A little back story...

I hadn't heard from my father in seven years, and it has been ten since I've seen him. He had never met my son, and my son had never met him. To make a long story short, I found him on the internet one day and called him, we set up a date and my son and I went to visit him. We had an awesome trip. I took a whole roll of pictures in the two days we were there. I was so excited about the pictures that as soon as I got home I took them to the one hour photo at the CVS across the street. This was at the beginning of September.

Now for my problem...

The lady at the photo counter said that it was too late for photo developing that night, but they would be ready the next day. I went in to get them and a second roll I had sitting around and taken in. I immediately opened the pictures and, they weren't mine. I returned to the store, they looked all around, but couldn't find mine. Only one other person had film developed that morning, but they had already picked theirs up. They told me to wait, they would probably bring back the pictures as soon as they saw they had the wrong ones. That was almost two months ago. I and other family members have gone in every few days to see if the pictures are back. My aunt called the manager and all he said he could do for me was give me a couple of free photo developings. Now this would be fine for me, except for the fact that the only pictures I have of my father with my son are on that roll, and I don't have the money to make the trip again any time in the near future. My fathers brothers haven't seen my dad in 15 to 20 years and were also looking forward to seeing the pictures. The manager of the CVS said that there were at least 20 people in their pharmacy records with the last name of the person that supposedly has my pictures, but he made no offer to call any of them, even with the knowledge that it was a woman who supposedly has my pictures. I was thinking of going in today and telling the manager that he needs to call all of the women with that last name in their files and ask them if they had any film developed at the one hour photo on September 4th. I don't want to sue them, but it really seems like the only way I can get the money to take the trip again.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

The manager should be courteous enough to do all he can to get your photos back. Find out who the manager's boss is if you can't get any satisfaction and call that person.
As far as suing for lost photos, you don't have a legal case because photo processors' liability extends only to replacement of the film.
Good luck, and keep trying.

If you can't get the manager's help, you need to ask for the district supervisor's name for his/her help. If you still have no luck, you could contact the local newspaper and try to solicit their help. I don't know how large your community is, but a smaller newspaper would probably be willing to get involved in the search for something so important. I wish you luck; I can imagine how you must feel. Keep us informed.

Actually, Clara has a good idea: contact the newspapers. At the moment, put in a 'lost' ad or maybe the newspaper will do a 'special interest' story about how you're missing the photos. You can do this at the same time as going up the managerial ladder at the store.

I think they key is time - I think by now, the person should have looked at the photos... I only hope this person wasn't stupid enough to look at them, go 'who are these people?' and chuck them...

I am hoping very much that is not the case (discarding them)... I think most people understand how special family photos are - they may just have put them on the side ready for next time they go by the developers, but that may not be for a little while.

The newspaper is the way forward. Good luck.

I'll second that - go to the papers. This will also light a fire under the photo shop manager; in fact, telling him that you will be speaking to the newspaper day after tomorrow is a real good way to get him to make the calls today! If you are in too big a city to get them to do a special interest story on the matter, you can still write a letter to the editor, and the chances are very good it will be printed.

I think going to the newspaper is a great idea and also going over the manager's head to his boss!
If worst come to worst you could try Picketing the store and telling others not to go there and why. That might get them to try and help you and who knows maybe the local television station might drop by to see what your story is about.
No store wants bad Publicity.
Good Luck.
PF