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Simply To Impress vs Shutterfly

Wednesday, December 4th

2024 Photo Card Company Reviews

Simply To Impress Review 2 Star Rating

Simply To Impress

2 Star Rating
  • Over 6,000 photo card designs to choose from
  • Create-your-own option
  • Prices start from $0.62 to $1.53
  • Frequent sales and promotions
  • Expedited printing/shipping available
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee
  • Parent company is "A+” rated by the BBB
  • In business since 2003

Simply To Impress aims to make sharing moments through affordable photo cards accessible. They offer over 6,000 designs, with prices starting around $0.62 to $1.53 per card, before any discounts (which you'll frequently find here). While they provide options for expedited printing and shipping, there are still reports of delayed orders and customer service issues. Despite being part of the PlanetArt brand family, which has an "A+" rating from the BBB, Simply To Impress' numerous complaints have led to a low rating in customer satisfaction. We recommend looking at other options and avoiding the potential headaches that could come from ordering photo cards through Simply To Impress.

Shutterfly Review 1.5 Star Rating

Shutterfly

1.5 Star Rating
  • Thousands of card designs
  • Design-your-own feature available
  • Pricing starts at $0.98 per card
  • Streamlined design process
  • Free return and recipient addressing
  • Partnered with Costco and other companies

Shutterfly is one of the OGs when it comes to personalized photo services, offering custom cards, stationery, prints, gifts, calendars, wall art, home decor, and wedding products since 1999. Their platform provides a multitude of design options, including the ability to upload your designs, and user-friendly filters for easier navigation. While pricing starts at $0.98 per card, keep in mind that costs can escalate quickly with customizations. Shutterfly's interface is user-friendly, making it accessible even for design novices, and they offer free envelope addressing. However, despite their past reputation, the company's current track record is marred by a "D-" rating from the BBB, coupled with numerous recent customer complaints regarding quality, support, and order issues. Unfortunately, Shutterfly is no longer a one of our recommended options when buying photo cards.

What's the Best Place to Order Photo Cards?

Photo cards have been a timeless way to capture and share moments of significance in people's lives. While they were once primarily associated with graduation and wedding announcements, photo cards have evolved over the years to become a versatile and popular tool for personal expression, celebration, and communication. In this era of digital-everything, photo cards offer a somewhat nostalgic, tangible and heartfelt way to convey emotions and commemorate special occasions.

And in recent years, photo cards have seen a surge in popularity. In this visual age, where swift info consumption is key, photo cards shine. Visual stories are mightier than just words, and appeal to our quick-paced lives. These cards crystallize moments, capturing feelings for both the sender and the receiver.

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Photo Card Company FAQ

Photo cards take your images and turn them into mailable greetings. Some of the most popular types of photo cards are wedding announcements, graduations and holidays.
That depends on the photo card shop you choose. Many of them have a minimum number of cards to place an order, usually 10 or 25, but some let you buy a single card. Of course, you'll pay more per card for a one-off purchase than you will for an order of 100.
Not necessarily. Again, if you're ordering multiples of the same card, you can easily get them for less than $1 each. You'll also find single-card options for less than $2. And, as you'd expect, the more premium options you include - like foil, embossing, and so on - the more you'll pay per card.
Yes, most of the time. A standard white envelope is usually included, but you'll often find options for color-coordinated or pre-addressed ones too (for an extra fee).
How much time do you have? You can personalize most photo cards to your heart's content, playing with shapes, fonts, colors and image placement until you have the design you're excited to send out.
Definitely. Most photo card sites have thousands of options ranging from casual to elegant, classic to whimsical, and everything in between. Just upload the photo you want to include, enter the accompanying text, and you're ready to go - no artsy tweaking required.
That varies. You could get them as quickly as two or three days from when you placed your order. Most print shops estimate a one-week turnaround on photo cards.
Don't panic. Many photo card stores have generous satisfaction guarantees in place. You can usually get a reprint (with expedited delivery) at no cost. If the error was on your side, like misspelling a name or putting in the wrong date, you might have to pay a fee for the new order - but less than the price of the original purchase.
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Continued from above...

As proof, you can look no further than social media. Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and the rest have blossomed because of pictures. People sculpt their online selves, turning stories into visual timelines. Photo cards extend this digital tale into the tangible realm, offering a physical side to the online identity. They let people share treasured moments beyond the fleeting nature of digital posts.

Naturally, you may be looking at photo cards exactly for those two typical occasions: weddings and graduations. There's no shame in that game. People love receiving pictures of the happy couple or the accomplished graduate, especially if it's someone they don't get to see in real life as often as they'd like. But, there are plenty of other occasions where a photo card could lend just the right touch.

For example, custom holiday photo cards have become a beloved tradition, allowing families to share their joy and highlight memorable moments from the year. New parents often choose photo cards to introduce their newborns to family and friends, adding a personal touch to the announcement. The same goes for birthday invitations and thank-you cards (and those might be the perfect follow-up to those wedding invitations and graduation announcements).

Aspiring creatives can also make great use of photo cards. They're a terrific way to share art prints, inspirational quotes, or as a platform for showcasing photography.

If you're on board with the notion that photo cards are a great way to share your holiday or special occasion, do you know where to buy them? There are many online stores that cater to photo card production - but they vary widely in cost and quality.

When selecting a platform to create photo cards, here are some criteria that can help you get the best product and experience:

  • Price. Compare the pricing structure, including card options, sizes, and quantity discounts. Look for hidden fees like shipping costs. And, if you need a large quantity of cards for events like weddings or corporate functions, inquire about bulk ordering discounts.
  • Editing tools. You want a site that doesn't give you a headache when you're putting together your photo cards. The ability to customize layouts, add filters, text, and adjust colors can significantly impact your final product.
  • Integration with social media and cloud storage. If you have photos stored on social media or cloud platforms, consider whether the service allows easy access to these sources for card creation.
  • Reputation. Read reviews to see what customers say about the quality of the final product, including paper type, color accuracy, and image clarity. High-quality printing is essential for a professional look. Also, what do they say about the availability of customer support, including live chat, email, or phone? That can be crucial if you encounter issues or have questions during the design and ordering process.
  • Satisfaction guarantee. Look for a satisfaction guarantee or return policy that provides peace of mind in case you're not satisfied with the final product.

Photo cards continue to be a beloved means of commemorating life's milestones and expressing creativity, so the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched and ranked today's most popular platforms. We're confident that this information will help you get photo cards that exceed your expectations and deliver a meaningful way to share your cherished moments with others.

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