Get your digital photographic prints done very cheap and quick at Costco Derby

Did you know that you can get your digital photographs printed at Costco in Derby?
This is better than any online printing service as you can collect them in person.

The prices are really cheap, the prints are high quality and you can upload your images from home and collect them the next day.
They also do large print sizes such as 18" x 12", The quality is amazing on these poster prints. The prints are supplied in carboard envelopes.

Prices for Prints at Costco Photo Centre Derby (July 2010)


    Size - Qty Copies - Price

• 6" x 4" 1-49 7p each
• 50-99 6p each
• 100-499 5p each
• 500+ 4p each
• 7" x 5" 1-49 12p each
• 50-149 10p each
• 150-499 9p each
• 500+ 9p each
• 8" x 6" 1+ 22p each
• 9" x 6" 1+ 22p each
• 10" x 8" 1+ £1.09 each
• 12" x 8" 1+ £1.09 each

 You can either order your prints via their website (limited to 5 prints) or you can use the free Kiosk software which allows you to place orders up to 5,000 images! With the Kiosk software you do not need an internet connection whilst you are preparing the order, only when you finally send the order through.
This easy to use software allows you to zoom, crop and rotate each print so you get just what you want.

How to use the Kiosk uploader software.
Get the free Kiosk software here:
http://derby.costcophoto.co.uk/about/kiosk

Click on the light blue rectangle where it says "Easy Download Kiosk/Uploader Software"
Download and install the Kiosk software.
The downloaded .exe file is 24.5Mb so does not take long on a broadband connection.

If you are using Windows 7 then I have found that this software has to be run in compatibility mode as follows (Don't worry its easy to do this) Install the software then right-click on the "Costco Desktop Kiosk" icon on the desktop and on the menu that appears select Properties then click on the Compatibilty tab
And tick the box next to Run this program in compatibilty mode for:
And select "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)" Click Apply and OK.
I don't have Windows Vista so not sure if you have to do the same with that Operating System.

When you run the Kiosk program for the first time it will download packages for each Costco UK location to update its self. You need to click on Settings and fill in your details such as address, e-mail and Costco membership number.

To add your images you click on the "Add Pictures" button, you can now select as many images as you want, when you click ok they should start to show up like my screen grab below. The Kiosk user interface is nice and easy to use. You have full control over each individual image.

you click on each thumbnail one by one and select what print size you want, in this example I have selected 6" x 4". You can also select the Quantity for each print.

In the top right of the Kiosk window you will see your image with a dotted box on it, this is the crop area. Because most digital cameras do not take phtographs in the right aspect ratio for a 6" x 4" print it will mean you have to loose the top and bottom of your image, this rubber box shows the area that is going to be cropped. You can move the corner handles of the box to choose what part of the image you want to remove, you can also use these controls to zoom in on part of your image.

Once you have confirmed your order and its uploaded all the image data, You will recieve and e-mail to say you have placed an order. You will get another e-mail when they start to work on your order and then a third e-mail to let you know when your prints are ready for collection from the Costco Derby Warehouse.
Just print off this confirmation e-mail and take it to the Photo Centre to get your prints

You pay for the prints at the Photo Centre rather than the normal checkouts.

A bit of Background info on Costco.

Costco is one of the largest membership only warehouse club, Founded in USA in 1983. Today they have over 550 locations around the world. Over 20 of these are in the UK and we are lucky enough to have a Costco in Derby which opened a few years ago.

http://www.costco.co.uk/what_is_costco/what_is_costco.htm

They sell a vast range of goods mostly in bulk and cheap. The Derby centre has a food court where you can buy hot food cheap such as a large Jacket Potato with as many fillings as you want for just £1.25
The Costco Derby photography department is located on the right hand side as you go through the entrance.

Where to find Costco Derby on a map

This Costco warehouse can be found on Wyvern Way, Derby, DE21 6RS


View Costco Derby, Wyvern Way. in a larger map

The entrance to Costco car park is off the round-a-bout between Burger King and Pizza Hut. It has a large car park with very wide parking bays so no problems opening car doors to get stuff in.

Google Streetview of Costco Derby from the bridge over the River Derwent.


Costco Derby Opening times:

Monday to Friday
Trade members 10:00am - 8:30pm
Individual members 12:00 - 8:30pm
Saturday
9:30am - 6:30pm
Sunday
11:00am - 5:00pm
Bank Holidays 10:00am - 6:00pm

Costco Derby is open 361 days a yeay, only closing for Christmas, New Years Day and Easter Sunday.




If your a keen photgrapher then hopefully you will find my blogpost of use. If you are a regular user of photobox or snapfish then this is a great alternative to those print services and you can go and collect the prints yourself so no postage to pay and you can even get prints on a Sunday.

Large prints are given to you in flat carboard envelopes rather than rolled up in tubes so you don't have to struggle to flatten out your prints before mounting them in a frame.

If you need your prints quicker then Costco also have PC Kiosks in the Photo Centre where you can plug in your USB flash drive and get your prints within minutes, these cost twice as much though.

Thanks
Andy