Shipping + Handling
Domestic
How Items Are Shipped
Rental orders ship via FedEx with the speed selected at checkout or otherwise discussed. Shipping is almost always from New York (so please plan your shipping speed selection accordingly). Rentals generally arrive within 6 business days of your rental start date. We do not and cannot, however, guarantee your camera arrival date at any time unless cleared with us, as shipping companies do not offer guarantees anymore. But we do prorate if shipments arrive after the 6th business day. Please read about prorating late shipments in the How It Works or Late Shipments pages.
All items will be tracked and insured. Remember, once you sign for the package, you are signing for the camera's condition as it arrives to you. Once signed, you affirm that it is in good working order (we check all of our cameras before they're shipped out). If the box looks unfairly treated, contact the shipping company and/or Film Objektiv and help us file a complaint if there is damage to the camera.
When Items Are Shipped
Items ship around the first rental day and are expected to be returned by the last. This is currently the only way we can do it for our system.
Return Shipping
Dropping off on time for return shipping is the renter's responsibility. To be guaranteed with us, you must drop your kit off for shipment three or more business days before the last day of your rental period. Later shipping may be possible if you live closer to a drop-off point, but will not be guaranteed (if it arrives late to us after being dropped off later, we reserve the right to charge late fees). In-person pickup and drop-off is possible on a case-by-case basis in Los Angeles and Chicago. Please reach out for more information on this.
In terms of shipping times cutting into your rental:
Prices have already factored in the fact that your rental time is cut in part due to shipping to you as well as back to us at the end of your rental. In the unfortunate case in which a camera you have rented is received by us from a previous renter late, we will prorate any lost time beyond the fourth day into the rental period. For rentals that will be later than and have not yet shipped by the sixth business day, we will give you the option to cancel the order or to wait and have the extra time missing prorated and refunded to you. We cannot promise the extension of rental terms due to late arrivals to you because someone else might have a reservation after you, and that would cause a terrible domino effect (ever seen what happens when one plane is late?). But in many cases, we will use the late fees from the previous rental to overnight to you for your rental, which might mitigate or eliminate any otherwise expected delays. This process will improve as we gain more inventory in the future.
International
Unfortunately, Film Objektiv cannot ship internationally at this time. If we get more help, interest, and gear, we will of course open the program to international applicants. It is our hope to eliminate all barriers of entry to shooting film (geography often being one of the greatest), and the possibility of inclusion of the international community will be an ongoing consideration.