LOST CAMERA FILM/DEVELOPED PHOTOS

Playingchesswithpigeons · 2025-02-20T18:29:17+00:00

My daughter got a retro disposable camera for her 18th Birthday and just before Christmas took these to be developed at a well known national store. She was told to not collect until end of January, due to time of year. She's been to collect in the last couple of weeks and they initially couldn't find. After two weeks have stated they are lost! The pictures included her 18th Birthday activities, family holiday and new born niece. The Store manager has been in touch ( I asked her to request this ) he claimed this has NEVER happened in his 15 years as manager, apologised and said thankfully you don't pay until collection, so at least hasn't lost anything! I prompted daughter to ask, what is the next stage and would there by any compensation and he said " well, like what?" He said he was going on holiday this week and will ask the staff to have one final look and will ring her back on his return. AIBU to think of course compensation should be offered? Could anybody please advise what my daughter should suggest?

Chuchoter · 21/02/2025 20:30

How rotten for your daughter.

I remember looking forward to receiving photos sent off for development and it's a shame your daughter has had to be disappointed in this way.

I found this from 2009

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2027909/photos-store-lost-my-film-what-are-my-rights

Anotherparkingthread · 21/02/2025 20:13

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:) umhmm

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 21/02/2025 19:35

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SwanOfThoseThings · 21/02/2025 19:29

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:26

I don't think you understand!
It is a matter of life and course, in all manner and in all things, items can be lost or damaged!
There is no possible way to save what was on the camera. It is not digital, it is not a film you can replicate or save. it is a retro disposable. She has a camera. This was a disposable camera. A current trend used for weddings/festivals/holidays. The film was produced. The store has received and the store then lost, so the question was, what compensation should we seek? and AIBU the manager seemed surprised it was suggested.

Show quote history

I think you misunderstood @Anotherparkingthread . She was explaining how you could get some of the digital photos of the day transferred onto film if you wanted to try to recreate at least the 'feel' of the lost photos. She knows you mean a film camera, not a digital camera.

Anotherparkingthread · 21/02/2025 19:23

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:26

I don't think you understand!
It is a matter of life and course, in all manner and in all things, items can be lost or damaged!
There is no possible way to save what was on the camera. It is not digital, it is not a film you can replicate or save. it is a retro disposable. She has a camera. This was a disposable camera. A current trend used for weddings/festivals/holidays. The film was produced. The store has received and the store then lost, so the question was, what compensation should we seek? and AIBU the manager seemed surprised it was suggested.

Show quote history

You know what. You have no idea what I just said, I'm not going to explain it for you because it's not worth my time. I'm glad they lost your camera lol.

Needmorelego · 21/02/2025 18:08

I definitely think she should get compensation of the cost of the camera and the cost of the photos. I know she hadn't actually paid for the photos yet but the store either needs to have a really really big search or pay up.
I personally wouldn't want a replacement disposable camera because to be honest they are a bit rubbish.

TrainTicket · 21/02/2025 16:39

That must be so disappointing for her.
They must have given the photos to another customer.
I would expect to have a replacement disposable camera, but that’s not going to really compensate for what is lost.

DollopOfFun · 21/02/2025 16:32

I worked in a few photographic shops back in the 90's. Every company back then that offered photo developing had a policy that compensation was limited to the price of the film.

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:29

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 20/02/2025 18:31

Was this written in 1995? Maybe he could offer some Blockbusters vouchers as compensation?

@neverknowinglyunreasonable but knowingly being unreasonable.
The irony...

OP posts:

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:26

Anotherparkingthread · 21/02/2025 00:38

You don't understand. They might be responsible for losing the camera but the fact is when you work with fragile media you understand that their are always risks involved and accept that these things don't always work out as intended. Usually, for anything important, digital back ups are taken. It was your/ your daughter's own responsibility to ensure that the day had multiple versions of pictures taken in different, more reliable, formats. Physical media is also easily lost damaged or simply forgotten about. I used to work with cine film, so only slightly different (the same product but shooting thousands of feet of it every few seconds). There are so many stages it can go wrong, issues with the stock itself, light leaks, over or under exposed, camera failure, issues at processing in the lab. It's why most things are shot digitally now, the risk Vs reward not to mention cost.

You could have digital pictures from the day turned into photos by one of the many digital printing companies as a surprise for your daughter. They won't have the same look, as film has unique properties, but it's a starting point and it's very very cheap.

fI you were willing to spend more time and money, and maybe experiment, assuming you do have some digital photos, you might be able to use a digital intermediary film and transfer onto negatives. This will take modern crisp photos (which will be in focus etc) and transfer them to film which will allow for the film grain and beautiful colours to come through as the film would still be processed the same way and could be sent to a lab. I feel it might be quite an involved process though.

Show quote history

I don't think you understand!
It is a matter of life and course, in all manner and in all things, items can be lost or damaged!
There is no possible way to save what was on the camera. It is not digital, it is not a film you can replicate or save. it is a retro disposable. She has a camera. This was a disposable camera. A current trend used for weddings/festivals/holidays. The film was produced. The store has received and the store then lost, so the question was, what compensation should we seek? and AIBU the manager seemed surprised it was suggested.

OP posts:

TwentyTwentyFive · 21/02/2025 16:19

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:13

So, you mean not only have they lost the photo's. She now has to re purchase a new disposable camera at her cost?

Show quote history

But would she have purchased a new camera had the photos been developed or do you think she needs a new one because she didn't get the photos and surely she would then need to get any new photos developed so that's an additional cost? A new disposable camera would also not resolve the problem of the original photos being lost?

Maybe at a push she could as for the cost of the original camera so that puts her back at square 1 but that's about all I'd expect after all she and you need to remember it wasn't done on purpose.

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:15

tilligan · 21/02/2025 16:13

Compensation just puts you back in the position you were in before. So, in this case, fair compensation would be a voucher to cover the cost of the camera....

You are correct. Another camera or voucher to cover the cost.

OP posts:

Riverswims · 21/02/2025 16:14

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 20/02/2025 18:31

Was this written in 1995? Maybe he could offer some Blockbusters vouchers as compensation?

not helpful Hun

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 16:13

TwentyTwentyFive · 20/02/2025 19:46

I asked who could advise what she should suggest and I think a new " retro" disposable camera would be okay.

Will that actually make any difference though? The pictures are lost the manager seems very genuinely sad for the pictures being lost and has presumably appologised. He can't magic them back if they're gone and whilst sad for your daughter it's just one of those things we have to say that's a shame about. I genuinely don't see how compensation in any way is going to help.

So, you mean not only have they lost the photo's. She now has to re purchase a new disposable camera at her cost?

OP posts:

tilligan · 21/02/2025 16:13

Compensation just puts you back in the position you were in before. So, in this case, fair compensation would be a voucher to cover the cost of the camera....

KimberleyClark · 21/02/2025 16:12

Anotherparkingthread · 20/02/2025 18:43

Yabu. This used to happen all the time when film was more popular, or getting somebody else's pics back.

I have literally tens of thousands of pounds of old film stock because I love it as a medium. Loss and damage is something you accept when you work with physical media and a chemical process, instead of digital.

Yes. I once got my pics and someone else’s negatives back.

MinnieCoops · 21/02/2025 16:10

Happened to me once. They never found them. Wankers.

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 21/02/2025 15:53

The courier has proven that the photos were sent back to the store. The store has lost them.

OP posts:

Needmorelego · 21/02/2025 01:41

@Playingchesswithpigeons Did the camera have to be sent away to be processed?
Could the photos been sent to the wrong store?
There could have been an issue with the camera and none of the photos worked but the staff at the shop haven't been told that.
Could you find out where the photos are printed and contact them directly?
These are questions to ask the store manager.

Anotherparkingthread · 21/02/2025 00:38

Playingchesswithpigeons · 20/02/2025 19:08

Of course they are responsible. I'm not asking whether they are or not.
And there are certainly no expectations that if they're lost, it's hard luck.
The manager even stated it's never happened before.

Show quote history

You don't understand. They might be responsible for losing the camera but the fact is when you work with fragile media you understand that their are always risks involved and accept that these things don't always work out as intended. Usually, for anything important, digital back ups are taken. It was your/ your daughter's own responsibility to ensure that the day had multiple versions of pictures taken in different, more reliable, formats. Physical media is also easily lost damaged or simply forgotten about. I used to work with cine film, so only slightly different (the same product but shooting thousands of feet of it every few seconds). There are so many stages it can go wrong, issues with the stock itself, light leaks, over or under exposed, camera failure, issues at processing in the lab. It's why most things are shot digitally now, the risk Vs reward not to mention cost.

You could have digital pictures from the day turned into photos by one of the many digital printing companies as a surprise for your daughter. They won't have the same look, as film has unique properties, but it's a starting point and it's very very cheap.

fI you were willing to spend more time and money, and maybe experiment, assuming you do have some digital photos, you might be able to use a digital intermediary film and transfer onto negatives. This will take modern crisp photos (which will be in focus etc) and transfer them to film which will allow for the film grain and beautiful colours to come through as the film would still be processed the same way and could be sent to a lab. I feel it might be quite an involved process though.

steff13 · 20/02/2025 19:47

I mean, I think it will be fair for them to offer the money to replace the disposable camera. As far as the pictures, they can't be replaced and I don't know what monetary value they would have, so I don't know what else he could offer.

TwentyTwentyFive · 20/02/2025 19:46

I asked who could advise what she should suggest and I think a new " retro" disposable camera would be okay.

Will that actually make any difference though? The pictures are lost the manager seems very genuinely sad for the pictures being lost and has presumably appologised. He can't magic them back if they're gone and whilst sad for your daughter it's just one of those things we have to say that's a shame about. I genuinely don't see how compensation in any way is going to help.

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 20/02/2025 19:32

Of course other people have taken pictures, but these where hers. These were the pictures she chose to take, the moments she wanted to capture.
I didn't mention this at all in my post. But they are now gone.
I was surprised compensation wasn't offered, but he has since asked her to have a think and will ring her again.
This hasn't happened before, not to her, to me, her dad etc. and seemingly not to any other customer in the last 15 years.
I asked who could advise what she should suggest and I think a new " retro" disposable camera would be okay.
She is of course sad and disappointed, the moments captured are lost.
Thanks to those who did advise.

OP posts:

Original poster

Playingchesswithpigeons · 20/02/2025 19:08

Anotherparkingthread · 20/02/2025 18:43

Yabu. This used to happen all the time when film was more popular, or getting somebody else's pics back.

I have literally tens of thousands of pounds of old film stock because I love it as a medium. Loss and damage is something you accept when you work with physical media and a chemical process, instead of digital.

Of course they are responsible. I'm not asking whether they are or not.
And there are certainly no expectations that if they're lost, it's hard luck.
The manager even stated it's never happened before.

OP posts:

MargaretThursday · 20/02/2025 19:05

I had a film lost in the 90s. They gave me my money back and a free film. There was no compensation for the value of the photos which tbf people would always say were particularly precious.