Does anyone have any info on the photo dept? I've heard multiple things but nothing confirmed. Will all clubs be closing photo? And if so, any timeline on when it will happen?
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I managed two Sam's Club mini-labs... they equipped fantastic machines but built primarily around "traditional" film processing. Sure, we could do digital media as well but the margins were thin on film and a total loss on digital prints.
I had an employee at one lab who must have huffed developer chemicals directly and managed to win a lawsuit and the settlement meant we wouldn't have seen a profit from that lab for a decade after paying it off. I've hand processed film for a decade before and never suffered the trauma she claimed to have... but lawyers.
As digital became even more prevalent I knew that was going to be something they couldn't sustain. It's really sad because the Fuji Frontiers they were using were really impressive machines (in the right hands) for the time.
Such bullsh** that they removed photo center. It's always busy. I would go in there to do my photos and pick up groceries but now not wasting my time going there at all
Do NOT order photos from here! They closed their photo department without notifying customers. They are taking orders and not fulfilling them. We ordered Christmas cards from here two weeks ago. Went to pick them up after the scheduled date, no cards. They have no signs directing you where to go in store, as there is NO photo department, have to go to customer service desk. They have no idea when we will get our order. Had to cancel and go to Walgreens. They did nothing to make it right or correct the situation.
well, sam's had a great photo center. of course they will get rid of it. the online photos are much lower quality than in store. time to find a new printer. too bad. hope people complain. oh and the help desk s—s big time, its outsourced :(
Cya Sams Club. No reason to maintain a membership there. ALDI is a much cheaper, and in my opinion, a better option for basic necessities.
6421 closed yesterday. The Fuji rep. said by end of November all labs will be gone.
Service desk was moved last night.
I will miss the Photo Center.
Have a good day.
The Sam's Club Photo lab in Louisville Kentucky has closed and the Jeffersontown Kentucky photo lab will be closing on October 31st, 2019. The club in Jeffersontown Kentucky is moving their member service, membership, returns area to the space where the photo lab was. Club pickup is moving to the space where the member service desk was. Submitted October 23rd, 2019
Tobacco isn’t really a high profit margin item unless you are just killing it in sales it’s better if you are a lucky club who doesn’t have the worry of shrink and out of dates.
not all clubs will close it down. it depends on prior sales.
Our market got rid of photo in 2014.
Photo will be online only. Good sales is still 0 profit, if not a loss.
Good riddance as photographers are the neediest members we have while spending very little outside of photo.
Photo will be online only. Good sales is still 0 profit.
Good riddance as photographers are the neediest members we have while spending very little outside of photo.
We haven’t sold tobacco in over 10 years. Couldn’t tell a difference in sales. Our photo center doesn’t do much at all except be in extra cash here for when the lines are bad. We do sell a lot of photos but mostly it’s the people that do it themselves. Or special order. Our photo center is expecting it and just plan to go be regular cashiers.
what are “good sales”? the maintenance and equipment cost far outway any so called profit. photo is nothing more than a convenience for members. they spend a few bucks take up space and your time. they spend no more money in club. same with tobacco, potential high shrink with very little profit however Sam’s is saying enough of the C stores will spend significant dollars on other stuff to make it worthwhile. i’ve been told costco is eliminating tobacco so in time look for sam’s to do the same. Has sam’s ever had an original idea that worked in the last 10 yrs? nope!
Will all be going away, even the ones that have good sales?
Yes photo will go away and be more like self serve.
Photo going away. Waste of payroll.
For our club it was after a remodel