So my 2nd year is about up..SM pricing ?'s

j-bo

I've been looking at other sites and comparing notes.

A few things pop out..

1. Shipping charges. Why is SM charging customers more than other sites using EZ prints? SM $2.95, other site, $1.75. Add in a few more prints and the gap widens even more. Granted, the customer pays this and not me, but I wouldn't mind my customer paying 60% less on shipping.

2. Yearly fee. $150, others $100 or less for basically the same type of service. Albeit, SM customer service is outstanding and goes the extra mile for anyone. So, this isn't really a complaint, but an observation and doesn't sway me either way.

3. Print prices from EZ Prints. Why is SM's pricing not the same as EZ Prints or LESS? SM is already getting 15%, why mark up the print prices, some as much as 55%? This either makes us charge less to be inline with others offering the same size print and diminishing our profit, or we charge more to keep our profit and price over our competition. IF EZ Prints is charging SM this much, a renegotiation is needed eh?

ziggy53

The yearly fee for SmugMug is not bad considering what you actually get in return. Take another look at all the features of a SmugMug account compared to anybody and then factor in the amount of security that SmugMug has to offer. The security of redundant storage alone is probably worth most of what you pay.

The SmugMug prices reflect the extra service that SmugMug provides for you and for your customers. The SmugMug interface is sooo much easier to use than the EZPrints interface, and SmugMug will work directly with "your" customers to insure satisfaction. In effect SmugMug is an agency that you cannot get anywhere else at these prices.

You are perfectly free to use EZPrints alone if you wish but you lose the level of service and customer satisfaction that SmugMug provides. If you think that service should be offered for free, maybe you could start something up yourself and see how it goes.

j-bo

I think my specific point is why does SM add onto print prices? Did they do a bad negotiating deal with EZ Prints? Other services that use EZ Prints has a lower ship rate and a lower print rate, some even lower than what EZ Prints lists.

If this is SM way to make more profit, at least I understand it better.

Heck, I'm a purchasing/contract guy for a living, it's in my blood to see the "why" in it.

The SmugMug prices reflect the extra service that SmugMug provides for you and for your customers.

Are you talking about the print/ship prices or the annual fee plus 15% fee? I have really no problem in the annual and 15% fee. I have had great service here.

ziggy53

j-bo wrote:

I think my specific point is why does SM add onto print prices? Did they do a bad negotiating deal with EZ Prints? Other services that use EZ Prints has a lower ship rate and a lower print rate, some even lower than what EZ Prints lists.

...

I suspect that perhaps the opposite is true, that EZ Prints made some deals that they have had to since rescind.

If one of the hosting services you mention could have the initials "ZF", they are discontinuing their alliance with EZ Prints as of May 16, 2008. Their sole supplier for print services will be MPix.

While I used to hold Miller's Professional Printing (now known as Miller's Professional Imaging) in high esteem at one point, when they started MPix it seems like their quality control and customer service went considerably down. One suggestion is that when they exceed the capacity of their primary print facility, they farm out printing somewhere else. Who knows?

I was an EZ Prints customer before I was a SmugMug customer and I have been consistantly pleased with their printing service. SmugMug simply provides a much more pleasing interface and customer service.

bkatz

Don't forget that for non-pros - smugmug gets a few pennies for each photo printed - they do not see the 15% markup that they see when pros use them. I think that is why the print prices are a little more.

Now - being a pro - I could see them discounting a little when a pro charges and just taking the 15%.....but that is an idea not a complaint.