Boy, this mess with Rocky Mountain Film Lab gets stickier and stickier as the days go by.
Our story so far – I found a roll of 127 Kodacolor-X film in a 1960’s Kodak camera, a camera that was on sale in a New Hampshire antique store. I bought the camera, and planned on having the film inside developed – I figured it would make for a decent blog post.
After searching the net, I found that Rocky Mountain Film Lab is capable of developing vintage film, although their turnaround time was a bit excessive. Still, I figured I’d give them a shot.
That was in February. It is now June, and I have discovered that Rocky Mountain Film Lab has held many peoples’ film hostage – in some cases, for as long as two to three years – without any sign of developing. There have been complaints on message boards about Rocky Mountain Film Lab’s customer service – or lack thereof – going back as far as 2003. And now comes word that the company is under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.
At the same time, a poster named “Lou” seemed to think that I had no chance of doing anything regarding Rocky Mountain Film Lab, other than to blog about it – and even with that, there wasn’t much that could happen from a blog post.
And it is true, I did speak to Steven Dock, the owner of Rocky Mountain Film Lab, who told me that the company was undergoing a reorganization, and that things will be back to normal at some point.
And at that point, I said I would give Steven Dock the benefit of the doubt.
At the same time, I decided to give a call to Kevin White.
Kevin White is an investigator for the Internal Revenue Service. Four weeks ago, Mr. White told me that Steven Dock would have one day to go into the offices of Rocky Mountain Film Lab and gather all the undeveloped film, with the proviso that they be returned to the rightful owners. At the same time, although Dock was allowed to remove the film from the building (which, according to White, he has done), all the equipment has to stay behind.
So unless Steven Dock has another set of vintage development machines and chemicals in his house, that film’s going to get developed at around the same time Lindsay Lohan wins an Oscar.
In fact, Mr. White informed me that if there are any budding photographers out there who want to invest in vintage photography development equipment, and don’t mind paying shipping costs, they can own the mechanical assets of Rocky Mountain Film Lab.
I am not kidding.
On July 7, 2010, a starting bid of $3,000 can get you a tonload of vintage developing machines. The property was seized for non-payment of taxes, so Steven Dock has no way to develop the film he has collected from customers. In fact, here’s an inventory of all the goodies you can get with the winning bid.
In addition to the developing machines, you can also get some fire extinguishers, some computer equipment, a refrigerator, a microwave, and four vacuum cleaners.
Hey, maybe somebody can bid on the items – and win them – and then be able to develop all our film, ha ha ha!
But in all seriousness, I don’t think Steven Dock is an evil person. I don’t think he’s a bad person. I think he got overwhelmed. It’s like the story of the person who has 75 cats in his house when he started with four cats, and when they started breeding, he got overwhelmed. That’s probably what happened, he got overwhelmed, and was too ashamed to send any film back to the customers, for fear he may never have any more business in the future.
News flash – you have no business now. You do have our film. Send it back. Now. Developed or undeveloped, send it back.
Including that one roll of 127 Kodacolor-X film with the Albany return address.
Because I just did the last thing Steven Dock wanted anyone to do. I not only brought to light the fact that he can’t develop any more film; I also showed that his few mechanical assets are now up for bid, and will be sold to the highest bidder. That essentially puts Rocky Mountain Film Lab out of the photography business.
So Steve… do the right thing. Send our film back, and just say you were overwhelmed. We’ll find another place to develop our vintage rolls, whether it be Film Rescue International in North Dakota or some other outfit.
And maybe I should place a bid on one of those vacuum cleaners. God knows why someone would need four of them.
Chuck The Writer 
DON’T.
F***.
WITH.
CHUCK!
In all seriousness, this is such a distressing story for anyone that has a specialized interest or hobby.
LikeLike
There’s stuff missing from that list of auction items. Where is the film to video transfer equipment? Where is the high volume film scanner that is pictured in an article on their website? Looks like the IRS got the junk and the expensive stuff is squirreled away somewhere.
This is probably the plan at RMFL…Have a third party bid on the processing equipment that will likely go for that starting bid of 3000 dollars because it’s all old and useless stuff to anyone else. Re-establish under a different name and continue in business. Seems like a long shot but it’s not impossible. I’d expect another couple of years until you get your film back though. Such re-establishment doesn’t happen over-night and then to have to get through a back log of what will be thousands of rolls that you’ve already been paid for will undoubtedly be a painful thing.
Or will they claim to be a new entity and try to collect from the clients a second time? I hope someone is watching for that. Should a new company doing this work appear out of nowhere in the next few months this will likely be the situation….BEWARE!!! I see no other possible way of them continuing in business…their reputation is shot, so why not a new name and new company?
LikeLike
I have been trying to get my film back from that company for the past two years. Same story with me. I have screamed until my face is blue and they have nothing to say…restructuring, moving, new techs….
Do you know how I can get my film back from these people?
Thanks,
Brent
LikeLike
“Because I just did the last thing Steven Dock wanted anyone to do. I not only brought to light the fact that he can’t develop any more film; I also showed that his few mechanical assets are now up for bid, and will be sold to the highest bidder. That essentially puts Rocky Mountain Film Lab out of the photography business.”
Funny stuff from Chuck. The sale of RMFL assets were posted here, along with much more info than you could discover:
http://photo.net/film-and-processing-forum/005jsk
by Joe Kidd.
Chuck, you haven’t put RMFL out of business. You must have some deep-seated, psychological desire for bluster.
LikeLike
“I don’t think Steven Dock is an evil person. I don’t think he’s a bad person.”
Yes, he is. Theft is evil, or at least bad. Steve accepted money for years without providing the contracted service or return of the money he accepted for said services.
LikeLike
“And it is true, I did speak to Steven Dock, the owner of Rocky Mountain Film Lab, who told me that the company was undergoing a reorganization, and that things will be back to normal at some point.”
Back to normal? Complaints have appeared since at least August of 2003. No, that’s not a typo – 2003.
Back to normal is scamming, and he doesn’t even need any film equipment.
LikeLike
“I also showed that his few mechanical assets are now up for bid, and will be sold to the highest bidder. That essentially puts Rocky Mountain Film Lab out of the photography business.”
Except that didn’t happen. The equipment was released, apparently to Dock.
LikeLike
I have found all this information (on-line) regarding Rocky Mt. Film Lab very interesting. I sent them a C-22 roll of film that I found in a very old camera of my parents. That was NOVEMBER 17, 2008. I also, had send inquires to the lab with no response whatsoever.
In the last few weeks, I received the bankruptcy notice from Colorado. Today, I received an amended bankruptcy notice with information as to how to make a claim. I too, like all the other blogs I have read, would just LIKE TO HAVE MY FILM BACK. Yes, it was $42.50, but, I want the film. I just wonder if there is anyway that the bankruptcy court would go through the “assets” or backlog of film to be processes and return them. Or, did the wonderful Mr. Dock throw them all way? Wow!! I just wish I had noticed the negative information prior to me sending my film as I did, just today, see negative information that goes back to 2003. My bad! And, it really isn’t any consolation that so many are right there with me. I feel bad for them.
LikeLike
The feel bad was not for RMFL, but for all the others that lost their old film. And yes, Steve Dock SHOULD return all the film, but the cost of doing that? Hmm…..I’d even pay the postage if I was assured that I would receive my film.
LikeLike
I’m ignorant of what to do with this bankruptcy notice that I also received. All I have to prove that they own me $152.00 is possibly a canceled check IF I can get the bank to retrieve it from my deceased grandmother’s now closed checking account. I don’t even know how to fill out this bankruptcy form or if it even means that I’ll get anything back at all! Thieves!
LikeLike
Thank you for providing the whole story Chuck. And thank you everyone else for posting. I feel badly for those of you who had trusted and done business with this outfit. I have a vintage roll of slide film from my Dad’s estate which I would love to have developed. Rocky Mountain Film seemed like a great find on the web. But I decided to check them out a little further and VWALLAH! your commentary. Can’t thank you enough. At first, I thought well maybe this fellow wants to do the right thing with the film. If he left it there, who knows where it would have ended up – the trash? But just wqhen I’m feeling “Aw…poor fellow…,” I’m beset by questions that beg to be answered. Why is his website still up and running as though nothing is amiss (note the footer copyright updated to include 2010)? Why is this outfit is still advertising ability to process credit card payments and collect film/funds? Apparently, the false advertising, acceptance of payment for services you are currently unable to render, etc. is a stand up thing to do – because you are overwhelmed? Note to IRS – please also put a padlock lock on the website, because this fellow is obviously more than overwhelmed. In fact, I think I’ve seen him on a t.v. commercial in a remote office somewhere with about 30 phones lighting up and ringing. His business name is “Peggy.”
LikeLike
Many thanks. I just today found the website and was about to send an old roll of Kodachrome 8mm movie film from my childhood. Does anyone know of another, solvent developer out there.
LikeLike
Add my name to the list….I sent them 4 rolls of film 2 years ago ALONG with my payment of $170. To this day…nothing other than smoke and mirrors about the “progress” of my order and when it might arrive. Those family pictures were supposed to be christmas presents for the last 2 years.
LikeLike
FOR OLD FILM PROCESSING LOOK AT http://WWW.FILMRESCUE.COM, recommended to me by someone from Dwaynes.
E
LikeLike
I’m another qualified member of the “I’ve been screwed by Rocky Mountain Film Labs” community. On October 2, 2008 I sent them 9 rolls of Super 8mm film for processing and my check for 388.50. And followed that up on November 15, 2008 by sending them 7 rolls of 35mm Kodachrome, along with a check for $261.50. They deposited my $650 in their Century Bank account within days. But never filled my orders, despite all sorts of promises over many months. Phone calls and e-mails result in false promises, if answered at all.
I’m a retired professional in my 80s and you’d think I would know better . . . I really thought I’d seen all the scams and frauds ever conceived. Hah.
Talk about Thumbing Your Nose at trusting consumers: Their website is still soliciting business as of today (March 15, 2011)!
Surely, Colorado has a state agency with enough clout to expose and prosecute shady operators like this.
Doug Baker
LikeLike
RMFL finally returned my film after MANY calls to them. The lady on the phone tried for several minutes to talk me out of having my film returned because RMFL is the ONLY company in America with the equipment to develop my antique film. From the posts above, apparently they don’t have ANY equipment to develop any film. That’s not what they’re telling customers as of February 2011. Listen to their automated phone system (they can afford that) and they’ll tell you they are the premier film developing company. Yeah right. Thankfully they returned my film, but I’m out my money like most people here. I wrote the BBB servicing that area, but of course a BBB complaint is the least of their worries at this point.
LikeLike
Well, this all makes me sick. My father died at the beginning of this year and I found four very old rolls of film. Found RMFL’s site and sent themoff with my check for $155. Of course, no delay in cashing it. I don’t know how I missed all the warning posts about the negative experiences, but I did.
I just called RMFL and the woman was quite professional and encouraging. She said it would likely take a year to year and a half–but since it was B&W it could be sooner. I doublechecked the RMFL site, and it gives 1-12 months for processing the kind of film I sent.
I then called the Colorado Attorney General’s office and eventually got a live person. After explaining the situation. I was stunned that the CO AG’s office has absolutely NO complaints on file against RMFL or steven Dock. Everyone needs to file a complaint. It’s easy, go here: http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/complaint then click on “Private Business” to link to the form. Fill it out and e-submit it.
LikeLike
Does anyone know where all of this stands as of today? Can I go to Colorado and get my film? How can he just keep the film? I would be willing to pay the postage just to get my film back.
LikeLike