Photobooks- Why the huge $$ difference?

[Lizzyworks]

Ok, I'm almost done with my 2006 album, and it will be 107 pages, so I need to figure out what I can do without. Here's my question:

Why the huge price difference from company to company? What am I missing here? I know some of them have "library stitching and binding", but I'm confused as to how much difference there actually is. I've been to 5 different sites and have gotten prices as low as $45.39 all the way up to more than $200!!!

I love Shutterfly and have used them before, but what do they do that's so special that their price is able to be so much more than everyone else's?

What other sites have you used and like?

ETA- I should probably mention that I'm doing this in a 12x12. I know I can go much cheaper in an 8 x8, but it's our family album so I want it in a 12x12. One site(the cheapest) did only go up to 10x10, and I can't custom make my cover, so I'm trying to decide if I want to do that or not. But the rest of the quotes were for 100 page 12x12 albums.

[Jana1506]

I use www.WHCC.com for ALL my printing. They are in the mid-priced range I'd say, and IMHO far superior to other services when it comes to quality and customer service.

[flattsgurl]

Good question Liz, I have been recently wondering this myself. And Jana...I don't have any personal experience with WHCC but I have heard lots of great things about them.

[4shanna]

What I REALLY love about shutterfly is the quality. I havent received mine yet but I have seen friends. The CUSTOM cover REALLY makes it IMO. If you want to go cheaper I would reconsider the 8x8 especially if it a family album, the kids will be able to handle it better. ( LOL but then again MAYBE thats NOT a good thing!

[Andrea C.]

I've never seen anything in person other than the Shutterfly books and I just absolutely LOVE it! I have one sitting on my nightstand and the quality is just awesome and everything just looks great in it! I'm doing one for dh for Christmas too..............shhhhh! I got a great deal on an 8x8 book code on eBay as well as some shutterfly calendars You really can get everything on eBay

[Lizzyworks]

I do love Shutterfly's quality, especially the cover. I have an 8x8 that I love, but I want to see the majestic size of the 12 x12.

Shutterfly does not have the stitched binding though, and I do like having that- I have a book from Heritage Makers and the quality of the stitched binding is fabulous. And this cheaper quote will also do stitched binding.

I don't know, I guess I just need to give it a try and see what I think.

[4shanna]

let us know what you end up getting and we want to see pics!!!!

Originally Posted by Lizzyworks

I do love Shutterfly's quality, especially the cover. I have an 8x8 that I love, but I want to see the majestic size of the 12 x12.

Shutterfly does not have the stitched binding though, and I do like having that- I have a book from Heritage Makers and the quality of the stitched binding is fabulous. And this cheaper quote will also do stitched binding.

I don't know, I guess I just need to give it a try and see what I think.

[Wags374]

Photobooks are a high profit margin - the diffference is in how much profit a company wants. Shuttefly's stock rises and falls based primarily on their photobook sales.

I did a head to head comparison between Shuttefly and Viovio at the begning of this year - the only difference was price. With Viovio being a lot cheaper. I've done books with MyPublisher and Kodak too, but Shuttefly and Viovio beat them both in quality.

If memory serves Shutterfly has a 100 page limit on size of book they can produce, and Viovio's max page number is about 50 pages more depending on book size dimensions. Plus Viovio has the option of soft covers for the 8.5"x 8.5" size.

[4shanna]

I dont see that VioVio offers an 8x8 or 12x12

[Lizzyworks]

Vio Vio offers either 8.5 or 10 x 10 in the square sizes. I'm definitely leaning towards them, but can't decide which one to get yet. I'll definitely post pics though!