Thanks for all the support. 
-Scott and Annette

PS. I'm posting these in little spare seconds of time that I find. sorry if the format is difficult to read. Most recent messages are at the top.

Hi,
  As a customer, I've been following your saga out here in Massachusetts.  Just some FYI on my order.  It had just been received a day or 2 before the fire.  Your tracking system said that there were either 12 or 20 orders ahead of mine at the time. (can't remember the exact number)  The order 229717 consisted of about 30 slides from the early 1960's. Unfortunately, they would be rather non-descript, typical children's birthday parties, Christenings, holidays and the like.  You should find a photo of SOME of the people attached.
    To be honest, I don't expect much to come from rubble for me, but I DO APPRECIATE the sincere effort everyone has put forth.  It renews my faith in humanity- people do care!
                                                                                   My best wishes for luck,
                                                                                    Stephen Fxxxxx
                                                                                     Beverly, MA


Dear Folks at Digmypics,

I want first to offer my deepest wishes to all of you - what a shock you have been through.
Second, I'm attaching pictures of my family through the years, and give you a few clues just in case any of our slides were found.
My parents were missionaries overseas from 1963 to the late 90's.  We lost all of our family photographs (including my parent's wedding pictures and all the baby books) when we had to leave Tehran, Iran in 1979 when the Shah fell, so we're really hoping something can be salvaged, since the slides were all we had left.  The slides we sent would have includes scenes from Lebanon, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, India, Bangladesh.  Newer slides would have included Belgium/Germany/Holland, and then Morocco.
I've attached five family photos through the years.  If there's any further information I can provide, I'm happy to do so.
Thank you, 
Jonathan Kxxxxxxx



Good Morning, We saw the news and started praying for you and all the customers. We also are customers and have a good idea of the hurt everyone is feeling. I have lost valuable items before and pray that people would understand. Most times we have no control over events, JUST THE OUTCOME. I stopped by your office on the 8th, seeing the destruction and still carrying a seed of hope. I talked to some wonderful folks working recovery.. I thanked them and you for your dedicated passion to recover as much as possible. May God continue to give you the guidance, wisdom and skills needed. We do hope this is not the end but just a set back. DigMyPics has been there when others source were difficult to work with. You have been flexible and gracious. We pray that others beside us will continue to support you now and in the years to come. With Prayers and Hope

Ken & Becky Rxxx



Thanks so much for the updates.  I had sent in over a thousand 35mm slides for a mothers day project for my mom. My parents have no idea I sent the slides in. I was originally going to scan them myself but I found the job overwhelming so I sent them to you... It's my luck for my order to be finished on Friday and a awaiting pick-up on Monday morning....I know my slides are lost forever.... I can only hope and pray they can be retrieved off your server..
I'm just not sure how I'll explain this to my family. A feeling I'm sure your overwhelmed with.... My heart goes out to you.... Keep us all posted

Many thanks
Cathy L


Hello, I am so shocked of what has happened to you both, and your staff. I have only just started with you and in that short time you have been so helpful. I have been so impressed with the way you have treated a new client. You don't deserve this to happen. I wish you all the best, and hope you will start up again, as yours is a unique service.
God bless you both.

Ray Cxxxxxxx, Canada


Hi Scott and Annette,
I wanted to do this earlier, but I just really don't know what to say. I am so devastated, I really loved my job, it was like a dream come true, and I am sure that it is even harder on you both. I thank you for all you are doing and I want you to know that if you need anything, seriously anything please let me know.
I am praying for you both and our team. Again Please anything you need let me know.

God Bless
Candace Irvine (A DigMyPics employee)


Dear Annette,

I was so sorry to learn about the fire.  You and your team were so helpful with my large project and I recommended your company to everyone I know!  If you are able to start up again, please let me know and I will continue to recommend you.  I wish you and your team all the best, thank God no one was hurt in this disaster.

You are in my thoughts.

Warm Regards,

Deanna

 



 In my complete and utter shock over the potential loss of my families 3500 photos I failed to recognize the devastating feeling you and your wife were experiencing.  I had a similar circumstance happen a number of years ago when I was in business.  A blessing is that no one was injured or died. 
As my photos were all finished scanned per Liz I may have been one of the lucky ones.  My heart and prayers go out to you and your wife in these most difficult of times.  If you should decide to rebuild and need a silent partner please contact me.  Your reputation was tops.  I tried 3 other domestic sources before choosing you. 
I would make the same decision today.
 
Best wishes 
 
Dennis Fxxx


I was told of the fire from my folks. They were trying to contact your company on Monday regarding additional work. They heard the news and couldn't believe it.

They have ranted and raved about your service for a few months now. We want to express our condolences on your loss. I am a small business owner myself and couldn't' imagine the devastation you are going through.

My mum was very fortunate to have received her order back from you on Tuesday. Your work is great and your customer service is phenomenal. I do hope with all of the encouraging emails, you decide to reopen. There are not many companies out there with the customer service that your company offered. Keep your heads up and I we will keep you in our prayers.

The Jackson Family
Purcellville, Va.



Hi—I am very sorry to hear about the devastating fire. I had been looking
at the slides online that I had sent and had been scanned and was so excited
about this project for my father for Father’s Day. I had sent 140 slides of
all of the kids when we were younger. I know you must be feeling the same
sense of loss as all those who had pictures, videos, slides, etc.. in the
building. The chances of this happening to anyone of us is probably similar
to winning the lottery. I hope you are able to find and salvage as many
memories as you can. As far as the money—I wish people would wait a little
while before they throw that in your face, I am sure you are doing all you
can. I don’t know if giving you order numbers help when trying to sort out
anything you may find but if it does my number was 229297. Please email
with any information –TJFLETCH94@msn.com

Sincerely—Tracey Fletcher

I am so very sorry for your loss!! I have been very happy with your work and was looking forward to sending you many, many more old slides.

 Just wanted to give you information on my order. I am sure the 1100 irreplaceable 35mm  slides of my children’s growing up years are lost forever, but in case of a miracle……… 

Kenneth Chxxx

Thanks and may God Bless.


Dear Ms. Crossen: 

Firstly, I want to express my condolences for losing your business in this tragedy. You and your loved ones must be devastated. Although my sadness pales in comparison we are also upset at the loss of almost 60 years of slides and our visual heritage. I’m sure you may have heard similar stories from other customers. You must have a lot of work ahead, but as you recover, restore, and rebuild, things will become better.

In your email that you sent below, you said that you had reviewed my “scanned/slide show.” I am hoping that means that my slides were scanned prior to the horrific tragedy and by some chance they can be recovered from your server. Although the recovery of the original 35mm slides is too much to hope for, the loss of the digital images would be too painful to think about. Maybe you can answer these questions and give me an update. 

As I said previously, my loss pales in comparison. Good luck with the work you have ahead. 

Best regards, 

Francis J. Rxxx, 1stLt USAF, NC






Good afternoon.

Really sorry to hear of the terrible fire.  It has to be a very difficult time.

I noted on your website that you were going to try and scan those photos you were able to rescue. If it would be of help, I may be able to send, on a temporary loan basis, an s1220 photo scanner to help you scan them.

You would need a Windows based pc (with a CD/DVD drive) to run the unit.  It would take a few days to get it from of our Rochester office.

 A small offer, I know, with all you've got going on but if we can help, just let me know.

Regards,

Dennis

Dennis Hutson | Business Development Manager, Document Imaging | Graphic Communications Group |
Eastman Kodak Company | PO Box 930 | Wake Forest, NC 27588-0930 | US |
dennis.hutson@kodak.com | +1 (919) 453-1602 t | +1 (443) 223-8141 m |
 graphics.kodak.com

Annette and Scott,
     Words cannot describe what I am feeling for you and your staff today.  After almost a year of contact with Annette regarding all of your different services I finally decided 3 weeks ago to start by doing a mother's day video for my wife and then I would send all of my slides this summer to be digitized.  After all of the amazing attention to detail by your staff (phone calls and emails making sure I was satisfied) I received my package Tuesday morning.  I tried calling to thank you and tell you I have never received the kind of personal service and attention from anyone in any business, and of course couldn't get through so I went online to email, only to read your story.  I suspect I was the last person to get a delivery from you. 
     I read in your letter that you weren't sure if and when you would open.  Please, I know we've never met personally so my advice is unwarranted, but it is clear you love what you do, and you have people with you who do as well.  It may take a long time, and probably alot of money, but as a businessperson who does he loves as welll, don't discount a comeback.  WHEN you do, you have a customer in me.
   Best of luck to you and the entire digmypics family.  I don't know what a guy in Philadelphia can do for you, but if there is anything, please let me know.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jeff Bxxxx-  Thanks for making my memories...again

DigMyPics.com

 I just want to say that I am very saddened to hear of your loss. It may help you to know that I did receive my order (#226567) completely intact just days before the fire. I had a chance to look at your work (and learned of the fire) today. You folks did great work. I would like to specifically thank Richard, Lucy, and Julie for their fine efforts.

For what it’s worth, I hope you rebuild and continue.

 With sincere sympathy,

David A. Wxxxx, CAC, REA

I was very sorry to hear about the fire (but glad that no one was injured).  As a customer, I wanted to extend my support – this must be a very difficult time for you and your employees.

I’m know that you are trying to assess the situation and get information out to your customers.  My order number is 228009.  When I checked online (during the week of April 21?) it appeared that all 3,200+/- of my slides had been digitized and were awaiting editing/touch-up.  These slides depicted 60 years of my parents’ and my family’s lives – invaluable.  Any information you can provide about the status of my order will be most appreciated. 

Thank you, and good luck with the recovery efforts.  I hope you can overcome this tremendous challenge and return to normal. 

David Wxxxx

FIRST OF ALL MAY I CONFER MY SORROW AT YOUR LOSS, AS A RETIRED FIRE FIGHTER I KNOW WHAT THE DEVISTATION IS. I BELIEVE THAT VERY FEW LOSSES IN LIFE EXCEED THAT OF A TOTAL BUISNESS LOSS.
 
FURTHER I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WHEN I COULD NOT REACH YOUR COMPANY EITHER BY WEB-SITE NOR TELEPHONE I WAS DISTROUGHT AND FELT I WAS THE VICTOM OF A FRAUD & SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED MY APPARENT LOSS TO YOUR ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE...KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW IS ENOUGH TO RECIND THAT COMPLAINT TO THE AG & PRAY FOR YOU & YOUR LOSS.
 
THE PRODUCT I SENT TO YOU WAS A BOX OF SUPER 8 MM FILM TO BE TRANSFERED TO DVD...APPROX 3800'
 
NATURALLY I HOPE LIKE OTHERS THAT OUR HISTORICAL FILMS WILL BE FOUND IN TACT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE TAKING THE POSITION OF NOTIFYING YOUR CUSTOMERS OF YOUR PROGRESS.
 
AGAIN MY CONDOLENSES & TO YOU & YOUR ENTIRE STAFF.
 
HAROLD Rxxxxx.

 

Hi Scott and Annette,

My name is Jennie Nxxxxx, and I live in Northern CA.  Over the past several weeks, I've been preparing dozens of family photos to send to you for a DVD slideshow. I used your site regularly to get everything organized, and I was (and am) happy that I found DigMyPics.  Long story short, I was getting ready to send everything on Monday and couldn't access your website...and your phone was busy. So after a couple of days, I decided I'd better find someone locally.  The guy that I found is aware of DigMyPics and said great things about you. While I was at his studio, we decided to go to your website to see if it was up yet; that's when we found your devastating news.

Please know that I've thought about you many times since I read your news yesterday. While I could never completely comprehend what you're going through, I'm quite sure that it's nothing short of a horrible nightmare. So, even though I don't know you and didn't have the chance to work with you, I do want you to know that I'm sending good wishes your way.  I read that you're not even sure you'll go back into business with DigMyPics. I sincerely hope that once you get more answers and some time has passed, you'll reconsider. From everything I can tell, you had a great, entreprenuerial operation going, and I'm sure you have a raving customber base.

All the best to you and your employees as you get through the next several days and weeks.
Regards,
Jennie N

 

Dear Scott and Annette:

This is the second e-mail I've attempted to send since I found out about the devestating fire. The first e-mail disappeared as I was getting ready to hit the send button. It was much more eloquent than this one is going to be, but I will try to reconstruct most of it here. I guess that reconstruction will be a major part of our lives for much of the foreseeable future.

Words can not describe the utter and profound sorrow I feel for both your loss and mine. Fortunately, no one was injured, at least physically. The mental wounds, both yours and mine however, will take quite a bit of time to heal.

I can't tell you how much I researched your company when I decided to tackle this project. I wanted to get everything just right. I even sent you a few e-mails, and you quickly responded. I worked so very hard to cull the very best pictures that represented my life from the more than 8,000 I had accumulated over the years. Finally, I got the best of the best 1,500 photos together, all categorized, cataloged and tucked into plastic bags, boxed and packed up. On April 28, 2008, I sent my prints to your company, and they were received on 4/30. Your company acknowledged the receipt of my pictures, even noting they were nicely organized, charged my credit card $299 and put my pictures in the queue. As of Sunday, May 4th, there were 8 print scanning jobs ahead of mine. So, obviously none of my pictures had been processed and there will be nothing of mine that can be recovered from any computer hard drive you may find. How ironic and devastatingly sad that I wanted to preserve my pictures in case of a fire, flood or tornado destroying my house.

While I have negatives and may be able to reconstruct a large portion of my pictures -- at least the ones I actually took, the negatives are not in any semblance of order and going through them to find the pictures I really want is going to be even more grueling that going through the prints. Unfortunately, there will be about 400 pictures that I can not replace -- pictures from my wedding, pictures of my deceased father and other relatives, my son's formal pictures from birth to 15 years of age, baby pictures of my husband and myself. It's when I think of these pictures that I breakdown. The only other time I've felt this type of raw emotion was when my father unexpectedly died at 48.

I am hoping and praying that you are able to salvage even part of my order, but realize that I probably have a better chance of winning Power Ball. However, please keep in touch -- even if it's just for a shoulder to cry on. I have found that hugs help -- and also that writing has been cathartic -- especially since I had to write this twice!

I will be interested in knowing if you plan to rebuild your company -- it would be ashame to let all your hard work and expertise (and stellar customer service) go by the wayside. I truly appreciate your efforts.

Bless you and the Gilbert Fire Department.


Donna A. Sxxxx

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss, but thankful that apparently no one was hurt in this devastating fire. 

I am hopeful that you may have been able to at least scan the 8mm home movies that I sent in March.  You had received the first order of 19 7" reels  March 25, and then I sent in 9 additional 4 " reels shortly thereafter.  When I checked about 3 weeks ago, my order was #13 in the queue.  I can't tell you how sickened I am at this loss, not just for me, but for all of your customers.  The movies I sent in were over 50 years old and were of my parents and me and my brother as kids.  My mom passed away three years ago, and my father died in early March.  We found these movies in his house after he died, and were all so excited to have them digitized for all of the kids and grandkids to see.  I'm sure that all of your customers have this heartache feeling in them as we wait for more word on your progress.

I do thank you for posting info to your website.  I had been wondering what to do about the money I had already paid, wondering if I should contact my credit card company.  But after reading your Thursday post, I will hold off for a while so that you can figure out how to refund money.  If by some miracle my movies were digitized and you find them, I will be happy to pay the remaining balance and anything else I can pay to help with the recovery.  If the movies had been digitized (or at least partially digitized) but the film is gone, that would be wonderful for me!  I wasn't sure what I would do with the film when it got sent back, anyway!
 
Kathy Dxxx

Hello,
 
My name is Carol Hxxx  from  MD.  I believe your company was in the process of scanning my 8mm tapes when your building was destroyed.  My scan number was:  224971.   Even though these films were priceless to my family, we are just very happy no one was hurt or killed in this fire.  I pray that my pictures can be salvaged but understand that we have no control over fire.  I'm sure your company will do the best they can to restore my pictures, if possible, and I sincerely appreciate it. 
 
Please keep me posted.
 
Thank you,
Carol Hxxx

was so sorry to hear about the fire that destroyed your whole building.   Just last week I had received the DVD and thumbnail album for the 400 pictures I had taken there a couple of weeks ago.  You had done a wonderful job with those pictures as we are using them for our 50th anniverary in August.  I had taken another 64 pictures down last Thursday as I felt I needed a few more pictures of our family.  I know what a lost it is for the owners and all the employees.  Please know that my thoughts are with all of you and know that you WILL begin again. You have a wonderful company that helps preserve memories for many many people.
 
If you happen to come across our file in the fire mess my order number was 230494.
 
Again, thank you for the past  great service.
 
Jeanne Fxxx


   Annette--We're so sorry about the fire. Until we read the story this a.m., we didn't realize it was your family business.  This is heartbreaking.
    When this gets sorted out, we realize you will let us know about our master copy.
    Until then, we hope the damage to your equipment and files is far less than feared.
    Thankfully, no one was hurt (we trust).
    Sincerely, Dick & Marilyn Kxxx, Phoenix


Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 

Peg Rxxxx

Attn: Scott Crossen,  

          I just went on the website to check on my order and was devastated to read about the fire on Monday, and look at the video on the news.  I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure you are feeling overwhelmed.

          Unfortunately, so am I. I sent you 110 negatives of photos I have not seen in years. Some of them are over 50 years old, and they are from the school I went to in the 1950’s. They are priceless, and we are having our 50th  reunion on May 16th  and I wanted to arrange to put them on a DVD the whole class is creating.  Most of the originals are lost, and I was overcome with joy when I just recently discovered all the negatives. I was extremely happy when I found you could scan medium format negatives. Now I am heartbroken. 

            I am enclosing copies of the paperwork for my order #230403, which, unfortunately, arrived at your place on Friday, May 2nd by FedEx,  the last business day before the fire. Talk about terribly bad luck !!

             Hopefully, the paperwork will help you complete the order somehow, if that’s ever even possible, or give you the information to aid in refunding the $316.00 you were paid by my credit card company.

              I know I am not alone among all the customers who gave you their photos to process, and who are also heartbroken; and I know you and your employees are feeling just as much pain.  Please respond as soon as possible and let me know where we stand.

In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

                                                                 Take Care.                  Jim Bxxxx

 

To all employees and company owners at Digmypics:


So terribly sorry for your loss of your building....It must be a very devastating time for all of you and to deal with its aftermath. I hope you are able to retrieve any data and important files of your customers, maybe some.  Thankfully all of you were not physically there during the actual fire, so thankgoodness you are all okay.

I also want to thank you for your prompt service with transferring my vhs to dvd, a week ago. You have an excellent company, and hope you can all work again together in the near future.

Take good care and best wishes,


Sincerely,

Patricia Axxx
www.AbstractMetropolis.com