I'm having a dilemna that I'm hoping you can help with.
Last month, DH and I took our son to big box store photo studio and had his Christmas pictures/five month pictures done. The plan was to include photos in our Christmas cards, so we made sure to do his pics with ample time to get them back and my cards out so they'd arrive by Christmas. The larger prints will be framed and given to the grandparents and our son's godparents (they're always begging for more pics - we live in a different province than my family and don't see them much). I had all of our cards written and addressed, just waiting for these photos.
Pick-up date was Thursday. There was a huge line and only one girl working and taking pictures, so I just got our envelope of shots and headed home. I didn't even look at them until later that night after the baby was down for the night. I could've cried when I saw the pics - his face was out of focus and blurry. To give you an idea, you'd think you had double vision looking at it.
Yesterday morning I called back and complained and they fit us in for a reshoot that afternoon. Fine, I'm not unreasonable and they're trying to correct the problem. I go in, bringing the photos with me to show them. The manager takes one look, says "Yup, they're not focused." I ask when the new pics will be back, and she says it won't be until Dec. 20. I explain these photos were supposed to be in our Christmas cards and that would be too late to send to get there by Christmas. I add that one of the godparents lives in Switzerland, and there was no way she'd get it during the Christmas season. I asked if there was any way to get them quicker.
Manager snaps at me and says, "You're getting your photos taken again for free, what's wrong with you, I can't make them come any faster! What do you think, I can wave my arms and poof! it'll be here? All of these people ahead of you need their photos too!"
I'm pretty offended and not a complainer, but I think the attitude she gave me will result in a call to customer service on Monday. Do you think it's worth a call or am I acting entitled, as she implied?
So - here's my other dilemna. I have the cards ready to go, except for the photos of Robbie. What would you do - send them late on Dec. 20 after I get the photos back, and have them arrive after new year's in some cases? Or would you send them as is, and have the grandparents hand out the photos at a later date when they see family after they travel home after the holidays? Would you print a Christmas-y snapshot and include that in the cards instead?
I should add, we did photo cards of Robbie this year, so everyone will still get a photo. But what's ruder, sending cards late or not including the Christmas picture extended family expects?
