Shutterfly, the popular online photo printing service, often lures customers with the enticing promise of “unlimited free prints.” Imagine printing all your cherished 4×6 photos without paying a dime for the prints themselves! It sounds like a dream deal for anyone looking to bring their digital memories into the physical world. But, as with many offers that sound too good to be true, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Let’s dive into the reality behind Shutterfly’s free print promotion and see if it truly delivers on its promise.
Image alt text: Shutterfly’s enticing “Unlimited Free Prints” advertisement highlighting their mobile app offer.
The initial impression is certainly captivating: endless 4×6 prints at no cost for the prints themselves. Shutterfly encourages you to order these free prints conveniently through their mobile app, adding to the appeal of effortless photo printing. What could be better? Think of the possibilities: creating a stunning photo wall, compiling numerous photo albums, or even crafting personalized photo gifts. The ideas are as limitless as the offer seems to suggest.
Decoding the “Free” in Shutterfly Free Prints
Shutterfly’s strategy is clear: they aim to significantly expand their mobile app user base. By presenting such an attractive offer, they incentivize a large number of people to download and start using their app. The logic is sound – once users become accustomed to ordering prints through the Shutterfly app, they are more likely to continue using it for future photo printing needs and other Shutterfly products. It’s about building a loyal customer base by offering an irresistible initial hook.
So, is this truly a legitimate free print deal? The answer lies in carefully examining the fine print. While Shutterfly does offer the prints for free, certain crucial conditions apply. Let’s break down the key terms and understand the real cost associated with this seemingly “free” offer.
*Offer valid for a limited time only. Offer is good for unlimited free 4×4 and/or 4×6 prints through the Shutterfly apps only. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on other sizes, other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on shutterfly.com and our mobile-friendly site. Each order can only contain a maximum of 250 photos. Please start a new order for adding more items. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.
The critical points to note are:
- App Exclusive: The free prints are exclusively available when ordered through the Shutterfly mobile app. You won’t be able to access this deal on their website or mobile site.
- Shipping, Taxes, and Handling: This is the catch. While the prints themselves are free, you are responsible for covering shipping and handling fees, as well as applicable taxes.
- Order Limit: Each order is capped at a maximum of 250 prints. If you want more, you’ll need to place multiple orders.
The Shipping Factor: Unveiling the Real Cost
Ordering prints via the Shutterfly app is indeed user-friendly, allowing for quick photo selection. And while a 250-print limit per order seems generous, the real game-changer is the shipping cost. Consider this: when testing the offer with 250 prints, the shipping and tax can amount to a significant portion of the total cost.
Image alt text: Screenshot from the Shutterfly app displaying the 250 photo limit per order for their free prints promotion.
Furthermore, there’s a limit of only nine prints per photo within a single order. This constraint might seem puzzling at first. Why not allow customers to order all 250 prints of the same image if they desire? The likely reason is to prevent bulk orders and potentially mitigate the impact of the “free” print offer.
When you factor in the shipping charges, the “unlimited free prints” offer transforms into a paid service. In the test case of ordering 250 prints, the total cost, including shipping and tax, averaged around 9.3 cents per print. This price point puts Shutterfly’s “free” prints in direct competition with other photo printing services, like Walgreens.
Image alt text: A Shutterfly order summary showing the breakdown of costs, highlighting substantial shipping fees for “free” prints.
Shutterfly vs. Walgreens: Weighing Your Options
Let’s compare Shutterfly’s “free” print offer to a readily available alternative: Walgreens Photo Center.
Walgreens Photo Center:
- Print Cost: Typically around 9-10 cents per print.
- Deals: Frequent deals and discounts often make prints even cheaper.
- Order Quantity: Order as many prints as you need without strict limits.
- Speed: Same-day pickup often available.
- Extras: Often includes opportunities for rewards or contests (like survey-based sweepstakes).
Shutterfly App (Free Prints Offer):
- Print Cost: Effectively around 9.3 cents per print (after shipping).
- Deal Availability: Limited-time promotions.
- Order Limits: 250 prints per order, 9 prints per photo.
- Speed: Prints arrive in 6-9 days with economy shipping (longer for standard).
- Extras: None directly associated with the print offer itself.
Interestingly, Shutterfly’s standard shipping costs are consistently high, regardless of “free” print promotions. Their published shipping cost chart reveals that even without a special offer, shipping adds significantly to the overall price per print. Without the “free print” deal, prints cost around 15 cents each, and with shipping factored in, the total can reach approximately 24 cents per print.
The Takeaway: Smart Marketing, Not Truly Free
Shutterfly’s “unlimited free prints” campaign is a clever marketing tactic. It’s designed to attract customers with the allure of “free” while still generating revenue through shipping and handling fees. Essentially, they are offering prints at a price point similar to Walgreens – around 9 cents per print – but packaging it as a “free” deal to encourage larger orders.
The psychology behind this is effective. The word “free” is incredibly powerful. Customers, enticed by the “free” prints, might be inclined to order the maximum allowed quantity (250) without fully considering the shipping costs. This can lead to ordering a larger volume of prints than they might normally consider if they were simply looking for the cheapest per-print price.
Ultimately, Shutterfly’s “free prints” offer isn’t a scam, but it’s crucial to understand the true cost. You are paying for the prints through inflated shipping fees. For those seeking genuinely free photo prints, or the lowest possible cost per print, exploring alternatives like local photo centers with deals or carefully comparing total costs, including shipping, is essential. Walgreens, with its competitive pricing, speed, and flexibility in order size, remains a strong contender in the photo printing market. Before jumping on the “free” bandwagon, always calculate the final price and compare your options to ensure you’re getting the best value for your photo printing needs.
