Unsolicited school pictures that you have to pay for or return

[mill4023]

I'm starting to get really annoyed with our school.
Just about every holiday (Easter, Christmas, etc.), the kids are coming home with pictures that we are supposed to either pay for or return to the school.

Does your school do this?

We didn't order these pictures and I don't see why we should be expected to pay for them or take the responsibility of making sure they get sent back to the school. It would be different if order forms were sent home before the pictures were taken and we were given the option of ordering them or not.

I know that if some company sends you something in the mail, they don't have the right to force you to pay for it or return it. This seems like a similar situation and I'm very tempted to just keep the photos and refuse to pay for them on principle alone.

 

[BELLE1109]

You are corrected. Depending on your state- this could be illegal. They don't have your billing information, keep them. It is a shady tacit to say the least!

 

[design_mom]

Is it a preschool or a regular school?

My kids' preschool did this and I would look through the stuff in their backpacks before we'd leave the school and I would refuse to take the pictures home. "I'm returning them right now. No, I don't even want to look at them."

I hated those unsolicited pictures, and also the responsibility of having something that I didn't even want that I would be responsible for paying for it if got damaged or ruined.

My kids' elementary school has never done any pictures besides the yearly school photos (which are ordered/paid for in advance). I would be upset if they started something like this and would probably voice my concern to the office or PTO president. I am sure it's a fund-raiser for the school and they probably consider it a "service" to the parents.

 

[golfgal]

We have only had this twice in all the years our kids were in school and the first time is still my favorite picture of DS18 (he was in kindergarten). The second time we just put the pictures back in the kids' backpacks and sent them back (we had just done family pictures). The schools do make money on the photo packages but I don't think it is that big of a deal to look at them and stick them back into their backpacks if you don't want them.

 

[disney_mommy]

My son's schools have been doing this for years. They're hoping you like them so much you just keep them. One time I was late returning them and the school started calling asking for them back. I got the impression that the school would have to pay if they didn't get returned. I just pick out what I want and return the rest.

 

[mill4023]

You are corrected. Depending on your state- this could be illegal. They don't have your billing information, keep them. It is a shady tacit to say the least!

I've tried to look it up and I know that any unsolicited merchandise received through the mail can be considered a gift, with no obligation to pay or return the merchandise.

I can't find anything specific that deals with stuff that is delivered in some way other than mail. But I also don't see how we could possibly have any obligation to pay for something we didn't ask for.

It's an extremely shady marketing tactic that relies on trying to guilt parents into buying the pictures. They know that a lot of parents won't want to say no if the kids have already seen the pictures and brought them home because they don't want to make the kids feel like they don't want pictures of them.

I still feel bad telling them we aren't going to buy them, but I will try to explain why we don't like the way the company is doing business and that we absolutely love having pictures of them, but there is no reason to pay $40 or more for a few prints when I can take great pics of them and get prints made for a couple dollars.

 

[mill4023]

We have only had this twice in all the years our kids were in school and the first time is still my favorite picture of DS18 (he was in kindergarten). The second time we just put the pictures back in the kids' backpacks and sent them back (we had just done family pictures). The schools do make money on the photo packages but I don't think it is that big of a deal to look at them and stick them back into their backpacks if you don't want them.

It's public elementary school.

You are right that it's not a big deal. But I don't like the tactics and it's starting to annoy me enough that I'm going to refuse to pay or return them on principal alone.
Besides, what if the child lost the pictures?
Should the parents be responsible for something they never asked for?

 

[lovetoscrap]

Yep, our Elementary school does. We get these special magnets and gift tags with our kids photos and other stupid stuff. I agree-- I hate it too.

They don't have your billing information, keep them. It is a shady tacit to say the least!

The photo company doesn't, but the school does. They will hold it over you until you kids graduates (and refuse to give their diploma and transcripts until you pay all past debts.)

 

[RUDisney]

Did the school not notify you that "picture day" would occur on a specific date? It's odd if they didn't because if you wanted pictures, you would send your child in dressed for them.

You could always send a note with your child when pictures are being taken that you do now want your child's picture taken and then you wouldn't have to worry about getting the pictures in the first place.

 

[Poohgirl]

Huh, I like how that works. My son's school does both. I hate that in the fall I need to order the pictures in advance and they come out crappy but im stuck with them. I dont even order them anymore, just wait for the random ones so I can see them before I buy them. Those are the ones I usually get.

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP, ITA!

Although my youngest DS is no longer in school, I resented the fact that they took Spring pictures and sent them home without you ever ordering them. They don't handle the Fall pictures that way so why change things for the Spring pictures?

What if you looked them over and sent them back to the school but for some reason the pictures didn't make it back to the office? Are you telling me I would be responsible? I don't think so!

TC

 

[mjkacmom]

Huh, I like how that works. My son's school does both. I hate that in the fall I need to order the pictures in advance and they come out crappy but im stuck with them. I dont even order them anymore, just wait for the random ones so I can see them before I buy them. Those are the ones I usually get.

Me too - we have to pre-order, and then get what we get! These are fundraisers for the school.

 

[lovetoscrap]

We have a retake day so if you don't like them you send them back and they retake them. I think the company will also refund your money if you are still unhappy. But then they still send the additional crap throughout the year that they want us to pay for-- and they send it with the first photo they took, even if it was awful.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My kids schools do this too. I don't like it at all. I think they try to guilt the parents into buying these photos. I also don't like all the waste. What happens to all those photo packages that parents return. They get thrown out in the trash. I wouldn't mind if they just sent you home a proof sheet or something with the option of ordering.

Our school also sends home entertainment books each fall. They expect you to buy it or return it. That is usually $25.00 for the book. I wonder how many people just never return the book or pay for it.

 

[Poohgirl]

Huh, I like how that works. My son's school does both. I hate that in the fall I need to order the pictures in advance and they come out crappy but im stuck with them. I dont even order them anymore, just wait for the random ones so I can see them before I buy them. Those are the ones I usually get.

 

[mill4023]

My kids schools do this too. I don't like it at all. I think they try to guilt the parents into buying these photos. I also don't like all the waste. What happens to all those photo packages that parents return. They get thrown out in the trash. I wouldn't mind if they just sent you home a proof sheet or something with the option of ordering.

I would have no problem with them sending a proof sheet and an order form after the pictures have been taken. Then you are free to order pictures or not.
Sending prints that they expect you to pay for or return is completely different. As I said, that kind of practice is specifically outlawed if a company sends you something in the mail. Since this isn't through the mail, there is no specific law about it. My belief is that it's simply a matter of a lack of any contract. I did not order or agree to anything, therefore, I have no obligation to take any action at all, including sending the pictures back.

It is absolutely a marketing tactic based on trying to make parents feel guilty for giving the kids the impression that they don't want pictures of them. These companies know that it would be much easier for parents to simply ignore a proof sheet and order form than it is to actually take the action of sending the pictures back to the school.

 

[mill4023]

This came up because DW found an 8x10 of DD6 on her bedroom floor last night. We never looked at the whole packet, but apparently DD left it in her backpack when she went back to school today. I just got an email from her teacher a few minutes ago telling us that the 8x10 was missing and if we'd like to keep it, please send a check for $14.

I emailed her back, explaining that we didn't order the pictures and were under no obligation to pay for them. When I told DW that I replied to the email, her response was "oh no, what did you say?"
I think she's afraid we are going to get labeled as the troublemaker parents.

I guess we'll see what kind of response we get.

 

[design_mom]

I also dislike the pictures (posted earlier in the thread) for the exact reasons you mentioned. What if the pics had been dropped in the snow and ruined. Would you have to pay for them then?

But on the other hand, what a nightmare for the teacher -- having to inventory everyone's packets and follow-up on missing pictures. I'm sure it wasn't *her* idea to take the pics. This seems like a bad idea for everyone!

 

[design_mom]

I also dislike the pictures (posted earlier in the thread) for the exact reasons you mentioned. What if the pics had been dropped in the snow and ruined. Would you have to pay for them then?

But on the other hand, what a nightmare for the teacher -- having to inventory everyone's packets and follow-up on missing pictures. I'm sure it wasn't *her* idea to take the pics. This seems like a bad idea for everyone!

 

[SC Minnie]

Our schools did this in Elem grades. I bought them one year because 1- I felt guilty about not buying pics of DD and 2- it was a pretty good pic of her. I haven't bought them since eventhough they have for the most part turned out OK. After the 2nd year of not ordering them DD never took them out of her bookbag. LOL.

I really don't know what to do with all the pictures. We always get the fall pics (I have a frame from K - 12 that I have been putting them in every year- only 1 year left ), Christmas pictures, dance pictures, then these spring pictures. Where do people put all of these pictures. ??? I had to finally start saying no to some of them.