pca international walmart portrait studio employment

Hello everyone. I've been reading through all of the comments postedhere, and couldn't help but to comment. I have worked for PCA *nowCPI* for 5 years as a studio manager. I understand exactly where youare coming from when it comes to the customer service experience. Whatpeople don't realize is that we, as studio associates, are limited asto what we can do for the customer once the film has been sent to ourlabs. If any issues do arise, we in the studio actually have to dealwith the same customer service as anyone else. We, for the most part,have to call the same number and explain the problem, and then theywould relay to the labs. I will agree that some of the time they canbe difficult to deal with. As far as some of the comments that havebeen made about "cheap pictures" and "inexperienced photographers" Iwould like to say this. Yes we do sell an advertised package for, onaverage, $8.00. That is only meant to be an incentive package to getpeople familiar with our products and services. As with any company orbusiness, you will have occasional unfortunate mishaps, however,portraits are a very important aspect of people's lives. In myexperience...those of you who buy the $8.00 package, are also thecustomer's who expect to come in...get one portrait done...pay your$8.00, and get out. And once a customer says to us, "we only want your$8.00 package and then we are done" we can't force you to sit for moreportraits. But what you don't understand is...that if you don't justexpect to come in and get fast, inexpensive portraits...you will getjust as professional service as anywhere else because we DO takemultiple poses...especially if they are family portraits. And thereason we do this is because if there is some unfortunate reason thatthe portraits aren't up to par *finger in portrait* then you WILL havethe optional poses to pick from. 99% percent of our unhappy customers,are the customers who wouldn't accept the fact that we do takeprofessional portraits...and just expect to come in...take one pictureof the family, pay 8 bucks..and get out. For the most part, thesetypes of mishaps have been completely eliminated. We are now adifferent company *CPI Corp - also owns Sears Portrait Studios* andhave went completely digital. All of the issues we had as a filmstudio are no longer. You now receive exactly what you see as they aretaken. As far as the comments about the "people off the streets takingportraits"....any person who makes a comment like that is justignorant to how our company works. There is a very extensive screeningprocess...interview process and training program. Just because ourstores are located in Wal-Mart...doesn't mean we are any lessprofessional than any other company. If that were the case...wewouldn't be THE largest portrai

by Hellebender Posted Fri July 18, 2008 @ 3:32 AM

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At this point, I don't know what PCA can do to make this right. My daughter's second birthday is coming up and the very least they can do is show their sincere apology by doing my daughter's birthday pictures, in a good size package for FREE. I would also like the 6.88 that I originally paid for this package nearly 2 months ago refunded to me.

As of November 16, 2006, I still do not have a complete package of my daughter's fall pictures. By the time I actually get them, it will be time to send out Christmas pictures. PCA International Studio Inc (Wal-Mart Portrait Studio) has not only taken BAD pictures, they have lied, and cheated me out of family memories. OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES!

Last October, that very same PCA studio took my daughter's picture and put the film in upside down! They called me 2 days later, explained the situation, apologized and retook my daughters pictures. They even upgraded my package! I accepted their apology and had my daughter's pictures retaken realizing that mistakes do happen. However, THE TRUE TEST OF CHARACTER IS OWNING UP TO ONES MISTAKES.

Guess what? By November 14, I still had not received any pictures, so I called the 800 number so they could reassure me that they would be in. The lady I talked to then said there was NO WAY possible that I would have them in time for Thanksgiving. She said that it takes at least 14 business days from when the pictures are printed for them to be sent out. GREAT! yet again the company LIED and destroyed another holiday memory.

I got home from Wal-mart on November 6th and opened my new package of pictures sent directly from PCA as a replacement to the originals. They didn't even send a complete package! They only sent (1) 10x13, (1) 8x10, and 6 wallets. That was not even enough for my immediate family. Right at 9am the following day, I called the 800 number for PCA and they apologized. I told them that this was not acceptable, they ruined the pictures for the family reunion and now I wouldn't even have her pictures in time for Thanksgiving. The lady was very kind and told me that she would have the pictures reprinted and sent to the Danville Wal-mart. I told her that WM was 35 miles away and she agreed to have them rushed FEDEX right to myhouse so that I could mail them out for Thanksgiving. I explained to her that I had to mail the pictures to Pennsylvania and Mississippi so I needed them by Thursday, November 16. She told me that was not a problem.

On November 6, I went to get my free pictures taken of my daughter. Betsy informed me that the new package of my daughter was in and that I didn't need to have retakes done. I explained to her that the deal was that I got the replacement package as well as retakes. She remembered the agreement but was not happy about it. She took my daughters picture and kept trying to convince me that each mediocre picture she took was a good one. When we finally settled on a picture, Betsy refused to give me the 6.88 package that I originally purchased. She would only give me the 5.88 package....ridiculous.

Since WM portrait studio did not return my calls, I went in to visit them on Thursday, October 26 with my in-law. I showed Betsy the picture that she had taken with her thumb in it. I explained how important these pictures were and she offered to retake the picture for free as long as I had it redone by November 6.

The next morning, October 25, I called the Wal-Mart portrait studios THREE times and left messages each time. NO ONE returned my calls. I then called the PCA 800 number. They told me that all they could do is replace my package. I told them that I had to have them by Saturday. They told me that was impossible and that I would have to pick a different pose of my daughter and they would send me a new 6.88 package. I would have to pick it up at the Danville Wal-mart, which is 35 miles away from my house. I had no choice but to accept the new package.

Betsy took the pictures and did a decent job. I ordered teh 6.88 package abecause I needed all those pictures for the family. I picked up the pictures on Tuesday, October 24 which was great becasue my husband's parents were flying in on the 26th. I took the pictures home and pulled them out to show my husband. We were SHOCKED! The photographer's thumb was in EVERY picture! I was extremely upset b ecause these pictures had to be ready by Saturday, October 28, the day of the party.

On Monday, October 2, 2006, I had my only daughter's picture taken at PCA International Studio Inc. in the Wal-Mart store in Danville, KY. I specifically had these pictures taken for a gift to my husband's family who were traveling from Ohio, Pennsylvania and northern Kentucky to surprise my husband for his 25th birthday. Our daughter is on the only great grandchild, grandchild, great niece and niece on my husband's side. On top of all that, my husband's cousin was coming home from Iraq,he would be at the part. Might I add that he had never met me or my daughter.

Posted Fri November 17, 2006 12:00 pm, by Sarah L. written to PCA International Portrait studios

Walmart Portrait Studios (PCA Portraits) ruins family reunion!

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Walmart Portrait Studios (PCA Portraits) ruins family reunion! | PCA International Portrait studios Overall Experience | PlanetFeedback