More Print Vendors

3rdPlanetPhotography

I'm not "unhappy" with EZPrints per say... however, I'd LOVE to see SmugMug offer different print houses. Same interface, same features just have the ability to select a print house closer or one that may be more preferred. Come on SmugMug whaddaya say?:ivar

Andy

kc7dji wrote:

Come on SmugMug whaddaya say?:ivar

Thanks for the request!

Matthew Saville

kc7dji wrote:

I'm not "unhappy" with EZPrints per say... however, I'd LOVE to see SmugMug offer different print houses. Same interface, same features just have the ability to select a print house closer or one that may be more preferred. Come on SmugMug whaddaya say?:ivar

I second this motion! I'm not "unhappy" with EZPrints either, I'm just not satisfied with what they offer. I'd like to see the option to make mounted prints available, as well as panoramic (mounted) prints...

The bottom line is, I really doubt anyone buying my prints knows how to properly handle a tubed print and have it mounted and framed correctly, let alone mount and frame it themselves.

I'm thinking of disabling all prints larger than 10x15" / 11x14", but it would be a shame to have my website with all this awesome pro account and not use a large part of it. The only consolation is that with referrals I usually get my annual bill down around the price of a power account... But that's beside the point.

I think I've already made it clear which labs I'd like to see in the SmugMug family- WHCC in particular. Call 'em up and work it out, Smugmug!

Take care,
-Matt-

Art Scott

too many printing options can = GREAT CONFUSION for clients
too many options for a customer / client and equal a great amount of confusion IMHO....personally I give my clients more credit for their intellence towards waht ot do with a large print....but also will state in all my conmunicaes that if they need suggestions all they need to do is ask and I will guide them in the proper directions....

I have even had prosective clients tell me to offer only 1 or 2 print sizes (16 x 20 and 30 by 40 Or 40 x 60) but not a whole array of sizes as this makes them have to think about what size vs prices....and so far all of them are purchasing nothing smaller than 20 x 30 and most are in the 30 x 40 range (due to cropping being almost non existent).

Unfortunately they all want the pics signed and numbered, so I get my local PRO lab to print them and get my mailing tubes from them also (they are the tubes that long roll paper comes on with end caps....)

3rdPlanetPhotography

Art,

I agree that adding more vendors can add a layer of difficutly to the process but many other competitor sites do it so we know it can be done. You must do some specialty work if your orders are mainly very large prints. That hasn't been the case for me (yet). Most of my order are small prints. There seems to be a gathering of cheap asses in the Midwest

Thanks for the input,
Scott

Art Scott wrote:

too many options for a customer / client and equal a great amount of confusion IMHO....personally I give my clients more credit for their intellence towards waht ot do with a large print....but also will state in all my conmunicaes that if they need suggestions all they need to do is ask and I will guide them in the proper directions....

I have even had prosective clients tell me to offer only 1 or 2 print sizes (16 x 20 and 30 by 40 Or 40 x 60) but not a whole array of sizes as this makes them have to think about what size vs prices....and so far all of them are purchasing nothing smaller than 20 x 30 and most are in the 30 x 40 range (due to cropping being almost non existent).

Unfortunately they all want the pics signed and numbered, so I get my local PRO lab to print them and get my mailing tubes from them also (they are the tubes that long roll paper comes on with end caps....)

SteveM

kc7dji wrote:

Art,

I agree that adding more vendors can add a layer of difficutly to the process but many other competitor sites do it so we know it can be done. You must do some specialty work if your orders are mainly very large prints. That hasn't been the case for me (yet). Most of my order are small prints. There seems to be a gathering of cheap asses in the Midwest

Thanks for the input,
Scott

I think giving that option to the customers would be a mistake. Heck, many of the people visiting my site email me or speak to me in person saying, "Is there a way to buy those photos?", so no. And, we know about quality, sizes, products, shipping and have the experience of dealing with these printhouses where the customers usually don't. It'd definitely be nice to have a pulldown that reads "Process my orders through:". That's going to add a new layer of pricing/product selection, but...

Matthew Saville

SteveM wrote:

I think giving that option to the customers would be a mistake. Heck, many of the people visiting my site email me or speak to me in person saying, "Is there a way to buy those photos?", so no. And, we know about quality, sizes, products, shipping and have the experience of dealing with these printhouses where the customers usually don't. It'd definitely be nice to have a pulldown that reads "Process my orders through:". That's going to add a new layer of pricing/product selection, but...

Jeez, okay so I'm almost alone on this one.

Sooooo, Andy, where was that HTML script to set up Paypal ordering, eh? Do I need a paypal business account? Or just a free seller's account?

It's time to dive in and do things MY way... I'll let you all know if print sales drop off to zero, ROFL...

Take care,
-Matt-

perrotta

mpix.com
I would love to see smugmug printing at http://www.mpix.com/. They are head and shoulders better than EZprins, IMHO.