Walmart refuses to print (process, photoshopped, camera, shot)

[Kracer]

A friend who graduated and works as a graphic designer went to a Walmart to have some photos, she took and photoshopped, printed. She is a professional and had gone to the same strore routinely to print photos.

This time the manager refused to sell her the prints and accused her of attempting to copy some other professional's work.

The manager, in a derogatory manner, asked her several questions about the camera and editor she used. He refused to giver her the prints until she came back with her camera. She did that. the guy now takes her very expensive camera and begins fumbling with it obviously unfamiliar with the camera, so she takes it back. He was still arguing with her but he clerk rang up the bill and handed her her prints.

Question?

Is there a standard procedure Walmart or other processors/printers use to ensure pro photos are not being reproduced by a customer?

Or is it random and subjective and up to the mood of the local manager?

[rrufast]

Why anyone would take prints to Wal Mart to be developed is beyond me..

The staff at our local stores (we have 6 WM SuperCenters in a 20 mile radius) could
screw up a single car parade. No way I'd trust them to actually develop film.. or process a digital image...

[kdog]

This a really common complaint about Walmart's photo department. The reason they do this is to protect themselves against being prosecuted for violating copyrights. Supposedly they have photo releases that you can fill out and sign at the register declaring that you're the owner of the copyrights. That removes the liability from Walmart and places it on you. But evidently the implementation of this policy is enforced in a very inconsistent manner from store to store, and even employee to employee. Walmart isn't exactly known for superlative customer service. Next time I would try asking specifically for the release form. If that doesn't work, I'd take my business elsewhere.

[Nephler]

I don't know if it's standard procedure or not.
Either way, I wont step foot into a walmart anyway.

[Bydand]

I cannot imagine why a "professional" would go to Wal-Mart to have photos printed. Geeze, Wal-Mart sucks at printing anything.

That rant out of the way, I would think it is a store-to-store issue, and that K-dog has nailed it as to the "why" they would give a person a hard time about having anything even remotely professional looking developed there. That right there says it all really; if it looks professional, even Wal-Mart photo center employees can't imagine having them print the photo.

[Nodpete]

Originally Posted by Nephler

Either way, I wont step foot into a walmart anyway.

You have to have a "walker" in order to shop at Walmart anyway !

[DubbleT]

NOT Walmart but our policy is that if the lighting or background look even close to professional we have to ask for a copyright release. The fines for violating copyrights are pretty darn hefty, not to mention loss of your job for doing so.
I don't feel like taking a risk over something that looks like a 4 x 6 that's been cropped from a 5 x 7 portrait, I prefer to err on the side of caution. You might be surprised at the number of people who actually try to get one by us by cropping out the studio name, school portraits being the ones most often done. If there's is any doubt at all I ask for a release.
Also with all the things you can do at home on your computer it can sometimes be difficult to tell if the picture is professional.
Some people get very angry that you would 'dare' question their photos. I always try to soften them by telling them it's a compliment to their photography and editing skills.
"Gosh those pictures are soooo good you had me fooled. Sign here please."

Edited to add that if the picture is an obvious professional portrait that has been cropped (school pictures again) and the customer tries to sign a copyright release (basically lying) we still have the right to refuse to print the picture.

[Boompa]

Why would any American give their business to WALMART?

[LargeKingCat]

I have yet to meet any Walmart photo employee, photo manager or otherwise individual there who has an IQ over 90 or any sense of photo or customer service skills.
I send my best work out to be printed. Nothing to Walmart at all

[bouncethelight]

Originally Posted by Bydand

I cannot imagine why a "professional" would go to Wal-Mart to have photos printed.

That's kind of the point... Professionals generally don't go to Walmart for prints, so when they get an order for an obviously professionally shot image, it sends up a red flag for them! And that's a good thing!

I'm a professional, and I once had to order multiple prints of a portrait of a relative for a funeral - and Walmart was the only game in that small town - so I went there. They balked initially - which made me very happy! I was glad to see that they respect the rights of photographers.

In the end all I had to do was show them my business card for my studio, and sign a form that I was the photographer and I got the prints. It was a five-minute delay at most.