TonyF Loc: Bradenton, FL

The Sam's near me closed their photo department about 6 months ago.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Yes, I have heard it and in fact two of my favorite locations are closed.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Both of the Costco stores near me do a bang-up business in their photo department. It's one of the busiest places in the store. Some time back they quit doing film. The lab managers fought to keep the film machines because they were doing BUG business. But high-up management overruled them.

In answer to the question as to their quality, I find it to be quite good. The only reason I ever go anywhere else is to get metallic paper prints or deeper canvas wraps. With Costco, they pay the shipping if you pick up at the store = BIG savings. And if you don't like the print, they'll redo it FOR FREE!

piloto caliente

I've used Costco printing in its various forms since 1992 with excellent results - until recently. When I tried to order three 20x30 prints of shots from my D7200, with very minimal post processing, the in-store screen told me that in order to continue I would have to accept the prints in "low resolution." I cut the order back to one print to see what would happen, and the resulting print was terrible. Is cutting back on quality a step along the way to discontinuing the service?

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Yes, not worth the membership fee just for photo processing unless you use those services in a commercial way but as a bonus for having a membership anyway it's great. Every year or so there is a report on national news or some consumer report that shows shopping at one of the big wholesale clubs like Sam's, Costco, or BJ's will save about 33% on a family's grocery bill. Despite this I still hear people say "why would I pay anywhere to shop in their store". When I hear this I always reply that they are paying a membership fee everywhere they shop -- the "fee" is built into the higher price they are paying vs. what they would pay at one of the warehouse clubs. The only stupid scenario in this is if someone buys a membership and simply does not use it, or goes there just for special occasions like to buy a gift or do Christmas shopping. It is entirely possible to pay for a membership in one trip to one of those places. An example would be buying Kenneth Cole dress slacks: These show a retail of about 60.00. Buy them at Kohls -- first they are 25% off on sale, makes them 45.00, then take off their best coupon discount of 30%, makes them 31.50 -- finally take off 10% more for using the Kohls card -- now they are down to
28.35! Wow, less than half price -- great huh! Or you could simply go to Sam's and buy them for 19.98 at any time! If someone bought one of each color of these pants, over half their membership fee would be covered for a full year. People just don't think or are stubborn thinking they have a better plan -- usually they don't! These clubs depend on the card fee for almost all their yearly profit. Some of the really high volume clubs will get an extra 2 to 3% profit afforded by efficiencies they realize in not having a checkout stand idle at times etc. Not having to depend on a markup of cost to generate the profit frees buyers up to make great purchases and drive sales through lower prices.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That seems to be true in some locations, but not all.
Mark

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

[quote=piloto caliente]I've used Costco printing in its various forms since 1992 with excellent results - until recently. When I tried to order three 20x30 prints of shots from my D7200, with very minimal post processing, the in-store screen told me that in order to continue I would have to accept the prints in "low resolution." I cut the order back to one print to see what would happen, and the resulting print was terrible. Is cutting back on quality a step along the way to discontinuing the service?[/quote

I have tried to load larger files into the kiosks at Sam's and it will not take, however when that happens I have been able to give the media to the lab tech and they have been able to put it directly into the system on their computer that is used to operate the lab. Just a suggestion.

Paradise Pirate Loc: Cape Coral, FL

My costco in Fort Myers closed the photo dept. I got the $50 coupon that I used for two canvas prints but had to pay $11 in shipping were before I could pick up at club free. Also smaller prints now take 5 to 7 days through the mail lab. I miss the local department. Still, the price plus shipping is less than most quality labs.

SENSORLOUPE

Oh I hope not Sam's in my photo place!!

piloto caliente

[quote=Bridges][quote=piloto caliente]I've used Costco printing in its various forms since 1992 with excellent results - until recently. When I tried to order three 20x30 prints of shots from my D7200, with very minimal post processing, the in-store screen told me that in order to continue I would have to accept the prints in "low resolution." I cut the order back to one print to see what would happen, and the resulting print was terrible. Is cutting back on quality a step along the way to discontinuing the service?[/quote

I have tried to load larger files into the kiosks at Sam's and it will not take, however when that happens I have been able to give the media to the lab tech and they have been able to put it directly into the system on their computer that is used to operate the lab. Just a suggestion.[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll try that the next time.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Yes that is true

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I print my own for wall hanging, portfolios, etc, but when my wife wants a quick 5x7 of our granddaughter I use Walgreens. It is <5 minutes from home and they are usually ready within 2 hours, 7 days a week. Be sure to check for Walgreen's discount coupons before finalizing orders. This past weekend all prints 8x10 and below were 60% off.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Yep. Walgreens may not do metal prints which isn't something I do much anyway, but the general quality is good, price is good, they are very fast and if you don't like the results, they will reprint for no extra charge.

philo Loc: philo, ca

we have a new store in Ukiah, ca. and no photo department.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

They have been closing some and renovating others... Equipment and process upgrades.