In fact any company that uses a Fuji Frontier set on automatic usually gets similar results. Try asking them to turn down the sharpening. Good luck on that one tho...
I just wanted to repeat what you wrote. Most places have the same equipment and run it with the same settings, so if you go to anyone with the same Fuji equipment, you'll get pretty much the same results.
What anyone needs to do, is start asking at every store until you find someplace that doesn't use the Fuji equipment. Good luck. Otherwise, saying that Walmart, Costco, CVS, or some name place is at fault, is not correct. It's partly the equipment they use and partly who is operating it. Find a good operator and you'll be happy.
I don't have film to CD scans done anymore, since I shoot almost all digital. First roll of film I shot after getting a good DSLR, I thought my old camera was broken, the film was bad, and the processing stunk. Then I looked back and discovered that digital is so much brighter and sharper, that it was just my eyes that had changed. :mrgreen:
True, some places have better people and get better results out of the Fuji equipment. I have one near me, and I'm happy with the results. That's where I have my 8 x 10s printed, that I sell. No complaints from me or the buyers.