Sams Club (Wal-Mart) stops film processing, who's next?

[kknox]

As of January 16th, Sams Club will stop film processing. Was in there today with a roll. They said that's it done finished no more. Who's next?

 

[robklurfield]

I just dropped off a roll of 120 at my local Wally-Mart and wasn't told anything about this. Are you sure it not a local thing or just Sam's Club?

 

[wjlapier]

Our local Walmart doesn't do in-house developing anymore. They ship out, but seems longer than the last time--almost a week to get it back. Price is still pretty good though.

 

[MMc]

I was at a Sam's Club to have a couple of rolls of Christmas snaps processed and I was told this particular location (Greenwood [So. Indianapolis]) no longer processed film on site, but they would be glad to send it out.

 

[kknox]

This store is in the Seattle area. Wal-Mart in the same area has stopped.

 

[kknox]

They will send out 7 days no more on site.

 

[Jeff Fillmore]

What? Is that all Sam's Clubs? Mine is the only local place that will do 120 film.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The Wal-Mart here stopped processing film on site a year ago.

 

[Chris101]

I was just at Sam's Club on Sunday buying a tire (don't do it, but that's another story!) Over the intercom, they were advertising their film developing service.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Picked up 5 rolls today, processed in-house. No mention of stop in service. They get a lot of electronic orders that are printed on the same machine.

 

[kknox]

Maybe just in Seattle area, who knows. We have Costco and all the labs for color.

 

[raid]

In Pensacola, Florida, Sam's Club will "any day" stop developing film.

 

[dexdog]

The wally-world near where I live stopped in-house developing 2 years ago. They will still send film out, usually a 3 to 4 day turnaround time.

 

[Chris101]

By the way, I never take film to Sam's or Walmart. Both are stinking stores with isles that are too narrow, and junk piled upon junk. Walgreens does all my C41 developing. And they seem happy to do it. I always see at least half a dozen rolls hanging there. At least the two stores I go to seem to have plenty of film business.

But then I am told that Phoenix is not a normal market.

 

[gb hill]

Our Wal-Mart & Sams Club both still process film! There building a new Walgreens here. Will be interesting if they offer film developing!

 

[kshapero]

How I grade the one hour developers in the USA:
CVS = D-
Walgreens = B-
Walmart = C
Costco = A
Sam's Club = C-

So who cares? Their developing sucked anyhow. IMHO.

 

[mackigator]

Hmmm

Hmmm

I hope not. My Sams scans 36 exp rolls for $3 each. Cheap film workflow: develop at home + use Sams to get decent scans. That worked as recently as last week in my town.

 

[marke]

By the way, I never take film to Sam's or Walmart. Both are stinking stores with isles that are too narrow, and junk piled upon junk. Walgreens does all my C41 developing. And they seem happy to do it. I always see at least half a dozen rolls hanging there. At least the two stores I go to seem to have plenty of film business.

But then I am told that Phoenix is not a normal market.

Chris, I'm also very happy with the processing I get at Walgreen's. But to be honest, I talked through my issues with the department manager for several months before she understood what I was looking for. Now all the employees know me and know to handle my film with care. And you better believe that the manager got a nice Christmas present fro me this year to show my appreciation! They do seem to have a good amount of film being processed.

BTW, I loved your post about the Sams's Club intecom announcment! 😛

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I interviewed the manager over the photo area at Wal-Mart Corporate a while back. He said that on-site processing would be phased out at all Wal-Mart stores (don't know about Sams) over the next year or two. They apparently don't do enough film processing to recoup the cost of salaries and overhead and to justify the space taken up by the processing area. Wal-mart is expanding their TV and Cell Phone floor space into that area.

 

[robklurfield]

costco does all my 35mm, but my local one doesn't do 120. this will probably be the year, after a 23-year hiatus, that I give souping at home another try. my costco stuff is generally pretty good. the nearest Wal-Mart stopping in-store processing about two months ago, although all the equipment is still in place. they have a one-week turnaround now. the clerk, who's old enough to be my grandfather had never heard of Dwayne's.

Does anyone know if Walgreens does 120?