Film is a dying breed, and your choices are limited if you want quality developing. It may seem strange, but I prefer to take my pictures on film then scan them to digital format so I can edit them... More

Film is a dying breed, and your choices are limited if you want quality developing. It may seem strange, but I prefer to take my pictures on film then scan them to digital format so I can edit them myself before printing. I was told getting a roll of film would cost about $3 above the processing fee when I dropped it off. Great, I thought, at least its cheap here. Well, when I picked it up, there was a $5 charge for the physical CD, PLUS $0.20 for scanning each frame! Thus this one roll cost me over $14. Outrageous price when walgreens will do this for less than half. The CD was just an HP brand CD they had probably bought from Best Buy. The customer service was totally apathetic to their misquoted prices. I will never go back and neither should you.
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I have been using West Photo for about 2 years now and have always received GREAT service and friendly interaction. They have helped me out in getting rental equipment at the last minute and I feel... More

I have been using West Photo for about 2 years now and have always received GREAT service and friendly interaction. They have helped me out in getting rental equipment at the last minute and I feel like I am visiting good friends when I pick up/drop off my rental equipment. LOVE these guys!! Thanks for helping me move from an amateur photographer to a professional who is living her dream!
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West Photo's staff is rude and stuck-up. They consider themselves to be better photographers than you, and always try and remind you of that. I'm so sick of their attitudes. I just want a place... More

West Photo's staff is rude and stuck-up. They consider themselves to be better photographers than you, and always try and remind you of that. I'm so sick of their attitudes. I just want a place where I can go and not be judged. If I have questions, I want them answered. An "I don't know" is better than the wrong or judgmental advice I get from West Photo's people.
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The service is horrible. They just charged me $200 more for a light meter then I could get it online.

The service is horrible. They just charged me $200 more for a light meter then I could get it online.
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yeah a lot of people gripe about West and it's attitude and all that, but I have been to camera shops across the country, and I have never come across a staff with the same professional level... More

yeah a lot of people gripe about West and it's attitude and all that, but I have been to camera shops across the country, and I have never come across a staff with the same professional level expertise. You want to know how a Nikon D3 shoots with ProFoto strobes? Ask National Camera & 1 person in the store has even touched the D3 much shot a frame in some crazy lighting scenario, and what is ProFoto anyway? They would ask..... If you want a point and shoot, go to National Camera, if you want someone who can tell you everything you need to know about pro gear, go to West. They are the best in town, by far. NatCam is a bunch of nerds who work at a cameraq store. West is a staff of people who talk to working commercial shooters everyday. Plus they are cheaper!
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This store has really hateful employees and a big lack of customer service. The rental dept is unfriendly to "non-pros" like me. National Camera Exchange in Golden Valley has all of my business... More

This store has really hateful employees and a big lack of customer service. The rental dept is unfriendly to "non-pros" like me. National Camera Exchange in Golden Valley has all of my business from now on.
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I have been shopping at West for the past three years. They have really bad service. No follow up calls on stuff that i ordered and a ton of attitude from the employees. I am the customer not the... More

I have been shopping at West for the past three years. They have really bad service. No follow up calls on stuff that i ordered and a ton of attitude from the employees. I am the customer not the fedex man. You should shop online at bhphoto.com better and cheaper
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I think we all go to West begrudgingly because they have a professional orientation that few other places in the Twin Cities have -- they are sort of like the Genuis Bar at the Apple Store of retail... More

I think we all go to West begrudgingly because they have a professional orientation that few other places in the Twin Cities have -- they are sort of like the Genuis Bar at the Apple Store of retail photo shops. However, lets be honest, their service is cool and spotty. Compared to National Camera, their core of experts is thin. The prices are steep but there are items here at West you just can't get close to at other places. You could order most of this equipmeent from B&H and J&R or search it out at other locations but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and use West. Distinct advantages: West has good equipment rental service so you can try before you buy. When it comes to checking out a new Canon lens as an example, get the feel for it in your hand, feel its responsiveness during a shoot, it might be best to rent it first and then buy it if you feel it gives you that added edge. Also, in the entry portal, you can scan the corkboard for postings of other pro photographers who are selling their equipment so they can buy the latest, newest, hottest piece on the market. As a pro, you cannot avoid going to West but you wish you didn't have to...
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Usually I purchase my photo supplies online-BH Photo is my retailer of choice. But occasionally, through poor planning and student assignment deadlines-I am forced to go to West Photo, where... More

Usually I purchase my photo supplies online-BH Photo is my retailer of choice. But occasionally, through poor planning and student assignment deadlines-I am forced to go to West Photo, where everything costs twice as much or more. Apparently, poor planning is also a fact of life for West Photo. Even though they are located within a mile of the U of MN campus, and have been in business for 34 years, the school year always throws them for a loop, and they consistently run out of paper and chemicals during peak student demand periods (i.e. spring and fall semester). Note: If you are a student, don't forget to show your student id for a discount. You might get a whole 5% off *some* items.
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