Album company and your experience with them

[Devochka]

Hi All,

I was just wondering if you guys are willing to pose which album company you have used and/or use on a regualar basis. What has been your experience with the company and their customer service. What products you usually order from them and how often your customers choose the specific product. How long you have been using them and are you planning to stay or switch and why.

I know there is a thread started by Mike of album companies, but not many have replied about their experience with a lot of the ones specified in that thread.

Anyone willing to provide some input? I know the questions are a bit general for some situation, but I think for a lot of us who are starting out in the photography business this information would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance for all of your time and input.

Olga

[Silvernic]

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ead.php?t=8231

[akimartymar]

Originally Posted by Silvernic

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ead.php?t=8231

Nic, she noted that she was already aware of that sticky. What Olga is asking is for a recommendation of sorts for a particular company. The sticky is basically a list of companies but not really any input on who produces quality albums and how competitively priced they are. I am curious of the same info. I haven't been offering an album but am not looking to offer both a low-end and high end album. I've been researching prices and albums for the past couple of weeks but would also be curious to hear what others think of particular companies. Also if you let that company design the album, what kind of job do they do?

[Devochka]

Thanks Martin. I usually try to explain my self clearly but I guess sometimes I need to do a better job at it.

Yes, I meant that I did see the sticky thread and have actually contacted some of those companies. But I would really like to find out what experience photographers have or had with any of these guys.

Thanks,
Olga

[imagesbyadam]

Can't go wrong with Leather Craftsman

[HotHolly]

We primarily use Art Leather and Asuka. Art Leather has insanely high shipping considering its being sent UPS Ground (like $15 for a little box of mats). The weight and the price dont line up. They have said they may lower their shipping rates. This past year Art Leather relocated their business on Long Island, NY to Hicksville. Their transition went well and we didnt have any orders affected.

Turn around time for AL is SLOW. Our primary product we were ordering from them on a reg. basis was the photo fun book, which has been discontinued. :o( Turn around time on that was about 6-8 weeks if we sent them the photos. Not sure how long if it was all done in house (Its a little board book, in case you havent seen one - heres a little shot)
Not sure if we will continue to use them. Their product is excellent, customer service is nice (for NYers) and helpful. We had a customer be relocated out of country during Christmas. They uped their shipping to FedEx Overnight at no charge to make sure it got here b4 she left town. I like their image box and their traditional albums are super posh.

Asuka Book - what can I say? They have impressed me. THey are faster than Art Leather and shipping from farther away. They are easy to use (in terms of uploading to them). They have a guideline template you can use, so you dont have to make your own. Their product is nice - especially their top of the line book. Its a good product at a good price. Plus they are supposed to be coming out with a leather album cover shortly. Cant wait to see that.

Asuka also called us once to check on our layout. I had a little image on the back cover go into their red feild - where the barcode goes. It was placed like that on purpose and just part of the cover design. Anyway a rep called to make sure it could go to print since and image would be affected by the barcode. I was shocked they called. They seem on top of things. Fast and friendly too.

We also use GraphiStudio occasionally. I love their books, but I've heard their CS stinks. So far, I havent had that issue. Our regional rep is ok and helpful. I have an order going into them shortly, so we'll see if we walk away issue free.

We've also ordered TAP products from Wooden Nickel, mostly things other than albums - like proof boxes or event folios. You get what you pay for - their stuff is nice looking, but not made to last a lifetime. Someone that has their albums may be more helpful specifically on albums.

There is a new company we are looking at from the trade show - konpoli. We are looking at them, mainly for something different. They have crystal embedded in leather covers and they looked really nice. So far I havent gotten my hands on a sample, besides seeing them at the show.

Hope that helps a little bit...

[Devochka]

Thank you Holly! This is exactly what I was looking for. Great info! Thanks a bunch!


Anyone else? Feel free to pitch in.

Thanks,

Olga

[Devochka]

Thank you Adam. :-)

[Silvernic]

Alright, alright, I hang my head in shame.

I use albums unlimitted (http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...bums+unlimited)
and order their Kingston Flush Mount albums. Quality is amazing. Customer Service is very friendly. And price is lower than comparable books. Turn around time is about 6 weeks.
My main complaint is that their rush fee is about $100 bucks and the one time I used it, it didn't seem like they rushed really fast.

[HotHolly]

Millers also will sell and assemble albums - if you are worried about the IMounts sticking in the wrong spot. *Mike* won't touch them, I do all of those. I accidentally flinched and dropped a print on one of Art Leathers IMount folios (or whatever they call them) and it was super stuck. So Millers is a good choice if you dont want to waste your time, or if you flinch a lot. I think they use AL.

[HotHolly]

Oh, and I do have to say - that everyone we use (except Asuka) has the most crazy ordering forms you've ever seen. 5 million options and little diagrams, with separate price sheets, and if you've never seen it before, you could pretty much give up being a photog right there.

Asuka was the easiest to use, figure out prices, and options. I'm guessing that is why the other companies rely on reps to help you get started.

[Devochka]

Great info. Thanks guys/gals. and thank you Nic! :-)

[Slight Clutter]

Yes, great info! Thank you so much Adam, Nic, and Holly. And thanks to Olga for starting this thread. Very valuable information about a topic that intimidates me to tears. (Okay, not really to tears, but pretty darn much!)

[LadyShutterBug]

I like Renaissance. Their product quality has never failed ot meet my expectations, and they have a software program that will help you with layouts and such if you want. That was a major selling point for me (and they had this long before some of the other companies decided to offer it).

They do both lower end and higher end, slip in, sticky-mount, and super-custom books. They span the entire price-range spectrum, and offer a variety of sizes.

I have ordered stock stuff through Albums, Inc. and also ordered straight from Renaissance (Album X Corp).

you can go to www.thebookalbum.com