Snapfish, you stink.
I tried to like you, really I did. You were the one who first introduced me to Photo Books. You showed me how I could put an entire year's worth of pics into one small, thin book-- no cropping, stickers, or glitter required. You convinced me that if I powered through one day in December, by the time Christmas rolled around, I'd have a nice album on the coffee table, look completely pulled together, and even gain points with the in-laws.
I wasn't wowed by your photo quality or your customer service and was eventually woo-ed away by Shutterfly and occasionally Kodak Gallery. But you were my first.
This year, when you sent me the 50% off "each album" coupon, I was back by your side like a lovesick teen. I wanted to wait until December, really I did, but your coupon expired in November. To heck with Thanksgiving. To heck with our Christmas card photos in matching plaid pj's. I wanted you and your savings, and I was willing to compromise to get it. If Nov and Dec had to go into NEXT YEAR'S BOOK, then so be it.
Imagine my dismay when, after 6 hours of selecting, editing, uploading, placing, and captioning 300 pictures, I discovered you weren't really who you said you were. That 50% off coupon, which should have been pretty significant on my ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DOLLAR ORDER (????) amounted to $19.99. And the free shipping I'd been promised? Not able to be combined with any other offer. Gotta love the fine print.
I had to make a choice. Throw away all the time I'd put in and go crawling back to Shutterfly, who was ready to embrace me with open arms and a REAL 40% off coupon. Or, suck it up and press "order." I was leaving the next morning for Thanksgiving and that car wouldn't pack itself.
So, when you received my order, you may have thought I was the same happy little Anna See of days gone by. As if all it takes to impress me is .11 prints or a snappy website. No sirreee. And those little coupons you've been putting in my inbox ever since you received my colossal order? Just like pouring lemon juice on a paper cut. I bet by Christmas Eve you'll be offering me 75% off plus a make-out session with tongue.
Well, forget it.
You Stink.
Poor thing! I'm a Shutterfly girl. I'll be sure to stick with that.
ReplyDeleteSix hours? My goodness! What a disappointment!
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious! Thanks for the tip! Six hours?! Wowowow.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I order from Walmart. I need to get with the program!
ReplyDeleteI bet by Christmas Eve you'll be offering me 75% off plus a make-out session with tongue.
ReplyDeleteStill laughing. That's great.
I am true to shutterfly - i converted over a long time ago!
I too am a shutterfly person. They have always done a great job for me. Sorry about your experience.
ReplyDeleteCarla
I ordered calendars and photo greeting cards from snapfish without any problems this year...but if and when I go to do a photobook, I'll certainly think twice. Boo hiss on them!
ReplyDeleteUm... maybe ask them to match shutterfly? And send this post if they don't. (You'd have had more leverage before you sent order, but still worth a try.) Shutterfly once sent me free photobooks because they accidentally printed my 2nd to last version of the book. They let us keep the slightly messed up ones and the free new ones were rushed. I don't mean to rub salt or lemon juice (ooh, margaritas?), but just write because maybe customer service folks wouldn't want to lose your business.
ReplyDeleteKodak Gallery coupons are also know as coupon code, discount or Kodak Gallery promo code.When you check out at Kodak Gallery,you can see how much money you have saved by this Kodak Gallery coupon code.
ReplyDeleteYea for you for putting them on a blog post. Now we all know better. Between Twitter and blogging, you'd think companies would give a little better service, cause you never know who might post about them.
ReplyDeleteso irritating, but so hilariously shared. oh, anna see. you rock!
ReplyDeleteOMG, TG I read this because I was considering starting an account with them! Now I will most definitely NOT. And I second the suggestion that you send them your "strongly worded letter." They need to know. Plus it's just too good to not pass on.
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up. Love it.
jbhat
Oh man that sucks big time! I am a shutterfly girl myself.
ReplyDeleteOH that sucks. I would have hit order. What was the deal with the shady coupon? How come it wasn't 50% off?
ReplyDeleteYou are a good writer, loved this post :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a bummer - but I am sure I would've given up and just ordered also. They had all of your time and pictures held prisoner! I love kodakgallery and the coupons but am slightly creeped out by a post above that looks curiously like a spammed coupon post. Is that possible? Forgive me, Steve, if you are a real person.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience with an Oprah coupon for ... um, one of the "S" companies ... last year. AFTER finishing the whole book, I discovered the coupon didn't work. And I did walk away, on principle -- I'm vindictive like that!
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, MyPublisher tends to be a bit more expensive, but their customer service is superb. I had a problem with some gift books that was realistically half their fault (their software) and half mine (for not catching it before submitting). Despite that, they replaced them all for free, and even printed them in 48 hours and shipped overnight so we'd have them in time for Christmas. I hear the book quality is noticeably better as well.
that's just depressing. six hours. blech. they owe you 100 percent off.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried snapfish and after reading your blog, I never will. In the meantime, I ordered a TON of stuff off Shutterfly a couple days ago using thier buy 1 and get 1 50% off along with free shipping. Love shutterfly!!!
ReplyDeleteI used snapfish last year and thought the quality was fine, but they were SO EXPENSIVE! This year I have my book all made up and saved, just waiting to add in December photos. But now I want to go to Shutterfly and check them out instead. Dang it.
ReplyDeleteShutterfly got my annual photo book business this year, free shipping and 50% off!
ReplyDeleteJust so you know, I always start my book with December from the previous year, end with early November. It's just how it is!
And if they ever send you a coupon for 50 free prints you have to use them all in the same order or you lose the balance, but they don't really tell you this. I hate Snapfish. But that's OK, my husband figured out how to download the grandkid pictures my daughter posts there and then I take my happy little disc to CVS which does the same thing almost as cheaply plus I can edit easily and they even provide a comfortable stool to sit on.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That sounds just like something that would happen to me. Second only to accidentally deleting everything and losing 6 hours of work.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm a Costco gal--they never let me down.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I got here but the story cracks me up. I've tried both Snapfish and Shutterfly, but the best I've used so far has been winkflash.com. Several times a year they offer $19.99 books, up to 100 pages. Their quality is great. I've never used customer service, so I can't answer to that, because I've never been disappointed! Their shipping rates are reasonable also.
ReplyDeleteAnna - check out www.mypublisher.com. Amaaaaazing... GORGEOUS... photobooking. They send emails with 40% off coupons and buy 1 get 1 free deals a couple times a year.
ReplyDelete