Wedding Albums - Art Leather vs. Other Suppliers

[Bartek_Dawidowski]

Hi Everyone,

I've been dealing with Art Leather for a few months now, and I am as much as still like the quality of the product, I am getting fairly agravated with their customer support or lack therof. It is especially annoying when I cannot really tell the clients how soon they are going to get their albums. I don't have experience with any other company specializing in this area. I guess I would like to ask whether you have some suggestions, or experiences to share. Should I switch to someone else, is there anyone better, is this the industry standard or should I be expecting more "humane treatment"?
Thank you for all of your advice.

Best regards,

Bartek

www.BartekPhoto.com/mywedding

[MattRadlinski]

Hi Bartek,

Avoid Art Leather like the plague. They moved their operations to Mexico, and since then, the customer support has been absolutely horrible. We stopped using them about 9 months ago. We sent them a flush mount album, and they bound one of the pages upside down, and delivered it a month late. They sent us a frame with the wood scored and the glass broken.

We still offer one of their products, because we can't find a traditional 12-page parent/bridal album anywhere else for a reasonable price. We just ordered one recently and it took them four weeks to ship a cover and six matted pages. That's ridiculous. These days, we use Renaisance and GraphiStudios albums. We send them files, they print them and bind them, they look great, and they do it on time.

Since when has Art Leather been "the standard?" Not as long as I can remember...

I'm looking for a new album supplier as well. I've used Art Leather for 17 yrs and now cannot get an order in a timely manner, 2 days ago I asked for overnight on a box of mats, you would think they would have that in stock. 2 weeks was what I was told for an overnight pkg? 2 other wedding guys I know, are also looking for a new album to use. The sad thing is Art Leather used to be quality and customer support, no longer do they seem to care. I would like to know what albums everyone else is useing, I really do not want to purchase a lot of demos. I'm looking for something similiar to Art Leather's Futura Albums and Perma Bound Albums, thanks for any input

[RobWatts]

I ran away from Art Leather about a year ago as well for several reasons. 1) Having to keep an inventory of mats. 2) They are sloooowww. 3) Numerous other options for album companies. 4) Frustration.

I now use Zook Binders. Their prices are reasonable and turnaround time is only three to four weeks like clockwork. Customer service is top notch. Their website doesn't represent their quality very well. They offer matted and flush albums. You can find them here: http://www.zookbinders.com/

Graphistudio makes very nice albums as well. I especially like the mini duplicate albums.

RW

[Eric_Cable]

Have never used Art Leather so I can't vouch for their incompetence or not, but I have to say I have always been very happy and impressed with the level of service from Leather Craftsmen. Impressed as in really impressed. I can call the rep anytime, and if the production people have any issues or questions they call me before they might make a mistake. And, love the books, too. The 3500 series is the newest flush mount, and I am really looking forward to getting one done for myself.

Eric Cable

[Mike_Guilbault]

I guess the problem is in the US, hopefully it won't move to Canada 'cause we get great service from Art Leather here. Everything is usually shipped within a day or two. However, I have swtiched to Queensberry albums from New Zealand - amazing service for being far away and by far the best albums I have ever seen. Check them out at http://www.queensberry.com/tour/index.html

Their software, Photojunction also rocks!

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Everyone,

I've been dealing with Art Leather for a few months now, and I am as much as still like the quality of the product, I am getting fairly agravated with their customer support or lack therof. It is especially annoying when I cannot really tell the clients how soon they are going to get their albums. I don't have experience with any other company specializing in this area. I guess I would like to ask whether you have some suggestions, or experiences to share. Should I switch to someone else, is there anyone better, is this the industry standard or should I be expecting more "humane treatment"?
Thank you for all of your advice.

Best regards,

Bartek

www.BartekPhoto.com/mywedding

[/ QUOTE ]

Welcome to the world of Art Leather.

They are going out of business, they are just too stupid to realize it.

They are about what YOU can do for them not what they can do for you.

I don't know if they told you yet, but they don't need your business. What a attitude!

I don't use them but have many friends who love Flora Albums. Same as Art Leather but they are on time. I use all mounted books.