Pricing policy for digital photos

[Theodoric]

I get the impression that once you get above about 8" x 6" prints, processors make an extremely large jump in the price. For example, Asda charge 15p for 6"x4", 20p for 7"x5" , 25p for 9"x6" but then make an astounding jump to £2.28 for a 10"x8" print. At first I thought that it was something to do with the price of the paper, but for reprints and enlargements they charge 32p, 64p, £1.14 and £2.28 respectively, which is roughly linear with respect to size. I can only assume that it is related to making the more popular sizes loss leaders. Any other suggestions?

Re Asda. I've got to say that their policy (unlike, say Boots) of allowing you to do a single print, even a 6"x4" one, is excellent; where else can you get the single print you might need for 15p. The only downside is the 1 hour wait. If you don't intend shopping at Asda, you have to come back.

One other point, someone, I think it was LooeyB, complained a while ago about customers asking for help. All I can say is that I can understand them having to do this. I do not consider myself a technological illiterate, but I found the Asda machine somewhat less than user friendly. For starters, it took a while before I realised that you had to touch the screen to start the whole shooting match (I assumed that pushing my Zip disk into the slot would start things rolling - it didn't). Then, if you only want a single print, you have to select 0 films then touch the print you want. Again, once you know what to do, no problem, but working out the system without any instructions is not intuitive. I didn't try any of the editing functions as I'd already carried those out on my PC, but they didn't look clear to me as far as I could see.

Originally Posted by Theodoric

I get the impression that once you get above about 8" x 6" prints, processors make an extremely large jump in the price. For example, Asda charge 15p for 6"x4", 20p for 7"x5" , 25p for 9"x6" but then make an astounding jump to £2.28 for a 10"x8" print. At first I thought that it was something to do with the price of the paper, but for reprints and enlargements they charge 32p, 64p, £1.14 and £2.28 respectively, which is roughly linear with respect to size. I can only assume that it is related to making the more popular sizes loss leaders. Any other suggestions?

It's not clear whether you're talking about a traditional processing service or a DIY digital printing machine of the type that's becoming increasingly popular, but assuming it's the former, I would hazard a guess that the 'standard' sizes can be handled by the processing machine with little or no human input, but very large prints may need to be produced manually, or with more intervention in the process at least. They may simply be profiteering, but I doubt the prices for smaller prints are genuine loss leaders as I think they form the majority of prints they process.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by towny

It's not clear whether you're talking about a traditional processing service or a DIY digital printing machine of the type that's becoming increasingly popular, but assuming it's the former, I would hazard a guess that the 'standard' sizes can be handled by the processing machine with little or no human input, but very large prints may need to be produced manually, or with more intervention in the process at least. They may simply be profiteering, but I doubt the prices for smaller prints are genuine loss leaders as I think they form the majority of prints they process.

No, it's a single machine I'm talking about, that does all the sizes - you push in your camera card, CD (CD-R or CD-RW) or Zip disk and that's it. I particularly like the Zip disk option as I have a Zip drive.

I'm not sure how much processing the operators subsequently have to do but it must not be insignificant if there is a 1 hour wait. If you want a a largish photo and you can have a 9"x6" one for 25p or have to pay £2.28 for a 10"x8" one, I'm sure what most people will choose. Of course, I doubt if there are may 9"x6" frames available, so you're probably going to have to get the scissors out and cut it down to 8"x6".

Moved to tech forum.

[andygrif]

Probably becuase that's the kind of size that most standard inkjet printers can't really handle - 10x8 is about A4 size right?

Try Jessops, they might be better and cheaper - and Costco (if you can get a membership) also have one of these gadgets instore. Aside from that, buy a decent photo printer. I bought the one being discontinued in PC World (HP PhotoSmart 7762) half price (99 quid) a few weeks back and the results are stunning, even at A4 size.