Who do you use for "package prints"?

[boxofrocks]

I'm looking for a lab that allows me to upload photos and have a "package' (either their pre determined package, or one that I can create) of several size prints of the same image.

For example, Costco has A, B, and C packages, A being 1 8x12, 2 5x7s and 5 wallets, B= 1 8x12, 1 5x7, and 9 wallets, C= 2 5x7, 8 wallets. These are all printed on one or two sheets for the customer to cut.

Ideally, they would be individually packaged ready to go for the customer in an envelope, but If I have to put them together myself, I can do that, but there's no real advantage there(already doing that with Costco).

This is perfect for Prom, homecoming dance, HS sports banquets, etc.

Also, it might be nice to have the option of the customer ordering them online via a customer web interface (like smugmug, but no, they don't offer packages yet--very disappointing).

Is that service out there? I've heard printroom.com can do this, but not sure if they'd collate a bulk order to be shipped to me (assuming I've already collected payment).

Thanks!

[kamari]

YES! I hate to keep sounding like an advertisement for them but printroom, by far, goes above and beyond the other photo hosting sites i've seen. You can create up to 10 packages with sizes and prices you determine. It shows a suggested price and then shows you what the corresponding profit is as you change your prices. If you'd like, you can fool around in the shopping cart on my site (www.mygamepic.com).

Added-- It won't show you what it shows the member accessing the site though.

[boxofrocks]

If I ordered 30 different packages from the same account, would they come collated? I doubt it, just checking.

That's a great option for online sales, but for event sales where I'm taking payment up front, I'd ideally like someone that can send me the photos already in an envelope and ready to go. Otherwise, I may keep using Costco.

[kamari]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

If I ordered 30 different packages from the same account, would they come collated? I doubt it, just checking.

That's a great option for online sales, but for event sales where I'm taking payment up front, I'd ideally like someone that can send me the photos already in an envelope and ready to go. Otherwise, I may keep using Costco.

I'm not sure about the collating option, but they have this thing called a photo pass that you order from printroom. Basically it has a code set up on a coupon that you hand to the customer after they pay you that entitles them to go online and order the package that they've paid for. you work this out with printroom in advance for the photo passes. It's $1 for each photo pass you order, but they subtract $1 from each order processed, effectively making it a free service. Printroom bills you and not the customer, but the customer has already paid you and can now redeem their package from printroom.

They work great for handing out free photos at an event that you get paid upfront for, or for the folks who pay you upfront.

[cmalana]

have you looked at exposuremanager? You can define your own packages and are printed and shipped directly. If you take payment up front, you can provide a voucher that they can redeem online.

[boxofrocks]

Just to update the thread, I posted on DPR also, and I found two companies that do what I'm looking for:

CPQ

and

Rainbow Labs

Both offer exactly what I need--quality to be determined. More expensive than the Costco route (about $5.35 vs $2.99 for a similar package), but they are collated, saving me time and therefore money.

Since these would be direct sales with the payment collected up front, an online customer portal doesn't add value in this case.