8mm Forum: Walmart route for processing E100D is working

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 03, 2011, 05:11 PM:

Hi all,

Just to update you from the previous thread here, that I finally managed to process 6 cart of E100D through Walmart.

It is around $6.8/cart + tax. And because there were 6 carts to be processed, the saving I made was quite significant.

No shipping needed because you drop and collect from your local store.

I was so lucky that someone in the US land was voluntarily taking the role in experimenting this.

So yesterday, I received this:

As you can see above that the reels were boxed and numbered as Dwayne does so far. Indeed, I received information from Krystal (from Dwayne) that they process films for Walmart through Fuji as the contractor for film processing in Walmart.

How can Walmart route is much cheaper than Dwyane? it is still mystery for me. But Krystal tells me in her email that Dwyane does not hurt with this deal.

So what I can think of that Walmart (or Fuji) subsidizes us for bigger catches. What is their catches, I don't know. But they are here for business with their own marketing strategy.

So I encourage you to take the advantage of this route. Why not?

The money you can save from using Walmart route can be used to buy more cartridges. And this will make this hobby alive.

O yeah, turn around is 2 weeks. And they can trace the missing reel if that must happen (as one of my reel was missing and they could locate it).

If you want to know how to drop safely your cartridges, ask here and I am more than happy to share.

regards,

winbert

[ May 04, 2011, 12:13 AM: Message edited by: Winbert Hutahaean ]

Posted by Alexander Lechner (Member # 1548) on May 10, 2011, 05:11 AM:

I am genuinely jealous!
In Austria there is no place left that would develop any 8 mm. So I have to send my films to Germany, Netherlands, GB, ... This means more expensive postage, longer waiting time, etc. And you don't get any film developed below 10 Euros (incl. tax).

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on May 10, 2011, 09:30 AM:

Winbert,

This is very interesting; I'll have to try to locate a Walmart here in the DC area. Significant savings indeed.

Claus.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on May 10, 2011, 09:41 AM:

Winbert,

These are called "lost leaders" in the retail business. It is a tool used to bring customers into the store. Also, they realize that you will "spread the word" to others. They most likely are not making any money on the service at all. [Wink]

Pat D

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 10, 2011, 10:04 AM:

quote:
These are called "lost leaders" in the retail business. It is a tool used to bring customers into the store. Also, they realize that you will "spread the word" to others.

Yes, I believe that is one of Walmart's strategy. When we drop the cartridges we are almost certain to buy for other stuff.

But there is another hypo-thesis that might happen too that Wal-mart has a commitment to develop all type of films (through Fuji) for the sake of customer satisfaction.

And Fuji has a flat contract with Dwayne for certain reels a year which gives them a big discount. This discount is passed onto us.

So ...

quote:
This is very interesting; I'll have to try to locate a Walmart here in the DC area. Significant savings indeed.

Claus ...find the envelop available at Walmart's Photocentre and see your saving....!

quote:
I am genuinely jealous!
In Austria there is no place left that would develop any 8 mm. So I have to send my films to Germany, Netherlands, GB, ... This means more expensive postage, longer waiting time, etc. And you don't get any film developed below 10 Euros (incl. tax).

Alexander, rather you send to German or UK, if you can find your friend in the US, you can use this Walmart route for a huge saving. Ask your friend to return the films in USPS flat-rate envelope which is only $11.95 to any countries in the world.

This service is traceable.

One envelope can take 8-10 (or more) reels.

To sum up....

I think if processing cost is lower the more young people to return using 8mm and this means more cartridges are sold. This is what Kodak wants, and finally our hobby is alive.

Let the local labs are available for people need rush processing, quick turn out, experimenting with cross-processing, need some push/pull process, film makers for business oriented, etc.

But a home movie maker like me who is doing this for the sake of keeping 8mm alive prefers to have this walmart route.

cheers,

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on May 10, 2011, 10:38 AM:

Did you only process Super 8 Carts? Do know if they process double 8mm film as well?

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on May 10, 2011, 10:41 AM:

I think you meant "LOSS leaders!"

Lost leaders are what I deal with when I find old films that aren't ready to project. [Wink]

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 10, 2011, 01:55 PM:

quote:
Did you only process Super 8 Carts? Do know if they process double 8mm film as well?

Brian, I think whatever Dwayne currently offers, it will also be available through Walmart. The cartridge will end up in Dwayne's hands anyway.

There is nothing wrong to try. At least, if they cannot process it, your cartridges will be returned unprocessed and you don't pay anything, that include postage.

cheers,

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on May 11, 2011, 01:03 PM:

I'm impressed to see the cardboard boxes the reels are in - I've never seen a processed 8mm film in a box before. I wish I could get hold of some!

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on May 11, 2011, 02:00 PM:

I get my film processed here in Seattle at Alpha Cine and it comes in the same cardboard boxes. They even put several feet of leader on the film. The boxes are not that impressive, they're a thin cardboard.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 12, 2011, 09:57 AM:

quote:
I'm impressed to see the cardboard boxes the reels are in - I've never seen a processed 8mm film in a box before. I wish I could get hold of some!

Adrian, if you have never shot with 8mm, give a try.

I am not talking about the resolution or whatsoever, because it is definitely lower than nowadays HD. What I like the way we shoot with 8mm because of the length of every cartridge is only 15m (50 feet) making we are only capturing important scenes.

As a result, I always love to watch it over and over again compare to Video (HD) with hundreds minutes of boring stuff.

cheers,

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on May 12, 2011, 06:41 PM:

You can get boxes at Spectra.

Spectra

Kind of expensive though.

Posted by Thomas Dafnides (Member # 1851) on May 12, 2011, 11:18 PM:

In the days of film shooting, we always lamented at the high cost of shooting, but now we realize the high cost of film meant you put more effort and concentration to shoot what was important.
Although , I have hours upon hours of home video, its the 8mm film that I return to view over and over again, in pure fascination of the magical film image in a darkened room.

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