Well just a thought or two. First with the discount places its catch as catch can there. Most of the time it depends more on who happens to be running the equipment at any given moment. That really wasn't that much different than the film days. Once in a while you find someone at one of those places for a while that really knows what they are doing. If so you might get great work at a bargain price. More likely you will get just average work with good equipment. Sometimes that's good enough and the price difference makes it worth while sometimes to see what you get.
Now for the pros, you have another consideration and that's perception. Would you want a client to catch you getting your prints from the Walmart/Costco photo lab? Would that alone lower the perceived value of your work if they found out? Would a customer be upset if they found out you paid Costco prices for work you were charging a premium??
Have I used them from time to time? Honestly yes but its extremely rare. When I do I send the wife to the counter with the work and my basic instructions. Any questions come directly to me by cell phone. She picks them up when ready and I never set foot at the counter. The customer meets me, but rarely if ever meets anyone else I know. That's just me. I have a patient wife, but she doesn't mind much. Just another excuse to go to Costco, not that she needs one.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: AdoramaPix?
From: "Emily L. Ferguson" <elf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, December 07, 2010 7:29 pm
To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students
<photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
My Wal*Mart has also started offering large inkjet prints on roll
paper. But if I need an RC print I go to tri-color in New Bedford.
http://www.tricolorlab.com/
--
Emily L. Ferguson
mailto:elf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
508-563-6822
New England landscapes, wooden boats and races
http://www.landsedgephoto.com
Check out my Spring daily photograph project at:
http://tinyurl.com/3a6m7g6
And Summer:
http://tinyurl.com/3a6m7g6
Autumn taking shape here:
http://tinyurl.com/26pdgz9
