The delivery pics were distroyed!!!

[jubilee]

I finally got around to dropping off the pics of Logan being born and went to pick them up at Walgreens and found they've been ruined! The place they send them out to "misread" them and cut the negatives in half. I have no pictures now of Logan's birth or first week. When I found out I just bawled, I am so disappointed. Walgreens gave me the number of the place they send film to, to see if I can be compensated, but how can they compensate me for something priceless? Don't take your pictures for granted, because when you can't have them you realize how important they are.

[jojo2324]

Julie, I am so sorry! How devastating! And to "see" if you can be compensated? That's the least that they should be doing right now! Is there anyway to splice the negatives back together? (I am clueless when it comes to film and photography.)

So sorry again. That stinks.

[COElizabeth]

Oh, I am so sorry!!! That is so awful!!!! Of all our material "things," those baby photos are surely some of the most important! I personally think - and I do not think this is at all too much to ask for destroying something so important - that Walgreen's should provide you with free film and processing for a year so that you can take plenty of photos now and through the next several months. That won't be the same, of course, but you still have lots of chances to document little Logan's journey through babyhood. Let us know what they do for you! Again, I am really sorry!

Elizabeth
Mom to James
9-20-02

[blnony]

How awful. I'm so sorry.
Well, I know not to use Walgreen now. I'm very sorry this happened to you. I'm sorry I don't have any good advice, but I would say compensation is the least they could do.

[Rachels]

Oh, Julie! I'm so sorry. How devastating. I wish there were something we could do to help. I don't know if a good camera store could salvage anything?

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02

[Momof3Labs]

Oh, Julie, how awful!! Wal-Mart ruined my first roll of belly pics (we took them every two weeks) by exposing the film to the light (duh) and gave us a $50 gift card to "compensate". I was mad, but knew that it could have been a lot worse.

I would also take them to a good camera store and see if there is any way they can salvage anything.

[cuca_]

Julie - I'm sorry about your horrible experience. I can't believe Walgreens gave you the number of the place they send their film to so that you can see if you can be compensated. As others have suggested, I would try to contact other photo shops to see if they could somehow save some of the pictures. In addition, I would contact Walgreens and complain. They should compensate you. You took your film to them, you shouldn't have to deal with the person they contract with! If you find a place that might be able to save some of the pics, you should have Walgreens pay for such service, in addition to any other type of compensation you deem fit.

[josephsmom]

I'm so sorry this happened to you, Julie! I am a big picture-taker, and I know I'd be just devastated if something like this happened to me. Do you know any professional photographers, or laboratories that do the processing for professionals? I think someone like that might be more likely to be able to help you than even a camera store. Good luck, and please let us know what happens.

Helene
mommy to Joseph 12/29/01

[candybomiller]

Julie,

How horrible! Raise a fuss! This is absolutely terrible. You should be compensated for memories you can not get back. They are priceless. I was thinking you should get free film and processing for life! Then again, I have been known to be a little extreme! :) Call every manager you can find at Walgreens. They owe you something!

Candy
Mommy to Matthew Nicholas
5/22/02

[gravymommy3]

Julie,

I am fairly certain negatives can be fixed. Make them convert the negatives to digital files. Once you do that, send them to me and I will work on them in Photoshop. You may have to raise hell, but they should be able to get them to a digital file (even if they are still in half on the files, I can work with them.) Let me know. If you need to contact me privately, do so at gravymommy@yahoo.com

edited to add: this might be a good reason to upgrade to a digital camera, if it is possible.

[zen_bliss]

this situation is salvageable! the negs EXIST, they weren't chemically ruined or exposed. that is good news!

find a great -- i mean GREAT -- photolab, find out how much to have them reconstructed/digitally re-created& printed, and make that the price of your compensation. you don't want a $50 gift card, you want to be 'made whole' for your loss.

here is a list of recommended photolabs you can email about your situation. they can also do the digital reconstruction. you could also try emailing philip greenspan first for advice (he runs the photo.net site -- he is the photo guru!)

http://www.photo.net/sources/labs

[celfsh]

Yes, I agree--I think they can be saved! Amy and Zen have both given you good suggestions. Good luck and let us know how things work out! I have my fingers crossed for you!

celeste
mom to olivia 9/25/02
http://homepage.mac.com/the_big_fish

[MartiesMom2B]

Raise hell! Have them compensate you if you have pics fixed. I'm so sorry.

Sonia
Proud Mommy to Martie 4/6/03
http://www.mcdyer.com/MartieSurasky.htm

[gravymommy3]

Julie,

My DH is a photographer (digital only) and I have the latest and greatest version of photoshop available. If you can get me digital files, I can fix the photos. By golly, if I can swap heads and eyes and turn flowers upside down and make stuff disappear, I can blend a cut line on a photo. Get them to me (make the bastards scan them at a very high resolution - I don't care if it takes 20 CDs to store them - make them do it!) and I will try to do some magic for you!!

Let me know.

[mamahill]

I agree with Zen, Amy, Celeste, and whoever else said this was fixable! Take Amy up on her offer or demand Walgreens have a similar service provided you. That is outrageous if they think they'll just compensate you for the cost of the film. They must make amends!! Good luck, and I'm so sorry you have to be going through this...

[sntm]

Definitely make a fuss! Talk to the manager. The more persistent you are, the more that will push them to fix things. Pictures are too important.

shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03

[jubilee]

Thank you all so much! I contacted the processing center and they said they would try to process the negatives again. The manager at Walgreens said it wasn't salavagable, but the customer service rep said they really would try. If they do make it work out, I will ask for them to put them on a CD for me too. Otherwise how will I ever get reprints or enlargements? Amy, thank you for your offer! You are SO sweet!! Hopefully they can make it happen, because I think they plan on doing the same thing you suggested. The problem is that it's not just a little line that will need to be erased, when they cut the film it eliminated part of the picture (the middle part, the subject)!! But I am sure praying they will be able to fix it, although just looking at the negatives I don't know how they can. I'm off to Walgreens to drop them back off. Oh, and the compensation they offered was ONE roll of film and ONE free processing. I said I was offended and he said it was the best he could offer until they had the chance to fix the pics. I honestly just want the pics fixed, but if they can't I don't think they will really do anything for me.

[mharling]

Good luck Julie!! Please let us know how it goes.

I can't believe their offer of one film and one processing. That's ridiculous!! I would certainly make sure they do more for you, even if they are able to fix the pics.

Mary
Mommy to Lane Michael 4/6/03
http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b33928e40550

[gravymommy3]

Julie,

I promise that I can do a fairly good job of restoring missing parts and such. The most important thing that I would need would be the highest resolution scans of the negatives possible. It would be worth a shot at the very least! Just let me know and I will do everything I can to help you have your memories!!! It is such a joke about them replacing the role of film and processing it for free. Oh, let's go out on a limb there people! What if your OB's service guarantee was free prenatal care and delivery if he screwed up on your current kid? I don't think so! It may get you nothing but satisfaction, but I would be writing the president of the joint and letting them know what their wonderful minimum-wage, not-caring, worthless employees have done. (stepping down from my soapbox now...)

[parkersmama]

Oh, no!! I'm just now reading your post, a little late. This is simply horrible! And I definitely agree with you, what an insult! Like a free roll and processing could make up for your pictures!

We had some reprints made at a Wolf Photo for our Christmas card a couple of years ago and they bent the negative in half, right down the middle. It made the pictures have a terrible line down the center...unusable. It was the only good picture (trying to capture a 9mo and a 3yo looking cute at the same time!) on the whole roll. I was so po'd at them and made quite a fuss. They ended up giving me my whole order (about $100 worth) for free using a different but not nearly as cute picture. This doesn't really compare to your terrible mishap but it does show that there's a lot more they can do to make it up to you a little.

[spu]

How horrible! I feel so bad for you. At least the negs weren't developed wrong.

I'm also an expert photoshop user and scanning the negs and recompositing the images is totally doable. Before you accept compensation from Walgreens, contact a professional Color Separation or Prepress facility (not a film lab) and get a quote from them and have Walgreens compensate you for that amount - or to pay for the correction directly with the prepress shop.

If you don't know where to find a prepress shop, tell me where you're located and I can find one for you. I'd also be happy to do some photoshop magic for you. Here's some samples of my work if you want to see:

babies website:
http://home.earthlink.net/~sunger1/babies/

my website/portfolio:
http://home.earthlink.net/~sunger1/spu/susanunger.htm

good luck and keep us posted!

susan

twin girls 7.20.02
charlotte & else

[flagger]

I am terribly sorry that this happened but I hate to be a wet noodle on this.

On the film envelope of every photolab like Walgreen's, Eckerds, etc. there is a statement of limited liability for even their errors. I believe the wording only offers free processing and ONE roll of film.

You can always take them to small claims courts if you can prove negligence on their part. Sounds like it should be easy, but I am neither an attorney nor looking at the negatives themselves.

My only advice to you is to record everything said between you and Walgreen's and keep records of dates and times. (I know easy for me to say with a new baby to deal with). However, I am not completely positive they will pay for such advanced processing. I could be wrong, but I need to point out the other side of this.

[StaceyKim]

okay that is probably the worst thing i have ever heard! how ridiculous!!! i will not trust any pictures to be developed at walgreens! of course they could never be able to compensate but i guess take whatever you can at this point!
i am so sorry that this happened to you. i know how much they would have been cherished over the years.

[gravymommy3]

Dang Susan! I'm not worthy! I am a hack compared to you (but I am sure I could get the job done!) Do you do Painter? I just got Painter8 and it is kicking my butt!

[Caitlins Mommy]

I am so sorry this happened to you.ITA with Zen Bliss.Send them to a experianced photo lab,or see if you can't find some place that restores photos.My sisters dd had gotten hold of some negitaves and riped them in half.She sent them to some guy who restored photos and they came out great!And I would definalty tell Wallgreens that they were going to be paying for this,plus give you a refund on what you spent to have the photos developed.Good luck and I hope the pics can be fixed!

Jennifer mommy to Caitlin 9/28/96
Trying to give Caitlin a brother or sister

[mama2be]

Precious I so enjoyed them...what gorgeous little girls Charlotte and Else are!!!!

[mama2be]

I so hope you'll consider Amy and Susan's recommendation they both appear to be so gifted in this area that I am convinced you will get beter pictures than if yours were never ruined to begin with!!!

These gals obvioulsy know what they are doing!!!

[nigele]

Oh, I am devasted for you! Hopefully you can get a resolution.

[sweetbasil]

Julie,
I'm so sorry this happened, but am optimistic that with Amy and Susan's help, everything will be taken care of soon. And forget about us ever using Walgreens for photo developing again! When they are fixed (and probably looking better than Walgreens would've ever done), please let us know so we can see them!

Take care,