colin gift

Review of Bay Photo Lab

Over the past years I've had 4 or 5 images printed...

Over the past years I've had 4 or 5 images printed and mounted by Bay Photo ... The good: since I proof everything myself I can't comment on their color correction. My prints and what I receive from their lab match perfectly... The turnaround is outstandingly fast with ball park pricing, I had an issue on a previous large print which took care of immediately (more on that later). The not so good: I usually print myself and have a frame shop in San Rafael do my mounting, their prices are quite reasonable and everything they do is of great quality.. But I need to drive across the bridge drop it off and pick it up a week or so later, not a big deal if I'm having multiple images mounted. I will use Bay photo sometime when they have a special... although what you see is not always what you get. I just used one of their specials. It was any 2 prints at least 16 inches in size for 40% off. Sounded pretty good to me so I mastered a couple of images and sent them off. They came a day or so later, very fast. Problem was there promo was a little misleading, it was 40% off for the prints and nothing else, mounting the spraying and everything else was the normal price, feel a little cheated on that one, as I could've printed those myself had San Rafael do it and saved 70 or $80. The 2nd issue which I mentioned earlier, I had a large metal print (60x20) done by them as it was ..of course... on special. Problem was it was mounted on gator board and when delivered to me was slightly warped. Called them up they jumped right on it and sent me a 2nd print. That one is a little warped as well... Luckily it was a personal print for me, if it had been for client it that would not have flown. The problem is the gator board is just too thin for that size image. They should have used thicker gator board, or used two vertical mounting blocks on the back along with the 2 horizontal blocks they use keep the warping in check. ... I gave them 3 stars and might use them again, but next time I will be a lot more careful on what I order.... and for sure read the fine print!