• 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 dalwinderc
Canada
1 review
2 helpful votes
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July 6th, 2020

When you worked on select photo almost two hours then it's code not working. Beware big scammers. Don't use this. Don't waste your money and time on Junk. Biggest scam company. Garbage company of the decade.

Thumbnail of user ashj28
Hawaii
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 23rd, 2022

Hello my gift was late even after I paid for expedited shipping. When I was chatting with an agent about my problem they ended the chat. This company is a joke that charges too much and does not care about customer satisfaction

Products used:
Made a blanket for $125

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user janen99
New Hampshire
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 12th, 2019

My test Christmas calendar looked great, so I ordered 30 at nearly $600. The color on these was awful, completely unlike the test. I'd have them redo, but the holidays are coming, and having proven themselves untrustworthy once, why should I trust them again? Just say no.

Thumbnail of user sh492
California
1 review
17 helpful votes
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May 8th, 2020

After spending two full days putting together photos for 2 photo books and waiting a long time to get them, they arrived today. This after almost giving up because of the difficulty using their illogical and difficult website. To my horror almost all the photos were very dark, much darker than in the pdf file I sent them to use and much darker than those I printed myself on glossy photo paper similar to what I ordered. I have published many books including many with photos and never in my 4 decades of publishing have I ever seen such a poor rendition. I tried to contact the company but posted hours says not available on weekends and chat not even available. Now too late I see their low ranking and the fact they won't pay return shipping even when its their error, which clearly it is.

Thumbnail of user deannan90
Massachusetts
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 29th, 2023

Use another site. Quality is average, absolutely no human customer service, and promo codes are a scam. Some owner is sitting in a resort making money off scamming people on this site. My card was 2.75 per card, once I put my 50% off code in, the card price jumped to $4.03! What a waste of time and energy. This should be reported to the better business bureau.

Thumbnail of user mr881
South Carolina
5 reviews
13 helpful votes
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February 10th, 2017

I tried Shutterfly briefly 5 years ago & cancelled because it took SO much time to figure out their system. This week I joined again... after spending HOURS to make a simple book, I ordered another(promised 50% discount). The process was confusing & after painstakingly choosing 90 photos for a book, they spent an hour 'Uploading' & vanished! Also, after ordering FREE photos, I got to the end of the order to find $22.00 Shipping charge! They are sleazy & a waste of time. I'm done! Wish I'd read the many negative reviews before wasting my time... HOURS! Back to Walgreens for me!

Thumbnail of user pattig211
Maryland
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 23rd, 2020

I ordered 10 of the same little ornaments, they were sent in 3 different envelopes which took over a month to arrive. Meanwhile, their other company, Snapfish, sent a 2 mug order in 2 different boxes, both printed wrong and I finally just asked for a refund. I am glad I am not alone in my sadness after reading these new comments about how bad Shutterfly has gotten.

Thumbnail of user wendyf88
New York
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 17th, 2018

I have ordered cards and photo books from Shutterfly for 15 years. I have noticed their service slipping but the products were always good. I got my holiday cards this year. The stock is thin and flimsy. Feels so cheap I would be embarrassed to send them out. I'm very upset b/c that means we will not be sending out a holiday card for the first time since my children were born.
P.s. Even the envelopes are horrible. They do not seal.

Thumbnail of user mf91
Pennsylvania
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
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December 15th, 2020

I had one of the single best customer service experiences - someone was friendly, fast, and just solved my problem (which was the shipping company's fault, not Shutterfly's). Really happy with the holiday cards and so grateful to be treated like my business mattered. It may just have been my good luck to get an awesome service rep, but I'll stick with them for future orders!

Thumbnail of user amandag69
South Carolina
1 review
3 helpful votes
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July 3rd, 2016

Terrible printed product. Images are blurry and color is off. I'm told it's my fault even though other companies have printed the exact same images perfectly. Customer service is a joke - I can pay to return the photos for a 50 percent refund. So many other better options out there to print your memories.

Thumbnail of user matthewr519
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2020

Woke up this morning after placing an order last night to realize the family name simply says "the Smith" instead of "the Smiths". The agent stated that no changes could be made; in fact, you only have 30 mins after placing to make changes. I asked about paying an additional fee to add the "s" if the order had not been printed yet. She says she will get back to me. We got disconnected. I had to wait 30+ mins for the first agent and now cannot get reconnected. I believe they have massive IT issues as the online chat also is not connecting. Initially, I also had to switch to edge from chrome after initially creating the cards. Once I created an account we lost our work because it would not save on chrome and only caught in a perpetual refresh every few seconds. Will hope they can get our Christmas cards fixed based on the conversation with the first agent, but I am not optimistic. There are other sites that you can use out there, I would advise trying one of those first.

Thumbnail of user graciec25
Colorado
1 review
10 helpful votes
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July 31st, 2020

I ordered 55 4x4 prints and was disappointed to find that 29 of them were cropped wrong or differently than I had arranged them in my order. Heads were cropped off, there were white spaces at the bottom, etc. Thankfully 4x4 prints were free besides shipping and tax so I will be reordering them but was heavily disappointed by this order and am hoping they will be correct the second time.

Thumbnail of user jk680
Texas
2 reviews
9 helpful votes
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October 20th, 2020

We've used Shutterfly several times in the past without issue. This time, I had several missing packages. After doing some leg work to contact them (they have their chat feature disabled online) they informed me they seemed to have lost them. They don't lose my full confidence because they refunded the price, but I sure which customer service was friendlier. The rep was monotone the entire conversation and didn't appear to enjoy his job at all. And at the end of the day, we are still without our orders and have to restart the waiting period after almost 2 weeks

Thumbnail of user michaelr5420
New Hampshire
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 13th, 2022

Been with shutterfly for many years, for prints, cards, gifts such as mugs. While the product they produce is good (if you get it), and the prices are OK if you hit a half off deal or something, the shipping is unreliable. This is now the second case of an order getting lost. Shutterfly uses UPS Mail Innovations. While UPS faithfully gets the order to your local post office quickly, after that all bets are off. In the latest case I see my order arrived at my local post office, who then sent it back to shutterfly. It's been over 2 weeks and I can see the package not making any progress. I'm done. If they can't use a reliable method of shipping, then what is the point. Use caution as you likely will not get your order.

Tip for consumers:
Avoid, do not use them

Products used:
photo mug

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user cottenm
North Carolina
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 19th, 2020

I thought I'd had ordered my cards with plenty of time to spare. Created my card before Thanksgiving on their site. They shipped it on Nov. 24. Here it is Dec. 19 and I still have no cards. Why would Shutterfly choose the USPS for expedited delivery? I've tried to call them and the wait was crazy. So next I tried to chat and that wait was ridiculous as well. There must me hundreds of dissatisfied customers out there or they just don't want to help.

Thumbnail of user ericalynnv
Wisconsin
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
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February 15th, 2017

When Shutterfly claims that things are free, it's a lie. Check their shipping prices! Absolutely outrageous that they do that to loyal customers! Go to your local Walgreens and you will pay the same amount!

Thumbnail of user jaynew55
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 9th, 2021

This company wasted a week of my life and ruined my father-in-laws funeral by cancelling my order and not letting me know. Then when I contacted them, I got no help. Customer service is non-existent even for an over $500 order. Even though their system messed up they said they would contact me in 5 days way to late to get the books for my father-in-laws funeral. Then after arguing with their horrible chat for 40 minutes, they were going to escalate my case and get back to me in 24 hours! I won't have these books in time for the funeral. DON'T
order from Shutterfly! Any other company will be better! I promise you!

Thumbnail of user jaquelinek
Iowa
1 review
2 helpful votes
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November 9th, 2019

It would take me two hours to write all the terrible experience I have had with Shutterfly in just two orders! But I will not waste everyone's time. Let's just say, i have 6 prints of photos I only wanted 1 print of and I have several photos missing from my order. I paid more for shipping on a coffee mug then the mug actually cost and when they said they issued me 10 dollars back on a 50 dollar order I did not receive the refund. These company is sneaky and conniving. Do not fall for their flashy gimmicks and fake "promos"

Thumbnail of user williamb255
Louisiana
3 reviews
5 helpful votes
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December 30th, 2016

Spent several hours uploading pictures. Then I get a message they disconnect me, but not to worry my project is saved. Saved? Yes, as in like zero pictures saved. Nothing. So save yourself the trouble.

Thumbnail of user nancyh33
Kansas
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 27th, 2014

I Love my Shutterfly books, but a bad experience with customer service can really impact your business. After a bad experience Ruby was absolutely fantastic at getting my problems resolved---good experiences like this will keep me coming back. Much praise and appreciation to RUBY! Nancy

Thumbnail of user joew635
Tennessee
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 13th, 2020

The online site was really easy to use, as well as uploading photos and editing them. I recently had a fleece blanket made and it turned out amazing. The site lets you know how the pics will fit in each square. So if you have cropped off heads or something of some sort that's on you. Also let's you know if you photo does not have good resolution for printing. All said and done follow the site and let it help you and your product will turn out great like mine.
Also my blanket arrived on the estimated shipping date no hassle or wondering where my package was.

Thumbnail of user conniem306
New York
1 review
17 helpful votes
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April 7th, 2020

I am so sorry I got involved with setting up an account for my class. It has been nothing but one issue after another. It is nearly impossible to share pictures without going through multiple steps and even then it hardly ever works. Very frustrating. Parents are annoyed and it is a lot of extra work for me as the teacher. I am deleting the account. I tried, I really did. Not worth the hassle!

Thumbnail of user moragm5
Canada
1 review
15 helpful votes
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May 4th, 2020

I became a customer of Shutterfly by default when Kodak went out of business some years ago. At first their promotions were fair and 50% off actually meant 50% off. No longer - it's 50% off parts of an order not the entire project. If you are not a US customer, delivery is not free and can be quite expensive. The company is not really responsive to inquiries about "discounts" that are meant to induce customers to purchase, but are effectively less than they advertise. I have made a number of costly photo books with Shutterfly and I am increasingly unhappy with the experience. There are other less expensive providers - I am searching them out and suggest others do the same.

Thumbnail of user maryn607
California
1 review
6 helpful votes
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November 22nd, 2020

I've ordered two other books 3 and 4 years ago, great quality. This time, for $60.00 and 21 pages, the binding is very flimsy, the pages aren't well- secured, and the cover is an odd plastic that's not well attached to the book itself. I paid 13 dollars extra for'enhanced color', didn't see a difference. And, some of the photos are slightly tilted, not set straight on the page. The other Shutterfly books I've made were far better all the way around.

Thumbnail of user ellenz8
Alabama
1 review
1 helpful vote
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October 5th, 2017

I agree with previous reviewer and have had far worse experience! I used to be a an. They are all about the ads on their website. They abandoned their purpose, and do not care about photo albums, etc. they post coupon offers for 1 day and make it so you cannot complete b/c of technical difficulties. A waste of considerable time an money.

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From the business

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

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Levi H.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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