Costco dropping photos entirely: I got a letter from them today saying they are shutting down all photo processing Jan 28 and that I can switch to shutterbug (who I personally hate).

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

I got a letter from them today saying they are shutting down all photo processing Jan 28 and that I can switch to shutterbug (who I personally hate). It is too bad as they did a decent job on smaller prints at a decent price.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

Ednsb wrote:

I got a letter from them today saying they are shutting down all photo processing Jan 28 and that I can switch to shutterbug (who I personally hate). It is too bad as they did a decent job on smaller prints at a decent price.

You could always find out what labs they used and send them directly. Costco was only an intermediary anyway...

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Ednsb wrote:

I got a letter from them today saying they are shutting down all photo processing Jan 28 and that I can switch to shutterbug (who I personally hate). It is too bad as they did a decent job on smaller prints at a decent price.

Costco is the company I've used for years for my annual gift calendars. I hope Shutterfly is up to the challenge.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Ednsb wrote:

I got a letter from them today saying they are shutting down all photo processing Jan 28 and that I can switch to shutterbug (who I personally hate). It is too bad as they did a decent job on smaller prints at a decent price.

I’m surprised they had continued this far.
They tend to make their money on high-volume products.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

terryMc wrote:

You could always find out what labs they used and send them directly. Costco was only an intermediary anyway...

I don’t know for a fact, but I think once they gave up in-house processing that they may have moved it all to a central location(s).
They had huge investments in processing equipment. Photo processing is a very high profit margin. When the in store real estate became less profitable than using it for other retail products, I suspect they centralized it.
They probably out sourced products like metal prints which require large heat presses, but the fact they are out sourcing to Shutterfly tells me it finally become less profitable to do it at all.

jgudpns Loc: Pensacola, FL

The same letter (that I received) states that: "Costco members will receive 51% off every Shutterfly order plus free shipping on orders over $49"

So I don't know if that means that discount applies only currently, or anytime a Costco member orders...

agillot

My wife has been using shutterfly for years , nothing wrong with them .

Bill_de Loc: US

Something that may be important to Costco users:

The retailer also told its photo center users that projects such as books, calendars, greeting cards or collage prints saved to its site would not be transferable to Shutterfly.

“Projects saved on CostcoPhotoCenter.com will not be available at Shutterfly,” Costco wrote. “If you’ve started a project at CostcoPhotoCenter.com, CostcoDVD.com, or CostcoBusinessPrinting.com or would like extra copies of earlier projects, your order must be placed prior to January 28.”

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/01/05/costco-closing-its-online-photo-center-opting-for-shutterfly-instead/

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gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I read that COSTCO is giving a discount from Shutterfly pricing through its agreement with Shutterfly plus some enhanced services.

St.Mary's

Just an FYI. Needed some prints so I took the Canon Selphy off the shelf. Soon found out that sitting alone and unused for a couple years, after many good years, resulted in Selphy going to printer heaven. Nearby Wal Mart saved the day with very nice 4 X 6 glossy prints for 26 cents each. Self service with immediate print out.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

I have used Shutterfly for many years. I have become proficient with its process for designing photo books and have no complaints about quality. I do believe it overcharges for shipping, which has always bugged me.

Coincidentally I just ordered my first metal print from Costco, which turned out very good.

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

We have used Shutterfly for many years to make a calendar at Christmas for the upcoming year that features pictures of our family. Their product is superb and their service is tops. I can emphaticallly endorse Shutterfly for their service and products, never had a problem in all these years.

Trapper1

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Ednsb wrote:

I got a letter from them today saying they are shutting down all photo processing Jan 28 and that I can switch to shutterbug (who I personally hate). It is too bad as they did a decent job on smaller prints at a decent price.

Sam's Club did the same some time ago. They used to do fast and cheap. I used to print cheap 8x12s looking for imperfections until I bought higher quality monitor. Printing vs the floor space for high quality printers and volume leaves little profit. Sam's now pimps out the sale of phones in the store to an independent outfit. Retailing is changing....

whitehall Loc: Canada

I wonder if this applies to Canadian Costco shores. In Ottawa they centralized processing a couple of years ago, but provided you wee prepared to travel a half hour the service was there.

For Christmas calendars I use Vista, not great but acceptable. Now, I am looking for suggestions for a photo book project About 100 travel and landscape images. Thanks.

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

They did centralize when they closed the in store printing. For the price they couldn’t be beat especially with free shipping. I got glossy or mat 8x12 for under $2. So I could print images for friends or family and have Costco deliver them. If the image was printed poorly I could return them at the local Costco for a full refund.

Even when Shutterfly or others have sales their shipping costs double the cost of printings. I do not have a local Walmart but Walgreens, cvs, and target don’t match the quality plus I can’t find ICC profiles for their printers like I could for Costco.