Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs: 
4 edits | [FYI] Tested Some Online Printers
I just received most of my prints back from the test runs.
I received Snapfish, Ofoto, DotPhoto, Wal-Mart, Mpix, and Shutterfly. Winkflash has not arrived yet (but I also forgot to place the order so it was ordered a week late).
Snapfish
Speed: Slowest out of the bunch, but not unacceptable
Packaging: Packaging was horrendous. All the different sized prints mixed together. 8x10"s were just thrown into the heavy paper shipping envelope. 8x10" were received bent up and creased due to this (and postal handling)
Customer Service: Don't bother
Colors: Color were great on some.. but some weren't even close to the right colors. This was the case even with identical pictures and multiple prints. Each print was different. Some colors were off to the extreme that blues were purple!
Prints: Overall poor.. Colors were off, cuts weren't quite right (small white crooked edges here and there), many roller marks on many of the prints. B&W prints came out very nice though.
Cuts: crooked and off on 50% of the order
General: OK for the home scrapbooker I guess.. but service is iffy at best! I can not recommend them at all really.
Prices:
4"x6" 1+ prints 19¢
5"x7" 1-10 prints 95¢
11-24 prints 79¢
25-49 prints 69¢
50+ prints 59¢
8"x10" 1+ prints $3.79
»www.snapfish.com/helppricing/t_=0
Shipping Prices:
Standard USPS
1-5 prints $0.99
6-15 prints $1.48
16-25 prints $1.97
*Note: I finally received an extra item I had ordered through Snapfish.. I ordered a Picture Flip Book 4x6". This book was still poorly packaged when shipped. But the quality of the images was very nice and the book itself was nice. If looking at these books for customers and not personal use forget it though as Snapfish intrusively has their name imprinted on the back over of the books!! TskTsk
Paper Used:
Kodak
Ofoto
Speed: Fast!!
Packaging: nicely packaged
Customer Service: n/a
Colors: Great on color prints.. very well matched and vivid.. but B&W is disgusting.. almost a greenish tinge to the B&W images.
Prints: Overall decent quality except for the B&W
Cuts: cuts were dead one.. no extra white.. no crooked cuts.
General: Easy to us, fast shipping, well packaged.. but Avoid for B&W prints!!!
Prices:
4x6" $0.29
5x7" $0.99
8x10" $3.99
»www.ofoto.com/HelpPrice.jsp?
Shipping Prices:
US Postal Service 2 - 14 days once
order is completed
1 - 10 prints $1.49
11 - 19 prints $1.79
20 - 49 prints $2.49
50 - 75 prints $3.99
76 - 99 prints $4.99
100 - 149 prints $7.49
150 - 199 prints $9.99
200 - 249 prints $12.49
250 - 299 prints $14.99
+ $1.50 for each additional 50 prints
FedEx 2Day®*** 1-99 prints
2 business days
once completed $10.99
+ $2.50 for each additional 50 prints
FedEx Priority Overnight®*** 1-99 prints
next business day
once completed $15.99
+ $3.50 for each additional 50 prints
*Different pricing for large format prints
Paper Used:
Kodak
DotPhoto
Speed: Super fast!
Packaging: Excellent
Customer Service: n/a
Colors: Superb. Great results in color as well as B&W
Prints: Very nice, no roller marks, colors nicely rendered, B&W nicely done
Cuts: Excellent
General: Can definitely recommend them even for professional prints
Prices:
3x5 $0.19
4x6 $0.19
4xD $0.19
5x7 $0.95
8x10 $3.75
»www.dotphoto.com/PricingAndReturn.asp
Shipping Prices:
1-10 $1.79
11-20 $1.99
21-30 $2.49
31-50 $2.99
51-75 $3.99
76-100 $4.99
101-150 $5.49
151-200 $5.99
201-250 $7.99
251-300 $9.99
301-500 $11.99
501 + $15.99
Paper Used:
Kodak
Wal-Mart
Speed: fast
Packaging: super thin paper envelope
Customer Service: No problems.. handled and refunded promptly
Colors: Colors were good as well as B&W
Prints: roller marks on occasion and indents.. textured coating when I asked for glossy though
Cuts: TERRIBLE! 4x6 were fine.. 5x7 50/50, 8x10" 100% were cut crooked!
General: I honestly can not recommend Wal-Mart either.. except for someone who wants 4x6" prints quickly for their scrapbook.
Prices:
4x6 $0.24
5x7 $1.47
8x10 $2.84
Shipping Prices:
N/A -- Picked Up
Paper Used:
Fuji Cyrstal Archive
Mpix
Speed: Super Fast
Packaging: Best packaging I have gotten to date!
Customer Service: n/a
Colors: Superbly matched and vivid. Reproduced exactly.. N&W came out superb (just regular paper not the True B&W paper).
Prints: Excellent.. Tried both Papers including Metallic. Did not however try the True B&W.
Cuts: Perfect! Need not say more.
General: Can highly recommend Mpix! For anyone from scrapbooker to Gallery display!
Prices (Metallic):
3x5 $.59
4x6 $.59
5x7 $1.29
8x10 $2.49
Prices (Standard):
3x5 $.29
4x6 $.29
5x7 $.99
8x10 $1.99
»www.mpix.com/productsinfo.aspx
Shipping Prices:
Airborne Next Afternoon $9.75
USPS Ground $4.95
Paper Used:
Kodak E-Surface Papers
Shutterfly
Speed: fast but not the fastest
Packaging: Very nice.
Customer Service: Superb
Colors: Excellent! Pretty much right on even in the B&W.
Prints: excellent.. no issues
Cuts: perfect.. no issue with cuts at all
General: Can highly recommend them.. Especially for large format prints like 16x20" and 20x30". 4x6 and 5x7 and 8x10 can be had elsewhere for much less money and still close to the quality of Shutterfly.
Prices:
4x6 $0.20 - $0.29
5x7 $0.79 - $0.99
8x10 $3.19 - $3.99
*Depends on quantity purchased.
»www.shutterfly.com/help/pricing.jsp?index=no
Shipping Prices:
1-10 prints: $1.79
11-20 prints: $1.99
21-30 prints: $2.49
31-50 prints: $2.99
51-75 prints: $3.99
76-100 prints: $4.99
101-150 prints: $7.49
151-200 prints: $9.99
201-250 prints: $12.49
251-300 prints: $14.99
+ $1.50 for each additional 50 prints
Print sizes: 11×14
1st print: $1.99
+ 50¢ for each additional print
Print sizes: 16×20, 20×30
1st print: $4.99
+ $2.00 for each additional print
Paper Used:
Fuji Cyrstal Archive
Winkflash coming Soon!
--
"We are all just Plagiarists of a real Artist, and her name is Mother Nature."
My Gallery |
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Rubicon
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Philly | Most excellent. Thank you for your research!
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R u b i c o n |
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Lurch77
Stop looking at me.
Premium
join:2001-11-22
Oconto, WI | reply to Gemologist
Thank you very much. This is excellent info. |
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celkas
Premium
join:2004-05-27
San Jose, CA | reply to Gemologist
Thank you for checking this out for us! When you add Winkflash, could you also add a price category for each of the services? Thanks again. |
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AzzKicker
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Edinburg, TX
clubs:
| reply to Gemologist
said by Gemologist  : can be had elsewhere for much less money and still close to the quality of Shutterfly.
Arent you already talking about shutterfly when you say that.
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Click here to view my Photo Gallery |
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curtissp
Premium
join:2003-02-07
Merrillville, IN
| reply to Gemologist
I had tried snapfish but havent used them in a while. Most recently used shutterfly they seemed ok. Waiting now on a 11 X 14 print from mpix. I only use these photo services for prints larger then 8 X 10. Heard good things about mpix so will see.
MacroMan good post thanks for shareing this. |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to Gemologist
I have used many many more... but this was done with a single set of test run images sent to all the Companies.. ordered the same way.. and the same day.. except for the Winkflash which I forgot to order.. but it is still same set of images.
Yes I will add the pricing structures when add winkflash. I will also scan in some of the images and color issues to show people how extreme it was 
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"We are all just Plagiarists of a real Artist, and her name is Mother Nature." My Gallery |
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justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY | Have you used Mystic Color Lab? they worked out pretty well for me.. |
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Jabbu
Premium
join:2002-03-06 | reply to Gemologist
I used winkflash, they were very fast. Delivery confirmation sent the same day, pix arriving days later, good quality colors and prints.
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Anything more than a handful is for the other hand |
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rogue_
I Have A Secret Window
Premium
join:2001-10-17
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
| reply to Gemologist
EASTMAN KODAK DX3900 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
10.2mm 1/30th +0.5ev F3.4
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EASTMAN KODAK DX3900 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
14.6mm 1/6th +0.5ev F4
| 
EASTMAN KODAK DX3900 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
14.6mm 1/6th +0.5ev F4
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I mostly take horrible pictures, But I like them even if they are blurry and incorrectly lit and nearly impossible to make out the object of the photo.
Some of my favorites have been included in this post.
/sarcastic humor of my poor picture taking 
--
Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. |
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stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL
 ·Mediacom
| reply to Gemologist
Very good report MacroMan. Thanks for taking the time and spending the money. I've used all of the on-line printers in your report except DotPhoto (first I've heard of them) and my results are the same as yours. I can't recommend snapfish or Wal-Mart. The others are very good to excellent. If I had a very important photo of 8 X10 or larger I believe I would lean toward MPIX because of the packaging. The way they package the prints there is very little chance of it being damaged in the mail. |
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Waffen
join:2002-01-25
Allen Park, MI | reply to Gemologist
Very nice review. Thanks!!!, only other request would be pricing & shipping costs. |
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spm9999
Fluffy Farkletush
Premium
join:2003-11-17
Imperial, MO
clubs:
 ·ViaTalk
 ·Dish Network
·Charter Pipeline
 ·1and1
| reply to Gemologist
Nice work..
I have used shutterfly for 3 or 4 years now. I have never had a problem with them. My pictures that I have uploaded over the years are all still on thier server. Nice service indeedily.. |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Long Beach, CA
clubs: | reply to Gemologist
Nice work! I've always wondered who was worth sending my files to, and who was a waste of time.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
 ·Qwest.net
| reply to Gemologist
I am curious with all of the photo quality printers one can purchase what is the value of using one of these on line services. Note I am not asking why would anyone want to, but what are the advantages of these services over doing this at home.
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Real Men use Vacuum tubes, 25 pound filament transformers, and plate voltages no less then 2400 volts...BPL I'm coming to get you |
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rideboarder
welcome to the social
Premium
join:2003-07-28
Snohomish, WA
clubs: | reply to Gemologist
I've had pretty good experiences with photoworks so far... (www.photoworks.com)....However they are the only ones i've tried so far... |
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kyle1745
join:2003-05-01 | reply to Gemologist
Just wanted to put in a plug for shutterfly, I have been using them for a bit now and have had great results. |
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Flagger
Premium
join:2001-08-10
Weimville | reply to Gemologist
I have used Photoworks and Shutterfly. Photoworks won the last time I did a comparison like this. They also delivered much faster. |
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jfgnet
12 Step Program
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
Limbo
clubs: | reply to Gemologist
Nice job on the reports, will stay tuned for your updates |
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs:
| reply to Transmaster
said by Transmaster :I am curious with all of the photo quality printers one can purchase what is the value of using one of these on line services. Note I am not asking why would anyone want to, but what are the advantages of these services over doing this at home. Because printers you buy are not the same.. these Companies use Chemical printers just like film processing.. infact they are the same machines that peoples film prints get run off of also..hehe... A printer to compete with these machines would be at the cheapest an Epson 2200 using special paper to go with its pigment based inks... And even then you are still limited. Especially if into the business end of things ,many customers get disgusted by nor do they want InkJet prints.. They feel more comfortable with a proved known method of developing/printing. Also technically, unless you purchase pigment based inks in bulk, it actually costs more $$$ per print to print yourself then sending out to most of these places.
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"We are all just Plagiarists of a real Artist, and her name is Mother Nature." My Gallery |
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