• 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 ginaz78
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2022

I placed an order for Christmas cards on December 4th, they shipped December 9th, and as of December 21st, had still not arrived and tracking info had not updated for 6 days. I was supposed to receive them between the 14th-20th. I contacted shutterfly and was given a canned response to please be patient, and that it was showing they would be out for delivery that same day. After I spoke with the customer service agent, shipping magically updated and my cards were supposed to arrive today, Dec 22nd. I finally received the package, and it was empty! Not only are my Christmas cards late, they've somehow disappeared and once again customer service has no answers for me. What a horrible experience. I will never order from this garbage company again.

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Value
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Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jacobh75
Idaho
1 review
6 helpful votes
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March 9th, 2018

I worked on a photo book for 3 months and I paid extra money for shipping to get it by Friday. On Friday morning I got a text saying that it wouldn't arrive until Monday. I needed the book to be there by Friday because the person that I was giving it to would only be there for the weekend. The worst part was that when I ordered the book it said "Guaranteed Delivery Friday" and now I have to spend more money to ship the book out to the person and not share the experience of giving it to them in person. I couldn't be more furious. I'm never ordering through Shutterfly again. Use I different company to print your books.

Thumbnail of user karenm283
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2016

If you scroll you will see my earlier review regarding service... this is my review on quality or lack there of. I odered a sheepa blanket with photos of our deceased dog for my grieving husband... not only did it come after Christmas
I paid for the sheepa blanket which was the most costly which I assumed would be of decent quality for the price. This is thinner than a hospital blanket. Image quality is only fair. Blanket is pathetically thin. Feeling cheated

Thumbnail of user tiffanys612
West Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 30th, 2021

I ordered 2 phone cases not realizing I had ordered one without the hard liner. I contacted Shutterfly and thought no problem I can have them send me a liner. I was told because I didn't order it with the phone they couldn't send me just the liner. They gave me a useless $10 off coupon and I had to order and pay for another whole phone case. Another $30+ dollars for a phone case. Now mind you they were sending me the liner when they thought they forgot to send it but once they reviewed the acct they said since I didn't order it correctly I had to order a whole new phone case. I wasn't asking for it to be free I would have paid for just the liner. Very dissatisfied with the way they handled this situation. I will never order from them again.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jesss137
Minnesota
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
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February 16th, 2021

I wasted an entire month trying to make a book from my honeymoon. Several crashes, errors and freezes on both the app and website, from an iPhone, iPad and Dell laptop and every one had the same issue. I contacted support through the chat and was told someone would contact me. A few days later I spent 3 straight hours on the website perfecting my book only to have it glitch and delete all of my saved edits when I tried to pay for my book. Once again, I contacted support through the chat and was told there was nothing they could do and someone would contact me. I was so frustrated that I sobbed uncontrollably for 40 minutes. Next day I called customer support and spoke to 2 different reps who personally promised to follow up with me and reassured me that I was the only one experiencing this issue. Wrong. I should have read the app reviews before calling. Once again, nobody contacts me back. Try to make another book and same things happen. Call customer support again and the rep seemed to be reading off of a script. No empathy, just insincere apologies. I even asked her to put herself in my shoes, laid out the scenario and nothing. No human emotion. Another promise that someone would call me back. Don't expect to have a good experience with the site, app or customer service. Not only is the functionality of the website and app poor, the corporation itself is, too. This is one company that just doesn't care about their customers. I'm sure I'm not the only customer you lost today.

Tip for consumers:
Don’t waste your time, your app or the website will crash and nobody will help you or care about your time wasted on your project.

Products used:
Photo book

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user elizabethc172
New Mexico
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 30th, 2016

I ordered a photo book and Christmas present that was supposed to arrive before Christmas and received it on the 29th of December. The worst part about it, is that they sent me shipping confirmation and tracking on the 16th and it literally just sat in the same location until the 27th. This is the second time something like this has happened to me from $#*!terfly. I will not be using them ever again. Note to buyers- if you'd like to test them out I'd suggest ordering a month in advance.

Thumbnail of user danak38
Washington
1 review
2 helpful votes
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January 25th, 2018

It blows my mind that Shutterfly rather canceled my order than to meet my simple request. I asked not to stretch the canvas print over a stretcher bar to which the canvas is stapled. I just wanted to receive a rolled canvas print instead since I will be traveling and need to be able to put it in my suitcase. I would say a pretty simple request. They would just skip the last step in the process. But no, they couldn't do it.

Thumbnail of user alisont35
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2017

Paid extra for design services, upgraded shipping on photo book for my husband for Christmas. This is his central gift from me this year. I should have received the book by 12/20, based on their GUARANTEED delivery date. Received notification on 12/20 that PRODUCTION PROBLEMS prevented delivery. New date: 12/27. Thanks Shutterfly for your horrible service. I've ordered from them for years, never again.

Thumbnail of user chital
Michigan
1 review
11 helpful votes
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June 22nd, 2020

I paid for expedited shipping for order I placed with Shutterfly as I needed for an event. The order didn't arrive as promised and it arrived the following day. I placed 5 orders transit time 5-7 days the expired transit time didn't change got it on the 6th business day. I tried to get a refund. They are telling me that I paid for standard shipping. If I wanted it standard I would have used the SHIP39 discount and wouldn't pay for standard shipping cost. It would have been free since it was over 39 dollars. Not happy!

Thumbnail of user christopherr75
New Jersey
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2016

I ordered a customized calendar on Dec. 10,2016 for my girlfriend. The website estimated the calendar would arrive no later than Dec. 22. On Dec 22nd, I did not receive the calendar. I called Shutterfly customer service, and was told that the calendar never shipped. I was given a full refund, but at that point, it wasn't about the money. It was about not having the Christmas gift that I was so excited to give my girlfriend. Needless to say, i will never deal with this company again.

Thumbnail of user chrisb455
Canada
1 review
1 helpful vote
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January 4th, 2018

Terrible service! Do not use. I ordered Christmas cards on Dec. 12 and they have been delayed to Dec. 26 then Jan 2 and now to Jan. 9th. After struggling to find a phone number for them I finally got through to a live person who said my order was probably lost. In addition they charged my credit card almost $20 more than my invoice was as it was in US $ which was not explained when I placed my order. I've cancelled my order and now have to wait 10 days for a refund. Since I place my order I have talked to many people who have had similar problems. DO NOT USE SHUTTERFLY IF YOU ARE IN CANADA!

Thumbnail of user kaye128
Pennsylvania
1 review
2 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2017

Shutterfly is GARBAGE. The website is CONSTANTLY malfunctioning. Customer service can't do a thing. Products are over priced. Print quality is fuzzy. It took me over 4 months just to get a photobook put together because of website glitching and then it wouldn't let me apply the groupon that was the ONLY reason I was using it. In that time I had gotten 4 lovely photobooks completed and sent to me from Blurb. Hate this company. Was put on hold for 25 minutes over the groupon and discounted.

Thumbnail of user pg68
Arizona
1 review
3 helpful votes
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May 21st, 2018

My Daughter order a book for my wife for Mother's day. She order the book on the 8th if the month. Was scheduled to be delivered on the 14th. IT is the 21st and still no book. She is 15 and a minor and I pay for the book on my credit card. They will not speak to me because she has the account. So much for teaching how to do thing on her own. I can't even help her fix the issue. Will never use them again.

Thumbnail of user jackw1157
Washington
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
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December 21st, 2022
Verified purchase

Ordered on 12/3 delivery 12/21. They use mail innovations which is ups to usps, too many steps ups gets it there then usps sits on it for 4 days at my local postal. Never again.

Tip for consumers:
don't

Products used:
xmas cards

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user pd55
New Jersey
1 review
4 helpful votes
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November 20th, 2016

I got a coupon for $20. Tried it and doesnt work, so i called up customer service spoke with David he said i used the coupon already, for another order which I know I didnt used. There was another $10. I used for that order. He didnt even try to help me. He said I cant help you.

Thumbnail of user mikev785
Colorado
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 22nd, 2022
Verified purchase

They did not save my 100+ addresses from last year (that were actually saved under my account). What busy parent has time to re-enter that? No holiday cards this year...

Products used:
I make an address book for the holiday card and it saved to my account. This year I went on to create a new card and the address book was gone. They couldn't find it or explain way. And who has time to enter 100+ addresses when you have little kids pulling on you. So... I don't suggest using them unless you waste a huge amount of time and effort and have the same happen to you. Done with Shutterfly for good.

Service
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Thumbnail of user brittanyc241
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 16th, 2020

I ordered a package in November all happy about it for a birthday in December then the delivery date comes and goes no nothing no text no alert not $#*! but they can take my money right okay so then I try and call the customer service department and nothing because there closed on a wensday yet there hours say opened real $#*!ing cute.
Shutterfly your company is $#*! I still haven't gotten my package can't get my money back cuz I can't get threw to anyone I will order off cvs I bet I would have gotten the photos by now yall are sad excuses for a company. You even have my phone number so you can text me its gonna be late nope not nothing.
Thank you for ruining someone's 31first birthday because she wanted a photo of her dead grandmother which I ordered yet it still hasn't came im beyond passed ill never order from you again I promise

Thumbnail of user coleenc29
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 18th, 2020

After having shutterfly print my Christmas cards, graduation cards, memory books, large and small wedding prints for many years, I have decided to part ways with them. After placing a Christmas card order on December 1, I received shipping notification on December 3 stating delivery on the10th. Well, no cards were delivered. I checked tracking and now it says 'waiting for delivery to USPS '. On the 14th I called and was told it should have been delivered on the 10th, on the 15th I logged in for a chat the person was kind but had no information, I chatted again on the 17th, still nice person who had no information. Well I created an account with Walgreens and ordered my cards from them, 30 minutes later I was notified that they were ready. Walgreens will become my new printer.
Goodbye Shutterfly.

Thumbnail of user joyal4
Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 3rd, 2022
Verified purchase

I created a cookbook for my family back in 2013. I have ordered the same book, using the same file, from Shutterfly three times. Yes, the price is high, but it has been convenient and the quality has generally been pretty good. Until now. Using the exact same file that has been stored on Shutterfly's website (not a copy of the file) should render the same results. Well, you would think this, but that's not what happened. The left side of every open-book set of pages SHOULD have had the photograph evenly spaced. Not this time! Some pages are higher, some are lower, and it just doesn't look professional this time. Even the cover is printed too high on the book. The previous copies (again, the same file that has been stored on the Shutterfly website) did not appear that way. Shutterfly appears to have fired its entire quality assurance and quality control staff. Sadly, I will have to re-create the file outside of Shutterfly and find another reliable HIGH QUALITY printer in the future. The price came out to about $50 per book this time (for a 38-page book) with their "discounts". (Why not just price the book fairly in the first place?) And I don't have time to reorder, as we are having a family reunion and there are a couple of people who have requested copies.

Products used:
Hard Cover Photo Book

Thumbnail of user marissad44
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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July 2nd, 2020

We order our wedding invitations and had them in less than a week! They look beautiful and everything is spelled correctly. I would recommend shutterfly.

Thumbnail of user sk325
Michigan
1 review
2 helpful votes
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December 2nd, 2015

I have been using online photo sites for over 10 years. Used Shutterfly.com, successfully, when they first started. The user experience in 2015 was far different. A struggle. The site continued to freeze up. I finally got my order submited mid November. Shutterfly charged $7.99 shipping on 100 4x6 prints. They shipped it out UPS who moved it to U.S. Post. Post office said it was undeliverable. Shutterfly told me to go visit the post office to track this simple package down - or wait till it gets shipped back to them so they can try shipping it again.

I ordered these simple photos November 15th. Will I get them by Christmas? I have spent too much time on this project. Will never use Shutterfly again. Will probably use Adorampix even though they cost a bit more their customer service is excellent.

Thumbnail of user kjb4
Colorado
3 reviews
21 helpful votes
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July 10th, 2017

One item never shipped at all. The other arrived late. I paid for RUSH/$$$$ shipping. Had to call and get argue for my refunds. This used to be a reliable company. Will not use again

Thumbnail of user timt818
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 3rd, 2023

Expensive shipping that takes way too long. Have a problem, call customer service in Kenya or Jamaica. Stay on hold for 40+ minutes then get hung up on!

Thumbnail of user ashleys116
Ohio
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 11th, 2015

Shutterfly has done nothing more than run in circles telling me many different stories about the location and/or production of my Christmas cards. I spoke with a department head who assured me they would be shipped and to me by the latest possible arrival date estimate... well, still not here! I've given them more than an ample amount of time to produce and shop my product. I WILL NOT USE SHUTTERFLY AGAIN!

Thumbnail of user karls167
Pennsylvania
1 review
1 helpful vote
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March 30th, 2020

Disappointed from the start and nothing changed. Package came to my house in an envelope. Figured they would be better protected ordering pictures, and their standard 7-day shipping is $20... Could have gotten a flat rate envelope from USPS for $7.75 for the same size 2-day shipping. Whatever, only some of the corners were bent from shipping. Flipping through a couple and some of them are washed out and the resolution was terrible. Don't use if your photos are from a cell phone. I have them on my computer and can expand them pretty big without the resolution being affected, but apparently their software couldn't even do 5X7 or even 4X6 without looking terrible. Some of the pictures that were taken on a high performance (Sony A7RIII 42.4MP) camera came out nice, but definitely not happy about the other ones especially for the price.

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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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