Boatpix Annoyance

[Rick D]

I got a notice that Boatpix had taken a photo of Attitude Adjustment 2. Backing into the date, I was sailing with my daughter and friends. Thinking this might be a good gift for her, I filled out the on-line request despite my misgivings of no previews or pricing. A few weeks later, I received three very nice shots... at $250 / each (!). Well, I have a bunch of overhead shots, so one more doesn't add much. So, per the terms of the agreement, I returned them at my cost, and enclosed a letter confirming it, and also mentioning the photos were a tad expensive compared to prior charges IMHO. Today, I got an invoice for $25, evidently to cover their 'shipping' to me of the prints. I checked their website, FAQ's, their confirming e-mail to me and there is no mention of such a charge. I have asked them for proof and a paid receipt. Anyhow, that sure is annoying and, despite a very good quality product, sure motivates me to warn others.

 

[Hermit Scott]

They sent you pictures with a bill? Let me reword that; before they received payment for the product, they sent it to you and requested that you pay them for it?
That's like a homeless person cleaning your window and then telling you it's $500 after he does it. I'd send them an over head shot of the $25. And then tell them it cost $50 for it to keep it and $75 to return it.

 

[petersea]

I am confused. At boatpix web site in the "FAQ" the very first question/answer states $250 for one or three for $500. So the price is stated. I got to question buying something without having seen it or with out knowing the cost as you stated. Maybe not a good business model for boatpix but not very consumer savvy to have purchased either. Maybe this is all too rich for my pocket book but after being willing to spend $500 for the pictures, you are now complaining about a $25 dollar mailing/service fee because you ordered them them decided you did not want them after receiving them ?? I don't mean to be rude to you but this may be an "educational opportunity" for you as a consumer. Would you have done this with any other purchase on line ?? a shirt or book ?? Consumers need to know what you are getting before spending any money. I also agree that boatpix does not mention a fee for returning pictures, or at least I was not able to find it also. I do appreciate that you are trying to make others aware of boatpic flawed business procedures. I suggest you send boatpix a link (after others have posted their thoughts)to this discussion and make a formal complaint thru there web site under "suggestions and comment" link.

 

[Tim R.]

This is new. They sent me some photos a few years back and I refused them. No charges to me. And I sent them back parcel post which was the cheapest shipping method I could find. And for the record, I could have gotten better photos from a guy on a bridge with a disposable.

 

[BobM]

Do a fellow sailor a favor

I saw a red P28 with the rail buried in the water when we were bringing my boat through Buzzards Bay. I shot a couple of high resolution photos of the boat. I then posted the date and place I shot the photos with the boat name on the P28 owners site and sure enough the guy contacted me. He was very happy to have some shots like that.

So...do a brother a favor...if you take a nice photo of a boat sailing by...try to contact the owner...you could save him $250

 

[higgs]

Was this sent via US post Office?

 

[higgs]

Another Idea

Write them explaining your feelings and give them a link to this thread. i certainly would not do business with Boat Pix after reading this.

 

[Ron20324]

Since you told them to send the pics, I'd say you owe them the postage. Let the buyer beware, and consider it a (realatively) cheap lesson learned.

 

[Tim R.]

Since you told them to send the pics, I'd say you owe them the postage. Let the buyer beware, and consider it a (realatively) cheap lesson learned.

I disagree. He had not seen the product and had rights to refuse it based on quality. He did not like the photos enough to purchase them so Boatpix should eat the postage and take better photos next time.

 

[Rick D]

Petersea, You Are Right..

...if I had read of $250 per photo, I would not have bothered to have them send the proofs. I had misgivings about the process, so I climbed all over the site looking for info and never saw any charge information as I stated to them in my letter returning them. So, I am either an idiot for reading over it and missing the information or they have added the information subsequently. Frankly, it isn't the $25. It's the feeling I'm being sleazed by these guys. I returned the photos UPS since they were the original carrier and Boatpix rightfully requires a tracking number as a condition of return.

They have photoed the boat twice since and so I think they have stepped up their left coast operation. We used to have several other outfits shooting here, but for organized events. I haven't seen them; I suspect they have folded.

Anyway, you are correct that I shouldn't be whining if I was notified of the price to begin with. Has anyone else done (or not) business with these guys prior to April 2009 who saw notice of the pricing? If so, I will send them a check even tho they didn't disclose this piece, just to cover my own stupidity.

 

[petersea]

Quality was not the issue ! ! By Rick D initial statement they were " three very nice shots " he returned them as not wanting them after viewing "Well, I have a bunch of overhead shots, so one more doesn't add much. "

I agree he had the right to return them but he purchased site unseen as per agreement. This is just a bad way to do business, the buyer DOES need to be aware. This becomes an emotional purchase cuz who does not love there boat and want pictures. Buying with out seeing or even knowing the price is poor consumer purchasing. These were not unsolicited photos they were ordered. (the actual photo shot was unsolicited) other business would call it a service fee or a restocking fee. If you go to the web site they have lots of pictures on line all marked with they helicopter logo to mar original photo. Why could boatpix not have provided this to purchaser to view before ordering? i think Rick D should fight the charge but all prospective buyers need to learn a lesson from his experience. I would bet there is some legal language he (unknowingly ) agreed to to pay the $25 fee. Thank You legal profession !! BUYER BEWARE !! !

 

[petersea]

Rick D,

I had not intention of insulting you here so please don't take my comments as rude. I was just trying to point out the pit falls of purchasing with out know all the info. I do appreciate you bringing your experience to this web site to make everyone else aware of boatpix business policy. I would also send this discussion to them and request they show you where exactly you agreed to this charge. I understand it is not the $25 dollars so much as you feel you were taken advantage of by a unfair business tactic. Please fight the charge or get documented proof you actually owe it. Please keep all of us posted on the outcome. Remember the David and Goliath story ? Sometimes the little guy wins ! !

 

[Hermit Scott]

The price wasn't on the home page but, the price is at the top of the FAQ list. They start by "helicopters are expensive..."

 

[Rick D]

Mountain Out Of Molehill

Aaaaargh, you guys are right. It was my mistake doing business this way to begin with. Before, I was provided proof and a selection of sizes to chose from by other vendors. Later, I was provided e-mailed proofs and an option to buy the digital rights, which I have done twice. What I wasn't expecting was no choice of sizes, finished, fully edited prints to 'preview' and a big cost from Boatpix. I'm sure I read all the FAQ's and I would not have ordered them had I known of the cost. I don't think that information was there when I ordered them. I might have bought a smaller one for half that, but I don't have wall space for one that large and that's big bucks to spend on an ego thing right now.

I also would not have ordered them for review had I known about the $25 return fee. It seems I am assuming double risk by not only having to ship them back at my expense notwithstanding their assuming risk by not providing inexpensive proofs but also covering some of their cost by way of the $25 return charge. The truth is, I would have paid a small fee or deposit to review some proofs.

Anyhow, this is a big deal to make over a minor annoyance, and in view of my perhaps reading over the information in the FAQ's and perhaps missing some disclosure of the $25 charge, altho I can't find it, I am going to send them a check but with my original return letter asking for documentation. I'll add that I had second thoughts and suggest they better disclose the fee.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

I saw a red P28 with the rail buried in the water when we were bringing my boat through Buzzards Bay. I shot a couple of high resolution photos of the boat. I then posted the date and place I shot the photos with the boat name on the P28 owners site and sure enough the guy contacted me. He was very happy to have some shots like that.

So...do a brother a favor...if you take a nice photo of a boat sailing by...try to contact the owner...you could save him $250

Bob - I agree and do this frequently every weekend!
Paul

 

[Gail R]

Boatpix has a looooooooooong history of "interesting" business practices, some of which border on being -- or are clearly -- violations of some states' consumer-protection laws. For some entertainment, go to www.sailinganarchy.com, click on the forums, then do a search for boatpix. Make sure you have beer and popcorn at your disposal.

 

[TimCup]

Rick, why are you sending the $25 fee?

By sending a fee that was not disclosed beforehand, you are condoning the practice. I think you are further encouraging them to continue the practice. It's like those stupid TV ads that have something for free, you just pay shipping and handling. The shipping is cheap, but the handling is their profit!

If you don't like the way they are doing it, don't pay, unless you agreed to, knowingly or not. If there's an explanation on any page YOU VIEWED, you owe it. If not on those pages, you owe nothing. You already paid for shipping. you're done. And by the way, I'm in the car business. I can spend hours and hours with someone, but in the end, if they decide not to business with me, I sure can't bill them for my expenses!!! Frankly, it makes me want to treat the customer better than anyone else on the planet- if I don't earn their business this time, I want them to remember me next time. Just good business.


cup

 

[JerryA]

Rick,

I did the same with the hope that they would be nice shots. But they were not. One would think that if you going to use a copter to photograph from that you would at least get a good photographer. My three pictures were all washed out. I couldn't even tell that my boat has gray non-skid on the deck. They were really close when they took the shots, maybe 30 feet. I was excited when they flew in on me and then waited 3 weeks to get the photos. Honestly though, my friends that sail with me take better pictures. I would have spent $250 for one of them if they had been great shots. Now I waive them off when they come around. If you read the fine print of the contract, you don't even own them after paying for them. You basically can hang that picture, and that's it. That too turned me off.

JerryA

 

[higgs]

Don't pay them w/o a fight. Why should you have to scour their site to find hidden fees? Honorable businesses let you know all terms up front. Boat Pix sound a little shady to me. They attempt to sell you an unsolicited photo and bury their terms and conditions in hard to find spots.

I don't do business with anyone who requires you to be thorough.

 

[Tim R.]

We have a great photographer locally who take pictures of boats when cruising or racing. Check out the quality of photos his people take. He also posts photos on his website for you to look at before buying. I bought a hi-res digital photo of my boat last year for about $125.

Check these out for quality: http://www.wavelengthstudios.com/photo/2008/best_race08_web/index.html

I also benefit from photos that Maine Sail takes when we sail together.