Kiddie Kandids

Granted, I did not have an appointment but, given that much of the photo business is involving young children who do not always work on a schedule, that should not be that unusual and does not explain the terrible service I experienced.
When I arrived at the store, I immediately went to Kiddie Kandids and saw that there was one family getting photos taken, but that there was no others waiting. Pleased, I took my infant daughter to the Mothers’ Lounge to get her changed and dressed. Arriving back at Kiddie Kandids, I saw that the mother of the family was looking at a computer with an employee, and was clearly not yet finished with her business. I found no information sheets regarding pricing, packages, etc. placed for customers to read while waiting so I approached the employee to ask to view this information so that I could be prepared and efficient with my time. She said she only had one copy of a document listing the different types of packages, and she was using it with the current customer. So, I waited and waited, while doing nothing productive. Finally, it was our turn. We were then handed a binder with various backdrops, and told to pick two. This took several minutes — and was something I could have been doing while waiting. Nonetheless, I picked our backdrops and the photo shoot commenced. The employee, a very nice African-​American woman who had a 7 year old daughter and worked 3 jobs, was very kind and patient with my daughter and took very nice photos. However, after the photos were done, we had to wait for an interminably long time while she «downloaded» and «formatted» the photos. During this wait, I was given a sheet to calculate how many and what types of photos I would need. That took about 5 minutes (and again, was something I could have done while waiting) while the actual wait was closer to 25 or 30 minutes. Eventually, I was called back over to the computer and went through all the photos with her, picking my package and the photos I wanted. By this time, we had been there for 2 hours, and my 9 month old was beginning to fuss. All I really wanted was on-​line access to all the photos, as well as a photo CD, so that I could choose my photos at my leisure with some time and peace to reflect carefully on my decision. But no — I was forced to buy a package and choose exactly what photos were to be what size in that moment, while simultaneously tending to my decompensating daughter. Eventually, decisions quickly made, I got a receipt which I then had to take to the BRU check-​out counter to pay for, and then return to Kiddie Kandids. After that, there was even more wait until my order was finalized and we were (finally) able to go home.
The photos came in several weeks later, and I have no complaints about the actual photos. Of course, in retrospect, I did not order the right package, and I wish I had chosen some other photos, mistakes I made because of your unsatisfactory «pressure sales» procedure. Nevertheless, the photos themselves were nice.
However, as if all of the above was not bad enough, the absolute nail in the coffin for this establishment was that when I went to pick up the photos, the employee showed me some «bonus package» photos and photo calendar that were made. I initially assumed that they were free and a bonus, given that I spent well over $ 100 on photos. No, she informed me — the package cost $ 24 or thereabouts (I don’t remember exactly now). I asked her why they weren’t free, as they were clearly going to go in the trash if I didn’t purchase them. She said that they had to «go back to corporate, because they need to account for them». I verified that once they «went back to corporate» they would go in the trash, given that I couldn’t imagine someone in corporate was interested in framing a photo of my daughter. She agreed that yes, the photos would ultimately end up in the trash. So, basically, Kiddie Kandids, in an effort to bilk a few more dollars out of patrons, spends a few cents to produce extra photos that then just go in the trash if not purchased at a premium price. Kiddie Kandids would rather throw money in the trash than give families a few extra photos for free. This is a shameful, disgraceful business practice and I am extremely horrified and repulsed by these ethics.
To top all of this off, there is a sign at the entrance to Kiddie Kandids that states that Corey is the manager, gives a phone number to contact, and basically says that he welcomes any comments or concerns. My mother, who accompanied my to this fiasco, called and left a message at that number, and never even got a call back. Even more shameful! I will never patronize this awful place again!