• 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 afalema
South Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 4th, 2022

Very poor customer service. Shutterfly changed delivery time four times.
Communication: Finally I got a text saying "Your package with USPS has been delivered. Rate your experience: https://x.narvar.com/B52De5m" but there was no place at that link to leave a comment.
The personalized product it self was just ok. It didn't look like it did online. Proportions are different.
Even their auto chat bot doesn't work.
I will not use Shutterfly again.

Tip for consumers:
Go some where else

Products used:
The one I ordered

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user derekc204
Utah
1 review
6 helpful votes
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December 11th, 2020

Their app continually times you out without saving your work, so you have to redo what you were working on. Once you finally get what you want, and think the order is done, their techs feel the need to change it and get it re-approved by you, causing the order to be delayed. Estimated arrival dates seem to have a range of +/- 20 days. Recommend ordering Christmas cards before Halloween if you want them on time.

Thumbnail of user ellenm44
Australia
1 review
3 helpful votes
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September 20th, 2016

Ordered invites well in advance for 60th birthday. Did not arrive and 2 weeks after expected delivery I had to incur another $200 to get alternative invitations without photo as planned!
No international tracking so could not tell if it was even on the way.
Customer Service virtually non existent. Chat was unable to help until at least 2 weeks passed. No response to my emails whatsoever
Very disappointed

Thumbnail of user kaylam185
Michigan
1 review
3 helpful votes
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June 2nd, 2020

Lately, I have been extremely disappointed with shutterfly. First, their app (which you have to use for several deals) works only about half the time. Second, projects I work on and save sometimes disappear. Third, sometimes the app won't let me check out. To top it all off, when I finally recieved my latest photo book, the pictures were chopped off in weird ways not like how they were on the preview when I ordered it. Plus, customer service stinks. At one point, I tried calling and was on hold for over two hours when I gave up. So I started one of those email chat things... and they never responded. A couple days later they emailed a me a "how did we do" survey for the chat. Well, not too good considering I never heard a word back. Avoid shutterfly if at all possible- I will be from now on.

Thumbnail of user mariav1467
North Carolina
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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April 5th, 2023

Have made many purchases over the years. Always poor quality. Blurry, improperly cut out of people, etc. Shipping is very expensive and I just learned that if you order a feebee, the free shipping promotion does not apply! Time to move on from Shutterfly!

Tip for consumers:
Too expensive for such crappy quality!

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Thumbnail of user pennyw102
Wisconsin
1 review
13 helpful votes
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May 15th, 2020

Quality of their work is fine, but their customer service rates a "0". Their online status tracking is inaccurate and inconsistent - I get one result on the app, completely different info on the website. They never meet their "estimated delivery date". In fact, you're lucky if it shows up at all. Two of my last three orders disappeared mid-transit. The follow-up makegood took 3 weeks to arrive. Reaching someone at customer service is a challenge. Very limited phone line hours, and horrendous waits. Once the replacements for my most recent lost order show up, I'm done with Shutterfly.

Thumbnail of user marcs65
North Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 23rd, 2017

We spent 90 minutes trying to design a wedding invitation( should have been a 20 min. Poject). The site is not very responsive or intuitive. When we went to check out the site gave us an error message with no explanation.
Talked to Customer Service Rep., very rude. Shutterfly ended up charging my account 6 times for the same order. Never use them!

Thumbnail of user brittanyh49
Maryland
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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November 13th, 2017

Ordered Christmas cards. Expected delivery on Nov 9. Today is Nov 13 and still nothing from shutterfly. Searched through my order and the crap shipping company they use posted a note that "apt number is wrong" (I don't live in an apt and nothing about my address looks like an apartment address). Further stated "attempting to contact reciever" not once have I received a phone call or email regarding any problems with the order. Had to search it out myself. Never again will I shop with this company. Too many options out there for them to be this sloppy.

Thumbnail of user sammyl57
Indiana
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 20th, 2021

Took me 3 days to get someone on the phone 4 days before I need the gift that they "lost" then she gonna ask if I want to reorder. No thanks! Lost package my $#*!. It never got scanned onto a delivery service. Never again! Even Walmart personalized gifts don't take 2 months to recieve! Wont waste my time or money again.

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Thumbnail of user jamesk1926
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 23rd, 2021

Shouldnt take 9-10
Days to get a very small order anywhere in the united states.
They told
Me it was because i chose the deliver method. Great customer service( not). Go to walmart and get them
Quickly instead of trying to wait for shutterfly

Products used:
Havent received yet

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user sashar12
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 5th, 2017

Word of caution! Dont bother using shutterfly. Their design interface is super glitchy and their Customer Service is atrocious and incompetent. The solution from the rep was to start my nearly complete project over from scratch, or take a chance on the purchase and it probably won't look right! What kind of options are these! You can't even fully customize certain attributes of the project. This is ridiculous. The three days I spent designing this project have gone to waste and it's now completely useless. So much for that Christmas gift that I wanted to give. I am beyond angry

Thumbnail of user karens593
California
1 review
4 helpful votes
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April 23rd, 2018

Ordered all my "FREE" stuff. The items, which could fit in a small priority mail box were going to cost $80 to ship! Now I want to delete photos I uploaded, but can't figure out out how. I've emailed at least 4 times. They keep sending the same answer, but nothing matches what I see on my screen, and I've tried on both browser and app. In general:
Customer help is non existent
There are no free items
Software in both app and browser is confusing.
Browser and app do not share pics
After trying for 3 days to get freebies and prints I gave. I went to Walgreens site. Ordered my prints and picked them up-took me 1 hour total, including going to store to pick up!

Tip for consumers:
DON'T!!!!

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Thumbnail of user loria276
Minnesota
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 18th, 2020

I ordered Christmas cards together with other family members over 2 weeks ago. They have their Christmas cards and I'm still waiting for mine. There is no communication on status. No phone number to call or email... just a basic chat that still couldn't give me an update on my order. Hopefully I will get before Christmas. My last time using them...

Thumbnail of user tamim204
Texas
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
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January 13th, 2023

I've been trying for two days to load my project without success. I've rebooted, cleared cache, closed all tabs, contacted Shutterfly "help" and signed out and back in. Spent an hour with online help and still no resolution.

Service
Thumbnail of user maritab16
New York
1 review
2 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2022
Verified purchase

I will never be purchasing from this site again after my experience. I ordered an expensive children's board book one month before Christmas. It is the 15th and there is still no sign of it and no updates on tracking. Customer service is slow if you can get a hold of them at all, and the chats time out after 15 minutes. Best they offered me is a reorder that wouldn't be here till mid January! So disappointed.

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Thumbnail of user lindaw143
Texas
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
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November 2nd, 2022
Verified purchase

I had to order the same enlargement twice! The first time, they printed the picture incorrectly and did a matte finish when I checked Pearl on the order. After speaking with CS I had to pay again for the picture to be printed correctly in Pearl because the order said Matte. I had two people watch me order the same picture with the pearl finish the second time. When I received the second picture the size was correct however they sent the glossy finish this time with a packing slip that said Pearl. Their process seems to be entirely automated and tends to screw up (twice). Customer Service was unhelpful and could not resolve my issue. Their 100% happiness guarantee is bunk. A real rip off!

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Thumbnail of user jg147
Michigan
1 review
4 helpful votes
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March 15th, 2018

The site is incredibly confusing to navigate. But more importantly, you need to have all photos fully edited prior to uploading them. Although Shutterfly offers in-site editing, it's mostly a joke. The server gets confused if you attempt to edit a photo that you've already placed on a project, and the editing tools available are weak by late 1990s standards, let alone 20 years later. All this for a premium price tag? No thanks. Use another company if you need real features. That said, the books themselves are well made, if you make it that far...

Thumbnail of user ickii
Pakistan
5 reviews
1 helpful vote
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December 30th, 2020

Customer assist and answer time are definitely amazing and i might absolutely prescribe you to every body in a cut up second thinking about the fact that you've got tackled my essential scenario. Severa appreciation to you.

Thumbnail of user jh1257
New York
1 review
1 helpful vote
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March 12th, 2023

Just go elsewhere. Was left with automated responses for over an hour. No real human customer service or support. They have zero in-house editing services, nor can they refer you to anyone that can help edit anything - per the automated reponses. They are the equivalent to taking your vehicle into a mechanic for a flat tire and the mechanic not being able to diagnose or fix it. A huge waste of my time, but hoping this review can help redirect other customers elsewhere who are looking to spend their money.

Products used:
Just had a couple questions, which they, of anyone as a busies should know, could not answer.

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Thumbnail of user katieh345
North Carolina
1 review
7 helpful votes
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December 21st, 2020

If I could give this company 0 stars, I would! I have been waiting over a month for a SMALL package. When contacting customer service they were very rude, offering no sort of answers or help, one even ending the chat! Customer service agents CoraLee, and Nicolas particularly. This company is all about the money, they don't care whether you get your order or not even though you pay an absurd amount for shipping! Would not even recommend to my worst enemy! Be warned people!

Thumbnail of user sarahl1557
West Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 14th, 2021

I ordered a photo book for mg boyfriend for our one year anniversary. The next day i looked for the email confirmation, we'll i never received one. Realizing the money had already been taken out of my account i called customer service. After being on the phone for 2 hours i realized i wasn't gonna get my money back, so i hung up and will not order again. Definitely go to your local Walgreens rather than ordering from this website. All it took was for them to care about my experience as a customer, but they didn't and gave nothing for the inconvenience and my loss of money.

Thumbnail of user jh948
Georgia
1 review
3 helpful votes
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November 13th, 2020

I've been loyal to Shutterfly for many. They used to be great. You used to be able to get a hold of someone for help. This has all changed. I'll be taking my business elsewhere from here on out. Not going to bash them but customer service is poor - like, so poor you can't get help. I'm so angry with my last experience I'm taking my business elsewhere and will be telling friends and family to do the same.

Thumbnail of user lindak1918
Washington
1 review
1 helpful vote
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March 14th, 2022

You can spend hours getting an order ready based on "promos". Don't bother. Promos do not work. You end up spending money just because of all the time you put into getting order ready. I finally had enough after 2 orders. Canceled everything, deleted the app. Customer Service was a joke.

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Thumbnail of user tamaras620
Michigan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 8th, 2022

Steer clear of Shutterfly. They use a shipper called innovation, which I have never heard of and my package was lost. Because of the shipper they use, you cannot get any assistance with locating your package. I have spent 2 hours on the phone trying to locate it to no avail.
This was my first time ordering from shutterfly and will also be my last.

Tip for consumers:
Don't

Products used:
Potholders

Service
Value
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Thumbnail of user kellyp645
Wisconsin
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2020

I have been using Shutterfly for years. I actually store all of my photos on their site. This year, this holiday season as been a horrible experience with them. I ordered my Christmas photo cards before Thanksgiving and was told they would be delievered by 11/30. Just what, they did not show. When I called, I spoke to some reps in a foreign office who basically told me that there was nothing they could do and that they were too busy to worry about customers receiving their orders. I finally spoke to a Customer Service rep named Elana - who promised me my cards would be printed and would be expedited and I should have them by 12/11. NO Show again. PLUS other photos prints I ordered were supposedly delivered to my cities post office on 12/7 and still NO SHOW. They can't fulfill their obligations or promises... Too big for the level of service they provide. Avoid them like the plague this holiday season and find another vendor.

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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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