GraphiStudio Wedding Albums

<p>Does anyone else here use the company GraphiStudio for their wedding albums? I have used them 3-times in the past and their albums are fine, but having issues with the service. The albums are constructed in Italy, so I have issues with charging the albums because of the company being over seas. My credit card company will not accept the charges because they fear fraudulant activity, so I have to go through all of that hassle of approving/authorizing the charge, and then notify GraphiStudio to try again, but by they time they get around to doing it the authorization time period with the credit card company has passed and I have to go through the whole thing again until it goes through. I have tried different credit card companies and it's always the same.<br>

I recently ordered 2-albums through them and they told me the turn around time was 2-3 weeks now, which was better than before (4-6 weeks), but it's been 6 weeks now and still no albums. Clients are calling wanting to know what the hold up is. I find out today, according to GraphiStudio anyway, that the albums were completed in 7-days of receiving my images even though their "progress bar" shows they are still working on it, but they cannot get the charges to go through? Would have been nice if they would have let me know! I contacted the credit card company once again to give an authorization, but they said no such charge attempts were ever made? I called my GraphiStudio Rep, but no return call, and I emailed GraphiStudio in Italy twice today, but no response from them either. Now I have to exaplain all of this to my two clients that have been waiting on their albums. Sucks how I busted butt to get their albums done in a reasonable time only having to wait now on who knows what or why because of the lack of communication. Eitherway, it all reflects back on my reputation. Clients do not want excuses, they want their product.<br>

I am looking for another album company, which will be in the USA! Renaissance has something similar to what I have been ordering from GraphiStudio, but they cost $300-$400 more! I will deepen my search for a similar product and/or change my digital album style that I offer all together. </p>

<p>My experience with Graphi has been similar, but I still like the product and use them. They have very slow communications, their English skills are very poor, they don't often address all the issues you mention in an e-mail, they send you canned e-mail responses when you really require a detailed explanation in English, they cannot charge a Bank of America Visa debit card (they say it's because of their banking system), but can charge a Mastercard from the US. But, their turnaround time has been very good, always less than a month, and the books are gorgeous.</p>

<p>I too would be interested in a US based alternative.</p>

<p>I thought about going with Graphistudio, and they sent me a million samples. including a huge album. I was not impressed with the quality at all.. although I have yet to try them officially. I stick will millerslab for all my album needs. </p>

<p>Hi Jeff,<br>

I had a simular issue with them but the albums did take the six week as they promised. They took my credit card number down incorrectly and it seems you have to chase them to ensure it is right.<br>

However, once it was clarified it literally took them a day to get them albums to my door - and they were gorgeous.<br>

Michael</p>

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<p>I do not have a problem with their quality albums. It's just the turn around times have been long for me (6-8 weeks). It's going on 7-weeks now and I still do not have the two albums I just ordered after I was told by a Graphistudio rep prior to placing the order that their turn around times are now 2-3 weeks? Ok?<br>

I did just get an email, finally, from them stating that they are going to charge my credit card tomorrow? Hopefully I do not have to play the back and forth game between Graphistudio and the credit card company like I had to the last time, which to a good week to finally resolve. I never tried a Mastercard, so I will look into that.<br>

The customer service is not good at all. The reps here in the states are pretty helpful for the most part. I just do not get why the US reps just don't handle taking care of the payments/charges and are the ones to deal with Italy directly rather than have us do it all. It seems it would be much more efficient for everyone. Maybe one day they will figure it out?</p>