An 'eye-opener' experience at a photo studio

My family and myself decided to take our family photo recently.

We decided to choose a studio that is pretty well-known in Singapore... but it turns out to be quite a disappointing experience unfortunately. However, it is certainly an eye-opener...

While we were sitting down at the studio to think about which packages to take, we realised that their packages were very rigid and they were counted in a couple of hundreds mind you. Yet they said, "this is a very good discounted price". To be frank, we could probably get lower rates outside. All right, we decided to pursue with the photoshot at this studio (one family shot at 20R) since they have a longstanding brandname in Singapore and brand image for quality, good family and bridal shots. We trust that the quality would be top-notched.

During the photoshot, we had booked ourselves for the 11am photoshot, and there was nobody in line, yet the photographers were rushing through. Nevermind, maybe they were experienced photographers. During the photoshots, the photographers kept asking us to take individual photos. All right, we decided to take up their recommendations. This translated to a hefty amount of $550 (excluding GST) for a 24R family photo and 2 8R individual photo (with 6 3R photos developed for each photo selected).

After the photoshot, we were requested to pay up the full sum of $550 (this is something that i have never heard off - upfront payment without seeing the products). Well, their answer was "100% guaranteed". Fine, we paid up the full sum.

When photos were developed for selection, we were told that the rest of the photos which were not selected must be returned (hm, we paid for the photos, why should they be returned?). Well, not all the photos were well-taken as fine details were missed out. I was telling myself that this might be the reason why they requested for non-selected photos to be returned (so that their sloppy photo shots would be shown to others).

Anyway, we chose the 3 photos, and took for selection of frames today. Haha, this section is the 'best' experience in how to lure customers to pay more! They have requested for us to upgrade our 3R photos to 4R or 5R (this translates to $55 more for 4R)... and the next thing is to produce an album for $250 or $450 (which would include some of the sloppy photo shots). Why on earth do we want to upgrade to an album?? It does not make economical sense non logical sense (with all those sub-standard photos?). When my sis pointed out the sloppy work, the lady was very unhappy and did not even bother to find out more. This is certainly a classical example of poor customer service. The next 2 things that put me off was that we were not offered seats to select the frame and she was all ready to send us out (without any genuine thank you) right after we select our frames!

Oh, one last thing, the framing of photos needs at least 2 months (come on, who on earth will take such a long time in this techno age)

Well, maybe we are small customers to them, but this is certainly not the way to do business -poor customer service, trying their very best to get people to pay more when we have already decided on a package, and lack of genuine appreciation for their customers who have confidence in their brand name. They have managed to put me off successfully. We did not kick up any scene but they can be assured that this will be the last time they received our business, and their names will not appear in the list when friends ask us for recommendation.

I am not sure if I am over demanding being in the service industry. But i really feel that they have not even met the fundamental of customer service! And I am quite sure that they are allowing themselves to ruin their longstanding brandname if they persist in doing business in this non-professional way.

What's an eye opener experience? :)

Got a breather today... phew...

Got back my mid-term test result (results quite good but can be better), handed in my individual project, hospital audit is over today.

At 3pm today, i actually feel that the world had kind of slowed down... not quite used to it.
Have I been performing at gear 5, that's why not used to it when slowed down to gear 3?? Haha. Anway, it is good that i could have like a 2.5 hrs of breather this afternoon, just before i go off for my class...

Still got 2 more days to go to end the hectic week.
Jia you! jia you!

Cheers,
lynette

24 hours not enough lah

Have been super busy with work and study for these 3 weeks from preparing for mid-term test, rushing for assignments and of course to catch up with readings. 24 hour a day does not seem to be enough.

But at the end of the day, at least i know that i am learning something new...

My dad collected our family photos from the studio today.
Haa... my dear sister looks so pretty, especially in her NTU graduation gown and certificate.
Hmmm.. mine looks quite plain on the contrary.
But nevermind, it is good enough that the family photo looks good. This is the most important (and of course sis's photos second most important).

I look forward to putting on my Master course graduation gown soon!

Cheers.