P3D The Business Side

[markaren@xxxxxxxxx (Karen Obusek)]

Retail mini-labs are open long hours, and employ 3-6 lab techs to cover
the schedule. Consistency is very difficult or impossible to achieve. A
picture can be printed in as many different ways as a picture can be
taken. Sometimes customers will request a specific person to print their
film. This practice is discouraged because it creates friction between
lab associates and disrupts scheduling. Most retail labs have to meet
volume goals. This is how lab managers earn extra bonus income. Because
of this added pressure most labs are forced to box up the first run of
prints and wait for the customer to demand a re-do. " High volume/low
complaint" steady customers receive preferential treatment. I know of 2
customers who donate gift certificates, buy pizza, and really show
appreciation when they are happy with their prints........no different
than tipping big at a restaurant you frequent regularly. Just human
nature! As a customer you must also be willing to flex. The lab folks
will tell you when the volume is slowest and will recommend the best
times to get the best service. That's just the way it is, right or
wrong.
If you don't want to play the "warm and fuzzy" game, send your stuff by
mail. Changing processors is not always the answer either. Nobody else
wants to deal with your special concessions either! :-(           Mark
Dottle

Shooting slides from the print trenches! :-)
And telling it like it is!