Film Developing in the UK

I posted the 5 films off yesterday and was asked by the PO staff what was in the package. On saying it was film for developing, they were pretty amazed and neither of them could recall the last time anyone had posted film here.They agreed that the cost of posting was very high for a small packet (£3.35 1st/ £2.85 2nd) even just for 1 film, but not too bad for 5 films I suppose.
 
Peter B said:
I posted the 5 films off yesterday and was asked by the PO staff what was in the package. On saying it was film for developing, they were pretty amazed and neither of them could recall the last time anyone had posted film here.They agreed that the cost of posting was very high for a small packet (£3.35 1st/ £2.85 2nd) even just for 1 film, but not too bad for 5 films I suppose.
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Well if you except paying the price for a small parcel, you might as well gamble with the cheaper large letter price as you can't be worse off......but 5 in a jiffy bag would be pushing your luck though.
 
You can be worse off as they get bust out of the envelope and lost for good. It's taken me nearly 3 months to get the cost of films and postage back off Royal Mail. Then add in reshoot costs which you can't claim for.
 
srichards said:
You can be worse off as they get bust out of the envelope and lost for good. It's taken me nearly 3 months to get the cost of films and postage back off Royal Mail. Then add in reshoot costs which you can't claim for.
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I used to have those little adhesive address labels that I would stick on the 35mm cassette itself, but I generally only used to post slide films and get prints done locally. These films were only to test old cameras to see if they still work, so no big cost other than a fiver for the films and £3 or so for postage. If they had commercial value I guess I would have sent them RMSD at £6.45 or maybe £7.25 if over 100g.
 
They weren't of commercial value. It's just a bit irritating to go back to the same place to do them all again :)
 
srichards said:
You can be worse off as they get bust out of the envelope and lost for good. It's taken me nearly 3 months to get the cost of films and postage back off Royal Mail. Then add in reshoot costs which you can't claim for.
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Well I was thinking of a jiffy bag or plastic one....anyway if the weather changes I'll have to finish up the film in the RB and with the Peak shots will send them off with my cunning plan.
 
excalibur2 said:
Well if you except paying the price for a small parcel, you might as well gamble with the cheaper large letter price as you can't be worse off......but 5 in a jiffy bag would be pushing your luck though.
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I've had those little plastic envelopes with 2-3 films in them spotted by RM several times (*). They charged Filmdev an extra £3 and added 4-5 days to the delivery time. So in the end it cost me £3.95 for a very slow service. I'm prepared to take the risk for one or at most two films, but any more and I'll pay the small parcel rate.

* I've several times wondered about getting the bus to the next village and posting them from there, in that our RM seems to be extra vigilant on this! Not really worth the effort though, even with a bus pass...
 
ChrisR said:
* I've several times wondered about getting the bus to the next village and posting them from there, in that our RM seems to be extra vigilant on this! Not really worth the effort though, even with a bus pass...
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That would certainly be taking things a bit far. (y)
 
If they go through when pulled without dragging too much they may get through unnoticed. It just depends and they can move around within the envelope so that they may go through one machine then get stuck in another. RM love slapping on extra postage so it pays them to catch as many as they can :(
 
srichards said:
If they go through when pulled without dragging too much they may get through unnoticed. It just depends and they can move around within the envelope so that they may go through one machine then get stuck in another. RM love slapping on extra postage so it pays them to catch as many as they can :(
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The guy who works at RM said he was going to ask about the system...e.g. do all small parcels go thru' a slot at the sorting office h'mm bit daft if £2.85 stamp on it, so do they select the small parcels with large letter stamps to go thru' a slot..h'mm more labour needed to sort out which small parcel has what stamp. :rolleyes:
 
I'd think all the letters and large letters go through one lot of automatic sorting machines and small parcels etc may go another route. Ones that are too big for letter or large letter may be automatically rejected or just stop the machine.
 
srichards said:
I'd think all the letters and large letters go through one lot of automatic sorting machines and small parcels etc may go another route. Ones that are too big for letter or large letter may be automatically rejected or just stop the machine.
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Probably something like this..maybe when the guys throw the small jiffy bag in the hole there is a slot somewhere.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SAxyLUcMf8
 
Well clearly they don't spot all of them, and anecdotally I've had more picked up than others who use them. Anyway, I'm still in front I think. Not sure I'd risk it for a film wanted for FPOTY a few days before the deadline, though!
 
When you send rolls off to filmdev how do you pay them...do you enclose a cheque or pay by card once they are ready for downloading after scanning and posting the negs back? Anyway it's going to be sunny today so will take some shots for POTY and trying a large letter stamp for two rolls.
 
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excalibur2 said:
When you send rolls off to filmdev how do you pay them...do you enclose a cheque or pay by card once they are ready for downloading after scanning and posting the negs back? Anyway it's going to be sunny today so will take some shots for POTY and trying a large letter stamp for two rolls.
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They email a paypal invoice. You get the negs back a couple of days after the scans are available to download.
 
ChrisR said:
Well clearly they don't spot all of them, and anecdotally I've had more picked up than others who use them. Anyway, I'm still in front I think. Not sure I'd risk it for a film wanted for FPOTY a few days before the deadline, though!
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Well as mentioned before and I have proved to myself i.e. two 120 rolls in a jiffy bag will wiggle through, so it depends on the handler at Royalmail who maybe makes a decision...h'mm where's postman Pat for more info ;)
 
I've got a large letter tester and 120 rolls don't fit either. The end of the spool snags on the slot. That's without an envelope. They only 'fit' through when they're pushed to the end of the envelope and the RM person thinks pushing it through half way is a sufficient test.
 
srichards said:
I've got a large letter tester and 120 rolls don't fit either. The end of the spool snags on the slot. That's without an envelope. They only 'fit' through when they're pushed to the end of the envelope and the RM person thinks pushing it through half way is a sufficient test.
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H'mm well mine went through the slot at the post office (with a wiggle) and the man at the counter checked the width (of the jiffy bag) under the counter protection glass as a rough check and sorta rolled eyes and gave me a large letter stamp. (y)
 
srichards said:
They email a paypal invoice. You get the negs back a couple of days after the scans are available to download.
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They ring me for a credit card payment; downloads usually available within half an hour of payment (sometimes before payment!).
 
Well I'm sending my two 120's tomorrow using a used jiffy bag and 2nd class large letter stamp...the parcel handler should feel sorry for the poor and needy and let it through o_O
 
srichards said:
They email a paypal invoice. You get the negs back a couple of days after the scans are available to download.
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ChrisR said:
They ring me for a credit card payment; downloads usually available within half an hour of payment (sometimes before payment!).
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The guy just phoned me as it is my first order with them. He seemed happy to take either card or paypal, so I just paid by card as he was already on the phone. He says it looks as though all of the cameras are working, so I'll be getting the link soon to see for myself. :)

Edit: well I can see now why Poundland Agfa is a bit of an acquired taste, but it was mainly slide film or b&w that I used to shoot. Most of the photos seemly slightly overexposed from all of the cameras, but maybe that's a feature of this film?

Edit 2: now posted some of them in the Show us your film shots thread @ post numbers 18232 and 18233!
 
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Asda/Photo Me in Aintree are no longer offering a processing service for films. Their mini-lab has broken and will not be repaired. All they provide now is a print service, assuming the feed material is in digital firm already. This looks like it is now a growing trend and I can see my small supply of Agfa Vista passing its expiry date before too long.
 
NickT said:
This looks like it is now a growing trend and I can see my small supply of Agfa Vista passing its expiry date before too long.
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A growing trend of what? The era of high street shops offering film development services has long since passed by, so this isn't really a sign of much. Ordinary consumers just aren't that interested in film.

Amongst photo enthusiasts, however, film has been on the rise, with the introduction and re-introduction of a number of film brands/emulsions and the recent openings of more specialist film labs in the UK and abroad. If anything, it has been a very encouraging recent few months for film users, I would argue.
 
AAMOI the film cassette and 120 spool is a gnats under 25mm, the Royal mail slot is 25mm. :( Anyway sent two 120's off today with 2nd class large letter stamp....it's now costs 75p outrageous ;)
 
NickT said:
Asda/Photo Me in Aintree are no longer offering a processing service for films. Their mini-lab has broken and will not be repaired. All they provide now is a print service, assuming the feed material is in digital firm already. This looks like it is now a growing trend and I can see my small supply of Agfa Vista passing its expiry date before too long.
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My branch warned me the same, but it wont be the end of the world for me as filmdev and some others charge the same for dev and low scan, h'mm but I'll miss Asda getting it done in 35mins and the postage costs to others is a PITA.
 
Do filmdev let you know when the negs have arrived?
 
excalibur2 said:
Do filmdev let you know when the negs have arrived?
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Yes. They usually email or phone when they're ready to do them. I pay by paypal. They only phone me usually if it's gone pear shaped. Check your spam folder in case their email is in there. They're called New Look Studio on the email invoice.

If you sent yours by Large letter and it's got stuck then that delays things by a few days.
 
srichards said:
If you sent yours by Large letter and it's got stuck then that delays things by a few days.
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Mine sent midday Tues 2nd class could be delayed because of valentine parcels :(
 
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excalibur2 said:
Mine sent midday Tues 2nd class could be delayed because of valentine parcels :(
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I sent mine midday Tuesday as well, except I sent mine 1st Class Signed For. According to RM Website they got them yesterday just after lunch. I got the phone call this morning about 09:30 to say that they were ready and to arrange payment. Judging by previous comments I'd half expected to hear yesterday evening but I guess with all the recommendations they've been getting on here they may be that wee bit busier! ;) (y)
 
Sent mine on Tuesday at 17.00 and had a phone call from Filmdev saying they were ready at 17.00 the following day. Paid by card and by the time I got home 30 mins later the email was there ready for download, very impressive.
I asked the chap if they had noticed an increase in work and he said that over the past 18 months to 2 years they were 4 or 5 times busier than previously. He also said that they were receiving film in greater numbers from kids using film cameras for their holiday snaps, very encouraging.
 
Sent another 2 rolls off today. Mondays were done by mid morning Wednesday. So fast compared to the others.
 
I tried Filmdev for the first time the other week and was impressed by the fast service for scanning and being able to download via the internet. However, I wasn't keen on having to drive to the post office and shell out over £3 to post one film via small package type post. So went back to AG Photolab to get my next 2 rolls done, as they send a padded, postage paid envelope with the returned negs ready to use next time. Plus I wanted 'develop only'; I bought a film scanner to keep my photo costs down, and it won't pay for itself unless I use it!

I sent the film off to AG in Tuesday's post and got the negs back on Friday morning, so not a bad turn-around considering 2 lots of postage involved. I've found them pretty quick for 'develop only' lately, a couple of times I've sent the film off on Monday and had the negs back on Wednesday, so can't complain about that. :)
 
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I sent mine off this morning at 8:27 wrapped in a dead badger with nowt but an old plaster for a stamp and by the time I'd returned from the post office at 11:07 Filmdev had not only already processed my roll of Kodachrome they had scanned, mounted and emailed the we transfer link to me and the postie was dropping the finished slides through my letter box.

Tell that to kids today and they won't believe you.
 
RaglanSurf said:
I sent mine off this morning at 8:27 wrapped in a dead badger with nowt but an old plaster for a stamp and by the time I'd returned from the post office at 11:07 Filmdev had not only already processed my roll of Kodachrome they had scanned, mounted and emailed the we transfer link to me and the postie was dropping the finished slides through my letter box.

Tell that to kids today and they won't believe you.
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Right.... I posted mine off half an before I took the shots and before I'd even woken up Filmdev had devved, scanned and printed them, posted them back by osprey, painted the front of me house and polished the car. Beat that then....
 
Mr Badger said:
I tried Filmdev for the first time the other week and was impressed by the fast service for scanning and being able to download via the internet. However, I wasn't keen on having to drive to the post office and shell out over £3 to post one film via small package type post. So went back to AG Photolab to get my next 2 rolls done, as they send a padded, postage paid envelope with the returned negs ready to use next time. Plus I wanted 'develop only'; I bought a film scanner to keep my photo costs down, and it won't pay for itself unless I use it!

I sent the film off to AG in Tuesday's post and got the negs back on Friday morning, so not a bad turn-around considering 2 lots of postage involved. I've found them pretty quick for 'develop only' lately, a couple of times I've sent the film off on Monday and had the negs back on Wednesday, so can't complain about that. :)
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Well I thought of them but don't they charge £2.80 for return postage?
 
Andysnap said:
Right.... I posted mine off half an before I took the shots and before I'd even woken up Filmdev had devved, scanned and printed them, posted them back by osprey, painted the front of me house and polished the car. Beat that then....
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This is getting like the four Yorkshire men sketch :D
 
excalibur2 said:
Well I thought of them but don't they charge £2.80 for return postage?
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I think so, but it's all relative when comparing the overall price. They also send a stiff cardboard envelope with the negs and padded envelope in, which fits through the letterbox, rather than a large one that the postie has to bend in half to fit through (despite it stating Please Do Not Bend!). Swings and roundabouts really. I'll more than likely return to Filmdev if I want a film scanning as well as developing, particularly if I'm in a hurry for the results. (y)
 
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Mr Badger said:
I tried Filmdev for the first time the other week and was impressed by the fast service for scanning and being able to download via the internet. However, I wasn't keen on having to drive to the post office and shell out over £3 to post one film via small package type post. So went back to AG Photolab to get my next 2 rolls done, as they send a padded, postage paid envelope with the returned negs ready to use next time. Plus I wanted 'develop only'; I bought a film scanner to keep my photo costs down, and it won't pay for itself unless I use it!

I sent the film off to AG in Tuesday's post and got the negs back on Friday morning, so not a bad turn-around considering 2 lots of postage involved. I've found them pretty quick for 'develop only' lately, a couple of times I've sent the film off on Monday and had the negs back on Wednesday, so can't complain about that. :)
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I use the click and drop online postage thing from royal mail https://parcel.royalmail.com/orders/quick-delivery/ Print off the postage and drop in nearest post box. Doesn't make it any cheaper but it saves shlepping to a post office.
 
Well filmdev didn't email that they had received the negs but just phoned me that they have done them (y) and ready for download after they email the invoice in the next 1/2 hour and pay by paypal..wow 2nd class in two days.
 
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