Beware zenfolio/mpix next day orders

[AndrewWG]

All,

Just thought I would write and tell everyone that, although I always understood all next day deliveries from UPS or FedEx to be truly next day deliveries, I was disappointed to find that FedEx at the very least offers what they call "next business day" deliveries. I had ordered 75 prints for a sponsor of our baseball team. They needed them tonight. I ordered them Thursday night (big mis-communication problem or it would have been earlier) and ordered them through zenfolio using mpix. The next day option is next business day and although my pics left Boston this morning at 9am, they never arrived at my house. they will be here Monday, 2 days too late.

The e-mail from Zenfolio was less than pleasing as well. When I told them of my disappointment, they told me that it was next business day and I should have known that meant not Saturdays. No mention of how they are disappointed with my lack of satisfaction or anything. The e-mail ended with "Are we at fault?" The next 3 e-mails totally blew me off as if it was just too darned bad and I got the "thank you for your input" in each one.

Personally, I think that in this economy, better customer support is a necessity and I am thinking twice about using Zenfolio in the future. My one year membership ends in Sept. Any other places that people like to host their photos?

 

[annnewjerz]

That really stinks, I'm sorry you weren't able to get your order in time. However, in my experience, "next day air" always means next business day---Saturday delivery is an additional option that costs an additional fee. Did you just put in the order too late on Thursday for Friday to be considered "next day"? And if so, did they not give you an estimated shipping date when you placed your order?

I've never heard anything but good about Zenfolio. I use SmugMug and have been especially happy with their customer service. For myself, it's always just been a matter of a prompt and friendly e-mail response.

However, a few months ago I shot a wedding shower and the Mother of the Bride wanted to order prints from my SmugMug. She put in the order and all of the pictures arrived---but with weird crops because of the file size and post-processing crops I had done. It was totally her fault for not noticing the crop outlines when she was ordering, she just completely didn't pay attention to them, and yet they sent her a whole "corrected" set, free of charge including next day shipping.

If you use the code GJWRDoOlV0fr6 you can save $5 on your subscription and I'll get some sort of referral fee to spend.

Good luck!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That stinks. And there are some places that next business day really means the next after the next business day?! Anything else just isn't going to happen with either Fedex or UPS. When it comes to either shipper I get the tracking number and check the scheduled delivery date. Sometimes you can contact them and go pick up at the central location if you've missed the Friday delivery although that may only work at smaller centers.

 

[Chikabowa]

I'm really sorry that you are frustrated.

Usually when you order pictures from mpix, it means next day shipping from the time that the order is fulfilled. So if you order Monday night, and the order is finished printing Tuesday morning and ships Tuesday afternoon, you'll take delivery on Wednesday.

Shipping is never for Saturday or Sunday unless specifically stated and/or paid for - and it's a VERY expensive option. And in this case, honestly, I don't think they are at fault. It's just how the shipping process works unfortunately. Giving yourself a little more lead time would have worked better (such as putting in your order on Wednesday - you would have gotten your product on Friday), or perhaps, printing in town locally. I'm terribly sorry as I'm sure you are VERY disappointed and it really sucks that you paid for next day shipping and you will now get the product too late.

But putting the entire blame on Mpix, Zenfolio, UPS or Fed Ex probably isn't wholly right either.

To answer your question... I've heard good things about Smug Mug although I personally haven't used them.

 

[saturndb]

overnight is always for next business day, Like others have said A Saturday delivery costs more. I would have called them up or checking thier shipping questions page and asked if they can do a Saturday delivery and what the cost would be.

I just checkted mpix website and this is what I found:

US. Shipping Rates
1st Class Mail (5-10 Business Days) * $3.00
USPS Mail - Priority (2-5 Business Days) * $5.95
FedEx - Next Business Day (1 Business Day) ** $10.75
FedEx - Next Business Day / Signature Required (1 Business Day) ** $12.75
* USPS will not guarantee delivery times. Shipping time will vary depending on your location. Please allow additional time during the holidays
** FedEx shipping is only available Monday-Friday. Saturday delivery is not available.


Now you know not to use them if you need a Saturday Delivery.

Dave

 

[AndrewWG]

Oh no, don't get me wrong here. It says next business day. I am just warning everyone that this does not mean Saturday (or of course Sunday). This order had to be placed on Thursday night at 8pm due to the sponsor not getting back to me until then about the amount of photos they wanted ordered. I knew it would not be processed until Friday and thought it would be sent Friday and received Saturday. My bad on that one. I would most certainly taken them to CVS had I realized it. The company should have shown me an estimated delivery date somewhere on the order form or even after the order was placed so that I could have cancelled it and taken care of it locally. That is what really burned me about this. Even when following the tracking number, there was no estimated delivery date. I just think they could have done better in that area.

For what it's worth, I have never had any problems at all with Zenfolio or Mpix until this incident. This one just really fried me. The one thing that I really like is that I can e-mail then a problem on Saturday night at 10pm and get an immediate response. So I am not totally against them but until this blows over, I will be bitter.

 

[jann1033]

funny thing is fedex does regularly deliver some places on Sat for no extra charge( does to my rural home address for just normal ground charges, ups does not) so not sure how that would fit in to next day.