I’m not impressed.

Some four weeks ago I took three APS films and two 35mm films into Jessops in Warwick Street, Worthing. Their processing machine was down, so the guy who served me (he looked like Saturday help) said he’d send them off to Kodak, and they’d be back on the following Tuesday.

I returned on the following Saturday, when I presented my two tear-off receipts to George, a chap who had an air of seniority about him. Whichever way, he couldn’t find my films. He did explain that I should have had five receipts, not two. He promised to follow up with Kodak; I said I’d have a look for the other receipts, but as I’d taken them out of my pocket as soon as I got home and clipped them together, I was sure I hadn’t been given the other three.

George said he’d call me as soon as he’d found out about my films; I said I’d call when I’d found about the receipts.

I called the following Tuesday, having failed to track down the other three receipts. I was told George wasn’t there, but I should call back later.

When I called back, Natalie (I think) had to operate the phone, because George wouldn’t speak to me in person. The message that was relayed to me was that Kodak said they had sent the films back to Jessops in Worthing because there was a problem of some sort. They couldn’t be found at Jessops, but George said he was still trying to sort the problem out. He’d call me back.

A week later – last Wednesday – in the absence of any communication from George or anyone at Jessops, I placed another call. Surprise, surprise. I was told by Natalie (I think) that George wasn’t there.

When I said I was getting more than a bit concerned that nothing was happening, and I wasn’t getting any calls back from George, she said they ‘didn’t mess anyone around’ and that George was definitely going to call me back.

Here we are, another week later, and George still hasn’t called back. And I don’t have my films.

If this is how George and Jessops treat their customers, I’m sure you, as a reader of Dangerous Thinking would like to know.

Edit (16 December, 15:00): I’ve just contacted Jessops as John has suggested. I’ll be reporting back on the outcome.

Edit (16 December, 17:20): A call from a very helpful Caroline Vernon from Jessops Customer Services. The films are apparently waiting to be collected from the shop, although she only knows about the APS films. I’ll find out about the 35mm films when I collect them. The good news is I’m not going to have to pay for the processing. Thanks Caroline, that’s appreciated. Although I must say, one further worry is I put the films in for processing and burning on to CD-ROM, and I’m left wondering if they’ve made prints instead. I’ll take whatever they’ve done, as long as I have five sets of negatives with the prints. Watch this space.

Edit (7 January, 18:00): I picked up my films today. All complete. And no charge.

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