QOTD
"That's a long ass project."
- Chris the Commish, on my copying all my photo albums
I'm trying to figure out the best way to scan in a zillion old photo albums.

Here's my first test:
  • I have approx. 400 prints from 3 separate albums
  • I want 600 dpi scans... to get high reprint quality
  • I want the digital files of the scans... on DVD or CD
  • I want reprints made... for Felecia
I called 5 places today (Oct 15, 2008).

ScanCafe

Go:
  1. Scan cost - 400 x $.27 per print = $108.
  2. Reprints - They don't do reprints. Dop!
  3. Wait - 6-8 weeks to process, then 10-15 business days after I select what I want from the website. Jeez!
  4. Order - They scan in your order and maintain your packaging. They create an online folder for each package of prints you send.
  5. Where - The scanning is done in Bangalore.
Subtotal = dop... they don't do reprints!
I think these guys are competing mainly on price, not service of quality.
The phone guy was in outer Mongolia on a bad internet phone. 6-8 weeks to process... forget it!

BritePix

Go:
  1. Scan cost - 400 x $.39 = $160
  2. Reprints - 400 x $.22 = $88
  3. Wait - 10-12 business days
  4. Order - They scan as organize and create a digital folder for each package.
  5. Where - The scanning is done in Miami or Costa Rica or something.
Subtotal = $160 + $88 = $248
Another bad Internet phone here.
The Miami/Costa Rica thing is a little suspect.

DigMyPics.com

Go:
  1. Scan cost - 400 x $.45 = $180
  2. Reprints - 400 x $.11 = $44 (Kodak)
  3. Wait - 4-7 business days
  4. Order - They create digital folders for each group.
  5. Where - The scanning is done in Mesa, AZ.
Subtotal = $180 + $44 = $224.
The girl answering the phone was good, though she tried selling me that 300 DPI was just fine for reprints. Whatever.

ScanMyPhotos

It looks like they only do 300 dpi... prognosis negative!

Legacy

Go:
  1. Scan cost - 400 x $.49 = $200
  2. Reprints - 400 x $.19 = $80 (Qualex/Kodak reprints)
  3. Wait - 3-4 weeks to online gallery
  4. Order - Yes. I can also tell them what to name the folders and files.
  5. Where - The scanning is done right there in Grove City, OH.
Subtotal = $200 + $80 = $280
It was just a guy on the phone, sounded like the clerk at the photo store. I think this is "good", but who knows.
The reprints are made through Kodak ("Qualex"?). You select reprints from their online gallery and Kodak has then made locally and sends them to you. I guess that's OK.

Conclusion
OK, I originally was keeping track of shipping, but they all seemed pretty much the same.
In fact, the cost difference on any of these guys isn't dramatic, except ScanCafe, and I didn't get a warm and fuzzy from them over the phone.

So, ranking on "feel" and options:
5. ScanMyPhotos - only 300 dpi
4. ScanCafe - no reprints, long wait
3. BritePix - bad vibe, bad internet phone call
2. Legacy - I like the local place, it costs a little more
1. DigMyPics
I think I'll try DigMyPics. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the Kodak printing, but Legacy does that too. They had the best customer service, and they (supposedly) have 3 steps (as detailed on their website) where they do a quality check: scanning, color correction, and final review. I hope they really have some manual intervention because scanning is a dang squirrelly process.

Stay tuned!
luck to me... yow, bill

PS - I have already figured out one trick. I wasn numbering photos to remember their proder in my albums. That sucked. So, now I am going to take index photos of each page, so that I can recreate the original album order. This is much faster... so far!
PPS - See!

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