FedEx Office/ Kinko's: The Self-Service Copy Place in Downtown San Diego

Apparently Kinko's, the self-serve copying and other paperwork franchise had been swallowed up by FedEx Shipping Company. The transition at this 'FedEx Office - Kinko's' store at the northwest corner of C Street at 6th Avenue went so smoothly that I didn't even notice when the change happened even though I have been dropping in to use their various machines from time to time since 2003.

The clientele here get here either on foot or via the trolley (it is on the C Street & 5th Avenue Station). The building it occupies has underground parking, but finding a spot there after 9AM would require a minor miracle regardless of how good a prayer you are.

This is a well compartmentalized place with the self-serve copying machines (2 colors and a few black & white ones) in the front corner. These run on either credit card or a store prepaid card you can get from an automated vending machine in the middle of the store. There is a small counter there that is usually manned by a staff who helps show you how stuff like the lamination machine or the printers work.

Behind the small counter is a see-through partition that houses computer stations along the east wall. There are 4 standard PC's along with one that's attached to a scanner. The price is rather obscenely high, especially with the scanning one, which, aside from being quite un-user-friendly when it comes to the scanning process, seems to act up a lot (though it usually has to do with some careless previous user not logging off correctly - the computer would then refuses to do anything until that user's time has ran out even though the culprit is now many miles away on the bus to LA or Tijuana or some other place). If you have to use their computer, you have better rent it using a prepaid card or you can end up really running up an awful bill on your credit card. Also... all the PC internet stations (except for the scanner-equipped one) are against the inner partition, so that people walking by on 6th Avenue can look into the store (no walls, just glass windows) right at what is on your computer screen. Eeeek!

There are also wireless docks for people who want to work on their own laptop (this place is a T-Mobile HotSpot). The computers can read and burn CDs and video CDs (but are quite slow... if that is what you need done, you're better off going to The Internet Place at Horton Plaza or on G Street at 3rd Avenue. About the same sort of software but costs a lot less). There are a few small video-conference rooms to the back.

To the left side of the store is the 'packaging center' where you'll find stationery and shipping related merchandise. Not a lot of packing boxes except for the FedEx ones, and the price isn't all that good either. If you are looking for packaging tape or basic printing paper, you're better off at the CVS Pharmacy nearby or at the Office Depot off from Pacific Hwy south of Broadway.

The back of the store is where the store staff are busy working on printing orders and FedEx stuff. They don't really look into the store proper much, though, so if you are in early in the morning and need help with anything, you'll usually have to do some serious waving to attract attention. They folks here are friendly enough once they've decided to see what you're up to, but getting them to notice you in the first place can be quite a chore.

FedEx Kinko's Office & Pr: 532 C St (at 6th Avenue), San Diego, CA 92101, Tel: (619) 645-3300, Fax: (619) 232-5410, E-mail: usa2696@fedex.com
Opens: Mon-Fri: 6:00 AM-11:00 PM, Sat-Sun: 9:00 AM-9:00 PM.