Comments on: On Customer Service: Walmart Photo Center

By: DOUNTOOTHERS

DOUNTOOTHERS — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:05:16 +0000

T HEY DO HAVE THAT OPTION BUT NOT ALL OF THE MANAGERS WILL LET THEM USE THEM.When I worked there I did do that but they were so paranoid they said no more.Its a shame but we did try and protect the profesional photographers and thier lively hood so we lost .

By: Valerie

Valerie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:56:59 +0000

Jane, if the pictures are over 100 years old, there is probably a 99% chance there is no remaining copyright on them and that they have entered the public domain.

If anyone is having trouble printing photos, check out winkflash.com. I use them for all of my printing unless I’m in a bind and have to have them now. No, I am not stealing anyone’s photos, I AM the photographer. And since I am doing more photography for people here lately, I am also giving them a CD of the original pictures and then a printed and signed paper that says I took the photos but I am authorizing this person and this person, etc., to make as many copies as they want. So far, no problems.

But, and I think I’ve said this here before, it really is pointless. I did engagement pictures for my sister-in-law. One of her friends went in to Walmart and made an 8×10 of one of my photos, they gave him a bit of trouble, he lied and said he took the photo and they let him have it. I mean, really, the policy is full of holes.

And on the other end of that, one of my friends did work as a pro photographer but she doesn’t currently. She did senior pictures for her daughter and they ordered a bunch of them through Walmart. When her daughter went in to pick them up she was told, “you can’t have them” she said her mom took them (and had placed the initial order) and they wouldn’t capitulate. So she said, look, I can go get my mom and she’ll come in here. She was then told, “nope, we already ripped them up and threw them away.” The woman treated her with utter disregard and disrespect. Her mom went in there and told her “look, I would have come in or signed something,” etc., and now Walmart has lost many more customers for life. The family printed them at Walgreens.

Really, I don’t see why Walmart can’t have everyone who orders photos through them sign a release that if they are found to be copying illegal that THEY are responsible and Walmart is released of liability. I mean, if someone were copying my stuff without permission I’d be going after that person and not their copy machine, which is all Walmart is in this case. Logically, it’s ridiculous to go after Walmart about it because how can they know who’s lying and who isn’t? They can’t.

By: DOUNTOOTHERS

DOUNTOOTHERS — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:06:44 +0000

I am with you Jane.I went to the store and asked about the old antique pictures and how the copyright could be found.They didnt have copyrights a hundred years ago.I guess its a catch -22 Wal-mart has gotten sued for printing pictuers that had a copyright on them.One guy came into our place and wanted to know why we printed out pictuers that a customer came in with.He was testing us by sending this guy in to try and print these pictures,he said he would sue.We dont know who excepted them but in Wal-mart fassion we were all questioned and put on warning.Believe me,many nights I went home thinking that I would be fired.I worked with a woman who was a photographer.She made most of the decission on pro pictures.Was she wrong sometime, ? YES.I went to a wedding watched the brides aunt take the pictures .She bought a very expensive camera and took lessons,not a pro.The bride came in this other employee said No,these are pros, I said no she argued with me.I told the bride to call Wal-mart president or write a letter.She did and she got to print pictuers for free as many as she wanted.I was happy to take this other woman off her high horse.
As you see some places turn a blind eye like CVS, but they could loose thier jobs and the store could.There is a copyright law to protect the photographer,thats so they can charge thier prices or buy an outright CD for from them for 100 to 200 outright.They make money and you have the proof.
God bless you.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:28:47 +0000

WELL, this may be true, but I can tell you, I have tried to copy pictures that were not copywrited and run into problems. One picture we took in front of the wall of my grand daughter dressed up for her quinceanera, and no way would they print those. This is very frustrating, CVS did print them. One my grand daughters picture a friend took of her in front of her high school, she messed around with it on the computer and made it half white and half colored, wal mart would not let me print it out. They finally did when I said I’d bring in the origional from her cell phone. What really irks me is old photo’s, LIKE MY gr grandfather from the civil war, I print these out on my home printer. its easier to do than argue with walmart. I have many pics over a hundred years old, its pretty hard to get releases on these. Jane

By: DOUNTOOTHERS

DOUNTOOTHERS — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:33:34 +0000

I worked at a photo lab for 4 years.Last September I retired.I liked my job because of the custumers.I made only 12.97 but that was fine.The thing I hated was telling people they couldnt print pictures that looked pro.I understood the fact that the copy righted ones could not be.Sometimes on the Kodak machine people would steal or copy a pictue that they copyed on thier home printers from a copyrighted picture and we knew it.They would say that it wasnt,it was thiers.Yes, one bad apple spoils it for everyone.I got spit on,sworn at and given the finger.I saw it all.I am a 62 year old lady.It seems the high class or they thought they were did it the most.Anyhow rules are rules and that is why we had to follow Wal-marts rules.I am glad I dont deal with that anymore.Now I just care for my sister who has terminal cancer.That is something that means something important,not fighting over a pictue .

By: stacey

stacey — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:05:44 +0000

I love to take photo as a hobby… in the film days, Walmart told me my photo looked too professional, so i gave them my negative…. but today, my cousin called me and said, i need to go with her to walmart because they won’t let her print her pictures that i took with my digital camera (just a XSI)… so now i have no negative to prove that it was me who took the picture, so this is how i found this site… found some helpful info, i didn’t know that there’s a release paper that we had to sign, even when we are not professional…. so with the forms that I printed, i hope it will be a better experience tonight in getting her pictures from Walmart.

By: Assoc._in_FL

Assoc._in_FL — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:53:21 +0000

Very interesting thread. All we are doing is trying to keep our jobs. I appreciate some of the suggestions about what questions to ask pertaining to pictures. If the people in the photo appear “posed” and there is a backdrop, we can’t print it without permission. Either get permission or fill out a release if you took the pictures. How hard is that? And to the guy who just wants to walk away without paying, be my guest. You stealing isn’t any skin off my back. As for the stories of people throwing pictures, I can attest that it’s true. A “gentleman” threw pictures at my assistant manager a few months back; yes, it was over the copyright policy, and she called 911 and pressed assault charges. When we have to put up with that type of abuse from animals like that, it’s hard to keep smiling.

However, if the photo is very old, we usually print it regardless. I enjoy old pictures/portraits :)

Most of us are not idiots, many of us have college degrees. And Walmart does pay more than five dollars an hour, lol. Thank God this job is temporary. We get looked down on every day, although there are many great customers who realize we are peers that deserve respect. You wouldn’t believe the idiocy we encounter on a daily basis, though. Always good for a laugh. Thank God for the customers who brighten my day and make things better for the next ones. Ripples on a pond….:)

By: do unto others

do unto others — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:37:02 +0000

Wal-mart does have you bring in a release or sign a paper ,give adress and put down your licence number if you want to take the rap if they are investigated.I have worked in a Walmart photo lab for 5 years.I am leaving as I am on my 2 weeks.It was very hard work and sometimes your alone.Being 61 and back problems not fun.I liked my job and all the people I helped.I laughed and cried with some,hated saying you can’t your pictures, but it is the law and was my job.I was called names by young people, picures even thrown at me and the best was a woman who kept banging her carraige into my back and swearing at me.The manager escorted her out the store and banded her 1 year.I felt bad for her more then me.So sad with all the other things going on in this world.Good luck.Sorry for the mistakes in spelling, I am not feeling well.

By: Really?

Really? — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:42:39 +0000

“wether or not Walmart charges me for them is theit perogotive. But the pictures are mine.”
Really Dominic? That’s like saying, ” I pumped my own gas at the machine. Whether or not 7-11 charges me for it is their perogative. But the gas is still mine.”
Until you pay for the paper and ink, the picture is not yours. It is WalMart’s. Regardless if the image on it was taken by you. And, if you decide to take it because it is “yours”, that is still stealing.
If the tides were turned and you were the associate, would you honestly be willing to risk your job and getting a $10,000 fine all so the person screaming at you across the counter could have their .28 picture?

By: Dominic

Dominic — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:48:37 +0000

In my case Walmart did not reproduce the pictures I took. I reproduced them it the quickie machine. They just refused to give them to me. They are my pictures, wether or not Walmart charges me for them is theit perogotive. But the pictures are mine.