Walmart Processing - Beware

ray*j*gun

ray*j*gun

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This may be old news to some but in case there are others out there who are considering using Walmart to process film, let me tell you what I discovered last night.

I decided to try using them to process some 120 Fuji Chrome and so while was at the store I dropped off a test roll of 35 400 Fuji film and ordered some prints. A few days later I got a call to pick up the film and prints. Last night I picked up the 35 and discovered that Walmart/Fuji included a disc free of charge ..... oh but they also decided that I didn't need the negs. So I asked the clerk (lol) and he explained that Fuji develops the negs, scans the film then emails the scan to the local store where they print the pics. SO NO NEGS WERE RETURNED!!.

So Fuji has decided that we don't need the negs if we get a crappy scan disc and I mean its horrible. The scan and the prints were atrocious and that's the store policy now......so if you want to work with negs forget Walmart. It will be interesting to see what happens to the roll of 120 film. That should be a real laugh.

I am trying now to get the store to get me the negs as a test case but I have little hope that I will be successful.
:(
 
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I agree I can't believe that they would even consider such a thing.......esp without any notice to the customer. Thank god it was a test roll and of little real value to me but it feels like stealing!
 
What happens when you specify "develop only"? You get back an empty envelope?

It sounds like the local clerks misunderstood something, not a national policy.
 
As a side note to this; with the closing of the local Ritz camera, that I had used for film developing, I took a roll to the local Walgreens. I was surprised, they did a nice job. No dust or scratches and it looked good. Joe
 
I Love Film said:
What happens when you specify "develop only"? You get back an empty envelope?

It sounds like the local clerks misunderstood something, not a national policy.
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They changed the envelopes so that there is no option. I think its a chain wide policy but I am following up today. It will be interesting to see what happens to the 120 film.
 
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I completely understand your frustration and this policy/behaviour is unacceptable but does shooting medium format film and then going to the persumably cheapest dealer in town makes sense? Good that it was only a test roll...
 
I agree Icebear..... I use a top notch outfit in Phila for regular work. But I wanted to try this out after reading about Walmart for some time. I will def post the outcome of this.
 
ive developed a couple dozen rolls, mostly 35mm, but some 120 just for kicks. while ive not always been 100% satisfied, never had OPs problem. all negs safe and sound. not returning them is not only unacceptable it implicates a whole bunch of other issues i'm pretty sure neither walmart nor their present developer of choice wants any part of.
 
My guess is they optimized costs on "shipping developed film back" step. Hope this isn't the case, someone just misplaced negs.
 
I've stopped using walmart. The local stores (probably nation wide) don't develop 35mm locally. I asked about develop only when sent out and was told you must get prints or scans and it costs more than develop only. I haven't been satisfied with scans locally, when they did develop locally and suspected that the outsourced scans would be the same. I get better quality out of my Epson 3490 at home.

Next year, I'm upgrading to a V500 when I buy a MF camera and continue to scan at home.
 
btgc said:
My guess is they optimized costs on "shipping developed film back" step. Hope this isn't the case, someone just misplaced negs.
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Shipping the film in the same envelope with prints and/or a disc shouldn't add enough cost to make a difference (a few cents). If it did make difference, they could just pass the cost on to the consumer.
 
TXForester said:
Shipping the film in the same envelope with prints and/or a disc shouldn't add enough cost to make a difference (a few cents). If it did make difference, they could just pass the cost on to the consumer.
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Oh, I were meaning they send files back over network. Prints? Now people need files to upload to facebooks.

I really hope this is single case with misplaced negatives. This has happened to people also in pre-digital era. If that is new policy then this isn't good.
 
Sacramento CA

Sacramento CA

Ran across this last week when i found the processer hidden in the layaway/ bathroom area at the back of the store far from the digital kiosk. Iwas told no film return just prints and cd. Ionly do process and cd for contact sheet , then print from negs I want. No Wallmart for me.
 
 
The store manager (Springfield PA) told me its now Walmart policy..... the new envelope has the following options..... doubles or singles...literally that's all they offer. There is still little box that says Special Instructions but there is no room to write anything....its weird. I called today and asked if I could ask for the negs back and I was told NO. Please if anyone has an explanation or if this store is BSing me speak up.
 
Livesteamer said:
As a side note to this; with the closing of the local Ritz camera, that I had used for film developing, I took a roll to the local Walgreens. I was surprised, they did a nice job. No dust or scratches and it looked good. Joe
Click to expand...

This is info good to know. I was using Wolf/Ritz in Fort Worth for C41 developing but last Saturday they took out the minilab, and the store closes for good today. I already talked to Walgreens nearby my home to see if they process film. They do and they will get the next roll or two to process. I hope they do good and they keep going with it...

Tom
 
I just called Walmart again to verify what I was told last night. They told me to call Fuji direct lol. I actually called and of course they are closed. The number is 800 937 4685. I must enjoy pain because I actually tried to explain to the Walmart manager that keeping negs is a problem since it is propriortary material. Oh well on and on it goes.
 
This is horrible.

It happened to me with one of my vacation rolls years ago (different store in Canada), where they did mail-in service for film development. Since then, I ONLY go to labs that have the machinery right there in the store. An example here would be some London Drugs stores, where they have a respectably sized labs right beside their photo booths. Of course, there is always the option of 'pro' labs, though those are getting rarer and rarer everyday locally.
 
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