Archived Going from a wet photo lab to a dry photo lab

[band_rules16]

With the remodel, we knew it was coming. There's been talk for some time of our lab going from a wet lab to a dry lab. Yesterday I heard we have a (tentative) date of March 26. (We're going from a GM store to PFresh.)

I'm sad about it, because being a wet lab is part of the fun of working in photo, but in a way, I'm relieved, because our photo team doesn't like to deal with calling machines in or fixing/replacing things. It usually falls on me or one other person to get everything back up and running. I usually don't mind, but I only have one shift a week now and waiting a week to call Metafix to get our pump fixed is not the best idea.

Our GE popped into the lab yesterday and told me we'd soon be saying good-bye to our film processor. They've been saying that for three years now, but I think it's really going to happen now. It's too bad because we're one of the few places in town that still does film orders. Once we don't process film anymore, I'm going to have to go elsewhere for my film. :nah:

Does anyone have any advice on going from a wet lab to a dry lab? I want to make the transition easier for everyone. I was also wondering if anyone still had a wet lab in a pFresh (or SuperTarget) store? Or is it going to be dry everywhere?

Thanks in advance.

 

[eleuthreophile]

My store got rid of film processing in August (still have the machine though) and supposedly we're switching to a dry lab in the next few week. I agree with most of what you said; I love having the wet lab but it's a pain the ass to fix. :/

 

[STLinMaking]

I'm surprised....... I heard in the next 10 years Targets getting out of the photo business all together.

 

[redandkhaki]

i'm in a super target with a wet lab. I haven't heard anything about switching to a dry lab.
Do you have a photo assistant and why aren't they calling in the problems asap?

 

[eleuthreophile]

Do you have a photo assistant and why aren't they calling in the problems asap?

I'm not the OP, but at my store we don't have an assistant (we're ULV) and since we only have one person to cover both GS, photo, and sometimes answer the phones (when we don't have an operator), most people don't want to bother with it and instead just put up the sign saying that photo's down again.

 

[band_rules16]

No photo assistant. We had a specialist that was termed 3-4 years ago, and since then there's been a GSTL and GSA that are supposed to have photo as their area, but they have all their other stuff to do too. I don't think we're an ULV store, so I don't know why we don't have one. Once the specialist was gone, as a photo team, it was expected of us to call in any problems that came up (paper jam, clogged hose, broken pump, down kiosks, etc.). Lately people just don't want to call and push it off until I'm working. So I'm relieved we'll be going dry for that reason!