• Shutterfly

Shutterfly

Write a Review

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
See all photos
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)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

christmas cards (114) photo book (92) delivery date (44) customer service (366) photo books (92)
Thumbnail of user josephs1586
Texas
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
January 13th, 2023
Verified purchase

Okay so i ordered a book for christmas and of course it was very busy and it was going to be late. Tracking just kept saying "package acceptance pending" and it was annoying and after the package was delivered i was given the reasons it was delayed for so long. It went to west virginia and before that it was in Pennsylvania, where it was supposed to be delivered in the first place. It was all UPS's fault they missorted it and sent it to the wrong place. I then noticed the address was old and my person moved. I chatted with shutterfly and they immediately reordered the purchase at no cost and sent it! I will use them again no matter what because of this outstanding customer service. Shipping is not their fault. So i was wrong when i wrote a bad review earlier.

Tip for consumers:
order early great shutterfly i will use again

Products used:
ordered a 12x12 book great value the shipping company sucks 10+days christmas season

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jennah2
New Jersey
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
October 1st, 2013

I love using shutterfly when I need alot of pictures printed. They always have great deals going. I just recently order pictures from them they were offering 50 5x7 pictures all I had to pay was the 3.00 shipping. You cant go wrong with this site!

Thumbnail of user annf48
Montana
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 5th, 2017

They shipped my book to a wrong address instead to the place I am intending it to be sent. I called the customer service but they said it's not on their end now. They won't even take the blame even if the address was even saved on their record. Not gonna order again.

Thumbnail of user alishaa7
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 24th, 2016

Thank you Shutterfly for my customized photo Christmas cards! Except you seem to have forgotten something: THE PICTURE! $65 later and night before Christmas Eve, I now have no Christmas cards for my family.

Mistakes happen, but the worst part: I called customer service and they offered a 50% off coupon for my next order to "fix" my issue. When I asked them to refund my money, they put me on hold for literally an hour and a half waiting for someone authorized to refund my money. They kept telling me I need to go online, print, complete, and submit a form requesting a refund along with the defective product they had sent me in order to receive a refund from them as if they were worried I would use these anyway. I've wasted enough time receiving nothing in return and you want me to jump through hoops to get my money back?!?! Worst customer service EVER. #fail #youhadonejob

Thumbnail of user justinep6
California
1 review
7 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 5th, 2016

Shutterfly come back! Terrible, awful new updated website. My address book is gone, horrible to navigate thru anything especially if in Mozilla where is runs very, very slow. If you download photos to the S/F app, they do not necessarily come up on the website timely. It took me forever to figure out how to order photos. I have been a S/F user for so many years and now I cringe when I have to upload and order photos. Its horrible and I think I need a new server for my photos!

Thumbnail of user sr635
California
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
February 14th, 2023

I purchased a table top metal print with a quote on the bottom. The font was not the same as the finished product online. When I reached out to customer service I sent them the side by side of what I received and a screenshot of what I ordered and they offered to send me a replacement but I would have to pay the $10.00 in shipping. Not worth the extra $10.00. Snapfish offers better quality items and a reasonable price with better customer service.

Products used:
Tabletop Metal Prints

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user ll655
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 15th, 2023

I ordered cards back on November 20th to be delivered. After 10 days I logged into chat support and they told me that it was delayed and to check back again after 15 days. At 19 days, I logged back into chat and was told that they lost my order. The "customer support" person was only willing to give me a credit toward my next order! I will never order from this business again, it doesnt stand by its pledge and now I have to contact 45 people to find out who received their cards and who didnt! I just wish I had researched their customer satisfaction rating before placing my order. Lesson learned, NEVER AGAIN!

Tip for consumers:
No additional comments, I'd be censored!

Products used:
Custom photo holiday cards, plus envelope, addressing and mailing

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user vanessac73
New York
1 review
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
March 20th, 2018

This is a scam. I decided to give Shutterfly a try after receiving a coupon with a Christmas photo purchase. The site was very hard to use. I manage to create and preview a plaque I wanted to buy. I ordered a plaque and received my "order" after 10 days. To my surprise I received a blank plaque. Shutterfly is refusing to refund or simply send me what I originally ordered. Their response to me has been via email only. There is no way to contact anyone over the phone. They never answer the phone calls.
The email response stated that they sent what I ordered. That I should have previewed my project! You can't order without a preview!
And if the previewed showed a blank plaque why would anyone order that?!
They simply used a coupon to steal money from me. And they will do the same to you!

Thumbnail of user susanb279
New York
1 review
3 helpful votes
  • Send Message
May 23rd, 2017

As the previous review, I still have not received my photo book despite paying for guaranteed delivery. I have made complaints, they did refund the delivery fees I paid, but that does not help me as I needed this book for an event and likely will not have it on time. Their customer service I think just tells people what to hear when in fact it is likely not true. I was told it would "ship tomorrow" and then the next day I get an email that says it is delayed. Then I complain again and I am told " the photo book is done and printed, it is in packaging". But funny, my check order status shows that it is still "in production". I will never use Shutterfly again and there are plenty of other choices. I cannot wait to go to my event without this book and spread the word to all that are eager to see the book, that SHUTTERFLY FAILED and did not get me the book on time!

Thumbnail of user brittanyh236
Missouri
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 19th, 2020

Ordered a print on dec 4th with guaranteed delivery by dec 18th. Today is Dec 19th and my package has not moved from a location in Indiana in over a week. I contacted customer service where I waited 20+ minutes only to be told that shipping is delayed over and over. I asked for a refund since my order would not arrive by the day I needed it (4 days after the promised delivery date) and was told that the company was not offering refunds. They take no accountability for their promises. Absolutely unacceptable.

Thumbnail of user karylr1
Wisconsin
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
December 12th, 2020

I ordered a picture calendar from Shutterfly. The calendar came and most of the pictures were sideways. I called to have it redone. They told me they would give me free shipping as if they were doing me a favor. I get the second calendar and most pictures had the heads cut off. This is a company that specializes in pictures. How hard can it be to make a calendar? This is the third time I have gotten a calendar that is wrong. They wanted to give me an $8.00 refund for a $25 calendar. I'm done.

Thumbnail of user yarrumal
Virginia
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
August 18th, 2023

I received a text offering EXTRA 20% off if I allowed Shutterfly to send me promotions. When I tried to use it, I found out you can only use one promotion. What does EXTRA mean then? Very shady. Done with Shutterfly.

Products used:
Photo books

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user terriek8
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 17th, 2020

2020 Christmas cards didn't come.
Ordered my Christmas 2020 cards on Thanksgiving so I would get them early. Contacted Shutterfly in Dec 17. Put on hold for 30 minutes. Finally told that my cards have not left Shutterfly but they "promise" they will arrive at my house Dec 19 in 2 days. I spent $254 to not get Christmas cards. Asked to speak to a manager. None available after another 10 minute wait. Hmmm. Must be a lot of other unhappy customers. Asked for compensation. Told Shutterfly is not planning to compensate. I will be looking for another service that values it's customers.

Thumbnail of user russells138
Canada
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
  • Send Message
June 1st, 2023

The album is missing pages which I discovered after some time and spent over an hour on chat trying to fix. Now they are closed at 4 pm. My initial project ended up on the US account costing more than twice what I expected. Now having to redo it on Canadian site. Wish there was a viable alternative.

So I ended up talking to the American site and they gave me a price break on the album I created on their site so I just purchased that one and they delivered it to my Canadian Address. The Canadian site reached out to help move my pics to the Canadian site but then disappeared without doing it.

Thumbnail of user haileyd55
Michigan
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 17th, 2023

I ordered a $240 acrylic print (20x30) and it came with acrylic shavings between the glass and the picture. Totally visible to the viewer and has air bubbles around it, making it extra noticeable. Disappointed in the imperfections especially for the price I paid.

Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user pamr1
New Mexico
2 reviews
16 helpful votes
  • Send Message
January 27th, 2019

I ordered a photo mug for Christmas and when it arrived, they had cut off my husband's head in the photo. I received approval to return the mug, but it was $7.70 to return. They gave me credit for a new mug, but well after Christmas and no reimbursement for the poorly done mug.

Thumbnail of user susano117
California
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
June 16th, 2018

I spent days and days designing a photo book for Father's Day. The books were offered for a Father's Day promotion. I submitted my order once I checked that the merchandise would arrive on time. It showed that it would, so I placed my order. I checked over the 2 week production time and it was shown to be delivered the day before Father's Day. Sure enough, one day before the delivery date, the website changed the delivery date to the day AFTER Father's Day. This item was to be an important part of an extended family gathering for my elderly father. If Shutterfly is marketing to special occasions and holidays, it seems like it should be accountable to making these deadlines. Especially when they are promised when the order is placed. Do not trust this company. Do not pay their ridiculously high shipping rates. Fraud.

Thumbnail of user stephaniet138
Missouri
5 reviews
12 helpful votes
  • Send Message
July 17th, 2022

I've used Shutterfly to print hundreds of pictures and dozens of personalized gifts for holidays and birthdays. Uploading pictures to Shutterfly is easy and straightforward. It keeps track of which pictures on my phone are already on the site so I don't upload them twice. Using the app I can get free 4x6 prints. I just pay shipping, which is very reasonable. I think the prices on some of the personalized gifts, like the picture blankets and pillows are a little high, but the quality is better than cheaper sites, like Personalization mall. Not to mention I can always find coupon codes to make it a little cheaper. I always recommend Shutterfly when people ask me where to get pictures put on stuff.

Tip for consumers:
Look for coupon codes for free shipping, free items, or discounts.

Products used:
I get all my prints from Shutterfly, but I've also gotten personalized coffee mugs, picture pillows, puzzles, books, etc.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user thomass2526
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 20th, 2021

Shutterfly screwed up two Xmas card orders in a row and despite a promise to rush the corrected cards, they didn't come. When I enquired, Shutterfly simply cancelled my order, refunding my money but leaving me without the Xmas cards and too little time to order from some other company with better reviews. So I called the CEO of the company that owns Shutterfly, as per Google, Mr. Marc Rowen of Apollo Global Management@ *******540 and left a message about how Shutterfly was, in my opinion, giving his conglomerate a bad reputation. I'm waiting to hear back. Happy Holidays!

Tip for consumers:
Try another company with more stars. I didn't check Shutterfly out and I'm sorry.

Products used:
Nothing

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user nellekem
Rhode Island
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 4th, 2023

I have been ordering photo books from Shutterfly for many years now. I always order the 12x12 photo book. Last year and this year they are both 95 pages in total. Both years I had them sent to the same address in Canada. Both years I included the large gift box to ship them in. Last year I paid a total of $174.98. This year I paid a total of $272.88. This is getting ridiculous expensive.

Products used:
Photo books

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user edu131
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 19th, 2023

I logged on today for the first time in awhile to upload a new batch of images to print. It turns out the "unlimited storage" I was initially promised is no longer honored, and all my images stretching back many years are gone and cannot be recovered. Obviously I will no longer be Shutterfly's customer.

Thumbnail of user js165
Kansas
1 review
7 helpful votes
  • Send Message
August 6th, 2015

I will never buy photobooks through Shutterfly again. I wanted to take advantage of a 15% discount they had going on and use a gift card I got for baby registering with Babies R Us to make a vacation book for myself and a couple family members. These were soft cover, 8 1/2 x 11 books with only 12 sheets inside (so 24 pages). Little did I know until after I spent hours putting the books together and went to check out that A) I wouldn't be able to use the gift card and discount together, B) even with the discount the books would still be over $20 a piece before other fees and C) regular shipping would be over $17! Total was over $80

Thumbnail of user jimh185
Texas
1 review
2 helpful votes
  • Send Message
April 20th, 2017

I received my order confirmation from ShutterFly and I noticed they shipped my order to the wrong address. I call their Customer Service to confirm they had my correct address and they did. I asked why would you ship my order to another address? No idea? Was there reply. I asked what them to reship my order to the correct address and they REFUSED to do so! They said they had a 14 day waiting period, to see if my order would be returned. If not, they would refund my credit card. I explained to them this order was time sensitive and I didn't have 14 days to wait, I needed an immediate solution or a refund on my credit card. " Sorry, nothing we can do." I contacted my credit card company and luckily the payment had not been processed, so I filled a discrepancy on my account and had the charge stopped. Poor eye to detail and no customer service... I'm done with this company. ShutterFly, you're not bigger than the business!

Thumbnail of user morgana37
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
July 31st, 2017

I placed an order last night and when I clicked the final "order" button the page was unable to load. I tried again and had the same response. The next morning I checked the status of my cart and the order was not process and the price had increased, (as a promotional value had ended) yet there were 2 charges pending on my bank account.

I immediately called customer service to see whether or not my order had actually processed, it hadn't. The lady I spoke with was super helpful, cleared up the pending charges (she'd never seen that happen before) and reduced the price in my cart to reflect the promotional value from yesterday, as well as gave me an additional discount. I am looking forward to getting my prints!

Thumbnail of user tonyk76
Wisconsin
1 review
1 helpful vote
  • Send Message
March 13th, 2018

I compared this site to some others like Walmart. The Shutterfly site is hard to follow and does not do a good job of uploading photos so that you can see the card in advance of purchasing it. It also struggles to effectively upload the address and event information. Overall, very disappointed with this site and I will not use Shutterfly in the future.

Sitejabber for Business

Gain trust and grow your business with customer reviews.

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

How do I know I can trust these reviews about Shutterfly?

  • Sitejabber’s mission is to increase online transparency for buyers and businesses
  • Sitejabber has helped over 200M buyers make better purchasing decisions online
  • Suspicious reviews are flagged by our algorithms, moderators, and community members
Have a question about Shutterfly?