Missing Film--AAARRRRGGHHHH!

[tfunch24]

I got back three rolls of S8 film (two Tri-X and one Ektachrome 7240) from Pac Lab today. The two carts of Tri-X are mine but the roll of Ektachrome 7240 is somebody else's!

AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!

I've emailed Pac Lab, but I don't know if I'll ever get my film back! This ever happen to anyone else?

Tom

[chas_ucla]

Let us know what happens...I've used Pac Lab before with no problem but I don't think I want to use them again!

[tfunch24]

Well, so far no word from Pac Lab...they probably won't get back to me until tomorrow.

I've used Pac Lab several times but this is the first time this has ever happened to me.

I've heard that Kodak has done this on occasion with their K40.

Another thing I forgot to mention--somebody else's receipt was in the envelope. I paid cash, but the receipt listed payment type as Visa and had the last five digits of somebody's Visa card printed on it.

I'll keep everybody posted.

Tom

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 24, 2003 08:17 PM: Message edited by: tfunch24 ]</font>

[tfunch24]

Update:

Pac Lab called me today--very polite, friendly, sorry about the mix-up. I just emailed them the info they wanted, and we'll see what happens.

Hopefully, I can get my film back.

An unfortunate occurrence, but considering how much business Pac Lab does, these things happen. Next time, I'm taking S8 Booster's advice (that he gave on the S8 Forum.)

Tom

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 25, 2003 08:45 PM: Message edited by: tfunch24 ]</font>

[tfunch24]

Update 2#:

Pac Lab notified me by email today. They were unable to locate my film nor have they received any word from anyone else who has received someone else's film by mistake. The receipt I received was from someone else's order, and he received the correct rolls.

Pac Lab believes that my film got mixed up with a drop-off order. From what was described to me, extensive records are not kept of drop-off customers, so it is impossible for them to ascertain the identity of who might have my film. The only thing I can do is mail them back the film I received by mistake and hope that someone contacts them.

They were very friendly and apologetic about the whole matter.

I am going to risk using them again in the future, except I'm taking S8 Booster's advice--from now on, at the beginning of each roll, I'm going to film ten seconds of a paper that reads: "Not your film? If so, please contact..." followed by my name, address, phone number, and email address.

I hope this was informative.

Tom

[tfunch24]

Update 3#:

Well, I mailed Pac Lab another cart of Tri-X to be developed as well as the film they sent me by mistake about two weeks ago. I enclosed a printout of my emails to them so they would know what was up with the enclosed reel of Ektachrome 7240.

I received the film I sent them to be developed seven days ago, so apparently what happened to me was an aberration. I'll continue to use them in the future.

I wonder if they're going to offer me a refund or some kind of recompense. They did apologize, but now I'm out one roll of Ektachrome and with nothing to show for it. What really irritates me is the film that I shot was for a student film I'm making (it was footage of rock climbers descending an ice-covered cliff face at a state park near my house) and what I got back by mistake was a badly-shot home movie made by what appeared to be college or high school-age kids screwing around (not in the reproductive sense!).

Sorry for venting, but it grates on my nerves.

**sigh**

Tom

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 27, 2003 09:13 PM: Message edited by: tfunch24 ]</font>

[Nigel]

I would ask them to replace the roll of film at the least they should do that.

Good Luck

PS--Do you climb?? If so we should set up a time and place to meet--Maybe Moab??

[tfunch24]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would ask them to replace the roll of film at the least they should do that. </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I hope that they're going to do that or offer me some kind of discount on the next roll of film I send to be processed. Maybe they're trying to locate my film before offering me some kind of recompense.

The ball's in their court at the moment, AFAISI.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">PS--Do you climb?? If so we should set up a time and place to meet--Maybe Moab??
</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Unfortunately, I don't climb--my cousin, who was featured in the lost film, is an avid climber. I shot some footage of him and his buddies rock climbing last summer.

Tom