http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl? http://www.eblah.com en http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283808205/ http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283808205/#num1
In my discussions with dpa_photo, he had a very good suggestion.    A "Pay for Tech" tech support forum.

There are entire websites that do similar things for money paid by the askers to the answerers.  (Ex: I found this site using Google and do not back them in any way: http://www.justanswer.com/ques.....i-will-not-focus-and - this is a stupid example that we should already know the answer to, but just goes to show you there are idiots out there that need their questions answered - not us of course, our questions are more intelligent )

This could be done here in a special paid section, where a group of dedicated (registered) Techs could monitor, and if they pick the question, they would have to follow through and help, until answered completely before they would get paid (to the satisfaction of the asker - with limits - they can't keep adding to the original question and have it drag on forever).  

There could be a starting amt (say 5 credits - value to be determined by all mini-lab help users) and credits could be bought by paypal.   Credits would be deducted when the question is asked.  Once the question has been answered and the resolution posted, the Tech answering would then get "most" of the credits for answering the question, which they could then redeem for cash (or just get money deposited to their paypal acct as soon as the original poster flags the question as answered) and a small "handling" fee (or percent) goes to pay for the Mini-Lab Help web site.  Then with all the extra money that Neil gets, he can fly ALL OF US to London for a festive New Years party at HIS house  

No one would be forced to use the "Pay for Tech" section and could just as easily use the "regular" forum section, but if they wanted help until resolved, they could resort to using it, and be guaranteed a Tech will help them until resolved -- also with a rating system for the tech's assistance level.

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similar vein:
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For every "Help" related topic, can you flag it as a "new" question ?  
Then as the topic is posted to, give the original poster (or an admin) the ability to "close" the topic and post the resolution to the original problem ?   Or if it's still "open".

Kind of like a "trouble ticket" system.  Ticket comes in, tech works on the ticket to try to find a resolution, then once it's been "fixed", the original poster can come back and tell us what the fix was, then "close" the topic.   Each topic could have several different states as the topic is replied to:  [ Open, Waiting on Parts, Still Open, Closed with answer, Closed No answer, and possibly a few others (maybe) ]

This will also help others as the solutions to the problems are available right there.

A SIMPLE example of this can be seen here: http://www.365-hosting.net/forum/viewforum.php?forum_id=6
(They're my web site hosting company -- free, and pretty cool bunch of guys - they recently started implementing this type of solution about a month ago so the admins would know which posts has and hasn't been completed yet)


What do you guys think ?

]]> Mon, 6 Sep 2010 22:23:25 Big Dave http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283671009/ http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283671009/#num1
When someone comes in with a broken 35mm pocket camera that is dead and the customer just can't upgrade to a digital - either too old or below the poverty line.

I have in place a "pay it forward" program.  

When people come in to the store to buy a digital camera or perhaps they have recently purchased one from elsewhere  I ask them if they would donate their old working '35mm camera to me for our 'pay it forward program' .  ( i haven't had one rejection)  I get their old working 35mm camera's and keep them for the customer that simply has no inclination for a digital camera whether it be they are just too old or simply can't afford the luxury.  

Usually a customer walks in to see if i can fix the camera - when i deem it unfixable i ask if they are interested in a digital camera.  I can tell by their manner and response if they are or not, so when they aren't interested in the slightest i get one of the donated 35mm camera's and i place a complimentary film in it - put in some batteries and give it to my customer with a card  that is glued to the back that says it is part of the 'pay it forward program and it should be returned when the customer has no further use for it.  ie they pass away or just simply is not being used.  The customers i have done this for have a new lease on life for taking photos and have become more regular and loyal customers.  Not just spending money on film and developing, but they come in for gifts and enlargements etc.  

The cost to me a roll of film - the benefit's of seeing their face light up with joy = priceless ]]> Sun, 5 Sep 2010 08:16:49 TeriW http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283467228/ http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283467228/#num1
You must have your own camera equipment, and and also have public liability insurance.

A fee for this will be payable to the client, but you get to keep all profit.

This is a golden opportunity to generate extra income

For more details please PM me (Private Message) and I will let you have details and contact information.

]]> Thu, 2 Sep 2010 23:40:28 Neil http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283189476/ http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283189476/#num1
i planning to buy Used Wet lab, any advices? what need to know?... etc...
as far how about Frontier 350?...

]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:31:16 Backtier http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282645998/ http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282645998/#num1 ]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:33:18 clemphoto