I was referred to Associated Photo & Imaging to mount 11 photographs. They destroyed 2 of the prints during the process and refused to replace them. To ruin 2 out of 11 pieces is a terrible ratio. One of the mangled prints was a large mural measuring 3ft by 5.5ft which was very costly for me to replace. In addition, the work they actually completed was shoddy, to say the least. The pictures were suppose to have a 1/8 inch border all around. None of these came out even. For example, one of prints has a left border of 1/16, a top border of 1/2, an angled right border that is 1/2 at the top and cuts into the image at the bottom, etc. They look like they were put together by a child. This is for work that was to be exhibited in a museum, not on a bus stop.
In addition to the poor quality of their work, the sales associate tried to add a 25% rush charge onto the job after I delivered the photographs. We had agreed upon a schedule 2 weeks prior to delivery, but they tried to change the terms once the work was in their possession. I was forced to haggle with them for a half hour before they agreed to complete the job for the amount quoted. I have never before experienced such a dishonest business tactic. It was absurd.
I have worked with professional labs in NYC and LA (A&I and Laumont), so I have a real basis for comparison. Associated Photo is a terrible choice for anyone that requires quality work and attention to detail. Add to that their prices, which are by far the highest in South Florida (I know because I took many estimates for this job), and poor customer service, and you have a recipe for disaster. Since working with them, I've asked around, and the consensus is that they were a decent lab many years ago, but their work has been declining steadily for years. I'm writing this in the hopes that it spares artists and serious photographers the headache of dealing with what amounts to an amateur lab charging professional prices. Avoid this place at all cost if you care about the quality of your work. read more