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!

Review: Zalora Shopping Online

I bet a lot of guys are thankful for the existence of online shopping. How can they not be when gone are the days when they have to be dragged around the mall for hours by their girlfriends just to find one dress or a pair of shoes.

I have experienced buying clothes and shoes to people who sell online like in Olx.ph or in Facebook but never with a formal established online store like Zalora. Being the cheapskate that I am, I still find Zalora’s items priced a little higher than my normal budget so I didn’t really bother looking further into it, but that’s just me.

Even though I enjoy shopping like most girls do, I don’t enjoy spending too much. I don’t buy anything higher than 300Php and can only go up to 500Php if it’s on 50% or more markdown sale. Those conditions mean I only to go the mall or buy branded things during end of season sale and the rest I get from Divisoria or Ukay-ukay. I love the feeling when I get compliments for something I bought for only 100Php that doesn’t look as cheap as it costs.

So I was very happy when I received a 500Php Zalora gift certificate from BPI (because of my BPI Gold Mastercard) because that meant that if I am wise about my choice I can get something for free! Yey!

As I read Zalora is a Singapore based online fashion retailer, that means they sell clothes, bags, shoes, accessories for both men and women, which was launched in 2012. Like in the Philippines, they are also operating localized sites in countries across Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand, and five others. Since they not only carry their own brand but other local and international brands as well, Zalora is like this big big mall that you scour at the comfort of you own home.