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Picture Me Portrait Studio - Picture Me Portrait Studio

  • by   Aug 13, 2008
  • Review #: 131352
CompanyPicture Me Portrait Studio
Product / ServicePhotography
Location Acton, Massachusetts
Category Photography
Views789
Monetary Loss
$5
 

I have worked for this company for 5 years as an hourly studio manager. Let me enlighten you as to how this company works.

They advertise a $4.99 package for 30 of one . Then we're suppose to sell you at least $80 more, or we're written up & fired for low numbers. It doesn't matter how loyal we are to the company, or how good we are. Money talks.

We're harassed via , and on a . Our jobs are constantly threatened because YOU, the customer, can't afford to purchase more. When an employee argues that the is bad right now, people can't afford , we're told this is just an . Do whatever it takes to sell more, or lose your job.

I've spent on for my studio, to give the customer what they want. I've gone out of my way to keep things new and fresh, and quite frankly my customers are spoiled.

Corporate doesn't provide ANYTHING other then equipment, cheesy numbers, and a god-awful bear.

I spend a on for "My kids" as well as for those who can't have them. I do this because I love my job, and I love what I do. As a result I have a solid clientele base in 3 states. I have people who travel up to 3 hrs or more just so that *I *can photograph their children. What an amazing !!

I will miss you all.

You see, I won't pressure sell. I don't like it when it's done to me, so why would I do that to my customer? In fact I'll go out of my way to show them how to get what they want at a better value. It's why they always come back.

I've trained some of the best in this region, without being paid to do so. I'm the one my Market Manager, and Market Director ask to cover their . I've been offered both jobs at the laughable wage of $28, 000 -$35, 000 a year for either job is NOT incentive for advancement. Since turning down said positions, I've refused to do either training, or cover for them due to no raise in years. I've gone above and beyond, and have had no raise due to "Low Numbers" and yet I'm offered a promotion?

I've won their portrait competitions; I've worked when my doctor wanted me hospitalized, under the threat of losing my job if my studio is "Dark." (Closed) I've been vomiting in the studio and told point blank "You can't leave."

I've also been written up for insubordination when I walked out of the studio the day my 7 yr old daughter broke her arm at school, and my boss said I should be thankful I wasn't fired for leaving.

This is how this company treats US.

Recently we were all told we had to be on call 24/7!. We have to work on our days off, even if it is "Just a phone call" - mind you I am an HOURLY manager". I do not get paid to do these things, so I refused;.

I recently found my job posted as available online and they (my boss') won't respond to me:. So I don't know if I'm fired, or what's going on,. Very professional behavior, don't you think??

I emptied my studio yesterday, and it was a sad moment to realize all I've done, all I've accomplished, and what I've lost because THE CUSTOMER can't afford to buy what I shoot/.

We are harassed, humiliated, and bullied out of our jobs, and replaced by teenagers who will work for peanuts!.

So for those of you complaining about horrible studio experiences, and how the photographer didn’t know what they were doing, etc|. This is why none of the good ones ever stay. 315d70e

 
 
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Showing 20 of 131 comments
tia2013 tia2013
Apr 30  from Russellville, Arkansas
I didnt get my pics either VERY VERY VERY MAD!!! I want my pictures..... :(
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Rainbowgramma Rainbowgramma
Apr 27  from Horseheads, New York
I am thoroughly disgusted with the PictureMe studio. Not only did they take my money 2 days before closing the store without telling me, the did not give me a proper reciept. I have a paper stating the package I ordered and a piece of reciept tape printed with a survey attached to it but NO amount paid anywhere on it. Walmart has been helpful with telling us any information they know. Since Walmart does not run the studio, I don't understand why people are upset with them over this. Walmart rents the space to businesses like the photo studio, nail and hair salons and the bank. I am attempting to contact the PictureMe corporation in every way possible. I will also be talking to my lawyer Tuesday to find out what he thinks of the whole situation. I think the employees should have told consumers they were going to close. Unlike what they would like you to believe, they did have knowledge of their studios closing. My daughter had a job interview about a month before they closed. She was hired but then the manager called to inform her she was not going to be needed because the store would be closing soon. Had I known this prior to the photo session with my 3 grandchildren, I would have gone to Olin Mills or taken the photos myself! Hopefully my photos, or at least a disc, will come in but I will not be holding my breath for them or a refund :(
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Teresa2013 Teresa2013
Apr 25  from New York City, New York
:( TICKED OFF ROYALLY. I PAID $2850.00 FOR A EASTER PACKAGE AND NEVER RECEIVED MY FRAMED PHOTOS. Does anyone know how to get ahold of the company so I can get my framed pictures? Maysville,KY is where they were taken, and I want them now. I should have gotten them the second week in April. I've been trying to find a way to get ahold of someone, and came across this.
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Teresa2013 Teresa2013
Apr 25  from New York City, New York
I meant $285.00 Dollars,Im really mad.
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Mist Mist
Apr 11 
I have also emailed requesting my sessions on cd for not getting the 1 year fulfilled with the smiles card I purchased 2-1-13. I'm so saddened that they are closing, my studio was amazing here in Salem, Oregon. If you contact Walmart customer service they are going to be receiving and distributing the ordered images. I'm hoping everyone contacts them to get a CD with copyrights of there images, I feel that is the least picture me could do! There email is customercare@MyOnlinePortraits.com, I email and have gotten no reply and the customer care number is 1-888-742-6386, the phone number doesn't do any good though I have put it on speaker and waited 1.5 hrs trying to get through and no one ever answered, good hold music lol. I agree that they are going to have a class action lawsuit if they don't do something to make it up to us!! :sigh :cry :( :sigh
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uncle pat uncle pat
Apr 08  from Porterville, California
I just had my grandkids pictures taken on 3/28, and I find it very hard to believe they did not know they were going out of business when they took my money. It is not the money so much as I want my picture. I have had my grandkids pictures taken there ever since they were babies. This is fraud, I definitely will be taking legal actions I either want my money back or my picture. I spent over a $100 on them and they even told me I could go online and order more. But no where can I find an email address for them or a phone number. If anyone has either could you please share with me. Thanks Sandy
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sjmommy sjmommy
Apr 11  from Big Rapids, Michigan
i did the same thing like a week ago. then the day before i was suppose to be able to pick up my pictures the local studio closed. the photographer at this location honestly had no idea the studio was closing. when she came in on friday she tried to punch in and could not so she called her boss in the main offices and they told her to close the studio they are done. I feel so bad for her because she was wonderful with us. I waited almost a week after my pictures were due in to recieve them. when i went to see them part of the pictures were missing that were suppose to be in there. Luckily my walmart store had a note from PictureMe to do any and all refunds the customers wanted... (luckily i had purchased the disk). yes i got the refund and convieniently still have copies of our pics because i did have the disk. The phone number for picture me said number not in service when i tried calling. I know I am not alone when I say I am discusted. We no longer have a portrait studio in my area. :(
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Teresa2013 Teresa2013
Apr 25  from New York City, New York
Me too Uncle Pat. I want my pictures too. What can we do about it? I mean Sandy. Me too money back or my pictures.
What can we do?
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VeryPissedMamaBear VeryPissedMamaBear
Apr 06  from Niles, Ohio
Well seeing as I feel I was just swindled out of $80.00 not $10, I would say that this company is horrible and I will be seeking a lawsuit!! They sold me a membership days before they knew they were closing for good. Then said well you will still be able to go thru Sears and guess what? Sears is closed too! Cant get a hold of anyone in corporate, online, or in the stores. I'm soo sorry to the employees whom were blindsided and probably wont receive there last pay just like I suspect my pictures will never come!! I understand Picture me rented from Walmart but I still feel Walmart should accommodate the customers or they are just as bad in my book!!! :( :( :(
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Hmwanthi Hmwanthi
Apr 06  from Indianapolis, Indiana
Hey if you figure out how to get your pictures let me know! I am in the same situation. I have called Walmart and sent them an email asking them to pressure to at least get us a CD with our images! We all need to work together driving walmart nuts and trying to get a hold of CPS as much as possible!
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Teresa2013 Teresa2013
Apr 25  from New York City, New York
We need to either call a lawyer, make a report to the BBB, there are tons of solutions. Maybe a class action lay suit is in order. I want to see so action and get some answer's.
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Teresa2013 Teresa2013
Apr 25  from New York City, New York
Mama Bear, I'm with you, ROYALLY TICKED OFF. :( LET ME KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO, LET'S DO IT. I EITHER WANT SOME MONEY BACK OR MY PICTURES.
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BarelyWheets BarelyWheets
Apr 06  from Olalla, Washington
As of April 3, 2013 .. Picture Me, Sears & Kiddie Kandis Portrait Studios within the USA have been CLOSED.. yes a lot of it was CPI Corp's fault.. but a lot of it was customers the last few years.. thinking... that they can take just as good a portrait with their digital cameras.. yet they have no idea of correct posing or lighting etc... So though CPI Corp were rotten taking aways our backgrounds, props ..and not giving us the supplies we needed.. it wasn't just their fault. Customer didn't want to pay for quality ..yet they expected perfection for $10. :( :cry :upset
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Teresa2013 Teresa2013
Apr 25  from New York City, New York
OK Barelywheets, that's fine, but the few of us that WERE loyal customers deserve either our money back or our pictures. It is their fault.
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prophotographer prophotographer
May 06  from Hampden, Maine
Sorry to say, but it has nothing to do with the clients as to why they closed. I am a Professional photographer, and Picture Me portraits were NOT quality. They were half fast and sloppy.
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award winning photographer no award winning photographer no
Jan 04  from Dallas, Texas
Family photos are treasures people cherish for years but the consumers seem to not realize that they are paying ridiculously low prices for something that used to be considered a craft and an art form. $10? Really? What kind of photography do you think that buys? Who could live on these kinds of wages and still want to show up for a long day cajoling cranky kids to cooperate and smile? Or wipe up vomit or boogers? Talented people will find better ways to make a living. It goes back to the old addage: You get what you pay for! Consumers are so image saturated that they think anyone can crank out an Anne Geddes infant photo in ten minutes with iphone. (Clue: it takes days to create those images). These companies treat their people like it's a sweat shop so gimme a break with the hard working employees sharing how tough it is to make numbers and kiss customer's behinds and make nothing doing it. My day rate is $1200 and I freelance for Vogue. If your family images are important to you seek out someone who makes a living shooting images and expect to pay for quality.
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pissed off pissed off
Apr 18 
I have a simple 6 megapixel camera and I took my daughter's graduation pictures and pictures of my grandchildren, when I picked them up from having them developed I was complemented on the quality of the pictures and was told that they looked like they were taken in a portrait studio. You do not have to have fancy equipment to take high quality photos you just need to know how to work a camera, so next time maybe you should think twice and get off your high horse before you start saying people who work hard for their money are only just tight wads. I think paying your prices would be a rip off. :( :(
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prophotographer prophotographer
May 06  from Hampden, Maine
sorry to say, but those that dont know what to look for in a GOOD pro picture will say anyone's photo is great.... not saying yours isnt, but the odds that it is "professional" looking, is highly unlikely.
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Lena Lena
Dec 04, 2012 
Everything in the posted complaint is true, I've worked for this company, and they are a disgrace! And as for people like 'boo hoo' that like to troll the comments, remember, if it were you, or someone close to you, you would feel the same, think before you speak
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boo hoo boo hoo
Nov 01, 2012 
:cry so go get another job, people aren't going to pay ridiculous prices for photos.
Reply

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