• 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): 8.8%
Positive
7
Neutral
0
Negative
73
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 marym435
Pennsylvania
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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December 23rd, 2016

"guaranteed delivery if ordered by." didn; t happen. Dealing with customer service was hellish. On the same day got two different responses ( after contacting twice before) with second person decent enough to re-ship the products which isn't much of a solution since the calendars will arrive after the guests go home. They offered free shipping ( by donkey cart?) on next order, but next order is not happening. Once they may have had the market on these items but there are other better choices these days.

Thumbnail of user chelseab35
Wisconsin
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 20th, 2017

Seeing as they charge $9 a piece for save the date magnets I would at least expect them to come with envelopes to send them in. Tried to contact customer service without any response. Will definitely be taking my business elsewhere next time!

Thumbnail of user amw10
Iowa
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 9th, 2022

Had a small order, only wanted 5 photos to frame and it's been 2 weeks and the order is still in "carrier awaiting item" status. How is this possible? Good thing I'm not on a huge time crunch or I'd be really po'ed! Customer service is a joke too. Good luck getting any help from an actual person. Looks like they have lost yet another loyal customer!

Products used:
Photos

Service
Value
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Quality
Thumbnail of user jaym209
Georgia
5 reviews
2 helpful votes
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December 13th, 2016

Package just came via UPS. Opened, packing slip missing and cards are poor quality.

I called and automated system said 52 minutes to hear from someone.

Then got stuck in loop trying to get a call back. Not using Shutterfly again.

Thumbnail of user monicad32
New York
1 review
3 helpful votes
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October 15th, 2016

After having ordered several photo books and been mostly happy I took advantage of their "free" print promo (they charged me $10 shipping for envelope weighing few ounces). The prints are awful-about half cut off part of the picture! Never never never again. I wanted prints of my dog who had recently passed away, getting a bunch of prints with his head missing was so upsetting. There is absolutely no quality control whatsoever.

Thumbnail of user richardm810
California
3 reviews
0 helpful votes
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December 20th, 2020

Don't even think about trying to contact customer service through email, phone or chat. It ain't happening. All I wanted was to find out why I didn't get free shipping when I met their criteria. $15 bucks for a 2 week wait on my order.

Thumbnail of user margek9
New Jersey
1 review
1 helpful vote
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October 27th, 2019

I've ordered hundreds of dollars worth of Shutterfly items, and, almost always, I'm very satisfied with the results. HOWEVER, when they promote items as "Free," they still charge a portion of the price. That's NOT free. This has happened on the last two of my orders. I'm fed up. It's impossible to reach them by phone (After robot voice says "hold on..." the phone disconnects every time.) Likewise, reaching them by Chat or email doesn't work as site shuts down after I hit "customer service" link. [order **************474 and **************450)] What's going on?

Thumbnail of user ceejaym3
Colorado
1 review
7 helpful votes
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May 16th, 2021

I know things are tough with shipping during covid. I received half of my order within a week. The second half, however is going on 3 weeks. Multiple duplicate shipping updates, no tracking number just Shutterfly telling you the updates, delivery date pushed back 4 times. Now, says my order was delivered yesterday and I still have not got it. Customer service is non existent. Just go to Wal-mart. Cheaper, faster, better quality.

Tip for consumers:
Go to Walmart. Faster, cheaper, better quality

Products used:
Never received any to begin with

Service
Value
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Thumbnail of user janetc1722
Wyoming
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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May 14th, 2023

Ordered a gift for mothers day, Shipping department backed up didn't receive notice of this until I called and it was too late. Shipped expedited with wrong address to top it off UPS still hasn't sent it out and who knows when it will be received. Nothing from shutterfly.com for a reimbursement! Never again

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Value
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Thumbnail of user jackiel66
New York
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 12th, 2017

Dealing with Shutterfly has been a borderline nightmare this month and I should be getting paid for this based on the amount of time I have spent dealing since it is almost the same as a full time job. Instead I get to attempt multiple times and fail to pay them. Actually they ran the credit card but didn't place the order so many times that my husbands credit card was flagged and cut off. Luckily he noticed this while trying to buy groceries with our 1 and 2 year olds. After spending almost an hour on the phone with them to try to resolve the issue after 8 days of them not resolving the issue in writing I thought I was finally getting somewhere only to have them hang up on me and immediately encounter the same problem. The absolute worst and I would never use them again. Also in case you are curious their mobile app and desktop site are not meant to communicate. Why would any company even bother building something like that now.

Thumbnail of user lilliana107
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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June 25th, 2022

Long time (15 years) Shutterfly customer NOW website has gotten worse: slow, prints defaults to glossy but menu is elsewhere, easy to miss, does NOT work with Firefox. Can not edit address book. Instructions nowhere on page to pick up in store. Website still adds on shipping with no way to remove the shipping charge... terrible website only good thing is you will get a confirmation email and at the very bottom,,, scroll you can cancel your order in 30 minutes... Not paying for shipping when I am picking up. Shipping charges very steep. Not using this site again.

Tip for consumers:
see why problems you can tolerate and can't.
I do not do well with websites that function poorly and waste my time.

Products used:
NONE

Thumbnail of user annettei31
Colorado
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
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December 9th, 2022

I am shocked about the decline of the quality of their Christmas card prints. Have been ordering for over 10 years and the quality was always good. Spent a bundle in cards this year and I'm they look like photos printed on newspaper. Absolutely terrible quality. They must be cutting corners while charging more. Should have just gone to Walmart or Walgreens. Same quality.

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Value
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Quality
Thumbnail of user ericop
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2020

After paying extra $65 for delivery of a $57 dollars other. Ordered yesterday at 11 pm. Saying that my order would arrive by 12/19. First thing this morning at 8:02 am I received a email saying my order should arrive at 12/24 or further down. So me and my wife called customer service to cancel the other but this is a well bad training company, witch keeps transferring the calls to new agents so you have to explain all the facts over and over. Do not used then. I find out the Walmart do have same service for a fraction of the price. Plus they with one hours. To Shutterfly when my Christmas cards arrive after Christmas I will still have some memories of your $#*!ty service

Thumbnail of user emb18
Michigan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2020

I ordered Christmas Cards from Shutterfly. They were supposed to have shipped on 12/2. It is 12/15 and they have no idea when the Christmas cards will be delivered to me. So I asked for a refund. They will not give me one until after the holidays. What sense does that make? Also, their phone lines are shut down so everything happens through chat. When asked to speak to a manager or any real person, the chat ends abruptly. I've started 5 separate chats to try to get a refund. They all end in the same way. To say I'm dissatisfied is an understatement. I will never use Shutterfly again and I'm hoping you take my advice and save yourself a headache and lost $.

Thumbnail of user jessical32
Utah
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 26th, 2013

I love Shutterfly! I recently made a photo book for my mom's birthday and, after researching other similar websites, decided to go with Shutterfly because it had the most options while allowing me the most freedom and creativity, all for a reasonable price. After applying a coupon I got from Burlington, I paid $25 for a priceless BEAUTIFUL book. Shutterfly always has some kind of promotion going on (i. E., free shipping on orders over $30) and coupons are very common and easy to come by. They say to allow 5-10 business days for processing and shipment, but I received my order just 3 days later! The site is very user-friendly and customer service has always been cheerful and helpful. Love Shutterfly and my photo book - you won't be disappointed!

Thumbnail of user deniseh295
Minnesota
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 28th, 2019

Items ordered Dec. 13, paid extra for "guaranteed delivery" promised by Dec. 20; Still waiting with possible receipt by Dec. 30. Shutterfly did not honor discount that was listed on website for the item I chose; customer service can do nothing about anything...

Thumbnail of user judih30
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 17th, 2019

Holiday cards arrived with no photos! They claim that there was a problem with transmission -- however, Shutterfly failed to contact us and sent out blank cards with our names printed on them.
Do Not Use This Company!

Thumbnail of user katies462
Ohio
1 review
16 helpful votes
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December 19th, 2019

Annoying photo editor - wasn't sure about the supposed discount but I went with it - photo book should have been delivered 12/18. Today is 12/19 - the tracking hasn't been updated since 12/16. The issue though is that you cannot reach customer service. Chat is unavailable - no way to send a message - I will never use Shutterfly again - at this point I doubt I will receive this gift in time for Christmas. It was shipped 12/12/19 - plenty of time

Thumbnail of user rc139
California
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 28th, 2017

I have been unable to checkout for three days, trying various browsers, different credit cards and always getting a "We're sorry; the page you're trying to reach is temporarily unavailable" after submitting card. I called in to customer service and reached one employee (Mo) who was rude, and I asked to speak to a supervisor. Upon reaching a senior specialist (Dianne), she was surprisingly even more rude with a poor attitude telling me she didn't know what my problem was - while interrupting me while I was trying to explain the issue. Facebook support was tangibly helpful and gave specific advice, but I'd stay away from phone support until they do more customer service training.

Thumbnail of user jenniferv202
Washington
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 21st, 2018

I am a long time Shutterfly customer but in the future I plan to look elsewhere. I ordered two photo blankets- one for each of my daughters for Christmas on Dec. 1st. On Dec 18 I received a package with only one blanket in it! After several failed attempts to chat with someone (and a 73 minutes wait time by phone) I finally got someone who responded to me. She re-ordered the missing blanket and told me "even with Expedited Shipping I would not receive my order until mid-January!" This is crazy. There is no way it should take that long! When I complained further by email I still got the standard scripted response. I will never use this company again!

Thumbnail of user xx171
Luxembourg
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 28th, 2022

The original order was delayed and then damaged in printing making it useless. The reprint was ordered but instead of being rushed as promised (still late for the holiday gift) it was to take even longer than otherwise.
All that accompanied by multiple lies and promises never fulfilled by all levels of customer support and leadership team makes one feel completely ignored and lets customer know the company just does not care and thinks can get away with anything.

Tip for consumers:
Avoid like a plague

Service
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user eduardoq1
New Hampshire
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 21st, 2016

Paid $40 extra in shipping and order arrived late, despite being told it was guaranteed to arrive on time. Moreover, and ironically, the orange envelope had been ripped open and repaired. I didn't even bother to view the contents--too pissed off!
I have yet to hear from them, after three e-mails. This is a horrible and nightmarish service. Do not commit the mistake of ordering from them!

Thumbnail of user jeannef206
Ohio
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 21st, 2023

Every year I make a Shutterfly photo calendar as a Christmas gift for my mother. I usually order it the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year, the tracking info on my package abruptly ended & UPS said they couldn't find it. Four days before I needed the gift, I contacted Shutterfly about the problem. They offered to reprint the calendar. I told them when I needed the gift & they offered to expedite printing & shipping at no extra cost to me. I received the calendar the day before I needed it! Very impressed with Shutterfly's commitment to making things right!

Products used:
Calendar

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user janeth2162
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2023

I'm so frustrated with Shutterfly. I ordered cards on December 7, said they would arrive the 19th, which I thought was a little long, but now it's the 22nd and it says it still is across the country! They charge a lot for terrible service. It even says on their website that they will change the shipping to make sure you get them on time. Will NEVER use this service again.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user natalies100
Canada
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
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January 2nd, 2018

The delivery date they give you is false, and they do not provide a great tracking service either. These ornaments were meant for gifts... now we are in the new year and I still don't have them. What a waste of time.

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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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