New Pro Lab offering

[boxofrocks]

Well, the new "Pro Lab" addition and changes to the pricing page came out, but this apparently has not addressed several issues that have been requested for some time.

The "Multiple Galleries > Set Prices" page remains in a more or less random order, making it difficult to apply prices to several different galleries if you already have scores of them, and unless I'm missing something, is no easier to use than before.

Also, I still don't see anything about packages or coupons--should we be expecting another announcement? I hope so, I mean for goodness sake, how long do we have to beg?!?!

I suppose it's great news if all you wanted was another lab to choose from, otherwise, my review is as follows:



Please, please, show me I missed something!!

[SmugMug]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Also, I still don't see anything about packages or coupons--should we be expecting another announcement? I hope so, I mean for goodness sake, how long do we have to beg?!?!

Our top two priorities for 2009 were to release Bay Photo integration and Coupons. Coupons are in the works and yes, we know it is long over due but for some reason I think I already told you this last month. http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ro+lab+smugmug

[brad]

Love smugmug .. but Bay Photo? What happened to giving us a choice of self-fulfillment?

[SmugMug]

Originally Posted by brad

Love smugmug .. but Bay Photo? What happened to giving us a choice of self-fulfillment?

Have you had a bad experience with Bay? Self-fulfillment is on our to-do.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by SmugMug

Our top two priorities for 2009 were to release Bay Photo integration and Coupons. Coupons are in the works and yes, we know it is long over due but for some reason I think I already told you this last month. http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ro+lab+smugmug

With all due respect, when one continually admits one's self wrong, that doesn't make one right.

Coupons and packages are things we have been told are in the works for years now. If they aren't a part of Smugmug in the next couple of months, there's a very good chance I won't be, either. I guess you guys won't miss the measly $5,000 in gross revenue I've generated for Smugmug (that's not my gross sales, that's the portion of my sales you have retained), but if I have to vote with my feet, that's what it will come down to. I'm running a business, and a sexy interface just isn't enough to keep me.

[gregt1310]

I'm with you Tom. I was really hoping for self-fulfillment. Coupons and packages run a close second.

Markham - can you be a little more specific on when in 2009 coupons will be available? First half or second half of the year? What about packages?

Thanks.

[SmugMug]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

With all due respect, when one continually admits one's self wrong, that doesn't make one right.

Coupons and packages are things we have been told are in the works for years now. If they aren't a part of Smugmug in the next couple of months, there's a very good chance I won't be, either. I guess you guys won't miss the measly $5,000 in gross revenue I've generated for Smugmug (that's not my gross sales, that's the portion of my sales you have retained), but if I have to vote with my feet, that's what it will come down to. I'm running a business, and a sexy interface just isn't enough to keep me.

Coupons have been on the to-do list for quite awhile but they have never been at the top of the to-do list. Now they are. We are actively working on them right now but to do them right it is going to take some time.

We hoped to have them out before WPPI but that is not going to happen.

[SmugMug]

Originally Posted by gregt1310

I'm with you Tom. I was really hoping for self-fulfillment. Coupons and packages run a close second.

Markham - can you be a little more specific on when in 2009 coupons will be available? First half or second half of the year? What about packages?

Thanks.

Coupons are being worked on right now. Packages are a phase 2 of Coupons and I have no clue on their timing.

Coupons we hope to have out the first half of 2009.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by SmugMug

Coupons have been on the to-do list for quite awhile but they have never been at the top of the to-do list. Now they are. We are actively working on them right now but to do them right it is going to take some time.

We hoped to have them out before WPPI but that is not going to happen.

Well, as customers it's difficult for us to make decisions based on such a vague product road map. Having worked for a software company, I can understand your reluctance to give one given the rate of slippage for timetables in the industry, but "it's coming" isn't quite enough info for me to make decisions.

I'm more than a little disappointed at the lack of information exchange between SM and your pro customers on vital offerings such as this that your competitors already have. This will be an integral part of my business plan moving forward, and if I don't see a working solution in the next couple of months, I may have to move on.

Please understand, that's not a threat--I wouldn't do that, and even if I did I doubt it would grease the rails any. I just need to do what's best for my livelihood.

[gregt1310]

Tom - just saw this on DGrin. It was a comment from Andy:


Quote:

"The new lab is cool and everything but since I mainly shoot sports, packages and coupons are a lot more important".
In the works- coupons first - and we just hired a very experienced Sorcerer to start working on packages NOW!
__________________
Andy

[boxofrocks]

I know. He told me the same thing in an email.

Still no earthly idea of when they plan on rolling anything out, and they won't even give a hint. I understand they don't want to look bad if things slip, and don't want competition to know what they're up to, but I can't plan my business around fuzzy commitments like that.

I suppose I have a couple of months before I have to decide. Maybe they'll come up with something before then.