I walked into Glamour Shots on 8/17/05 to get portraits done. When I made my appointment, I asked for the prices of the portrait and I got a vague answer like, "It depends on what you want."
On the day of my photo session, I was asked to sign a contract that unless I purchased pictures on that day, the price would be higher. After it was all said and done, I sat down with the salesperson, Kendra G., to purchase the pictures. Along with Kendra were 3 other people behind me, oohing and aahing over the pictures. Kendra started building me a collage without telling me the price.
I asked her how much do collages cost and she said, "From $200-$2000 dollars depending on what you want" never telling me the price for my collage. I told her upfront I wanted just 8x10s and no wallets, etc. And I wanted to know how much it would cost. She said it would be better to do the value package instead of just doing the 8x10s.
I asked her again how much 8x10s with modifications would cost. She said, "Oh about $130-$140. But it's $40 with no modifications." Every question about pricing was either sidestepped or vague. She was also sure to remind me that if I left that very moment the price of the pictures would be higher.
She first offered me a package at $4586 and I said "I can't afford that." She offered me another package for $3770. I declined. She knocked it down to $2770 and I agreed not knowing what I was paying for in the end. She never told me exactly how much each modification to the picture cost, how much the collage cost, how much proofs cost, how much the Glamour Shots club cost, etc. I left without an itemized receipt.
That night when I went home, I did my math and none of the pricing for the pictures seemed to add up. I tried to call the manager, Lexi V., the following day, but she was out. I got a hold of her the following day to voice my concerns and renegotiate my contract. She told me it was too late to renegotiate my contract because the lab was already making my pictures.
I asked her for an itemized receipt and when it was sent to me I saw all of the outrageous hidden costs that were not laid out. Each modification was $75 a piece. The collage itself was $800. The Glamour Shots club and proofs had an extra $80 charge which Kendra told me was free. I told Lexi that if I had known all of these costs I never would've paid that much.
She said that I should've asked Kendra precisely how much everything cost if I didn't understand the pricing. I told her I did and she was vague. I said that when you go into a retail store all the prices are laid out and you know what you're paying for.in your store, none of the prices are laid out and no signs about pricing are posted.
Yes, I should ask questions, but the prices should be laid out more clearly. I told her bottom line all I wanted was to renegotiate the contract for less picture and on a fairer basis. She then offered to call the District Manager, Julie M. To see if the issue could be resolved.
The District Manager listened to part of my story and how I felt pressured into signing a contract, how the prices were not laid out clearly in front of me and I thought it was all unfair. She told me that what Kendra did was not wrong and "I do the same thing as Kendra when it comes to pricing because I don't want to disappoint the customer." Basically saying to me, she condoned these deceptive and unethical sales practices and high pressure tactics. She didn't let me renegotiate my contract but offered to give me free pictures in which I have yet to hear from her.
I'm telling this story because I don't want anymore customers to go through the same humiliation as I did. If I can stop at least one person from going to Glamour Shots, this report has done it's job. Buyer Beware.
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