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School Photos

September 27th, 2007 at 02:02 pm

Love 'em or hate 'em, we are probably all familiar with them. Each year, within the first month or so of the new school year, the order form comes home. Complete with pictures of bright, smiling children, tugging on a parent's heartstrings and wallet to buy, buy, buy this precious rememberance of your child. I actually do like to get school photos of my kids each year becuase I think they will enjoy showing their children what they looked like at certain ages. However, I do not enjoy paying the ever increasing prices for school photos. I think this year I am even more sensitive to it because I have kids in three different schools and have seen three different order forms. All are using the same photography studio and I have ordered similar packages for all but the prices have varied widely. My two oldest DD's (one in 11th gr. and 1 in 8th) go to our local public schools and their packages varied by about $2.00 for the same thing. Not really a big deal but it still made me wonder why? Then this week my youngest two (DS10 and DD8) came home with their picture order forms. They go to a local charter school. Their price for a similar package (from the same photography studio) was $12.00 more. I called the studio to ask them to explain the price difference. The best answer I got out of the customer service girl was "Different schools are priced differently". Gee! really! I told her I doubted any of the schools really asked to have their photos cost more so I wanted to speak to someone who could offer me a better explanation. Much to my shock (sarcasm here) no one was available. I then asked her what they meant on the order form "Ask about our family plan". (Mind you this was buried in almost microscopic print). She told me that the first two kids are full price but any child after that is 1/2 price on the same or lower priced package. I was also told I could still use the discount even though all 4 were not at the same school. I just have to note on the order form the other kids names, schools etc. Put this in the category of "Boy I am glad I asked". Now I am off to e-mail my kids teachers so they can let other parents know. I am not impressed by a company that offers such a policy but does not really seem to want people to know about it. Not to worry, I will take care of that job for them! They can thank me later!

5 Responses to “School Photos”

  1. littlemama Says:
    1190900086

    You are hilarious! Smile I just skipped the first of the year pics. (yes, our schools do two-one fall and one spring) for my chittlins. The prices are outrageous! Instead I will just take them to Wal-Mart or somewhere comparible (sp?). It's much cheaper, I can get pics. of the kids together, and you can pick and choose the pics.

  2. miclason Says:
    1190907386

    LOL!...good for you for finding out about the prices!...DD's school pictures last year were from the same photo place as the one used in her daycare, but were cheaper, because the school has more children, so it gets a better price (which actually makes sense!)

  3. mbkonef Says:
    1190913884

    I would not have had a problem if they could have given me a sensible reason like, the price is based on the number of children in the school. But what I got instead from their customer service person was, "They are just different". I cannot believe I was the first person to ever ask this question. They are big in the area and all the local schools use them. One would HOPE they would have better trained customer service people, but, one would be WRONG!

  4. disneysteve Says:
    1190933330

    What we do is buy the cheapest possible option that includes a class photo. Then I just make copies of DD's photo. Yes, I know you aren't supposed to, but their prices are ridiculous.

    Last year or the year before, DD's school started making the school photos a fundraiser and the prices jumped up from the previous year. That may be why your kids' schools aren't all the same price. The cut that goes to the school varies based on what they've agreed to.

  5. rcent106 Says:
    1190939380

    Did you ever think that the school gets a cut and that could make the difference?

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