Ready to move to Collages.net

DTMPhotos

Well, I hate to say it, but as an event/wedding photog, I'm about ready to have to leave the Smugmug service and move on. The biggest issue I've had is the ability to track sales and more importantly, confirm gallery pricing.

On the sales reports, I ended up going to Star*Explorer and "donating" a few extra dollars to get what is now the "Professional Sales Report" capability developed and implemented. A great job and it does the trick, that's for sure.

I'm on my third profit loss due to incorrectly priced galleries. Now I know, I'm the one who sets up the gallery pricing, but there is no way to easily validate/verify pricing across all my galleries (At this point, I have at least 20 galleries generating sales and they're not all priced the same...). It is at least 4 steps for every gallery, just to see the current pricing.

I have asked the folks at Smugmug and they offer that they'd really like to do something but it's not high enough on the list. I've asked Star*Explorer and apparently there's a limitation as to what he can access so it's not something he can easily do.

I've only generated about $4k in profit this year so every $25 or $50 sale without the associated profit is a big kick (and customers love to hear your woes but aren't interested in ponying up the extra $$$'s since the cart let them check out)...

So Smugmug is willing to take the 15% of my sales (so they've made $600 or so on me this year) but the two issues I've had regarding sales have a) required a contribution of $100 or so to Star*Explorer, and b) resulted in no feature or fix to confirm pricing.

So I'm off to check out Collages.net...I know...It may be a bit more expensive, but if I can track my galleries, ensure accurate pricing, and collect ALL the profit I'm due, I should actually make out better...

Smugmug is a great site with great people running it...I'm just not sure anymore that it's the place for sales...

IMHO...
Derek

Mac Write

You can bulk assign the price for everything put in 0 to not show it. Then manually go in and set your prices.

Ben

I am curious as to why you wouldn't just set "safety net" pricing at the Portfolio level and then price the Galleries individually if you are having so many problems with it?

Bodley

DTMPhotos wrote:

I'm on my third profit loss due to incorrectly priced galleries. Now I know, I'm the one who sets up the gallery pricing, but there is no way to easily validate/verify pricing across all my galleries

I feel your pain - I set up my galleries with a blank instead of a zero in the items I didn't want to offer. Little did I know people were purchasing these items left blank at my SM cost. SM cost being well below my actual cost -

Gee I'm getting pissed :pissed again just typing this!!!

If I had the ability to get at cost reports this error would have been caught months ago - instead I find out while shooting an event Sat. and a customer ask about some posted photos he purchased. Tells me he is not sure what a 5xD print is but he went with them anyway. Ask if that is the digital file. In my mind I'm thinking "5xD what the H#$* is that. Maybe my pricing transfered". Got home and BANG anyone could purchase from my site at cost on the majority of items.

Same day had another person laughing about getting some photos - said he wasn't sure if he stole them or not - I knew it didn't show up on any of my sales reports - guess he beat me too.

Yes it was my fault - SM customer service was very prompt to respond as usual (still don't see how they do that) and pointed out my error. It's been corrected but I still want to know HOW MANY PEOPLE BEAT ME!! :cry

Bodley

Ben wrote:

I am curious as to why you wouldn't just set "safety net" pricing at the Portfolio level and then price the Galleries individually if you are having so many problems with it?

Does Gallery pricing default to the Portfolio pricing if items are left blank?

The "at cost reports" would have been a nice safety net as well.

Can you batch price like batch customize multiple galleries at the same time?

Ben

Bodley wrote:

Does Gallery pricing default to the Portfolio pricing if items are left blank?

The "at cost reports" would have been a nice safety net as well.

Can you batch price like batch customize multiple galleries at the same time?

A blank spot in your gallery pricing will default to Portfolio pricing when Portfolio pricing is present. If no portfolio pricing is present, then it will use default. If you have portfolio pricing set for all products, there is no way for someone to order anything from your site for default prices.

You cannot batch price multiple galleries at the same time, but the drop down in the pricing page has links to "previously priced galleries" that you can immediately select previous pricing templates. So it is really easy to price new galleries with previous prices.

Bodley

Ben wrote:

You cannot batch price multiple galleries at the same time, but the drop down in the pricing page has links to "previously priced galleries" that you can immediately select previous pricing templates. So it is really easy to price new galleries with previous prices.

With over 100 galleries - Its still a tedious process unless all are set up on portfolio pricing

onethumb

DTMPhotos wrote:

Well, I hate to say it, but as an event/wedding photog, I'm about ready to have to leave the Smugmug service and move on. The biggest issue I've had is the ability to track sales and more importantly, confirm gallery pricing.

On the sales reports, I ended up going to Star*Explorer and "donating" a few extra dollars to get what is now the "Professional Sales Report" capability developed and implemented. A great job and it does the trick, that's for sure.

I'm on my third profit loss due to incorrectly priced galleries. Now I know, I'm the one who sets up the gallery pricing, but there is no way to easily validate/verify pricing across all my galleries (At this point, I have at least 20 galleries generating sales and they're not all priced the same...). It is at least 4 steps for every gallery, just to see the current pricing.

I have asked the folks at Smugmug and they offer that they'd really like to do something but it's not high enough on the list. I've asked Star*Explorer and apparently there's a limitation as to what he can access so it's not something he can easily do.

I've only generated about $4k in profit this year so every $25 or $50 sale without the associated profit is a big kick (and customers love to hear your woes but aren't interested in ponying up the extra $$$'s since the cart let them check out)...

So Smugmug is willing to take the 15% of my sales (so they've made $600 or so on me this year) but the two issues I've had regarding sales have a) required a contribution of $100 or so to Star*Explorer, and b) resulted in no feature or fix to confirm pricing.

So I'm off to check out Collages.net...I know...It may be a bit more expensive, but if I can track my galleries, ensure accurate pricing, and collect ALL the profit I'm due, I should actually make out better...

Smugmug is a great site with great people running it...I'm just not sure anymore that it's the place for sales...

IMHO...
Derek

I'm sorry to see you go.

I'm even more sorry to hear that you're leaving without our having a chance to address your concerns. I think everyone here will agree that, while we can't deliver every wish, we do our best to solve pain points quickly.

I, for one, can't recall hearing anyone ask for a "validate/verify pricing" tool or interface... I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but with more information, I'm sure we'd take a good hard look. Since I didn't know you wanted it, I couldn't attempt to solve your problem.

It's probably our failing - try as we might with all the communications channels we've set up (email, dgrin, and our blogs), sometimes we just don't get the message.

I notice that some people have chimed in explaining the Portfolio pricing. That will permanently stop any and all sales for default pricing, and it's common practice among our Pros. If we didn't do a good enough job explaining that, I do apologize.

I hope Collages.net does the trick for you. Best of luck!

Don

DTMPhotos

Don - I'd be glad to forward the emails from Smugmug help (I can remember who it was that responded)...So I did give the "system" a chance (twice in fact)...

I understand portfolio pricing...But once set, does that continue for every gallery that you add?

BTW...One of my problems was apparently a "bug" that I noticed was fixed related to percentage increase not being applied correctly...That one cost me $75...

By the way...Since Smugmug doesn't track or report sales at default pricing you (the photog) have NO way to even tell if that's happening to you! These are not reported as "sales". My problem was galleries that (in one case) had the wrong prices applied (my fault but no way to confirm/track) and in another case where the percentage increase did not get applied correctly.

Smugmug is great for the post and cruise crowd. I think it's probably good for small galleries or even lots of galleries with common pricing. But note that none of my three problems involved sales at default pricing but rather at what was incorrect pricing. Portfolio pricing probably wouldn't have helped that...

Note that the ability to apply packages, bulk discounts, and other features are other enticements...All things that are talked about but don't seem to have a delivery date (but could appear tomorrow - there is no open strategic vision for where SM is headed so great features could show up tomorrow...I guess without commitments, there are no expectations, and no one ends up disappointed)...

D.

onethumb wrote:

I'm sorry to see you go.

I'm even more sorry to hear that you're leaving without our having a chance to address your concerns. I think everyone here will agree that, while we can't deliver every wish, we do our best to solve pain points quickly.

I, for one, can't recall hearing anyone ask for a "validate/verify pricing" tool or interface... I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but with more information, I'm sure we'd take a good hard look. Since I didn't know you wanted it, I couldn't attempt to solve your problem.

It's probably our failing - try as we might with all the communications channels we've set up (email, dgrin, and our blogs), sometimes we just don't get the message.

I notice that some people have chimed in explaining the Portfolio pricing. That will permanently stop any and all sales for default pricing, and it's common practice among our Pros. If we didn't do a good enough job explaining that, I do apologize.

I hope Collages.net does the trick for you. Best of luck!

Don

Baldy

DTMPhotos wrote:

I understand portfolio pricing...But once set, does that continue for every gallery that you add?

BTW...One of my problems was apparently a "bug" that I noticed was fixed related to percentage increase not being applied correctly...That one cost me $75...

Yes, when you set portfolio prices it covers your portolio as it expands.

Ouch, I'm sorry to hear you lost $75 to the % increase option. I think to be fair to everyone reading this, collages.net's pricing for the unlimited option which everyone gets at smugmug is $70/month +$.05/image for each image over 1,000/month.

All the best,
Baldy

Bodley

onethumb wrote:

I notice that some people have chimed in explaining the Portfolio pricing. That will permanently stop any and all sales for default pricing, and it's common practice among our Pros. If we didn't do a good enough job explaining that, I do apologize.

In my case it was MY error in reading not your error in explaining. Once I actually READ the page it was very clear.

Again, the personal attention at SM is phenomenal. Doubt any other site can offer this much customer attention.

Thanks Guys/Gals

DTMPhotos

Andto be doubly fair, it's $9 per event or *unlimited* events for $70 per month...It's a bit apples and oranges...You also have access to multiple labs (and the associated variety of print and gift options)...

Now...I'm not trying to blast SM...My issue is the ability to verify and validate my gallery pricing...Sure, I can use portfolio pricing to ensure a "minimum" charge but now that I'm so far along, I'd have to go back through and reset individual gallery prices that would be different from the "norm" (and there really isn't a norm for me)...

I did try to work this through the Smugmug help process and either I received limited "we're thinking about that" or worse, no response. I figured that it wasn't a big problem and that the 15% on my $4k this year was only pocket change so I was faced with "live with it" or find something that will work for me...I don't deal with the "live with it" option well so.....

D.

Baldy wrote:

Yes, when you set portfolio prices it covers your portolio as it expands.

Ouch, I'm sorry to hear you lost $75 to the % increase option. I think to be fair to everyone reading this, collages.net's pricing for the unlimited option which everyone gets at smugmug is $70/month +$.05/image for each image over 1,000/month.

All the best,
Baldy

jchin

I am new to SmugMug Pro and I am so glad I came across this thread. I just went in and set my Portfolio prices before I even start; so that I eliminate the possibility of selling stuff at cost and not knowing it.

pat.kane

I'm in the one week trial period as a pro customer and had already banged my head against the wall trying to sort out the pricing options. Fortunately, I did find my way to portfolio pricing pretty quickly; however, in getting there the following became obvious to me:

1. The need to set variable pricing and to save them as models, e.g., sports, wedding, corporate event, family, etc. Yes, I know you can apply one gallery's pricing to another, but it is possible to have price models for galleries that no longer exist but that could again in the future.

2. The need to have a page that shows all current galleries and the price model that has been applied to each. You should also be able to change the price model for each gallery on this given page. This pages provides one-click access to all currently applied pricing schemes and would quickly point out any errors in how/if pro prices have been applied.

Just my thoughts based on the limited review to date (and I'm not even a pro photographer ;-)

jfriend

You can have multiple, permanent, saved pricing templates

pat.kane wrote:

I'm in the one week trial period as a pro customer and had already banged my head against the wall trying to sort out the pricing options. Fortunately, I did find my way to portfolio pricing pretty quickly; however, in getting there the following became obvious to me:

1. The need to set variable pricing and to save them as models, e.g., sports, wedding, corporate event, family, etc. Yes, I know you can apply one gallery's pricing to another, but it is possible to have price models for galleries that no longer exist but that could again in the future.

Your first issues can be solved by just keeping a private gallery for each pricing model you want (think of it as nothing more than a pricing template). You can mark it private so nobody but you ever sees it and you can give it a descriptive name like "Sports Pricing Model". Anytime you create a new gallery, you can just apply the pricing model from one of your private galleries. I think this works for giving you multiple, permanentely-saved pricing templates that aren't viewable by the public.

--John

pat.kane

Thanks John. Your suggestion makes sense and should be easy to do. I'd recommend smugmug capturing the idea on their help page. If only you could solve the 2nd one as easily

jchin

Thanks for the suggestion John. I will do that.