Review: Fotosnaps (and why I can’t hate them)

This story started way back 2014.  I bought 3 vouchers from Metrodeal for Fotosnaps 8×11 hardcover landscape with additional 8 pages and free shipping. The expiration date was due in the next six months and I thought that was enough time to finish the travel books.

Six months could have been enough, if only, it didn’t coincide with my wedding preparations and my hard disk crashing. Two days before the expiration, I had one photobook in 80% completion. Not wanting to waste all the vouchers and my effort in lay-outing that one book I decided to email Fotosnaps and ask for an extension. They replied promptly and considerately gave me one week extension.  Yay! However, since my wedding was also nearing I still wasn’t able to take advantage of their generosity. I had to bitterly swallow the fact  that I just threw away Php2500.

The wedding came and went, 2015 came and went, and now we’re in June 2016. I was again dealing with a ton of travel pictures that needed to be turned into books. There was no on-going sale and I again remembered those wasted 2014 vouchers and the unfinished book.  I had the craziest idea. Without any expectation to grant my request, I emailed Fotosnaps to ask if I can still use the 2014 vouchers. At first, they replied that it can’t be done since it’s been two years (which I totally understand), but I pleaded that I be granted even just one, just to be able to finish that one 80% done photobook. I wouldn’t have hold any grudges if they didn’t heed my plea but to my surprise they agreed to use one of my vouchers provided I can upload my project in a week. Now that is customer service! I wasted no time and uploaded my book.

All that time, Fotosnaps team promptly communicated with me through email. They were very considerate, instructions were clearly given, and polite.

While I am very happy and thankful for the consideration that Fotosnaps gave me, I should be transparent of the not-so-happy news I got from them:

Php150 Re-processing fee. It’s not really a bad thing, it’s just that I don’t get it. I uploaded my book June 16 and received an email about “errors” and the apparent need to decide if I shall edit (and pay Php150)  it or leave it as is and proceed with printing. The thing is even if I edit the book, I can’t be sure that the new edited version will turn out fine especially when I don’t see the errors stated on the created proofs. I decided to print it as is.

One week and counting, still no photobook. Production and delivery should have been done within 7 days. I emailed them June 27 to inquire on the status of the book and unfortunately they replied that it’ll be delayed due to some technical problems they encountered. It’s still too early to consider it super delayed, but I do hope it doesn’t stretch into weeks (or months?).

I will update my review on the quality of the photobook once I receive it.

For now, I just need to be patient in waiting and trust them that it’ll be delivered as soon as possible. Though under normal circumstance this waiting game should have annoyed me, but I can’t hate Fotosnaps. And now you know why. 🙂

Have you tried Fotosnaps? How’s the book quality? I’d like to know your experience, share them below!

The Good Things about Juicing

I’m a very picky eater, but unlike most mothers, mine didn’t force to eat something I don’t like even if it is good for me. She spoiled me to the point of cooking a separate dish for me every time I don’t like what is served because it’s either that or I don’t eat at all.

That didn’t really bother me much since I wasn’t one to get sick easily anyway. My lifestyle was convenient and doesn’t seem to do any harm, so why change it right? Well, we all think like that until it’s too late and at the end we’re stuck regretting our choices. That’s how I saw it the day my mom, a person who eats well, gets ample exercise, someone who generally have a better well-being and lifestyle than me, gets sick with one of the most dreaded illness.

My mom was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer. I think my denial was more than hers, whenever we were at the hospital, during surgeries, recovery, and check-ups the only thought that keeps coming to me – how the hell did that happen to my mom? Here I am, someone who takes health for granted and yet she’s the one lying in the hospital bed. I feared for her future and I feared for mine more because I knew that it can happen to me any time too.
I made a choice to turn things around little by little, starting with improving what I eat.