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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
I'm frustrated with online sales options...
Eric Isaacs, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 6:18 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> Just looking for more reccomendations for online sales options. I have tried shutterfly "pro" and photoreflect and find both sorely lacking.
Ive searched the archives and recently joined exposuremanager based on one reccomendation. I like them a lot. The customer service is outstanding and though its still being developed, the interface is reasonably intuitive and end-user friendly.
The problem is they are having serious network issues with their ISP and what should have taken me hours to upload is now turning into days. I've fielded calls and emails from my customers wanting to know when their photos will be online. I would like to stick with exposuremanager but need to get all my stuff online immediately.
Are there any simple options? I actually had my own site set up for direct sales but wasn't doing event photography for a long time so canceled my merchant account. Though i'm a member at photoshelter, it doesnt seem like the right option for me either, and with 19000 from a 4 day baseball tourney I need to act fast.
Thanks to anyone that has suggestions. |
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Juerg Schreiter, Photographer
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | USA | Posted: 6:24 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> Eric,
www.photoshelter.com
and www.printroom.com both would be excellent chices.
good luck,
J. |
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Eric Isaacs, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 6:38 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> Juerg,
I'f I understand correctly, photoshelter doesnt offer print fulfillment and the user (me) is responsible for obtaining a credit card merchant account. Those are the two main reasons I want an online photo sales option.
Have you used printroom? How stable are they? It looks like they require 99.00 up front to join. I have to wonder why these companies charge us a hundred bucks and then make money of our photos? I suppose it keeps people from using them as free storage but I hate the idea of dropping another hundred there after wasting a hundred with shutterfly, 40 with exposuremanager and then not knowing if it will work for me.
Thanks for your reply,
E- |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 6:55 PM on 09.07.05 |
| ->> You may find Photoreflect uploads better by using cable modem. That's what they told me. I don't intend to switch from DSL though. |
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Eric Isaacs, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 7:01 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> Now that i've vented (after trying to upload since 6am) it seems exposuremanager has gotten things sorted out. I just tried my ftp again and its flying along faster than ever. Like I said, if the bugs get worked out, they are the best ive dealt with yet.
Photoreflect wont see any more business from me. I think its absurd that images load in reverse order and they dont address the issue. Its also absurd they dont support mac or its native browser and simlpy blow it off by saying use IE/PC.
Ive got my CF cards crossed that the network issues are resolved and I can finish loading my tourney pics. This weekend has definately been a learning experience for me. 5 photographers, 3 venues, 7 fields over 4 days.... thats a lot of pictures for someone who doesnt like editnig even his own photos. |
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Robert Benson, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 7:12 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> printroom.com
Its stupid-easy to upload your photos online(very quick and very easy). They do all the printing, do all the money transactions and you just sit back made in the shade gettin' paid. |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Northwood | OH | USA | Posted: 7:49 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> Like all services, exposure manager is subject to the ISP gods. I have used photo reflect, printroom and shutterfly, and have found the best service via exposure manager. They have had great response, continue to evolve the product to meet the photographer needs, and leave more $ for me at the end of each sale.
I have found they are very reliable, and the FTP upload is the easiest by far to upload lots of games in directories and subdirectories, and have the galleries automatically created. |
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Jack McCoy, Photographer
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Baldwin | NY | USA | Posted: 8:49 PM on 09.07.05 |
| ->> 1.5 years with Printroom.....highly recommend them. |
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Mark Watkins, Photographer
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Acworth | GA | USA | Posted: 8:53 PM on 09.07.05 |
| ->> www.digiproofs.com has been a very good resource for me the past couple of years. |
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Bruce Twitchell, Photographer
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Coeur d'Alene | ID | USA | Posted: 9:32 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> I'll second Mike's voice of exposure manager:
http://www.exposuremanager.com
Great service, great interface, love it! |
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Michael Jordan, Photographer
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West Palm Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 9:39 PM on 09.07.05 |
| ->> One vote here for printroom.com, extremely friendly and very reliable! |
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Jeff Barrie, Photographer
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Indianapolis | IN | USA | Posted: 9:39 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> I too can highly recommend Printroom. I have been with them for about 1.5 years and have been happy with the results. The $99 is nothing, and charging that keeps it for professionals.
Another vote for Printroom. |
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Grover Sanschagrin, Photo Editor, Photographer
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San Francisco | CA | USA | Posted: 11:07 PM on 09.07.05 |
->> Hi Eric. I thought I would add a bit if clarification -- PhotoShelter *does* offer printing services through EZ Prints, and by using your own merchant account you eliminate the need to pay a commission (typically 15-20%) on your sales.
There's more info about this here:
http://www.photoshelter.com/tour/sell
We're also getting tons of incredible feedback from event photographers, so you can expect to see the results of all their enthusiastic sharing very soon. |
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Sam Santilli, Photographer
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Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 8:32 AM on 09.08.05 |
| ->> Eric, we have been with morephotos.com for a few years now. You can call them at 1-888-968-5565, and ask for Mike Conners at ext 15. |
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Eric Isaacs, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 10:10 AM on 09.08.05 |
->> I just want to thank everyone for their replies, emails and phone calls. With youth sports photos every moment counts so needless to say, I was frustrated when the network problems prevented me from uploading for a while. It seems things are working now and I am going to stick with Exposure Manager. I like their system, it didnt take me 4 hours to figure out how to set up packages and configure my storefront(like some other services) and MOST importantly, when I have a problem they respond! (Unlike some other services). Though i'm sure some of the recommendations given in this thread also provide excellent service, I have some time invested in EM now and hope to make things work with them.
Regards,
EMI |
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