Smugmug Changes Membership Prices

[vince_ross]

Originally Posted by aIpha

Are the new prices already reflected on the web site? Looked at the news page about the price increase but they look the same.

Would have been nice if existing customers were grandfathered in with the old prices with the option to upgrade to higher priced packages if it came with additional features.

No, I don't think the price changes will show until Oct.15th. Existing customers are grandfathered in until your account is up for renewal. I have until May to decide (should say justify) spending the extra money.

[GarethLeigh]

I'm currently using the trial membership. I may sign up for for the year at the current lower rate and see how things improve over the year. I would love for packages to be better integrated that it is currently, which is quite cumbersome.
I would've gone with Zenfolio but have to use 2 different printing companies to ship to US and to international is ridiculous.

[ZacW]

Originally Posted by aIpha

Are the new prices already reflected on the web site? Looked at the news page about the price increase but they look the same.

Would have been nice if existing customers were grandfathered in with the old prices with the option to upgrade to higher priced packages if it came with additional features.

Vince is correct - the price increase won't effect you until your next renewal date. You owe us nothing in October unless your renewal happens to be in October.

Originally Posted by GarethLeigh

I'm currently using the trial membership. I may sign up for for the year at the current lower rate and see how things improve over the year. I would love for packages to be better integrated that it is currently, which is quite cumbersome.
I would've gone with Zenfolio but have to use 2 different printing companies to ship to US and to international is ridiculous.

Thanks for the feedback Garet! Anything specific on how you'd like packages to be improved?

Our print labs ship worldwide but we also have a print lab right in the UK - http://news.smugmug.com/2012/03/23/w...loxley-colour/ . If you have any further questions or comments feel free to post here, PM me directly, or email our help desk any time.

-Zac

[GarethLeigh]

I dont mind posting it here. Hopefully others need it.

When I shoot events I offer 5 different combination of print packages. Under the current set up on SmugMug I have to assign each package one at a time to any new event I shoot. I wish I could select the group and assign all at once. Would be event better if packages were linked to pricelists so that they assign to any album that the pricelist is assigned to.

I went ahead and signed up for 1 year of service at the previous lower rate. Hopefully good things are in store before it's time to renew.

[bpaulette]

ZacW - One of the factors that really bugs me is limiting Events/Favorites to only the top tier level. For me this is a huge dealbreaker. I could stomach the loss of the ability to set my own prices (realistically, I don't make much on print sales anyway), and downgrade to the Portfolio package... BUT I just noticed that Portfolio also doesn't include Events - SM's only (and very clunky) way for clients to segregate shots and mark Favorites. For me this is huge.

Zenfolio's $120/yr package offers not only set your own prices, but also Client proofing/favorites. I mean, it seems like Smugmug was trying to match Zenfolio with this $250 tier, but you didn't pay much attention to the little details like this when you were deciding which features to include, and in what ways you were going to stick it to people. My advice - if it's available as a feature in Zen's $120 Premium package, SM really needs to include it in your $150 Portfolio package, or you guys are completely screwed.

[vince_ross]

Originally Posted by bpaulette

ZacW - One of the factors that really bugs me is limiting Events/Favorites to only the top tier level. For me this is a huge dealbreaker. I could stomach the loss of the ability to set my own prices (realistically, I don't make much on print sales anyway), and downgrade to the Portfolio package... BUT I just noticed that Portfolio also doesn't include Events - SM's only (and very clunky) way for clients to segregate shots and mark Favorites. For me this is huge.

Zenfolio's $120/yr package offers not only set your own prices, but also Client proofing/favorites. I mean, it seems like Smugmug was trying to match Zenfolio with this $250 tier, but you didn't pay much attention to the little details like this when you were deciding which features to include, and in what ways you were going to stick it to people. My advice - if it's available as a feature in Zen's $120 Premium package, SM really needs to include it in your $150 Portfolio package, or you guys are completely screwed.

It's going to be a dealbreaker if I lose the ability to set my own prices at $150 level, period. I am not going to pay the extra $100 just to be able to set my own prices, but at the same time, I will not upload my photos so parents can buy them with no profit to me.
I agree, they are completely casting out a group of photogs that:
(1) Don't make big profits.
(2) Are probably part-time for now.
(3) Just starting out and haven't built up a client base, yet.

I hope they decide to keep at least the ability to set your prices, maybe just cap the storage space or something. I'd gladly give up storage space for that.

[ZacW]

Originally Posted by GarethLeigh

I dont mind posting it here. Hopefully others need it.

When I shoot events I offer 5 different combination of print packages. Under the current set up on SmugMug I have to assign each package one at a time to any new event I shoot. I wish I could select the group and assign all at once. Would be event better if packages were linked to pricelists so that they assign to any album that the pricelist is assigned to.

Great idea! I'll pass that on.

Originally Posted by bpaulette

ZacW - One of the factors that really bugs me is limiting Events/Favorites to only the top tier level. For me this is a huge dealbreaker. I could stomach the loss of the ability to set my own prices (realistically, I don't make much on print sales anyway), and downgrade to the Portfolio package... BUT I just noticed that Portfolio also doesn't include Events - SM's only (and very clunky) way for clients to segregate shots and mark Favorites. For me this is huge.

Zenfolio's $120/yr package offers not only set your own prices, but also Client proofing/favorites. I mean, it seems like Smugmug was trying to match Zenfolio with this $250 tier, but you didn't pay much attention to the little details like this when you were deciding which features to include, and in what ways you were going to stick it to people. My advice - if it's available as a feature in Zen's $120 Premium package, SM really needs to include it in your $150 Portfolio package, or you guys are completely screwed.

Thanks for the feedback and I'll pass it on. One thing you might not have noticed is that our $150 plan still includes the use of our Pro labs, Bay Photo, WHCC, and Loxley Colour. With the other guys you would need to have their premium $250 business plan to use their Pro labs. Just sayin' as it's easy to miss that.

Originally Posted by vince_ross

It's going to be a dealbreaker if I lose the ability to set my own prices at $150 level, period. I am not going to pay the extra $100 just to be able to set my own prices, but at the same time, I will not upload my photos so parents can buy them with no profit to me.
I agree, they are completely casting out a group of photogs that:
(1) Don't make big profits.
(2) Are probably part-time for now.
(3) Just starting out and haven't built up a client base, yet.

I hope they decide to keep at least the ability to set your prices, maybe just cap the storage space or something. I'd gladly give up storage space for that.

Have you considered self fulfilling for now? With some customization you can add a PayPal button to your galleries and manage orders and take payments on your own. This might work out well for you if your customers are local to you. I know there are some threads over on our Dgrin forum if you are interested in looking into this.

-Zac