General FAQs about The Photo Lab
For more specific service related questions please consult the dedicated service page.
What copyright law means for our customers;
We can only duplicate work submitted from the original creator. This means we cannot reprint photos, newspaper clippings, wedding tapes, television recordings, that were originally, and typically professionally, created by someone other than you.
Copyright permission can be obtained by contacting the original creator and getting written permission. FORM
Can I submit nude images for photo lab services? No
We're excited to invite you to print with us and bring your artistic creations to life. Our printing lab is open to a diverse array of art forms. Just a friendly heads up, we do adhere to a strict policy of not accepting nude images. This decision is rooted in our responsibility to ensure the proper age and consent of individuals featured in any content we handle. We appreciate your understanding of our dedication to maintaining high ethical standards and protecting the rights and well-being of all individuals involved in the photographic process. We look forward to working together and celebrating the beauty of your art within these guidelines!
Is there a bulk discount for services? Yes, with limitations
We provide bulk discounts on select services. Services that do not have price breaks are typically services that require the same time and attention no matter how many items there are. We provide price breaks on slides and photo printing, when you bring in 100+ images of the same size. As well as Quick-Scan photo scanning when you bring in more than 25 images.
Will you organize my images for me in folders? Yes
We are happy to automatically name folders for your organization as part of our standard archiving service; however, if you desire a more personalized organization, such as chronological ordering or specific file names, we offer an optional organizing service at an additional fee of $60 per hour (minimum one hour). While we don't provide free personalized organization, we empower customers to utilize their newly digitized files; easily rename, drag, and drop files at home for customized arrangements. Additionally, if you organize your images or tapes with clear specific labels, before bringing them in, we will do our best to archive them in the provided order, though we do not offer pre-archiving organization services or sorting. Please note that while we make every effort to maintain physical organization during the archiving process, we do not guarantee that items will be delivered back in the exact same fashion.
How long will my order take?
We will always try to meet your deadline and get your order done as soon as possible. The turnaround time of your order depends on the size of the order submitted. When you drop off an order we will typically give you a lead time and we will call or email you when the order is ready to pick up.
Do you have rush order options? Yes, with limitations and order size constraints.
Yes, we do offer a rush order option, but it's important to note that there are some limitations associated with this service. The feasibility of rush orders depends on several factors, including the size of the order, staff availability, holidays, and our ability to accommodate your request alongside other customers' deadlines.
For same-day print orders, we do provide this service for a charge of $10; however, please be aware that certain limitations may apply, and availability may vary depending on our current workload.
We offer an expedited 48hr film processing service as well. At an additional cost of $5 per roll, again with some limitations based on our capacity and other operational considerations.
We aim to accommodate your rush order needs whenever possible, and we appreciate your understanding of the potential constraints we may face. Our goal is to provide you with high-quality service while considering the practical aspects of fulfilling urgent requests.
Digital Order Delivery & Media
Are digital copies of my order included for free? No.
We do not provide digital copies of images for free. Our primary services consist of archiving photos via scanning. The customer may decide how they want their images delivered, i.e. prints or digital files, and the form of delivery is considered an additional service with associated costs.
Customers may choose to purchase a flash drive containing their digital images. The cost for the flash drive will be determined based on the size and number of images. Starting at $10.
Alternatively, customers may opt for us to send the digital images through a secure storage service, for which we will incur costs. In this case, customers will be charged a fee for the storage service. Limitations apply due to the size of the order. We cannot transfer bulk orders or videos through this service. Starting at $2
How will digital files be delivered to me? Via WeTransfer to your email.
If you choose digital delivery, you'll get an email containing a link via WeTransfer, when your order is done. Simply click on the link to access the WeTransfer site and download the images.
When does my Digital Download link expire? At one Year.
If you opt for digital download, our secure storage service provides customers with a link to access their photos, which will expire after one year. After this period, neither the customer nor our business will have access to those photos.
How long do we keep digital files on our server? 90 Days.
Given the nature of our business and our restricted storage capacity, we kindly advise you to maintain backups of your data. Regular orders will be retained for 90 days in store, and digital downloads will be available for 1 year via email link only, before being automatically removed from our systems.
Can you deliver my images via email? No.
While we cannot send your images directly through email, we can send you a link, which we call a digital download. We cannot email your individual images due to several factors. Ensuring the best possible image quality is of utmost importance to us, and sending images through email involves compression, which may compromise the quality of the images. Additionally, email services often have a 25MB attachment limit, which may not accommodate your image files. To provide you with the highest quality images, we recommend alternative methods for delivery, such as using our secure digital delivery service or physical delivery options.
Can I bring my own media (USB, DVD, CD)? No.
We cannot accept customer-provided media for the delivery of images due to several critical considerations. Firstly, customer-provided media may have inadequate read/write speeds, which can significantly slow down the image transfer process, inconveniencing both parties. Moreover, accepting customer media introduces potential liability and the risk of losing personal data, which is inherent in the process of formatting and transferring data using our equipment. Furthermore, there is a risk of corrupted files and viruses when utilizing customer-provided media. To maintain the security, quality, and reliability of our services, we kindly request that you utilize our recommended methods for image delivery.
Can I reuse CameraMall Purchased media? Yes, with limitations.
We appreciate your interest in being environmentally friendly, however we regret that we cannot always accept media originally purchased from the store for future order delivery. If you have received a flash drive (aka USB) from us for a previous order, you may bring it back for future orders, provided it is the most current type of flash drive we are using, it is the appropriate size for your order and it is erased and completely blank. This approach helps ensure the security and integrity of your data and maintains the quality of our services.
Can I store my images on a flashdrive long term? No.
We highly encourage customers to consider the long-term safety and security of their precious photos and videos. We provide flash drives as a convenient method for delivering digital content, but we do not recommend using them for extended storage. To ensure the preservation of your data and prevent future loss or corruption, we strongly advise promptly transferring your photos and videos to a dedicated hard drive or computer when you get home.
Payments, Estimates & Refunds
Do I pay when I drop-off or pick-up? Payment is required at drop-off.
At CameraMall, we require that all photo lab orders be paid for in advance. This policy not only ensures that our time and resources are compensated effectively but also helps us streamline our intake and outtake process as a convenience to you. By securing payment upfront we can minimize wait times during pick-up and focus more of our time on consulting with customers during the intake process. Your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this policy is greatly appreciated.
What happens if you under pay? We contact you for payment.
We make every effort to provide accurate estimates when accepting orders, striving to ensure a seamless and straightforward process for our customers. However, in cases where underpayment occurs, we are committed to addressing the situation with fairness and transparency. If we discover that the payment falls short of the actual cost, we will promptly contact you to collect the outstanding amount. We may also offer the option to pay the difference via email using our PayPal Portal, before proceeding with the order.
What happens if you over pay? We refund you immediately.
In the event of an overpayment, we will promptly refund the excess amount to you to ensure fair and transparent billing. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in such cases.
How are refunds facilitated? Using the original method of payment (unless cash over $100).
We want to ensure a transparent and efficient refund process for our customers. We do not require credit card information to issue refunds, as the refund is directly credited back to the original card used in the transaction. Rest assured, we do not retain credit card numbers, as we prioritize the security of your financial data. However, our sophisticated payment system does have the capability to securely process refund payments without the need of you being in the store.
It's important to note that we can only refund payments in the same manner they were originally made, whether it was a specific credit card or cash. Our payment processing organization will flag and deny refunds if they do not align with the original payment method. Please be aware that the timeline for refunds can vary depending on your bank, typically taking anywhere from 1 to 10 days.
For cash orders exceeding $100, we are unable to provide immediate cash refunds due to limited cash on hand. In such cases, we will issue a refund by check, and the processing time may take 1-2 weeks, depending on the weekly check-cutting schedule. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with our refund procedures.
Can I pay over the phone? No, we use a secure email payment portal via PayPal.
We do not accept payments over the phone to ensure the privacy and security of your financial information. Instead, we provide a hassle-free payment process by sending you an emailed invoice via our PayPal secured portal. It's important to note that you do not need a PayPal account to make payments through our portal. You can simply use your credit card for a fast and easy transaction. We are dedicated to providing you with a seamless and secure payment experience, and we appreciate your trust in our services.