Ag-Photolab - turn round time?

[andybarton]

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Has anyone used these guys before?

 

They currently have a couple of rolls of E6 of mine and I cannot reach them on the phone (they just have an answerphone message with no opportunity to leave a message)

 

They have had my film nearly a week. I'm wondering if they only process E6 on a weekly basis, or whether they are very busy, or whether there is some other reason...

 

An order for chemistry that was placed with the other side of the business arrived on Saturday.

[andybarton]

Just found that E6 is a 4 day turnaround from receipt of the film (12/3)

 

So, there's a chance I might get it back tomorrow.

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[wattsy]

I've used them once for C41 dev+scan and they were not the quickest (roughly a week) but the price was fine and the quality (of the scans) was above average. I will use them again but my film usage is minimal and never has any need for urgency.

[andybarton]

There's no urgency, but I like to know when not to be expecting a package on the doormat, just as I like to know when one is coming.

 

I don't like surprises.

[Keith (M)]

I have used them a number of times for 35mm & 6x6cm C41 dev-only. Initially they (AG) were very rapid but when they became AG Photo Lab they slowed down by a day or so, but still returned my negs within a week from me sending them. They generally send out an email acknowledging receipt of the films. Overall I am satisfied with their quality of service/prices and will continue to use them.

[andybarton]

I haven't had any emails from them, although I do know that the envelope arrived with them on 12th.

 

If this is their performance going forwards, I will stick with Peak, or the fellow in Cheshire.

[gyoung]

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My first experience was with some that I sent to Metro and got caught up in the move to Ag, took over a week.

Second lot took 8 days from posting, much slower than Metro, and I received an email informing me of the films arrival with them, AFTER I got it back!! When I enquired they said it took several days to arrive (by first class mail with their prepaid label).

I will try again, but if their are more excuses I will try elsewhere.

 

Gerry

[andybarton]

Still no email from them. Not even a response to the one I sent today.

[chris_livsey]

I don't like surprises.

 

And you shoot film

 

:D

[andybarton]

I've been shooting film for about 45 years. No surprises

[andybarton]

Still no word. Telephone goes unanswered as do emails.

[andybarton]

The same telephone number goes to Ag-Photographic, as well as the Photolab.

 

So it's not even possible to speak to anyone there, either.

 

This is the first time that I have used them for processing - it will also be my last. I will also need to reconsider my chemistry supplies in the future too, as I do not like doing business with anyone who will not answer the telephone when there's a query.

 

Not impressed at all.

[andybarton]

Managed to speak with them this morning - the processed films "should be going out to you tonight".

 

That will be a 10 day door-door turn round.

[stunsworth]

Sounds like they process them when they've received a big enough batch to make it worth their while.

[honcho]

Their mail order service is repeatedly incompetent from my experience. It's been discussed.

 

No reason here to think their film processing service would be any different.

[Keith (M)]

AG seem to be getting some stick here. I have used their mail-order service for films and chemicals a number of times and had no problems. The level,of comminication has been at least on a par with other web-based companies I deal with. After placing one order they rang me to say they were out of stock of one item (bricks of Tri-X, as I recall), delivery was expected in a few days - did I want to cancel or wait? Similarly with C41 processing - an economical service, negs received back within a week of posting, in good, free-of-dustmark condition (unlike the last time I used a Sheffiled-based service, when my roll of 6x6cm negs came back heavily contaminated by many dust and fibre particles) .

 

I have absolutely no connection with AG.

[Pangur Ban]

This was also recently discussed on the Filmwasters forum, where Matt from Ag did provide a comment and response. Ag Photo Lab

 

Essentially, it seems they have a lot of work on (good) which is slowing delivery times (bad).

 

I waited a lot longer than expected for a couple of C-41 films recently but was very pleased with the quality of the results.

 

Like many here, I base my expectations on published statements of service turnaround times and would rather someone promises long but delivers sooner than the other way around.

[andybarton]

 

Like many here, I base my expectations on published statements of service turnaround times and would rather someone promises long but delivers sooner than the other way around.

 

Well, unfortunately, that's the complete opposite of what they are offering here. No feedback via email at all. He says that he spent hundreds of hours building the website - it would take him 2 minutes to edit the turn-round expectation time.

 

I have to reserve judgement on their quality of processing as I haven't seen any yet.

 

My business will be going elsewhere in future.

Edited March 20, 2013 by andybarton

[honcho]

My experience of their idea of online ordering from them is rather less impressive.

 

My first order took several weeks. The second and final time I will ever use them involved my being sent an email three weeks after placing my order asking if I had received my order because they had no record of having sent it!

 

What is obvious to me is:

 

They have no idea of stock control. Advertising items that are not in stock and then delaying the order until they are in stock without communication or knowing whether they have sent a part-order or not is unacceptable.

 

Their internal order tracking and recording system is useless.

 

With that level of incompetence, I certainly would not trust them to process film. Even if their mail order business was acceptable, a 10-day turn around for E6 film processing is abysmal.

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[andybarton]

I have just had a call from home to tell me that one roll of E6 and one of C41 (desperately trying to get rid of the last stock...) has been received from Peak today.

 

These two films were sent to them on Monday afternoon.

 

Now, that's the kind of service that I like.