Having gotten into photography by a friend a couple years go during collage. I was happy to discover that Warrenton had a camera store, which meant I didn't have to drive all the way to Reston or Fall Church find a small camera business.
I walked in today with a roll of film hoping that is was a roll I lost a few years back. I drop it off with the older lady and was going to be charged 15 dollars for developing the film and scanning them. I was expecting a little bit cheaper but again, the short drives beats the long trip to Reston/Falls Church. I came back a few hours later to pick up, excited to see if it was the pictures I've lost. Since they were to be scanned on my flash drive I wouldn't be able too see them till I got home, but I figured that going to the film would confirm that it was the lost roll. I took out the first strip of film, nothing, then the second, third, fourth till I got to the last one and saw that there was only 2 pictures that have light leaks in it. the rest of the film was blank.
I went back in to talk to the dark blonde lady that was the one that garb my stuff for me and explained that only 2 pictures were good on the film and that the rest were blank and that I felt ripped off having paid 15 dollars for just two scans. I was hoping that maybe that they mixed up the film strips and that all the picture were on the flash drive. If so, good. All I needed was the pictures, the film being lost wasn't a big deal. Nope, the older lady came in the explain to me that there was a flat charge for scanning. I was amazed that she did nothing on both our behalves. Now I not a film professional, but I've develop my own film before. I'm done the whole "opening the roll and placing it in the container" "i've mixed the chemicals and set the timer" I've done it. Now if all of this is done by machine, then I would consider letting it slide. but if it's done by hand, then person in charge of scanning the pictures should have noticed that pretty much all the film was blank and would have brought attention to it, since you have to dry the film after the chemical bath and before using it.
I know it's work to develop film. I would have had no problem paying for that and the 2 scans. which on their website said cost $2.75 for developing plus a dollar for negative scan. Now if most or even half of the film had picture I wouldn't have minded to pay 15 dollars but to still get charged 15 dollars for just 2 scans is stupid. regard less if a person or machine does the job.
I was offer no discount or anything for this, just told that there was a flat charge and nothing more. I've come here before for film prints and never have a problem before. This is not how I should have left out of here.
I doubt I'll return. The older lady white curly hair seen to not care. as for the dark blonde lady, thank you for taking time to understand how I felt and try to do something about it. read more
