• Shutterfly

Shutterfly

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Overview

Shutterfly has a rating of 1.4 stars from 975 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Shutterfly most frequently mention customer service, christmas cards, and photo book problems. Shutterfly ranks 143rd among Photo Printing sites.

  • Service
    284
  • Value
    264
  • Shipping
    271
  • Returns
    162
  • Quality
    236

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 8.9%
Positive
7
Neutral
0
Negative
72
160
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How would you rate Shutterfly?
Top Positive Review

“Beautiful Books and Cards”

Wanda K.
2/15/24

I've created 27 projects over the past 15 years on Shutterfly. This includes 15 different photo books. Each and every time, I've always received excellent, professional customer service and beautiful books. I custom design all my books. There may have been a couple of times over the years that I needed Shutterfly to help with a mistake. However, they stand behind there products 100%. If you aren't an experienced design person then ask for help. Use high quality photos! Remember Shutterfly didn't take the pictures. The photo quality of books and cards depend on what you upload. Low quality photos will create poor quality projects; so don't blame Shutterfly for your photos. They will make what you approve. Start your project early enough to allow for help and receive book in ample time in case the book or cards need to be possibly replaced if it's the direct fault of Shutterfly.

Top Critical Review

“Poor performance”

Beth T.
8/23/24

I ordered three photo books. The order was processed, they gave me a delivery date and then only one book came in the mail. No explanation- I figured it was an error and called customer service. I was told that it would come in two shipments---Why? This makes no sense and was a huge inconvenience. Now I see all the complaints I understand this is not a one off. I will not use them again. Way too expensive for such poor service!

Reviews (975)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

christmas cards (114) photo book (92) delivery date (44) customer service (366) photo books (92)
Thumbnail of user dianeu127
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 29th, 2020

I have ordered from Shutterfly for years however this last time, the pictures were terrible. The pictures were off center, heads were cut off on many of the pictures and there is no way to contact a person to speak with.
Would not recommend

Thumbnail of user davem121
Pennsylvania
1 review
6 helpful votes
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July 29th, 2015

I ordered an apron for my wife's birthday. I paid extra for shipping so it would arrive on time. The website stated the delivery date was "guaranteed". It did not even ship by that date. I told them if it didn't arrive by that date to cancel the order. Instead they shipped it late. They said they would refund the extra shipping charges which they did not. The customer service rep didn't even address my questions but instead responded to something else that I didn't even ask. Please DO NOT purchase from Shutterfly, go somewhere else.

Service
Value
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Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user noreenw23
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 2nd, 2022

Decided to try Shutterfly this year for my holiday cards. After 4 days of trying to complete a photo card because the site kept freezing then NOT saving my project, I decided to go back to my reliable Vistaprint and completed my card in 20 minutes. Shutterfly waisted my precious time and my time is too valuable. I even reach out to customer service and they were absolutely no help.

Tip for consumers:
CHECK OUT OTHER MORE RELIABLE SITES

Products used:
NOTHING THEY COULD NOT GET SITE TO WORK

Thumbnail of user jamieo40
Massachusetts
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 9th, 2019

I ordered a photobook and when it arrived, over half the photos were missing. Although I was given a small discount to reorder, I still had to pay $40 to get it reprinted (keep in mind this is after purchasing the book the first time around for over $60). I do not plan to ever shop here again. A customer should not pay to correct an error that was NOT my fault.

Thumbnail of user michelleg692
Rhode Island
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 21st, 2020

Recently married and wanted to get a print for the wall. I have purchased a photo book in the past and liked it. I was drawn to the simple design/layout of the print, so I placed an order. I should have taken the reviews at face value because they were right. (They are gone now.) The print was nice, but the frame is total garbage. It doesn't even have glass, so good luck cleaning it. I paid almost $40 for a frame that could easily be replaced with one from the dollar store and still be better quality. The piece of flimsy cardboard that is the back of the frame is all warped and wavy and I can not believe I paid almost $70 and this is what I got. Never again. Total rip off.

Thumbnail of user angeld128
New York
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 21st, 2020

Difficult to get in touch with and no agents on line to answer your call. They did not process their promo code and used wrong picture for the front of the card. Waited almost an hour on line with no response

Thumbnail of user joseec
Canada
4 reviews
6 helpful votes
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March 10th, 2015

Quality was very good site was easy to use. I am simply bitter about the shipping. My grandfather was very ill and I was going to visit him on the Saturday and was hoping to bring him a Christmas card that I ordered from Shutterfly (delivery was suppose to have arrived the Thursday/2 days before). It didn't. He ended up passing away the Sunday/following day. My cards arrived the Monday. Late deliveries irritate me, obviously even more in this case BUT the site is easy to use, they often have promotions going on, and the quality is great. I still give it 4/5 stars

Thumbnail of user monar12
Oregon
1 review
3 helpful votes
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May 18th, 2017

The photos of my son had part of his head cut off. I have spent half a day trying to get customer service to help me. Absolutely no customer service. Can's speak to a person, the online chat person can't help with this issue. It took me forever to even get a phone number to call. Called the number and the hold time is 20 minutes. Who has time for this. I paid way too much for these useless photos and have no recourse. I am going to have to file a claim with my credit card company to try to get my money back.

Thumbnail of user isaiahs18
Texas
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 24th, 2018

Tried to use a $25 gift card given to my wife by a friend, the website ate the gift card and didnt allow her to use it. Now after 30 minutes of trouble shooting, I cant even contact customer support. One of the most ridiculously, poorly ran websites Ive ever come across.

Thumbnail of user carlal19
Minnesota
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2016

I am surprised that I am the first to notice this... the website CLEARLY states the cards are 5 x 7, but they are not~I noticed right away after opening the package. They measure 4 3/4 x 6 3/4. I'm sorry, but when your site says a size it should be accurate. When I called customer service, they said the card is smaller than 5 x 7 because the envelopes re 5 x 7. But guess what? The envelopes are 7 1/4 x 5 1/4. I have ordered Xmas cards for 20+ years and have never encountered this. I will not be a repeat customer, as the cards were more epensive than others, and also took much longer than I anticipated, when you can get much faster service at other places for xmas cards. The picture quality is fine, but with 7 people in the picture, utilizing every 1/4" does make a difference.

Thumbnail of user niak7
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 3rd, 2020

I've been a fan of Shutterfly for four years, and I've never been disappointed in them. My latest order for 4x6 prints was scheduled to arrive on a Wednesday, but it came on a Monday instead. Early shipping every single time I order! The quality of the products is also great and my photos are always sent cropped the way I want them to be. I love printing photos with them, personalizing my own calendar, and the art prints! These guys easily beat any other photo marketer for me, and I will continue to use them for a long time!

Thumbnail of user erikaw15
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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January 11th, 2017

I ordered a photo book and a 11 x 14 framed cardstock print from Shutterfly on 12/29. The framed print finally arrived today... with no glass. The quality of the printing is cheap and terrible. They offered to replace the print on an expedited basis, but they say it will still take a week. No word as to when the photo book will arrive.

There are plenty of fast and reliable photo printing services out there. I will not do business with Shutterfly again.

Thumbnail of user kennethi176
Colorado
3 reviews
2 helpful votes
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July 18th, 2023

The quality of the printing is not nearly as good and the paper used was a much lower quality in terms of paper grade, thickness and and feel than Costco photo ever was. I used to use Costco because it was a great value for the money. Shutterfly is not the same. Find someone else, even if it costs a little more; it will be worth it and spare you the disappointment.
Also, Costco used to ship photos flat, shutterfly rolled them up which resulted in roll marks on the photos after trying to flatten them. Due to the thinness and lower quality of the paper.

Products used:
Print

Thumbnail of user danicav
California
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 9th, 2013

Worst service ever! Twice now they have doubled my order and double charged me! When you try to contact them they don't respond to emails, the customer service line puts you on hold (been holding for thirty minutes now) and the live chat says the average wait time for that is 25 minutes! This is the worst customer service I have ever encountered!

Thumbnail of user kristinw134
Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2020

I placed my order with Shutterfly on the 11th of December, I called today to check on the order (when it would be shipped) and the customer service rep first told me they can't give me shipping information (I paid the maximum extra) so I said fine, but asked when will my order be completed at Shutterfly. I was again told they could not give me a date when they would actually print my order almost five days later. I understand that shipping is delayed but blaming their backlog on shipping is unacceptable and unprofessional. I used to love Tiny Prints but now that it is owned by Shutterfly it's just not worth the hassle. If they want to keep customers they should be honest and own it. Will never order from Shutterfly ever again.

Thumbnail of user fw20
New York
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 18th, 2017

Their coupons are amazing, but at checkout the shipping is exhorbant! Never heard of so much money spent on shipping! When ordering more than one item, shipping goes up by $10 each item! That is where they make their money! Keep out!

Thumbnail of user justint42
Ukraine
114 reviews
1,650 helpful votes
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December 25th, 2015

We ordered on the 12th of December and still don't have our cards. It's now passed onto the post office so who the hell knows when we'll get them. Even the slowest lowest rate shipping should have had them delivered by now.

Thumbnail of user michelem98
Kansas
33 reviews
84 helpful votes
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December 20th, 2018

I have never been disappointed by their quality. I have used their products for gifts and have had great results. But I only use them when there is a good deal. Their regular prices and shipping costs are just too high.

Shipping times and processing are a decent speed.

I just wish there was more variety. If you just got married or had a child, there is a lot. But they do need to expand the general population designs.

I am impressed with their continued expansion of types of items, though. It's amazing what you can get personalized - They just need more designs

They push their app but it's a nightmare. The variety is even more restricted and so are your options in customizing things. Crossing items designed on the website or app usually can't be crossed to the other platform. Just stick with the website no matter how many pop ups you see.

Thumbnail of user po33
New Jersey
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 13th, 2020

My child took their picture at their school for picture day, and we got the picture today. I was very disappointed at the result. They edited out a lot of my child's hair. My child's head looked like a square. Not looking forward to buying their pictures again.

Thumbnail of user donaldg589
North Carolina
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
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November 15th, 2022

I can't believe u have the "superficial family" the fake Kardashians doing your commercials. I was about to order photos when I saw that.since I went on FB and made sure ny community was aware of u promoting fake over "real" family values.I will never order from u and will make sure everyone knows where u stand.fake people that r not your average American.

Thumbnail of user markr101
New York
1 review
3 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2014

Worst company ever

They screwed up our Christmas cards this year. They sent our cards in a shutterfly marketing packet, as if my cards were a sample in a marketing materials packet. Most of our friends didn't even know we had a card buried in their ad packet and threw the ad in the garbage. For those who actually opened and found our card, we were incredibly embarrassed that our friends and family received our card that way buried among marketing material.

After spending 1.5 hours on phone with customer service, they would not agree to redo the order the right way for free--with a card, in an envelope...

We are leaving this horrible service. Been with them for years. I hope they enjoy losing loyal customers like us. Run away!

Thumbnail of user dianel1544
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 6th, 2023
Verified purchase

Briefly I purchased a PHOTO BLANKETwhich cost $69! It was for my son's birthday so I swallowed the price. I am so disappointed with the thinness and the color quality of this blanket! The quality has gone down. Also my post it note is not correct but because I didn't check it it got printed with the mistake. It was a spacing issue. I am considering to shop elsewhere, though I love the products Shutterfly offers.

Tip for consumers:
Be sure you check previews befor ordering printed material mi would advise against the fleece blankets

Products used:
Used them all

Thumbnail of user brianj106
California
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
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July 2nd, 2017

I stupidly downloaded this application. It pulls ALL your photos out of your files before you know it and you can't stop iot. AND they will not let you deactivate your account or delete it unless you call them or do a chat but even if you do a chat the operator says it can take 72 hours. It has been five days now and my acc0ouint and all my photos are still on their site. It's horrible!

Thumbnail of user amyj1243
Washington
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
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May 15th, 2022
Verified purchase

Shutterfly is amazing, though they could improve their mobile website to be more user friendly, their editing process needs work as it's pretty glitchy. Their prices are very reasonable for their product.
Their only issue is their shipping is INSANE, they are a large enough successful company to lower or do away with their shipping costs all together. At the very least lower the minimum price for free shipping.
The shipping prices is where they get you, they overcharge big time for shipping.

Tip for consumers:
Shipping is wildly expensive. While it's ALMOST worth it, you could probably find a different website that charges less for shipping. I hope they change their tune soon.

Products used:
I've ordered dozens of products.
Acrylic photos on a mount - prints - mouse pad - photo books - canvas prints etc.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user colleenb19
Canada
1 review
8 helpful votes
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October 5th, 2015

I called last week to shutterfly because I was not happy with the photo book that came in the mail. When I called to let them know and the customer service representative said would credit my credit card. I called them today to ask why my credit card was not credited. They made me wait 45 minutes before a manager answered the line. I cannot believe that they would. Make a customer wait that long on hold. Never in my life has that happened. When the manager came back on the phone she said sorry we don't give refunds.

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From the business

Create photo books, personalize photo cards & stationery, and share photos with family and friends at Shutterfly.com.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user levih42
Levi H.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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