An Email to Walmarts "Photo Center" Customer Service :)

<p>I've read a good number of threads about Walmarts send out film processing service, but my local Wallymart couldn't supply the actual details of pricing. They did however acknowledge the service is available and it takes a bit longer than 35mm color film. Wanting more information I decided to try and get it directly from the horses mouth. It appears I may have approached the wrong end of the horse.....<br>

**************<br>

To: WalMart.com Photo <<a href="mailto:photo@walmart.com">photo@walmart.com</a>><br>

Hello...<br /> <br />I still shoot film and from several online forums it appears Walmart has send <br />out processing service for film other than standard 35mm color. I'm looking for <br />an alternative to developing 35mm and 120 roll B&W film (D-76, microdol, etc. - <br />not C-41 processed B&W) at home. I asked the associate at the local Walmart <br />photo center today about send out service for B&W film and what the price would <br />for just developing a roll of B&W and no prints. She didn't know and suggested <br />just sending a roll in to find out what the cost would be after the fact. <br />Supposedly various forum information implied there was a list of services and <br />prices at most photo centers, but she evidently wasn't aware of one. Is a <br />service and price list available anywhere online or otherwise what else is <br />available for process services?<br /> <br />I would think if more photographers were aware that Walmart did other <br />processing, such as what I mentioned, Walmart could pull more customers to their <br />direction. It seems to be a common question in photography forums as to where <br />can one get film processed inexpensively by a growing number of digital <br />photographers that want to give film shooting a try.<br /> <br />Thanks,<br /> <br />Mark xxxxxx<br />xxxxxxxx, MA<br>

**********************<br />-----Original Message-----<br /> From: WalMart.com Photo <<a href="mailto:photo@walmart.com">photo@walmart.com</a>><br /> To: xxxxxxxxx.com<br /> Sent: Sun, Jun 27, 2010 12:21 am<br /> Subject: Your Walmart.com Information<br /> <br>

Dear Mark,<br>

Thank you for contacting Walmart.com regarding your recent inquiry.<br>

I am under the impression that you are asking for the prices of photos and <br />prints. In the event this is not your request, you can ignore the following <br />response and contact back.<br />The following is the pricing for each of the prints based on the delivery option<br>

you select:<br>

Prints, Enlargements and Packages <br /> <br />Prices 1 Hour Site to Store <br>

Home Delivery* <br />Product Quantity Price (ea) Quantity Price (ea) <br />Quantity Price (ea) <br />4x6 1-99 $0.19 1+ $0.15 <br>

1+ $0.09 <br /> 100+ $0.15 - - <br>

- - <br />True Digital Prints 1-99 $0.19 1+ $0.15 <br>

1+ $0.09 <br /> 100+ $0.15 - - <br>

- - <br />5x7 1+ $1.47 1+ $0.58 <br>

1+ $0.58 <br />8x10 1+ $2.84 1+ $2.84 <br>

1+ $2.84 <br />Wallets 1+ $0.58 1+ $0.54 <br>

1+ $0.54 <br />Index Print 1+ $0.29 1+ $0.29 <br>

1+ $0.29 <br />4x6 Collage Print 1+ $0.19 1+ $0.15 <br>

1+ $0.09 <br />5x7 Collage Print 1+ $1.47 1+ $0.58 <br>

1+ $0.58 <br />8x10 Collage Print 1+ $2.84 1+ $2.84 <br>

1+ $2.84<br>

All 1 Hour prints are produced in the Walmart Photo Center you select during <br />check-out. Free In-Store Delivery prints are produced in a regional lab and are <br />delivered at no additional cost to your preferred Walmart Photo Center.<br>

Home Delivery prints are also produced in a regional lab and the additional cost<br>

for shipping toyour home is added to the order total.<br>

Additional questions about the Walmart Digital Photo Center can be answered by <br />visiting Photo Center Help.<br>

If we may be of further assistance, please email us at <a href="mailto:help@walmart.com">help@walmart.com</a>.<br>

Sincerely,<br />Walmart.com Customer Care<br>

****************<br>

Original Message Follows:<br />------------------------<br>

To: WalMart.com Photo <<a href="mailto:photo@walmart.com">photo@walmart.com</a>></p>

<p>You absolutely did not answer my original question. It would appear you either <br />did not take the time to read my original question or don't have a clue about <br />photography or its processing.<br /> <br />I'm looking for pricing for the following...<br /> <br />120 roll film Black and White (Kodak Tri-X, Plus-X or Ilford HP4, HP5) - Develop <br />only, no prints<br />35mm film Black and White (Kodak Tri-X, Plus-X or Ilford HP4, HP5) - Develop <br />only, no prints<br /> <br />Additionally....<br />120 roll film color (C-41 processing) - 12 or 16 exposures with prints</p>

<p>************<br>

Original Message Follows:<br />------------------------<br>

Dear Mark,<br>

Thank you for contacting Walmart.com regarding your order.<br>

We are writing to let you know that the item about which you inquired is <br />permanently out of stock. We hope to have the item in stock again soon.<br />For some Out of Stock items, we can email you when the item is back in stock. <br />Click the "Email Me When Available" button and place your order as soon as you <br />receive our email.<br>

Also, we'd like to offer two suggestions that may be of help:<br>

First, you may wish to contact one of our knowledgeable Help Associates, who may <br />be able to locate a similar item for you. <br>

Second, you may wish to contact your local Walmart store, which may have the <br />item in stock. <br>

To find a Walmart store near you, go to:<br>

<a href="http://www.walmart.com/cservice/ca_storefinder.gsp">http://www.walmart.com/cservice/ca_storefinder.gsp</a><br>

If we may be of further assistance, please email us at <a href="mailto:help@walmart.com">help@walmart.com</a>.<br>

Sincerely,<br />Walmart.com Customer Care<br>

<br /> </p>

 

<p>Who's on first?</p>

<p>That's not really customer <em>service</em>. It's a few guys in Bangladesh (India is too expensive now) who quickly scan the email for key words then reply with a copy of the form letter that seems to most closely match the key words. Maybe they've even downsized those guys and replaced them with a computer - it wouldn't make much difference. You used the words photo and prints, and something about list and prices, so you got a reply with a price list for photo prints. Then you wrote an email with keywords like Kodak Tri-X and 120 roll film, which match to things they don't carry but used to 20 years ago, so you got notified that they don't sell them anymore.</p>

<p>This is what you get with big box stores.</p>

<p>You lost me here, in your response to their reply:</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>"You absolutely did not answer my original question. It would appear you either <br />did not take the time to read my original question or don't have a clue about <br />photography or its processing."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Sounds kinda smug, more like you're trying to score points at the expense of a clueless (possibly automated) customer service rep than trying to persuade them of the advantages of your point of view.</p>

<p>First, if you are interested in having 35mm and especially 120 B&W film developed in other than C-41 chemistry, why are you even considering Walmart? That would be like ordering filet mignon at McDonalds.</p>

<p>Second, it's Walmart.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The non-sequitor nature of the Wal Mart response makes me wonder if political candidates don't outsource the answers to some of the questions that they respond to.<br>

As for your question what about contacting their main offices? I think Wal Mart is based in Benton, Arkansas, IIRC.<br>

Personally, I wouldn't send non-C41 stuff to Wal Mart. Some careless photolab technician might run it though C41 anyway.</p>

<p>I have been satisfied MOST of the time.<br>

the photo techs at our little country walmart<br>

are aware of the send out processes<br>

Walmart.com - . Bentonville, AR 72712<br>

(479) 273-4000 corp<br>

everytime I have a issue, corporate via the websits can be vague.<br>

expect that.<br>

But if you want bangladesh, india, or the phillipies.<br>

just call HP or compaq or other major pc manufacturer.<br>

HP is a very good company.<br>

Walmart chages LESS for prescriptions that many "retiree health plans"<br>

here in PA with the medicare // state plan my wife often pays NOTHING<br>

for some prescriptions. The clerk knows where everything is.<br>

and if it costs less. You can order prescriptions on line<br>

sorry they don't sell e-6 kits.<br>

If you call walmart, you get a genuine southern accent.<br>

Bentonville ar, is where you call.</p>

 

<p>What? I don't Know second base? I agree with Lex as your second response was harsh and not informative to a Castillo as I can see. It looks to me that you did in fact get an automated person who knows very little about anything that you are talking about.<br>

I have had great service using the Wally world drop off but my best service has been sending them directly with the extra money to Dwayne's on my dime including Customer Service.</p>

<p> I don't know well that is 3rd base. </p>

<p>"It appears I may have approached the wrong end of the horse....."</p>

<p>Or maybe just the wrong photo lab.</p>

 

<p>I recently sent a roll of out dated 120 color print exposed by me recently in a Hasselblad to Walmart. The neg's came back in two weeks, clean, no dust or scratches, along with 3x3 proofs, total cost (much less than coffee at *bucks). I am a serious amateur and would probably go elsewhere for important processing ie. directly to Dwaynes or Fuji at the rates they charge.</p>

<p>Walmart has been using a bag service; ie sendout service even before man landed on the moon. Who they send it to varies by where you live.</p>

<p>Not being "aware" that Drug stores; Kmart/Sears/Sams/Walmart has a bag service is a bit odd. "bag service" with photo processing is older than anybody on Photo.net</p>

<p>It really is not anything new that getting prices for oddball bag service stuff is difficult. It was like that 50 years ago is one shot some oddball B&W film in a 8mm magazine load; and one dropped it off at a Rexall drug store in Podunk; a town of 5000 folks. In that era you placed a note in the bag; and one got a quote back from the bag service in a few days to sometimes a few weeks.</p>

<p>A bag service often then just developed B&W and the color and oddball stuff got sent from the regional lab to a bigger lab.</p>

<p>***You have "loops" of bag services.***</p>

<p>Today one has the same thing; a regional lab might develop your E6 or C41; an the Kodachrome gets sent to Dwaynes; maybe B&W goes to yet another lab.</p>

<p>Asking National what local store stores prices for their regional bag service is backwards. Normally one uses the local store to query *their* bag service for pricing.</p>

<p>It is a really sad state of affairs that folks are not aware that stores use a bag service. It is like not knowing cars have radios; or automatic transmissions or headlights or starters.</p>

<p>Most drug stores use a bag service too. One can have one or two labs in a regional area servicing many dozens of different store names. Pricing can vary too. One might be more expensive for 1X prints and cheaper for 2x prints.</p>

<p>The lab places coupons; flyers; envelopes for that drugs store when your stuff is processed. Thus the lab might have 1 dozen different envelopes.</p>

<p>You are really approaching the wrong end of the horse. There is only one rung between your local store and their bag service; you chose a convoluted/bizare way of going thru a mess of layers.</p>

<p>In Los Angeles eons ago; we had many photo stores.</p>

<p>Maybe you like Acme Photo in the Topanga Mall; or Kilroys Photo in Santa Monica; or Tony the Tigers Photo in Torrence.</p>

<p>****Many of these places used/use the same darn "bag service" back in the 1990's as the grocery stores and drug stores.</p>

<p>Thus the lay photographer in 1992 might take their beloved Kodak Ektar 125 C41 to Kilroy Pro Photo; and it just gets sent to the *same lab* as Vons Grocery store uses; or Savon's drug store; or Sears.</p>

<p>The C41 35mm dropped off at Kilroys Photo store sent to would be on the same develop and print as a premium print service at Vons Grocery store; but you pay more and "feel better" with your thought that it had some special eye of newt special handing.</p>

<p>Thus the lay an unware folks today and in the past "pay up" for stuff; that is often the same as the local Kmart or drugs stores premium service.</p>

<p>When I shot tons of C41 35mm in SoCal in the late 1980's thru early 1990's; the local Alpha Beta Grocery stores "bag service" was *the same* as the local PRO camera store's bag service; thus one could save 30 percent by using the dumb grocery stores premium service; versus the pro camera stores service.</p>

<p>One can follow the bag drop delivery guy's car; it would go from Vons grocery store to the Pro camera shop; then to Sears; then to Savon drugs; then to old Alpha Beta grocery store. All this stuff went down the same lab in the SF Valley.</p>

<p>I once worked in a bag service lab; you stuffed all the prints in the resellers envelopes. Thus if you had Acme Photo; the prints or slides went into Acme photo boxes and envelopes. Bag stuff from Sears went into Sears envelopes. Kodachrome got forwarded to a Kodachrome lab.</p>

<p><em>"Asking National what local store stores prices for their regional bag service is backwards. Normally one uses the local store to query *their* bag service for pricing."</em></p>

<p>The local store is where I started. Unfortunately they weren't able to provide prices. Again I do credit the Associate at this particular Walmart store for at least being aware of the send out processing (bag service) for B&W 120 and 35mm. And I am quite knowledgable that stores such as this use a "bag service", but most will have a pricing sheet for what they offer. I probably suspect now that a large chain like Walmart contracts a local lab or Dwayne's for said services and the prices may vary throughout the country, thus a price list might be difficult or next to impossible to be consistent through the chain.</p>

<p>I likely just have a "test" roll processed and see what the cost is after the fact.</p>

<p>The local store often never knows all the bad services prices for odd stuff. Thus the local store has top ask them; but a local place has to have a manager and not a grunt make the request. It was difficult even decades ago; because there can be two loops. ie the bag service might mostly do C41 and E6 and B&W goes to yet another bag service. I had some 8mm cine magazine B&W reversal developed at a Rexall drugs bag service in the early 1960's; it took several requests to get pricing. </p>

<p>When I asked my local Walmart photo person about processing, they said it goes to Fuji labs. And the guy behind the counter didn't miss a beat when I asked about E6 - "Mark it on the envelope. It takes 2 weeks."<br>

At least the one near me. Is it different for different stores? Not from what I've seen around the many posts over the last ten years regarding Walmart.</p>

<p>Walmart drop film processing = Fuji labs = Dwaynes.</p>

<p>I have yet to hear of a Walmart that doesn't send out to Dwayne's via Fuji labs.</p>

<p>I'd like to know how that deal went down. Did Dwayne's license the name from Fuji? Or is Fuji sub contracting out the processing to Dwayne's in the US?</p>

<p>And why hasn't Walmart bypassed Fuji and just cut a deal directly with Dwayne's or just ship it to some Bangladesh plant or something?</p>

 

<p>I think I got the same type of answer when I emailed the post office. I was trying to find out what a "postal payment card" was or is. (It's listed as one of the payment options for processing a US Passport on the post office website). This is the response i got: (addressing my supposed concern about "Delivery Confirmation")<br>

Dear Joseph,<br>

I understand you are contacting us about the price of Delivery Confirmation.<br>

I apologize but I do not show any information on postal payment card.<br>

Any information available on this issue must be obtained from your local Post Office. Based on your ZIP Code of 91335, the contact information for your Post Office is:<br>

RESEDA MAIN OFFICE<br />(818) 342-5786<br>

Joseph, if I can be of assistance to you in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me.<br>

Thank you for choosing the United States Postal Service.<br>

Regards,<br>

John D</p>

<p>Actually... a postal payment card is NOT an accepted way of paying for a passport, either by USPS or by the State Department. See, you should have asked on a photo forum before asking the post office. :)</p>

<p>so why not try to use a real lab with real people? they are not all expensive</p>

<p>You're right Brian. I never did find out what a postal payment card is.</p>

<p>Walmart is was only a lab sometimes when C41 came out in the 1970's; otherwise they have always farmed out the other stuff with a bag service.</p>

<p>If you cannot fill out the envelop; or cannot mark special instructions; avoid a bag service.<br /> A bag service lab cannot read your mind; if it is not obvious things can get screwed up.</p>

<p>Thus assuming types who assume a roll of 120 tri-x will be 5x5 prints will get in trouble; they might be only 3.5" square.<br /> Folk who are the assuming types have other issues too like mail order; ebay.<br /> Walmart shops for value with a vendor. They are not dumb.</p>

<p>Walmart sends out their films were ever it gets a good deal. In the Katrina area a local Walmart by my summer house had a local Walgreens process the C41 when the in house Walmart machine was down.</p>

<p>Walmart typically is only a lab for 35mm; and sometimes APS and 110.</p>

 

<p>I've used Walmart for E-6 processing for both 35mm and 120 film. they did a very good job(out sourced I'm sure) albeit a bit slow. The price was in line with other processors I've used, minus the shipping fees. Film sent out goes in a separate drop off box than that done in-store. Make sure you mark it E-6 in bold letters. I wouldn't even talk with the local help about it as they have no idea what transparancy film is. I have no experience with their black and white service.</p>

<p>OK, I used to be a 1-Hour Photo Lab manager at a "gasp" WalMart. Let me clear up a couple of things.</p>

<p><strong>First</strong>, realize that the only photo service that is actually DONE by Wal Mart and its employees is <em>in the store</em> at the One-Hour lab. All send out service is not actually done by Wal Mart, but they are sent to regional <strong>Fuji Processing Labs</strong> that handle film for several WalMarts in different states, as well as other companies. So anything you "send-off" is going to these Fuji labs and then sent back to the store, sometimes the wrong store. Once it leaves the store, Wal Mart actually doesn't handle it again untill the Fuji courior brings it back.</p>

<p><strong>Second</strong>, I'm not sure which horse's end you got in the e-mail, the WalMart one or the Fuji one, but either way they are obviously incompetent. BTW, the <strong>One-Hour lab</strong> has a phone number to the Fuji lab that <strong>they can call directly</strong>, speak to a customer service rep, and get an answer for you right there. Should take about 10 minutes.</p>

<p><strong>Third</strong>, the machines in the 1-Hour Labs are quite good. The <strong>Fuji Frontier</strong> printers produce a very good quality print and are actually the same machines that many "professional" labs use for their smaller prints. i.e. if you send off your images to be printed from a professional lab, there's a chance anything smaller than 11x14 will be printed on the same machine as the Wal Mart One-Hour lab. Granted, upkeep and maintance may be a lesser quality at some Wal Mart stores, but this is not universal. It depends on the particular manager, I personally took very good care of our machines when I worked there. What you <em>will</em> see is a lack of color correction from the Wal Mart stores. "Most" of the employees are not well trained and they are instructed to simply "push the film through" as is. Again it'll depend on the lab manager and how they trained their employees. A pro-lab will "hopefully" take more time to color correct for you.</p>

<p><strong>Fourth</strong>, take it from someone who's delt with these orders before, and has taken a personal tour of one of the Fuji Processing labs.<strong> NEVER </strong>use the send-out service. Here's what they do. Your roll of negatives get taped end to end with someone elses roll of negatives. The whole train of negs is then pulled through a large tub of chemicals exposing the film. Now I forget exactly when the cutting happens, before or after the prints are exposed from the negatives, but they are cut by machine, at high speeds. This process is prone to major scratching on the negs (happens all the time) and also to negs getting mixed up in other people's orders. So you may get 20 of your own 24 exposures, and 4 exposures of someone elses from another state. That's assuming you get them back at all. Orders get mixed up and damaged all the time.</p>

<p>I don't know how different a "pro" lab is from this process, but I'm sure they take a much safer, and cleaner approach to developing your negs. As for the One Hour lab, don't condemn<em> all </em>One Hour labs just because it's "Wal Mart." Take a few minutes and talk to the Lab Manager of your local Wal Mart. It won't take long to figure out if they actually know what they're doing and care about photography or not.</p>

<p>And of course the One-Hour lab only handles C-41 processing, because that's the only chemical processing that they are set up for.</p>

<p>Now, I'll admit this was almost 10 years ago, and there was MUCH more film processing at the time and less digital, which I'm sure has been reversed now. I'm sure the C-41 stuff is still handled the same way, but your other film may have a chance to be handled with a little more care on a one-on-one basis, even at the Fuji labs.</p>

<p>Still, I'd be leery about using them, just from my personal experience. I'd suggest finding an actual pro-quality lab that still handles film processing for you, but in this digital age I know that's getting harder and harder to find.</p>

<p>"I never did find out what a postal payment card is."</p>

<p>I'd guess that it is a goverment credit card, for USPS employees to spend our money.</p>

<p>p.s. I'm 91306 and I assure you that a personal visit to Reseda PO would leave you just as bewildered as the email may ahve left you. :)</p>

<p>Quality at Wal Mart is a total crap shoot. I tried my local Wal Mart, they send c-41 film to the Wal Mart in the next town, I got back bad color balance prints and scans. The B&W c-41 came back kind of purple looking, kike Plus-X both prints and negatives. I will say one thing that the quality at Wal Mart was better than the quality at the local CVS. Now I drive 60 miles to have my color film processed at a real photo lab.</p>