If you recall, I wrote of my first photography show with much enthusiasm and excitement. For me it was a big moment that I'd been working towards for a long time.

In the months before the show I continually researched different photo finishing techniques and found myself drawn to the look of the gallery wraps. I researched companies and compared prices. True I was trying to figure out how to get the most out of my money - like any photographer would. I returned to one website time and time again, checking on sizes and prices, as well as different options. For nearly two months I checked in with Epingo.com, reading all of their information and trying to make sure everything would be right. One of the owners of Epingo.com noticed that I'd been on the website and called to ask if there were any problems he could help me with. We had a wonderful conversation, which eased all of my fears and I decided to place my order with them.

In my first order I spent just over $500. The canvases arrived a month later - two weeks late - and nearly every one needed to be sent back to be re-done. Oh, how sick I felt! There was only a month before the show and I had placed the order with hopes of being able to sell some before Christmas and recoup some of my money and order more prints. Eventually every canvas needed to be returned - though there were two I never sent back - one because I didn't like the print and the other was of Conor and I couldn't bear to let it go back while he was dying. I scraped together another $150 and ordered some larger canvases. When everything arrived only days before the show - more than 3 weeks later - some looked okay, not great but usable while the rest weren't fit for my living room. Plus they charged me for shipping some of the do overs back.

Initially I really liked Epingo.com. Their prints came out exactly like they are supposed to, with no special software or anything. I felt like they really wanted to do a good job and I was pulling for them. They purchased a new stretching machine before my prints were re-done the first time. But when they came back to me and were loose, I was grilled on how I removed them from the box and where I touched them to hang them up. How I stored them, how I carried them, as if it were all my fault. I'd removed them from the box and hung them on the wall, using the hangar wire they'd installed.

I called and asked if they could re-do some of the canvases and expedite them to me. They would only do that if I returned the bad canvases or if I paid for the new ones - expedition costs and all! There was no giving - no trying to make this right. In fact they didn't even answer my e-mails! They'd known of my deadline the entire time and they were even fans of my photography, just as I had been pulling for them. I tried to get reimbursed for my shipping costs ($13.00) and they refused! Things went down hill quickly. I had to forego paying some bills and place a quick order to MPix.com, who is more expensive but very reliable. They over nighted my orders for only $9.00 shipping and when one photo was too dark, they replaced it within two days.

I pleaded with this company to do something. When my e-mails went unanswered I began copying everybody in the company in hopes that someone would answer. They wouldn't answer the phone unless I blocked my number. I hung the canvases in the show that looked okay but within days they were sagging horribly. In addition to being loose, the stretcher bars bowed. I felt sick and couldn't even go in and look at my show. I was embarrassed beyond belief. In addition, my dog was dying and I was dealing with incredible pain from my neck. They wrote and told me that they'd received the canvases again and thought they'd found the problem - they were stretching them in an unheated warehouse. I'm sure that didn't help their process any but doubt it had anything to do with the stretcher bars bowing.

I wrote back and told them that their problem ruined my show and I couldn't even look at it. I wrote that it surprised me they would want their work hanging on a public wall with their name on the back when it looked so terrible. Finally, they apologized. I can't tell you how much good a simple apology does. And they agreed to refund some of my money (though they said it was all) and let me keep the unusable canvases. They told me to let them know if they should return the ones they'd just received. When the money didn't arrive I wrote and asked when to expect it. One e-mail. Then I wrote and asked when to expect the canvases and if they could let me know about the check. There was no response to either e-mail so finally I called. They were rude to me and I asked why. They said because they were tired of me contacting them 20 times a day. So untrue, but what do facts matter. They were yelling. I told them that if they'd answered my e-mail I wouldn't have called. No one had an answer for me that day and when another e-mail went unanswered I called again. And I was screamed at. Talk about adding insult to injury. If they had not been so mean and abusive to me, I wonder if I'd be writing this now. I was the injured party - they did the shabby work. I placed my orders and paid for them. I worked with them on time and on having them re-done. I was patient. I felt certain that the end result would be worth it all. Now all I have is bad memories of 2.5 months of my life wasted, canvases not fit for the dog house and debt.

For once in my life I planned ahead. I carefully went without food and gas in order to pay for these prints. I spent everything and more on the show. I checked out the company, reviewed prices and ordered with plenty of time. Now it will take me months to get back out from under this and be able to order any more prints. And it had taken me two years to be able to get these. Epingo was careless and unrepentant. They were callous and abusive. I have e-mails and photos to prove all of this. Please, if you are thinking about getting prints done, think twice before you use Epingo.com. I hope that my experiences prevent someone else from having to go through the same trauma.

©debydixon2008