My partner had had a decent experience with The Shutterbug for international passport photos several months ago. They cost him about 12 bucks. I wanted to provide repeat business for my own international passport photos.
The experience started out great. The girl who took my photo was super nice and she even had me and my partner approve of my photo before sending us off for coffee while it processed. I had prefaced our encounter by telling her that the photos were international but that US specs were fine per the consulate.
When I returned, she wasn't around; someone else rang me up. After running my card, I realized I'd been charged double. I inquired about this error. The guy who rang me up told me that this was the cost for international photos. I explained that these were to be done per US specs and that my partner had international photos here half that cost anyway. Another guy behind the counter chimed in in his coworker's defense that any sort of "photoshopping" they had to do was extra (but double?????) Not wanting to create a conflict or cause distress to these folks, I blinked, shrugged, thanked them and left. Getting my passport is already expensive as it is, let alone having to be charged double for my photos. I made mental note to reach out to the manager.
Meanwhile, I finished my application up, getting my photos notarized and signed on the back and so on. As I gathered up all my documents, I realized that that the photos were cut crooked, which puts my application at risk for rejection (and, frankly, is just sh*tty and stupid and unacceptable). However, I had already waited so long to get my stuff for this together and I needed to get this application out asap.
I emailed the manager(?) Mazda requesting a full refund, as I was not only charged too much, but charged for poor quality and had had a bad experience altogether. Mazda gets a star all on their own for the swift response and easy-going encounter (which was unfortunately not parallel to my in-person experience).
When I went into the store to obtain my refund, the gentleman at the counter (the "photoshop" guy) acted like I intentionally stepped on a puppy's paw or something, so offended at my apparent audacity. I told him that Mazda had invited me to get a full refund for my crooked photos for which I'd been charged double. He offered to redo them. I told him that they were already notarized; he said "so they worked for you?" I told him that I'm concerned that they might be rejected, but that I'd already completed my application. He proceeds and refunds me half of what I paid; I bring this up to him. He's all, "but they worked for you, right?" I calmly reiterate that Mazda approved a full refund for the poor quality product and negative customer service experience.
He then becomes even more aloof and cold toward me, as though this was personal to him, or as though my request for a quality product for a legal document at a fair price was egregious. I made everything so easy for him, and had done so at my first visit: did all the work on the back end discreetly with their manager (instead of in-store) and didn't pull a Pretty Woman about it when I returned. Regardless of my grace and chillness about it, he was nasty toward me anyway. No apologies, no attempt at recovery whatsoever. It was upsetting to be treated so badly, especially in response to escalating a prior negative experience. I have little expectation for anyone servicing me in any context and personally reject "customer is always right" ideology. Portlanders in particular won't even stand up straight for you as a customer, let alone bend over backwards. And that's fine, but this sucked. You should still be respectful and give people the time of day.
In short, won't be back. Go to Walgreens. At least you can get lipstick and snacks there. read more