Interesting Walgreens photo war (almost) story ...

[dmr]

This is something I think you might find interesting.

To make a long story long ...

As some of you know, I've been on the road, Las Vegas, major program start-up, which is a nice assignment except for being a total meat-grinder atmosphere at some times during the day.

Anyway, one of the guys I work with shot some film (yes, he uses a Nikon N-{something} SLR) of the "before" facility. At my suggestion he took the film to a local Walgreens for a DO/CD. Later he picked up the CD, we popped it in my laptop, put it on the projector and everybody "ooooo'ed" at the shots. 🙂 Next day, I went to the very same Walgreens, had them do a DO/CD on a roll I took of some wide-angle night shots of the Strip (they came out semi-sucky) 🙁 and they did a good job on it.

Ok, so anyway, today he comes to the site all bent out of shape, muttering things that I don't want to repeat and stomping in to the conference room saying that he was gonna phone the Walgreens district office and chew somebody some additional orifices.

I got him semi calmed down and it turns out that on the way in he went to the very same Walgreens with 3 rolls and they refused to do a CD without buying prints. He demanded to speak to the manager and then got in an argument with the manager and ended up getting thrown out of the store. 🙁 (I know it's not funny, but I can't help laughing at it.) 🙂 The manager told him that it was "Walgreens Policy" to not do CD without prints. He asked to see the policy and I guess that's when things got livid.

So he phones Walgreens Customer Service and they say that a photo manager will give him a call back. So the photo manager phones back and confirms that there is no such policy at all, and that is a standard service they offer. They also said they would phone the people in question and set them straight.

Now I know it's not Walgreens policy, cuz I've had the DO/CD done many times at several stores. In a couple cases I had to get them "trained" to do it, it's not intuitive on their machine, but I've never had them refuse to take my film or take my money.

I'm thinking of going in there with another roll (one I really don't care too much about) tomorrow morning and see if they tell me the same story. The lady he described to me is not the one I dealt with the other day, who was very friendly. I'm assuming that it's the morning crew who gave him the trouble.

Oh well, I thought it was a story you might be interested in hearing. 🙂

 

[JoeFriday]

FWIW, I regularly get my C-41 film DO/CD'd at my local Walgreens.. occasionally I get asked "do we do that?" by the clerks, but they've always figured out how

 

[former member]

There is a difference in dealing with a "side business" in a 5 and dime store and a professional lab. I quit Sam's club as Fuji's Processing, their contractor, had become so bad. They printed an entire roll out dark and of focus. I scanned a negative, and it was in focus. Brought into the store, they sent it back out to be redone. Talked to the "quality Control person". Came back properly exposed and out of focus. The Manager of the Photo department printed some for me on his machine, and sent it and my roll back for a third try stating the pictures were all in focus. Came back, in focus, properly exposed, scratched negatives.

Do Not use Fuji Processing.

 

[canonetc]

Some companies offer Managers yearly bonuses depending on their store or department profit margin. It may have been to his personal advantage to "make" you buy prints. Many people are too timid to challenge "company policies" cause of the all the work and friction involved (few want to "look" bad or "make a scene").

I had something similar with RITZ Cameras a few months ago. I earned some free services through their member program (which is quite good, actually), but the Area Supervisor wanted me to pay for something at "non-member" prices. We had words. Sent a letter to corporate, and my membership was mysteriously terminated. It "was not in the system."
Fortunately, the manager is a cool guy and fellow shooter; he reactivated me no problem (why? because they do great work on digital and film printing and I need them!)

Chris
canonetc

 

[doubs43]

I was told at the only local Walgreens that they wouldn't just process the film but had to make prints too. I now take my Walgreens' film to a genuine old-time photo store and they process a 24 exposure roll for $1.90, placing the uncut negatives in a nice plastic sleeve. I'd buy their film but they don't carry Agfa. However, I give them whatever business I possibly can and have purchased a fair amount of stuff from them. Their C-41 film processing is first rate.

Walgreens is actually losing money by not providing me that service because I'd likely buy other things from them too.

Walker

 

[cnguyen]

Walgreen in Colorado will do the film dev and scan into a CD without prints. I like their service better than Walmart. Both use same brand machines by the way.

 

[bmattock]

All Walgreens (and CVS and WalMart and Osco Drug) that I've visited will do negs only - I can only presume that they'll also do negs/CD as well. The problem is that it takes them awhile to 'find it' in their computer/cash register, because they seldom use it and most of the dweebs who work there are barely literate and have trouble reading "See Dick and Jane Run." Nice people, just examples of why reading skills should be compulsory, if you know what I mean.

Sorry for your experience!

I've also dealt with Walgreens customer service - they do tend to kick it back to the individual stores to deal with - they don't seem to have any concept of 'corporate oversight'.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[kiev4a]

Our local Wallgreens soups my film and sleeves it for just over two bucks. Never had had any agrument over prints. They know me so well they assume I just want negs. The local Wallmart turns out garbage.

 

[wlewisiii]

I asked my usual clerk today about a DO/CD and she said "no prob". She then proceeded to explain the process and how it differed from getting the prints. OTOH, I know she shoots film and has a clue. Nice to see how well she knows the machines though.

William

 

[Nikon Bob]

I think Chris got it right that the loxal manager was looking after his bonus. Too bad that happened to your friend. The DO/CD is on the computerized till somewhere I am sure.

Bob

 

[dmr]

I think Chris got it right that the loxal manager was looking after his bonus. Too bad that happened to your friend. The DO/CD is on the computerized till somewhere I am sure.

Actually, from what I can tell, it's not very intuitive. I had to "train" the people in the Walreens back home to do it. They need to explicitly mark zero sets of prints and add the CD.

Notice how when you drop off a roll, they always ask "1 or 2 sets of prints?"

{expletive} For about 90% of what I shoot, I don't want 1 print, let alone two!!! 🙂 🙁

Oh well. I just shot a roll of Fuju 800 in the GIII of the Westward Ho casino. (It is closing Nov 17.) 🙁 I'm thinking of taking it to that very same Walgreens on the way in tomorrow and see if they say anything to me.

Let's see if they kick me out of the store. 🙂 🙂

 

[cbass]

At the risk of appearing daft, what's a "DO/CD"? Is it when you ask for your procesed film to be scanned directly onto a CD without having prints made?

I've got a couple of rolls of C-41 that I'll take to CVS -- I'm curious to see if they'll skip prints and go right to CD....

dmr: you have my vote for "Best New Avatar". 🙂

 

[XAos]

Yes - DO stands for Develop Only. CD is a CD.

 

[bmattock]

Frankly, I never understood DO/CD. The CD scanner is built into the enlarger/printer. In fact, on the newer 'digital' processing machines, the scanner is the enlarger, so to speak. So you get the same film path, same scratches on the negs, same substandard scans. But people seem to like them, so hey, whatever works. I always get DO, cut and sleeved. I have them cut and sleeved because if they don't, I get them back rolled into a little ball and that scratches them too. Last batch I got back from Walgreens - about two weeks ago - were perfect and scanned wonderfully on my SD IV - cost $2 per roll for DO.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Nikon Bob]

Bill

I am glad to see that nothing has changed for you on the DO/CD thing.

Bob

 

[pshinkaw]

I use Walgreen's a lot. They will do film w/o prints if I ask, although I seldom do. However, they have just recently stopped selling Fuji film around here. They now sell only Kodak and their house brand. Interesting since just a year ago they switched over to Fuji procesors. The store I patronize also can't seem to print from Fuji 1600 negatives. I think their machine can't read the bar code on the negative margin for that film. I think it's just incompetence.

-Paul

 

[bmattock]

Bill

I am glad to see that nothing has changed for you on the DO/CD thing.

Bob

I'm much calmer about it now...sigh.

I did have a spate of bad luck even with my much-touted 'method'. My July 4 photos came back rolled in a tight little ball and shoved back into the film cannister - all scratched and useless and I was MAD. Didn't bother shooting color film at all for a month after that. Just digital and B&W which I process myself.

I finally went back to my local Walgreens after a roll of C41 I took at Blowing Rock, NC recently. They did a terrific job, no complaints. A joy to scan and for $2 well worth it.

But like I said - I'm gonna stop worrying that bone now. People, do what makes you happy. My opinions are as if written on water.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

I use Walgreen's a lot. They will do film w/o prints if I ask, although I seldom do. However, they have just recently stopped selling Fuji film around here. They now sell only Kodak and their house brand. Interesting since just a year ago they switched over to Fuji procesors. The store I patronize also can't seem to print from Fuji 1600 negatives. I think their machine can't read the bar code on the negative margin for that film. I think it's just incompetence.

-Paul

I posted a news release on that awhile back, they got an agreement from Walgreens to switch 100% to Kodak products. My local Walgreens has ripped out all their Fuji stuff and is not selling Fuji film anymore either. Of course, they also have a lot less Kodak film too - the selection is shrinking, shrinking, shrinking.

I've got my eye on Kodak - they're doing some interesting things. Bonds were just downgraded to 'junk' status yesterday. I get email from Kodak employees now - kinda cool to know what's happening 'inside' the company.

But of course, some will never forgive them for backing away from film...and will punish them for it. Childish - if they had stayed away from digital, they'd be bankrupt now. But whatever floats people's boats, I guess.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Nikon Bob]

Bill

I had that rolled into a ball and stuffed back into the film cannister experience also. Sure is maddening. I don't go there anymore. Seems like you pay yer money and take yer chances with C41 automated processing theses days. Better luck in the future.

Bob

 

[dmr]

At the risk of appearing daft, what's a "DO/CD"? Is it when you ask for your procesed film to be scanned directly onto a CD without having prints made?

That term I picked up from a local independent lab for just that. They write DO/CD on the slip when I drop it off. Seems like it's becoming common lingo. Yes, develop only/CD.

dmr: you have my vote for "Best New Avatar". 🙂

LOL! Thanks. 🙂 It's not original. I pirated it from the Las Vegas Talk board. I thought it was cute. It's about time to rotate it though. 🙂