I was in a newsagency yesterday with a Photo Express kiosk and was surprised to find out the terms under which this has been provided. The costs seem extraordinary for little or no return. Knowing a bit about computer equipment, it seems to me that the kiosk was priced at the very high end.
I’d be interested in hearing from other newsagents with a Photo Express kiosk and whether it is profitable.
I did look into a photo kiosk and an internet cafe to replace my double door drinks fridge, but I found out that after all of the hassles involved that the drinks fridge was going to return more profit per square metre.
We looked at getting one as it would have complimented what we do in our shop with photo restorations and the copy shop but there terms were rediculous
We bought into a newsagents that had it already…so granted we should have read the terms more before taking this on but coming into this business from where we came from we didn’t really know…Now we are stuck with this thing for another 6 years…loosing a MINIMUM of $150 per month
after losing the photo developing service, we thought of the digital ones.
But looking at the terms/conditions, they were ridiculous and would end up losing money.
so we decided not to pursue the matter.
these are a con, just like instore ATMs
Yeah I’ve seen this particular unit at a local pharmacy.. they are getting pretty desperate for people to use it (15c Instant Prints.. best price I’ve seen anywhere), a bit sad considering the tiny amount of return they’d be getting on it.
Unfortunately there is no return, when they asked me if I wanted to make the prints 22 cents they said you will finally make 3 cents…and I was like so what we never made a cent on the terminal before…and the guy goes nope…
So yeah I cant seem to get out of the contract as to terminate it the cost is more then it will cost to have the thing there for 7 years…
*rolls eyes*
Rob, tell them to pick up the machine. I’m fairly sure the contract would be performance based, so attack them. It isn’t working for you so don’t give them cash for nothing.
I know how you got stuck in it, I bought my newsagency and got a yellow pages worth of contracts to sign, BE was one of them!
The other option is to have the association review the contraact and plead your case. I would certainly not leave it as is and pay the contract for years.
Mark
I don’t have a newsagency but I have had a photoexpress machine for the last 2 years. Up until 6 months ago all was fine. About 6 months ago they tacked a service fee onto our invoice and as of the 1st Jan 2009 the media (paper and ribbon etc) supplies has to be bought from from another another company. This increased the cost of prints by 30%. Now it really is a bad deal…
Photo express sold the media (paper and ribbon etc) to another company with no warning to customers. Overnight the price of prints increased 30% and when I called they said look at your terms in the contract we have done nothing legally wrong. Legally no unethical yes. Because these machines are performance based having to increase your prices from 19c to 25c a print when your competitors are charging less you are going to loss money. I would love to hear from other customers of 1st digital who are having problems. [this comment was edited without altering the thrust.]
I have a DVD shop & got done badly by this company. Eventually settled out of court, but cost me as much as buying a machine. My advice is to steer clear, get a loan & buy one outright.
We are not a newsagents but have a Photo Express machine. Just would like to warn anyone thinking of getting one – DON’T. They lock you into 7 year contracts which you can’t get out of. They lie to you and deceive you into agreeing to something you don’t understand. We got the online products to “trial” for 12 months at 71 usages and were supposed get subsidised for 12 months – only got 7. We have been promised credits which haven’t eventuated. Now they are insisting we pay for the 71. We are losing over $100 month and we are a non-profit community organisation.We are getting legal advice.
Hi,
As I am reading your comments about photo express, I am getting concerned because I just bought this machine from an auction guy.
In order for me to get the machine operational, I have to get a code from an authorized dealer, does this mean to say tht I am going to be locked up into a contract for maintenance. Does these dicussion affect me, I am buying the machine outright. Also, how much does the new machine cost if you buy this from the dealer. What about Ink and and paper, are they expensive and readily available?
Any advice is very much appreciated/
Hi my parents recently sold their newsagency and the new owners refused to taken on the photo express kiosk now they are unable to get out of the contract which was also lengthened when a technician carrying out routine maintenance had them sign a form saying it was just confirmation that he had been there. Now they are tied in for another seven years. Legal advice has been costly and unhelpful. Any advice welcome.
Hi, I see one of these machines on Ebay at the moment. If I was to purchase one, does that mean I then have to lock into a contract? All I want to do is for customers to print their images and then pay. I don’t need any extra stuff like the online version. So anybodies advice at all?
It all sounds good to start with. most small business owners like myself, never read or understand the fine print in contracts. At first we were turning over a good amount of photos. people tend to view their photos on pcs rather than print them these days. once the 7 year contract was over we paid a residual amount of $475 + gst and kept the kiosk which is probably way outdated, but to return it would have cost $495.00 in freight. There are lots of these types of contracts around. Companies making money unethicly!!
Hi have just found out that you cannot get media supplies for photo express from spectrum any longer. Any ideas for replacement thanks