Photographer Albums Poor - Advice Please!

I think you should just tell them about the problems you've had with the prouct, I'm sure they'd appreciate your advice as you are the professional after all. Offer for them to choose what they'd like to do as an alternative.

I think a bit of 1 and 2 really.
3rd choice I dont actually understand
If you explain that the new one is a better product at no extra cost, and tell them about the delivery delays on the old style it is up to them then.
I think most people would prefer to *upgrade* for the same cost

Bernie?

Mr Photographer - I think your suggestion is very sound: offer them the three options and let the customer decide. This proves that you are honest, demand a quality product and want the best for your customers.

When you contact your customers - they will (no doubt) initially be worried. To offer further comfort, getting the sample album to show them would be a very good idea.

The album is important - but ultimatly it is the quality of your images that really matters!
I'm sure you will be fine - good luck!

Out of inteerst Brian, can you message me the name of the poor quality album company....(no, I don't want to sign up to them)?

Hi Brian

We have actually been through this this year. We have moved from one album company to another. The products are very similar (both are print to page companies) but longer term we want to use the new company because they offer us more options (i.e. covers, mini albums, etc).

When we have been out the pre-wedding meeting with the customers that booked the old album we have taken an old and a new album with us and let the couple see both and compare. We have then explained the benefits of the new album and the reason we have chosen to move but indicate that we still wanted to offer the couple the option of using the old company.

In this situation there were no real bad points about the old album (unlike your case where there are clear qualit control issues) but so far in 100% of cases the couple have gone with the new album.

Hope this helps.

Very honest of you Brian - I wouldn't know the difference between the two you just described and I'm sure most of your customers wouldn't have a clue either!!

I think option 3 is too complicated for non-photography types. I'd stick with options 1 and 2.

If the quality is similar i dont think there a need to say.

several album manufs are now having things done in india, and the quality is crap. jorgensen for one, and graphi for another, so i m assuming its one of those.

quote:several album manufs are now having things done in india, and the quality is crap. jorgensen for one, and graphi for another, so i m assuming its one of those.

id="quote">

We use Jorgensen and so I have just contacted them to find out if this is true. I will not be happy if it is! We've not had a problem yet to be fair.

quote:Originally posted by NickJ
if the quality is similar i dont think there a need to say.

several album manufs are now having things done in india, and the quality is crap. jorgensen for one, and graphi for another, so i m assuming its one of those.

id="quote">

One of my clients contacted me about your post. I vehemently deny importing anything from India. All our quality products are produced in our own factory in Australia. Yes, we do purchase some components such as paper, leather and fabrics from oversea, such as UK, Europe and China and have never made any secret of this. However, our quality has never suffered because of where we source our materials.

I think you should check your facts before posting what is plainly false.

Sincerely

Gary Jorgensen
Jorgensen Albums of Australia

No, it wasn't Jorgenson or Graphi. Jorgie's are gorgeous, but this is for my budget album option, which Jorgies do not fall into which are very much a very high quality, very high price product.

The company I was using source from Italy, were the graphistudio are made. I don't think it's a countrywide problem!

I think that you need to be honest with the client and let them know about the problems that you have. You should also contact your supplier and explain that you are not happy and are considering moving, give them the chance to make things better.

Everyone has problems with suppliers at one time or another, the important thing is that your client should never suffer and should be kept informed. If there is going to be a delay, then let them know asap.

The biggest problem we have with our album suppliers is not quality its time. They say 4 weeks and it can be 4,6 oreven 8 weeks depending on the time in the season. We try to keep the client informed, but it can be frustrating when you put so much effort into getting everything perfect.

Clwyd, Wedding Photographer for Pixcellence
http://www.pixcellence.co.uk

Our photographer is thinking of changing his supplier from an Asutralian one to Graphi and we've been asked which we'd prefer and are waiting on a sample.

To be honest I wouldn't mind a delay (which we'll probably have) as long as the cost was the same and quality good

quote:Originally posted by NickJ
if the quality is similar i dont think there a need to say.

several album manufs are now having things done in india, and the quality is crap. jorgensen for one, and graphi for another, so i m assuming its one of those.

id="quote">

Well we spent ages looking at albums at FOCUS, and by a fair mile the Graphi Studio and Jorgensen albums were the best overall offerings. The Jorgensen albums are a superb quality with a understated design which suits some clients perfectly. The Graphi Studio albums where a similar quality, with a wide range of finishes and choice, but overall were much more stylised.

What else is there to compare them too..? we have been using a few of the alternative traditional album suppliers from the UK, and the quality has ranged from awesome to poor. Customer service from the UK suppliers has been pretty average too. One UK manufacturer has not got 1 order right completely first time yet

I don't care if the paper comes from the India or anywhere else. I only care that the products I am supplying is absolutely 200% first rate

In terms of quality albums, try Sim2000, similar to Graphi but I think even higher quality. Good service too.

As a customer I think I'd want a choice of 1 or 2 ie for you to tell me the problems you've been having and offer to get the same album with possibility of delays until you get one of a good quality or a similar product for the same price already agreed. I don't really see the point of option 3 but if you want to offer it as well as the others...

quote:Originally posted by GaryJ

quote:Originally posted by NickJ
if the quality is similar i dont think there a need to say.

several album manufs are now having things done in india, and the quality is crap. jorgensen for one, and graphi for another, so i m assuming its one of those.

id="quote">

One of my clients contacted me about your post. I vehemently deny importing anything from India. All our quality products are produced in our own factory in Australia. Yes, we do purchase some components such as paper, leather and fabrics from oversea, such as UK, Europe and China and have never made any secret of this. However, our quality has never suffered because of where we source our materials.

I think you should check your facts before posting what is plainly false.

Sincerely

Gary Jorgensen
Jorgensen Albums of Australia

id="quote">

i dont think WHERE something comes from is that important if a firm is happy with it. the error in my post was that it should have said "the rumour is that..." ,and thats whats going around the market place. great that you have cleared it up
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