Colllages Warning

[PictureCow]

I just got this email from collages.... see in red below.

This is why I really hate collages. They do things that I DON'T ask nor want them to do. I've tried to fire them but once a customer always a customer. You can't delete any of your events... AND they're going to re-launch all your old event and email your clients.

This personally really pisses me off. So you have to login and select to "NOT" be part of this if you don't want them too. What a pain in the arse.

This is soooo NOT COOL. I am the one who should make decisions on what I want my clients sent! NOT THEM. If I'm paying them for a service I should have ultimate control over how my images are shown and used.... and what and when emails get sent to clients. What if I no longer had those images... and I selected self fufilment? What if I had already told the client you MUST order by this date and now they feel like they can wait longer.....

So I just wanted to warn anyone that uses them... that they're going to re-launch all your 2006 events unless you waste your precious time and go in there and pick and choose what to launch (cause I know you have nothing better to do) or disable it all together.

Truly a waste of MY time. To have to go dig up what my login was. Since I fired them months ago.


We’re getting ready to automatically re-launch
all of your 2006 event websites - FREE!

To say thank you for another great season, to help increase your print sales, and to increase your exposure, Collages.net will be re-launching your 2006 websites. We will reactivate all of your expired sites, and we'll also add additional time to any active sites that expire before November 30, 2006. Collages.net will e-mail all of your guests to remind them that photography makes a great gift during the holiday season!

The 2005 Holiday Re-launch was a great success! Our customers reported that the Holiday Re-launch Program not only increased their print sales but also had a significant impact on their bookings for the upcoming year.

Here’s how it will work:

From Sunday, October 15 to Friday, October 20, Collages.net will automatically send an e-mail to each of the guests who viewed your images to let them know that the sites they enjoyed so much have been re-launched so that they can make their holiday gift purchases. These sites will only be active until November 30, 2006 – giving you time to fulfill the orders.


Please choose from one of the following 3 options:
1.
Re-launch all events: If you would like for ALL of your 2006 events to be re-launched, there is nothing that you need to do.

2.
Select only specific events you would like to re-launch: If you would like to indicate specific 2006 events you DO NOT want to re-launch, simply click on the link below and UN-CHECK the events to be excluded. Remember to click Save!


http://www.collages.net/holidayexten...formlogin.aspx
3.
Do not re-launch any of my 2006 events: If you do not want to participate in the Holiday Re-launch program, simply go to the Green Account Manager tab in your Administration Area and make sure that the Free “Site Re-launch” Program is un-checked in the E-mail Preferences Area.

http://www.collages.net/

[Pikachu]

I hate to be contrary, but I fail to see how the opportunity to make more sales, thus more profit, can be a bad thing.

[JMI]

I don't think it's the "opportunity to make more sales" that's annoying, it's the lack of control over your own marketing and business identity.

[PeteQ]

No one like a pushy salesperson and that's how your clients will see this, as you pushing something that has passed...

[Clayton Wallace]

it's the lack of control over your own marketing and business identity.

Exactly.

So, how do you really feel, Laura? :)

[PictureCow]

Well... aside from absoultely they're trying to take over my marketing and emailing MY clients...I don't allow anyone to process my files or ship and print with out me seeing them FIRST. This means I process every order by hand. I don't believe in drop shipping to clients. I care too much about my work to allow that.

I'm not interested in pulling up an achieve from months and months past just so someone can get their $10.00 4x6. So... this "opportunity to make more sales" is crap. Most sales are made in the first three days of an event. Not months and months past.

[LoungeLizard]

I can tell you why I don't like it.

We had done an engagement session with a couple while we were using Collages. A few weeks after they picked up their (BIG) print order, they called off the wedding - pretty much broke up. Last week, all her friends who had gone in to see the gallery got notices asking if they wanted to extend the event. They started calling her to find out what was up.

She contacted me to try and put a stop to the SPAM!

Customer contact represents YOU. They don't know it's Collages and not you sending out the SPAM.

I like the other features they offer, but this "feature" has always nagged me.

[PictureCow]

OMG Jesus!! SEE that's exactly why this is really presumptuous of them!! How dare they email your clients.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I do NOT like collages.

[Clayton Wallace]

Oh wow, what a fabulous example of the need to be in control of this type of info. I don't use collages, and suspect I never will...

[M.Hall]

I just wrote a reply and then had an issue with the site, so ... getting to the punch so i don't have to retype the whole thing...: Are there other sites you would recommend using instead?

[PictureCow]

I am really like http://www.instaproofs.com/ First off they're FREE and only take 15% of the sale.

Check them out so far I am VERY happy and I know four other photographers using them who are also very pleased.

[JamesB]

my family had some portriates done earlier this year. the photog uses Collages for clients to view the photos. My sister set the session up with the photog and all that fun stuff.

my sister "shared" the photos with me and the wife and I viewed them, we made our purchase, but I still keep getting emails from Collages wanting me to view them again. its kinda a pain in the butt and I know I can just delete the email, but.... its still a pain in the butt

James

[M.Hall]

Wow - this is really great information, I really appreciate this thread. I had been reviewing sites and had a recommendation on Collages and it seemed the best so far. I was a bit thrown off already by the amount of emails I have received from them, as well as the personal phone call from one of their members of management. I thought that it was just good, and unique in this day and age, personal customer care/service. Before I get too far down this path, it is good to have these insights!!!! I appreciate any and all recommendations! Thanks, Laura!

[LEATHERNECK]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....you just helped me make my decision and saved me a
lot of regret. Will check out your recommendation on instaproofs. And I couldn't help but lol while reading your threads as each one the spit and vinegar kept getting thicker; was
just wondering- or imagining- what you would really be saying if face to face while having a jack on the rocks :)

[*Mike*]

I'm going to go check out Instaproofs.com right now... thanks! I have been using Pictology.com - they have worked well for me too. They're also free, but only if you keep up no more than 2 events at a time. I got tired of juggling events in order to try to keep it free.