Film Development Price

Bo Malicious

Hi,

I dropped a roll of standard film into a processing lab and asked for it to be put on disc. (i didnt want any prints just yet) I told him I would opt for the cheapest option - which meant I could pick it up after a week.

After a week I returned and the guy said no pictures where on the film and the price as 5.50e . At the time I wasnt really thinking and only queried whether I was being charged for a disc too since , intitially, I felt the price was a bit excessive. From experience I usually only pay for pictures that have been developed/printed - however as mentioned this time there were none. (new, cheap ebay camera not working it looks like)

Anyways, I get home and mention this to my GF. I didnt want to get into an argument with the guy since I dont have that much experience. She also felt that I was over charged and should ring up and query it.

So I did and the guy's attitude was unreal - aggressive and real abrupt with me. He said I didnt know what I was talking about. I admitted I wasnt an expert but that I was simply querying the price but that I did know what was good and bad customer service. I said this service was ridiculous and that I wouldnt be going back. He said he wouldnt want me coming back anyway!

So, is 5.50 a fair price - as in would it have cost him that much to tell that no images had exposed on the film or was I getting charged excessivly?

SOL

Let me get this straight, you paid €5.50 for a blank roll of film?

You've been had, but if he told you it was blank why did you then go and pay for it?

Also, now looking at the negs is there anything on them, and is it the same type of film you put in?

Bo Malicious

SOL> yeah I know what your saying and I do feel stupid BUT you kind of had to be there. The guy had a real brisk attitude, was on the phone the whole time he was serving me and was doing so in a condescending way. You know when your ill prepared for an argument you dont really do yourself any justice by backing down but I was took totally off guard which is why I rang up. Before I realised what was going on I had already paid...grrr

(incidentally he was an as ass when I originally handed in the film too but stupid me wanted to give him the benefit of doubt ie perhaps he was just having a bad day then. But no, he was just a cockknocker).


Ive never developed my own film but when you/he initially opens up the film can you tell straight away if I roll already ruined?

trishw78

you usually have to get them developed before you can tell unfortunately. something similar happened to me a while back I was charged something like €3 to cover the cost of the chemicals which was fine (Which was half the price of getting them developed & Printed).

Did he give you back the film? Did you ask for it back? how did the film look was it completely clear, i.e. there was nothing shot on the film or was it completely black, i.e. something was shot but it's horrible overexposed?

DaireQuinlan

yeeks. Firstly, where was this ? Was it one of the photoshops in town ? or just some lab in a chemist somewhere ? I have a list of places I like to avoid ...

There is a couple of things you can look at with regard to the film to check see what happened. Firstly, are the markings on the edge of the film ok ? If they are then unfortunately its probably entirely your own fault. If they're not then it could be the film place or could be you, hard to tell.

That said, no call being rude. I actually paid nothing once in Camera Exchange in georges street (iirc, it was a while back) because my film was completely blank (new camera I'd gotten that had a faulty shutter) so there are good people out there :-)

D.

Bo Malicious

trishw78> yeah I totally agree with you, a couple of euro would seem fair. But it was just that I had requested when handing the roll in that it would be the cheapest price=one week collection. This compounded my feeling that 5.50 was a bit much...but his attitude, while admittidly not really relevant here, only added insult to injury! haha

Coulnt make out anything on the film unfortunatly and I binned shortly after initial inspection.

DaireQuinlan> it wasnt one of the places in town - but it was a Kodak Development place. Your right there are some places to avoid but some of the shops and staff are lovely. That place up beside Jack and Jones - think it might be another Camera Exchange place - they have always been really nice in there.

But this place I think its clear ill be avoiding in the future.

deRanged

if you used a new camera are you confident that there was anything on the film when you handed it in?
I know I've loaded film incorrectly and thought that I was taking fantastic shots only to realise after 30 exposures on a 24 that it wasn't even winding on

I would feel that it is was fair to be charged if I hand in a roll and it's developed. It's my job to expose the film correctly.

thefizz

The guy still has to be paid after developing the film. Its not his fault if there is something wrong with your camera or use of it. Maybe shoot another roll and leave it somewhere else for developing. If its blank again then it must be the camera or you, sorry.

elven

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been a problem if he'd explained at the time that the charge was due because it still used time/chemicals to process it and find out it was blank - but I think that's the problem here, people like that don't use their brains and think about explaining these things, which I would expect as part of general good service.

It's not how companies deal with you when it all goes right that we base our opinions on, it's how they deal with you when it goes wrong - and this is a prime example. I've had the same experience when I was in the wrong and asked them what the problem was, only to be regarded with hostility, rudeness and defensiveness instead of them just explaining, clearly and politely, what the situation is. I wish they'd wake up to that simple fact...

bernard0368

Elven. I agree retailers and service suppliers seem to lack the notion of customer service these days. I think it was mauled by that tiger. I am sure the op will not return to that shop and rightly so. I would let a member of staff go purely on the basis of bad customer relations but some dont care. If you are polite to the customer chances are he will come back if you are rude well there goes any future sales.

pete4130

I worked in a Fuji photo lab before and generally if a film was blank we wouldn't charge. Yes, its the customers mistake but it's good customer service not to charge.
The lab could make a quick €5.50 once off, or have that customer come back every week or two with a few rolls, get the sales from the processing of these and replacement rolls.
People aren't going to repeat their custom if they get charged for getting nothing in return. We'd also ask to see the camera to see if there was something wrong with it. This was an excuse to show the customer, in a nice way, how to load the film properly and make sure it was winding on and working. They were usually delighted theircamera wasn't broke and it was a simple mistake that anyone could have made.
I wouldn't be happy if I was the OP, not becaue I was charged, moeso the fact I wasn't told why or for what, especially in what seems to be a very rude way.

SOL

2 things, I used to work in a lab and the ammount of chemicals and effort in a blank is far less then in a full roll because once it comes out of the C41 then all you do is put it in a bag with blank written on it,, as opposed to having to print it, cut it, pack it, and all the paper and chemicals.

We did charge a nominal fee for blanks, i think it was between €1 and €2 but 5.50 is a piss take given that it is most of the cost of a full set, it is totally unjustified.


Also, did you get the negatives back?

if so please describe

peeps78

iv worked in a few minilabs too and generally we were supposed to charge a couple of euros for blank films because the price of chemicals and labour involved. but we, depending on wether the manager was in the store or not, used to charge them nothing.
but 5.50 for a blank film is outragous, youve basically paid for a 24 exp 48 hr dev cost, which you definatly shouldent have been charged seeing as there was no prints.

magicbastarder

it's been a while since i had print film developed, which i used to get dev and cut on only (which would have been more than you got), and i never paid that much.

thefizz

Bo didn't ask for prints in the first place. He did ask for a CD so if that is part of the 5.50 then obviously he should get some of it refunded.

quickg

€5.50 is a bit much for film processing . But word of warning here- there is so little film being developed now in 1hr photo places etc, that there is a great risk of underdevelopment of your film because of stale chemical and low replenishment.
Nowadays, its wise to find a lab that is busy and you will be guaranteed at least proper development. Film processing is going to go the way of E6 processing and you will find it increasingly difficult to find places. €5.50 may eventually be the price you have to pay.
One thing though, it always amazes me how intelligent people seem to come over all stupid when they have to hand over money, i.e. expecting to have to pay for blank film. The amount of times people said to me "but there were no picture on it, why are you charging me €3 for processing?" as they stand there holding their OM10 thinking they are David Bailey!! It costs the same in labour and chemicals to process a blank roll as it does a properly exposed roll.

Bo Malicious

sorry been busy last day or so didnt get chance to get back online.

I dont have the film anymore I binned it soon after my inital inspection.

Again, l wouldnt have any problem paying a few euro as obvioulsy a certain amount of work is involved. Just came on here to double check whether the charge was a little excessive.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.