What takes them so long???!!!???

[BarryC]

Okay. I'm not really expecting an answer, but I just wanted to talk about it.
Here's the deal. I'm an amateur photographer. Some of the things I photograph are, in no particular order of importance:
**Rare, interesting, or beautiful wildflowers and plants.
**Churches, whether old or not, and other interesting buildings that I might happen to see.
**Cemeteries, preferably old ones.
**And more.
I've been using the same camera, and the same photo lab in Florida, since around 1987 or 1988. (never mind the fact that I'm still using a film camera!)
This photo lab claims 24 hour turnover time. I use their film mailers to mail my film from here (NJ) to there (Hollywood, FL). Their film mailers are Business Reply Mail, first class mail. And I always pay for Priority Mail for shipping of my photos to me.
For years and years and years it always took, on average, one week from the date of mailing the film to the date of getting my pictures in the mail. On a rare ocasion it might take two weeks. That was quite acceptable.

But now, at least for the last year, or maybe even the last two years, it takes two to three weeks! Always! I don't get it. How can first-class to FL, plus 24 hours processing, plus Priority Mail to NJ equal two to three weeks total?? It's so frustrating to wait that long, when to me it seems like it should not take more than a week.

I just needed to vent, but I'm wondering what could possibly take so long in that equation.

I plan on writing the postal service for an explanation, but have not done it yet. I wonder if I will just get excuses that don't really mean anything.

[TeenageRepublican]

Here's my answer, the mail service should be faster because more and more people are relying on the Internet. So, what is taking them so long?

[TeenageRepublican]

Here's my answer, the mail service is screwed up. More and more people are relying on the internet, therefore, mail service should be faster. So, what is taking them so long?

[buckeyepete]

Sounds like the 24hr turn around time should read differently.I'd check with the lab first.

[Wolfcounsel]

May I suggest taking up photography as a hobby, all the way to the film developing? I read that it is expensive, but all it takes is patience, and attention to detail, and sooner or later, one picture could pay for everything.

[Rhino]

Why send it to Florida?

[BarryC]

It's a reputable lab that I've been dealing with for 20 years. I get slides and prints from the same roll of film, and everything always turns out great.
Last I looked, on the FAQ on their website it said turnaround time is 24 hours. I emailed them once and the person's response was "It can take up to a week for one of our mailers to get to us." A week for first class mail? On rare occasions I've received packages from eBay sellers in 2 days, packages that were sent Parcel Post (the slow mode). Something's not right.

[TeenageRepublican]

I hope the mail service doesn't treat me like this when I submit my short story to the Writer's Digest Story Contest. :unsmile:

[oldcoastie]

It's a reputable lab that I've been dealing with for 20 years. I get slides and prints from the same roll of film, and everything always turns out great.
Last I looked, on the FAQ on their website it said turnaround time is 24 hours. I emailed them once and the person's response was "It can take up to a week for one of our mailers to get to us." A week for first class mail? On rare occasions I've received packages from eBay sellers in 2 days, packages that were sent Parcel Post (the slow mode). Something's not right.

Send the next one return receipt requested. Then you'll know when they received it.

[Beowulf]

Barry, I own Images of Light photography, a small business I'm trying to get going. I photograph weddings, nature, sports, portraits and anything else I can think of.
If I can't do my own processing, which most of the time I can't, I send it out on 3 day service. The quality is great and I have no complaints.

Like you, I use older cameras. I'm running a 22 year old Canon T-50 with some zoom lenses and a 12 year old Nikon 6000. I love the old fashioned way and what choice do I have, I can't afford a professional style digital.

Barry, your local Wal-Mart send out service is just fine and it's reliable. I've never lost a roll.

[Rhino]

My 30 year old Olympus OM-1 still outdoes every camera I have had since. I just need to use digital now. Film is too much of a pain. I used to have my own darkroom, but that was a pain too.

[Wolfcounsel]

I have a Nikon EM, and a Minolta sub-miniature 8mm. The Nikon still works excellently. It's difficult to find 8mm for the miniature.

[ThomasMore]

May I suggest taking up photography as a hobby, all the way to the film developing? I read that it is expensive, but all it takes is patience, and attention to detail, and sooner or later, one picture could pay for everything.

I dabble a little at photography, and used to have ambitions of setting up my own darkroom.

Black & White darkrooms used to be reasonable in cost; color was always prohibitive for the home darkroom.

Now, chemical disposal has become a huge expense for environmental reasons -- the costs make the idea of home-developing a non-starter for most amateurs and many professionals.

[Wolfcounsel]

"Now, chemical disposal has become a huge expense for environmental reasons -- the costs make the idea of home-developing a non-starter for most amateurs and many professionals." --Thomas More

The envirowackos can be destroyed, but that's a different topic.<!-- / message -->

[ThomasMore]

<!-- / message -->The envirowackos can be destroyed, but that's a different topic.

:evilgrin:

[TeenageRepublican]

Barry, I own Images of Light photography, a small business I'm trying to get going. I photograph weddings, nature, sports, portraits and anything else I can think of.
If I can't do my own processing, which most of the time I can't, I send it out on 3 day service. The quality is great and I have no complaints.

Like you, I use older cameras. I'm running a 22 year old Canon T-50 with some zoom lenses and a 12 year old Nikon 6000. I love the old fashioned way and what choice do I have, I can't afford a professional style digital.

Barry, your local Wal-Mart send out service is just fine and it's reliable. I've never lost a roll.

Wal-Mart is fine period.

[BabyBeastie]

Hi Barry:

Have you heard of Taylor Photo (http://www.taylorphoto.com/filmprocessing.htm) in Princeton, NJ?
TAYLOR PHOTO is the largest film developer in New Jersey and a certified Kodak Q-Lab. We continue to process E-6 slides and C-41 color negatives and offer quality prints, preview & select service, as well as custom Black & White developing.

[BarryC]

My camera is a Canon AE-1 Program, which I got for Christmas, in aproximately 1987. Along with the camera I got a Canon 35-70mm FD zoom lens, Starblitz 3800 DFS flash unit, skylight filter, lens hood, camera bag, and several rolls of film. What a Christmas present that was.

I use only ASA 200 Kodacolor Gold film, and use the camera only on the auto settings. I do architectural, nature and scenic photos, as well as cemetery photos and other things.

I use Dale Laboratories in Florida, and have for 20 years. I am one of those people who are afraid of change, I suppose.
I have an Eckerd and a Rite-Aid around the corner from me, but have never used their photo services except to make additional copies of 2 or 3 photos from my negatives on occasion. There is also a Walmart within 15 minutes drive but I have never used their photo services. I do buy my film there though.

But back to the original thing- can First Class Mail really be that slow? I'm not impressed. The postage rates keep going up (although it's still cheap), but I think service is slowing down, IMO.
Barry