mpix other than as a customer, and I hope they continue this service. More information is here: http://www.mpix.com/products/film/ .
- Mike
nanthor
Well-known
A few questions for those who have done the envelope drop at walmart. Can you do both BW and color 120? Do you just ask for "develop only" on the envelope? Are you worried that you might never see your negs or anything again once you drop them in the box? And if not, why not? Thanks, looking forward to trying this out. Bob Nancarrow in Michigan.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
You're showing your age, Richard. That I knew exactly what you're talking about is showing mine.
kuzano
Veteran
Ditto here....
Ditto here....
I caught your drift... I was a freshman in college when that all went down.
Ditto here....
You're showing your age, Richard. That I knew exactly what you're talking about is showing mine.
I caught your drift... I was a freshman in college when that all went down.
raid
Dad Photographer
Velvia is a transparency film. How did you get back negatives? Maybe you did not mean to write Velvia.