Help with history of Pricing

[crjaynes]

I am hoping some of you have better memory than I do! I am seeking assistance with trying to remember prices of rolls of film between years of 1985 and 2000 and also for developing. Early on, I typically used Kodak 35mm, 36 exposure, 100 or 400 ISO, and later in the 1990 switched to Fuji, 36 exposure, 100 or 400 ISO.

The reason I am asking this question is that I am currently in litigation with a storage facility for improperly selling personal belongings in an auction due to a clerical error listing me in the wrong unit. I lost 1000's of photos as a result and am having to provide at least a minimum claim basis, ie, x number of rolls times the price per roll and then cost for developing those rolls. I believe the rolls probbably averaged about $4 apiece and devloping, ! hour, around $10 or more per roll.

This has been a nightmare

 

[christopher walrath]

Black and White or Color? One hour or normal? Wal Mart, Grocery Store, minilab or send out? Single-double prints? Negs only?

 

[crjaynes]

ChrisW,
Typically they were color, single print, one hour either Walmart or Wolf/Ritz Camera. Went by my local Ritz Camera to try to get a little history lesson there, but manager was younger than my oldest child so couldn't remember much history. I have tried some web searches and only found one result for 1997. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Randy

 

[Mike_E]

Use today's pricing and adjust for inflation.

Or call your lawyer and ask him/her.

 

[crjaynes]

Mike,
Unfortunately my attorney is the one having me do this. I am thinking along your lines as far as coming up with a minimal claim value, just using today's prices. The big issue is placing a value on the actual images lost. This happened over three years ago and the storage facility is now claiming they didn't sell my belongings and finall released documents regarding the sale. Ironically, I had met the individual named as the purchaser over a month ago and found several Golden Era comic books books containing my name in his possession. Unfortunately, he said he through all photos, etc away as soon as he bought the unit. Glad to know he had such a fine taste for photography. Thanks for the reply
Randy

 

[djacobox372]

Remember that you always shot the most expensive film and always paid extra for rush developing by a professional lab, not walmart.

BTW: fire your lawyer... anybody that suggests you lead with a "minimum" number is just trying to get the case resolved quickly at your expense.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Screw the cost of developing!
Get them for the cost of travel to all the exotic places you went to get these images! Get them to reimburse you for the precious memories lost and once in a lifetime events!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Remember that you always shot the most expensive film and always paid extra for rush developing by a professional lab, not walmart.

BTW: fire your lawyer... anybody that suggests you lead with a "minimum" number is just trying to get the case resolved quickly at your expense.

Have you ever been in a legal proceeding?
Do you realize legal fees can add up quickly for more than the settlement?
Do you realize when you ask for $50K, you might wind up settling for $3K?

 

[crjaynes]

Jeweler and DJacobox,

Yes, I already am thinking down those lines, I am having to do high low and claim value.
Not a bad gig with the lawyer though. They are only charging me 30% of whatever we get over a previously offered amount. The facility basically had their insurance company make an offer, which was decent and would have taken had the insurance rep known when to stop talking. Basically came back with a higher counter offer and then said if I were you I would take this or they will take you to court and tie this up for years. I love the sound of treble damages and let the expenses rack up, because they are added to the damages.

After jerking me around with their insurance for two years and receiving the veiled threat, they are denying they sold my stuff, got arrogant and finally released documents showing where they rightfully sold the stuff in the unit, thinking it belonged to someone else, and low and behold, I had met the individual that had purchased the unit 6 weeks ago. Went to his booth at local flea market and found 4 comic books in his possession with my name on it. Yes, in addition to photography, I love the Golden Age comics. Anyway, either the storage facility sold them to him or he stole them from the facility. Just had to subpoena him since he would not sell me the items in question. Things are getting interesting.

Randy

 

[Josh66]

Interesting. Since there is no way anyone can know what the pictures were of, and what you might have spent to get them - I would only count on being reimbursed for the cost of materials, plus whatever damages you are seeking.

Today, film can be as much as $10-20 a roll including processing (depending on where you have it processed).

(Of course, it can be much, much cheaper than that. That would be the upper end of the spectrum. For example - I buy my film in bulk and process at home - total cost per roll, probably around $2.)

 

[crjaynes]

Josh,
Thanks. I had not gotten that far with my "hobby" yet. Never thought to buy in bulk back then, but typically paid about $5 roll and would average about $10-$12/roll going to Wolf/Ritz.
I still love shooting with my old Nikon FG, been refurbished and repaired numerous times, unfortunately was lost in the storage debacle. Started trying digital format and really enjoy that. I have been fortunate in that I had a local artist in Colorado and in South Carolina pick through some of my work and put my work down on canvas. Was really thrilling to see the results.
Again, thanks for the info.
Randy

 

[Josh66]

but typically paid about $5 roll and would average about $10-$12/roll going to Wolf/Ritz.

In that case, strangely, I don't think the prices are much different today. 'Good' film will cost you about $5-6 a roll, and normal processing would also be about what you paid back then... I would have expected it to be much cheaper then.

If you factor in inflation, it's probably cheaper today that it was then. Doesn't help your case, but it is a little surprising.

 

[christopher walrath]

All I can say is that the attorney has some chutzpah to make you do the leg work for him. Pay him a little extra so he can hire a paralegal or a secretary or something.

 

[crjaynes]

Chris,
Actually before I got the attorney involved, I had to provide claim value to the facilities insurance company and I did jack it to them. They had refused to release any information to me, so I was hoping the original esitmates and claims might make them seek out the individual who bought the unit. Reasoning was tools, clothes, other stuff could be replaced. How do you replace a photo of your grandparents taken at the turn of the19th century? We actually do have an auction house going through the list to verify and support my claim values now. It has been interesting as I have done some online searches trying to see the value of photos from early 1900's through 1950's. Of course then there are the countless photos of children, etc. I am still galled that the people who buy these units simply throw photos, cards, letters away. meeting with State legislator in SC to see about having added protection for the consumer in cases of these auctions. Had a simple check been done, there were hundreds of items that the facility could have seen that would have clearly shown that the person they had listed in the unit was not the same person whose name was on these items. Has been a very interesting experience, one that I hope no one else has to face anytime, but am sure it happens countless times each day.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

All I can say is that the attorney has some chutzpah to make you do the leg work for him. Pay him a little extra so he can hire a paralegal or a secretary or something.

Yeah, because you actually WANT to pay a lawyer MORE money. :roll: