======================================================= -> This is The 'SPORRS' Mailing List -> Info File: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs/infosporrs.htm -> Note: Remember to include your name in each list post or reply. -> Please delete all unnecessary quoted text from the original message! =======================================================
Dave Cohen wrote: > > ======================================================= > -> This is The 'SPORRS' Mailing List > -> Info File: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs/infosporrs.htm > -> Note: Remember to include your name in each list post or reply. > -> Please delete all unnecessary quoted text from the original message! > ======================================================= . Logically, what gain would be realized by pursuing the matter even if > someone did acknowledge the errors? There is no guarantee that this > particular person will see to it that all of your future film is processed > correctly, or that they will even be working wherever it was that your film > was sent in a week or a month or a year. Correct? And the film was > already damaged. I have learned that mail-order communication cannot be > personal. That is one reason that it is discounted and that they put that > little liability disclaimer on all of the mailer envelopes relieving > themselves from any responsibility if something as small as a roll of film > gets misplaced or damaged within their big high volume operation. They > know that mailers are used by those who are very cost conscious, and for > which low cost is the primary priority (like when you have a choice, as > with E-6 films, the type which you have mentioned here). Because of this > cost decision, they do not realistically expect to provide any type of > customer service for the $3 - $5 that you are paying per roll. Most of > their 'processing' cost covers processing your film through their corporate > operation, not just the chemicals. The math just doesn't work otherwise. > Mail-order consumer labs are just that. They don't expect you to send them > critical and potentially valuable film for them to process in their system. > You may get better mail-order quality with a more professionally geared > lab like A&I, but there is still the potential for a distant communication > problem if an error occurs. That's unavoidable without over-the-counter > service (which labs like A&I do offer also, if you walk in the door). > > Only one suggestion: In order to have any type of relationship with a lab > that is beneficial to keeping the processing quality of your film monitored > and under control, I have found that you must be able to walk in the door, > talk to them and show them what you want in order to get it, or you will > have little or no control over what happens to your film during processing. > This primary reason and the benefit of completely eliminating any > potential loss from postal service and courier exposure by dropping off and > picking up my film myself, often in the same day, is why I was forced to > cease using mailers. My film and images are worth too much to me to trust > them to volume mail-order processing with high employee turnover and low > employee concern for someone that they never met or will meet. Is it > really worth that extra $2 savings to play the 'processing lottery'? I > know some of us have burned up more than $2 in frustration trying to > control a lab in a distant city, run by a faceless voice on the other end > of a long distance phone call. When they hang up the phone, where does > your little problem fit into their day? > > I find it much easier to find a local lab that specializes in what you > want: Film processed correctly, consistently and reliably every time, with > the added benefit of a local relationship when communication is necessary. > > When I'm shooting, I know I couldn't stay concentrated on producing quality > images each time if I was worried each time about whether the roll in the > camera would be the processing error film or not. Cheap piece of mind. > Remember the original message poster said he was using E-6 here. I > personally would never send E-6 out to a mail-order lab. > > You guys can go back to your naps now... > > Dave Cohen > Photographer, Member ASMP > Action Photographic Webmaster > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/home/ > > ======================================================= > -> SPORRS: 'Serious Photographers Of Railroad Related Subjects' > -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs/ > -> Message © 1998 SPORRS® - All Rights Reserved > ======================================================= zzz zzzz huh! Mail processing lottery. Sure you may not lose the film but chances are you'll never win a damage claim, big (total loss) or small (botched processing/mounting). I'll go for mail order and buying 'bricks' to save on film costs but my days of saving a dollar or two on mail processors are over IF my option is a local pro-lab that does good work. Not everyone has that option, but I agree with Dave. If you have a good local option, go for it. zzzz zzzz Bill Lang Mandeville, LA ======================================================= -> SPORRS: 'Serious Photographers Of Railroad Related Subjects' -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs/ -> Message © 1998 SPORRS® - All Rights Reserved =======================================================
