Is this typical?

[Crashoran]

Is it typical to only receive less than 50% of each sale you make through online sales. For instance - after:

15% e-Commerce fee
Payment processing fee
Lab print charge
Lab shipping charge


A $102.95 order turns out to be $49.49 for: 11 4x6, 1 5x7, and 1 11x14

Maybe my prices are too low to cover all of this or my lab is charging too much?

[ndsimm]

I think it's a little of both...my print prices my not be high either, but when I print local or through smugmug, the costs are not nearly that high

[kronos2818]

Originally Posted by Crashoran

Is it typical to only receive less than 50% of each sale you make through online sales. For instance - after:

15% e-Commerce fee
Payment processing fee
Lab print charge
Lab shipping charge


A $102.95 order turns out to be $49.49 for: 11 4x6, 1 5x7, and 1 11x14

Maybe my prices are too low to cover all of this or my lab is charging too much?

I think you are paying to much to your photo lab. I use two labs, for my event photos I use Mpix.com their price on a 4x6 is $0.29 a 5x7 is $0.90 and an 11x14 is $6.99 plus a $4.00 3 to 5 day shipping fee or $9.00 over night fee. There is no added e-Commerce fee or Payment processing fee

So your order would be $11.97 plus shipping of $4.00 or (3to5 days) or $9.00 (overnight). Now for my weddings I use Miller's lab they are more expensive but now where near the prices you are paying.

Now it looks like you are using a third party service for your photos. What I mean is a site that you post your photos, your clients got to the site, see and order their pics. The site places your clients order with a lab for you charge and charges your clients for you.

Am I right, does your lab do all that for you? All you do is post the the photos and the lab does the rest?? If that is the case then that is why you are paying a 15% e-Commerce fee and a Payment processing fee.

Hope this helps

[Crashoran]

Can you upload photos to Mpix and have them mailed to somebody else?

I'm using photoreflect - they take the 15% fee and payment processing fee.

My lab charges $1.07 for a 4x6, $2.00 for a 5x7, and $10.45 for a 11x14 with $11 shipping

[12stones]

Originally Posted by Crashoran

Can you upload photos to Mpix and have them mailed to somebody else?

I'm using photoreflect - they take the 15% fee and payment processing fee.

My lab charges $1.07 for a 4x6, $2.00 for a 5x7, and $10.45 for a 11x14 with $11 shipping

Yes, MPIX will drop ship, but wouldn't you want to see the prints first anyway?

http://www.mpix.com/about/Shipping.aspx

[Shelby Lane]

It's all about "cost of goods." You're paying a lot of fees and if you're only getting 50% of the sale, then your prices are too low. You have to work those fees into your print prices, or keep the same print prices and find another lab that will put you at about 25% or less fulfillment (including shipping from the lab and to your client, if that's what you're doing, and packaging).

[CaptainTom]

In a nutshell..... no it's not typical and you should find a less expensive lab AND raise you prices.

[Shelby Lane]

Originally Posted by Crashoran

A $102.95 order turns out to be $49.49 for: 11 4x6, 1 5x7, and 1 11x14

Didn't notice what they were getting for the price till Cpt Tom posted. So... a really big DITTO to what he said.

[Crashoran]

Originally Posted by 12stones

Yes, MPIX will drop ship, but wouldn't you want to see the prints first anyway?

http://www.mpix.com/about/Shipping.aspx

I never see the prints.

Would anyone suggest a lab in the Austin area that does quality prints for a relatively low cost?

[kenmcphotos]

WHCC will drop ship for a small fee$7.50. But you have to upload the order and collect payment yourself. That order, drop shipped to your customer would be about $21.00 you cost.