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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Alternatives to PhotoReflect/Express Digital??
Bill Akin, Photographer
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Athens (Watkinsville) | GA | USA | Posted: 8:38 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> I've used the PhotoReflect/Express Digital system for on line sales somewhat successfully for a couple of years, now. However, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get answers from their support when I have a problem. For example, I can't figure out how to set or change event expiration dates with their new 8.7Version software. Can anyone offer help with this?
More specifically, can anyone offer alternatives to PhotoReflect. I've checked into SmugMug.
Thanks! |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington, DC & Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 9:00 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> Do a search for the word "photoreflect"; you'll find a TON of information.
Mike Brice will probably chime in with "try exposure manager"
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=16722
Theres are really no new services out there so there hasn;t been any new conversation recently.
Delane |
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Bill Akin, Photographer
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Athens (Watkinsville) | GA | USA | Posted: 9:09 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> Thanks, Delane. I guess I should have pointed out that what I really would like is testimonials of those using alternatives to PhotoReflect.
Thanks again. |
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Sam Santilli, Photographer
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Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 9:30 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> Bill, we use morephotos.com
Their phone number is 1-888-968-5565
We get answers almost immediately and tech folks are great to work with. |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 9:49 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> Delane beat me to the punch, but you can't beat a service like Exposure Manager where you can FTP images to you account right out of Photo Mechanic...
That's just one of the features...
I could go on, but I think it is pretty clear their benefits if you check out the site... www.exposuremanager.com
IF you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. |
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Ron Hawkes, Photographer
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Camden | ME | USA | Posted: 10:00 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> "For example, I can't figure out how to set or change event expiration dates with their new 8.7Version software. Can anyone offer help with this?"
Bill, I did talk with customer service about this and for some silly reason they have done away with the option of expiration dates. You have to go back and manually delete the gallery.
Ron |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 10:14 AM on 05.03.06 |
->> There is a Yahoo group that discusses Express Digital. If you own a dongle, then you're elgible for a more exclusive group, but I just belong to the web edition group.
I would post the URL, but I'm having trouble with the Yahoo server at the present moment. |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Bill Akin, Photographer
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Athens (Watkinsville) | GA | USA | Posted: 12:29 PM on 05.03.06 |
->> Thanks, all. I'm familiar with the Yahoo group. It really never was any use to me. Everyone had questions, no one had answers.
Thanks, Ron, for your feedback, also. I finally got through to their "support" a few minutes after posting this thread. It was explained to me that they knew several weeks ago that they had made a big mistake in not including the expiration feature to the 8.7 version. The customer support person did, however, go on to tell me that a patch for the problem was being prepared and would be available "soon".
Thanks again, everyone, for your help! |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington, DC & Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 1:31 PM on 05.03.06 |
->> Bill....please report back when the patch is available.
I'm still waiting on patches and improvements that were supposed to be available in Aril '03...promised from the mouth of Jonathan Langham (PR/ED Director of Operations).
In general...you will find it difficult (at best) and frequently IMPOSSIBLE to get an answer from ED/PR's support. Improvements are always promised and rarely delivered.
It appears as if they have absolutely no internal Quality Control/Assurance especially in regards to their software.
Having said all of this, they still remain the alternative that allows me to spend more time shooting and subsequently I am generating more revenue than with the other similar services.
Delane |
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Suzette Harrigal, Photographer
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The Woodlands | TX | USA | Posted: 1:56 PM on 05.03.06 |
| ->> Just signed up for Exposure Manager. I emailed their support line to ask if their sportsshooter discount was still available. Within about 3 minutes I got a respponse back that their sales staff was currently on a plane and unavailable. He suggested I give it a try on their free trial and they would retroactively give me the discount if applicable after he talked to his sales guys. So, I entered "sportsshooter_event" in their coupon discount and it sure did work. Just wanted to pass this along to folks. THE DISCOUNT STILL WORKS. |
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Ed J. Szalajeski, Photographer
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Portland | ME | USA | Posted: 2:33 PM on 05.03.06 |
->> Err, I guess you all are invested in the software for Express Digital. They sound rough on the customer service side.
I have been going pretty well with Printroom, and have been extreamly happy with their service since 2002.
The best part of Printroom, is you deal with an account manager, who helps you resolve issues you have. (which are not many in my 4 years with printroom).
Printroom has some features they have not put into being but they keep adjusting the user interface for the customer.
Printroom has a new version of ProStudioManager PSM, for event photographers, for onsite, in beta.
Not the ExpressDigital yet, but Printroom's customer service is far better a partner that you can imagine.
They are like having a consultant, who helps you maximize your business profit.
In the business of making pictures, I would rather be making pictures than having my blood boil on hold waiting for Tech Support.
EJS |
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Tony Sirgedas, Photographer
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Pierce County | WA | USA | Posted: 5:01 PM on 05.03.06 |
| ->> I'm with Ed and still going with Print Room. I'm getting good cusotmer service from my account manager, Jason Lehrbaum. I just wish I had more problems to run past him as it's working very smoothly for me. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 6:44 PM on 05.03.06 |
->> Of course there is always PhotoShelter. It may not be taylored entirely towards selling prints and merchandise like the others mentioned, but it does work.
I currently use a combination of PhotoShelter and Photoreflect. Why, you might ask? A couple of reasons. I've been with PhotoReflect for a number of years and a large percentage of my customers know to find me there. I also have some that are Paypal shy. Paypal is used by PhotoShelter, to those shy people can still buy from PhotoReflect.
It really doesn't matter much to me. The accounting is real slick on Photoreflect, but PhotoShelters is easy to figure out as well.
I will 2nd or 3rd the nod that it is sometimes difficult to get through to Photoreflects customer service. And I'll add that anytime I've had a question about PhotoShelter, I get a prompt response from someone that can fix it really fast ;) |
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Eric Isaacs, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 7:15 PM on 05.03.06 |
->> Another testimonial for ExposureManager. They have really been on the ball with customer service. That alone puts them head and shoulders above any of the other 3 services ive tried.
EMI |
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Bill Akin, Photographer
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Athens (Watkinsville) | GA | USA | Posted: 10:26 PM on 05.07.06 |
->> Thanks for all the feedback! I've decided to transition my on-site photo sales to ExposureManager. I like what I've heard from everyone about customer service. I have always been willing to pay extra, if necessary, just for great customer service.
Thanks again! |
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Ron Hawkes, Photographer
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Camden | ME | USA | Posted: 7:00 AM on 05.08.06 |
->> Bill I too have started using Exposure Manager, having just a few galleries up, but many of my regular customers have told me how much better it is from their point of view.
And the customer service has been terrific thus far.
Good Luck
Ron |
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Jody Gomez, Photographer
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Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 3:34 PM on 05.10.06 |
->> I've said this before, but I couldn't be happier with Exposure Manager. I love it and would highly recommend it to anyone!
Cheers.
Jody |
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