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12/12/2005 12:55:00 AM · #1 |
I have some stuff printed at walmart - i have 2 near me and the hours, convenience and prices are pretty good. the quality is excellent.
I am getting rather annoyed at them lately though.
It's nice that the largest corporation in the world and the US's largest employer considers me a professional photographer. I appreciate them being careful not to violate a copyright.
Today i had to get an 8x10 printed that i forgot to include in my last on-line order. with shipping and the xmas mailing crunch, walmart was the way to go. They called me when they got the order (i order via online) becuase the print 'looked professional'. Fine, they have done this before - usually they 'hassle' me in the store. I am on file there. No probs.
Well today the, umm, employee (i have other names...) wanted me to bring in the original. ?? I told her i am a pro, that I am printing this as a rush type of thing, that i have done this before and am on file with them. Just go look at your file. She responded, very blondly, "But this is a professional print. You need to bring in the original."
"Umm, deary, you HAVE the original. you just printed it. What exactly do you want me to bring in?" "The original" she repeats.
Me, getting agitated now (she had to call during the steeler game BTW) "I created the original, you have printed the only copy on earth. Shoud i bring you my harddrive?"
"No, The memory card"
"But I took that picture with 300 other ones 2 weeks ago. My memory cards have long been erased. it is on my hardrive. I am on file with you - go check and you'll see". Trying not to be condescneding, but the tone of my voice was changing.
This exchange actually went back and forth 2 or 3 more times, and then a gent now comes on line. I guess he brought his brain to work with him today, as in 1 sentence he understands. However, he insists i fill out one of their release forms. I respond "you have that on file. I did that already. i am in there every week or 2".
"But you have to fill one out for every order" he says. I have no clue about this as i have filled out only one and have had no problems 'using it' before, but when i go in tomorrow i'm gonna have a chat with teh manager of the place. I don't know how many employees they have there, but it must be dozens or something that by now they don't have an inkling of recognition of my name (yes, i am insulted by that! LOL)
I did the pet photo thing and gave people release letters for getting christmas cards printed - and i know 3 who have goe to that very walmart for this. With the letter they have no problems...perhaps i need to make myself a letter! Easier and faster than filling out their silly form.
The image in question.
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12/12/2005 01:03:47 AM · #2 |
All of that over a picture of a DOG!? I mean, I know it's still a professional shot, but it's not like it was a celebrity or something! Geeze...yeah, go have a long talk with the manager and see if he can't get things strightened out.
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12/12/2005 01:05:39 AM · #3 |
I use Sam's Club instead of Walmart and I have only rarely run into problems there. The people that work in the lab know me now and I get no hassles at all.
I can't, however, use their online service because they give me no way to turn off their auto-image-correction routine. Are you able to upload to walmart and get prints made without them auto-correcting them?
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12/12/2005 01:14:28 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
I use Sam's Club instead of Walmart and I have only rarely run into problems there. The people that work in the lab know me now and I get no hassles at all.
I can't, however, use their online service because they give me no way to turn off their auto-image-correction routine. Are you able to upload to walmart and get prints made without them auto-correcting them? |
Costco has that option with their online service if you're a member there. But if you order to pick up in the store, there's no way to turn off the backprinting, though it can be partially customized.
So far I've had no hassles regarding photo content ... maybe mine don't look "professional" enough, even with borders and captions : ) |
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12/12/2005 02:06:40 AM · #5 |
To do the online with walmart you first have to download their program (a fuji product actually). You 'load' the files into it, and then you can crop and adjust or not - your choice. You then choose what print size and quantity and upload, then choose method of printing (one hour which is matte finish, no options there, or in-store pickup (3 days, prepay, gloss finish only) or mail it to your house (not tried that one).
Unfortunately, the nearest Costco is 40 miles away and i am not a member. Same for sams club.
The backprinting as walmart is some artifical file number (neg 1, neg 2). Might saw walmart too...never looked at that, but i think now.
I have been using Winkflash.com - same machinery as walmart, but you get more choices and shipping is 99c with 1 or 1,000 prints ;) Slightly cheaper on the little and big prints, but 5x7s are only 29c - my fave! They print the actual file name on the back - quite nice if you are printing a lot of things or variations. They also do wallets easily. No customizing of backprinting though.
I must try mpix one day - they sent me a sample print on metallic paper - neat looking image. they have more options but are slightly more cost, especially shipping.
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12/12/2005 02:12:57 AM · #6 |
At least they are trying to protect the original photographer. What if a client attempted to reprint?
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12/12/2005 05:11:54 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
At least they are trying to protect the original photographer. What if a client attempted to reprint? |
I was thinking along the same lines. At least you know your work is protected :) |
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