Picture Perfect Pricing?

ANCHOR LEAD IN:
Source: 17- million American households use online printing services to print out their photos, according to the PMAI, the trade group for the photo industry
GOOD NEWS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO PRINT THEIR PICTURES ONLINE.
THERE'S A PRICE WAR GOING ON… SENDING PRINT PRICES TO AN ALL-TIME LOW!
BUT, REPORTER _________WARNS… HIDDEN COSTS MAY HIKE UP YOUR BILL. IN TODAY'S HEADS UP………. EXPLAINS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

TRACK ONE Length: 02
RON HALLET LOVES TAKING PHOTOS.

NATSOT Length:03
"It's uploading them now."

TRACK TWO Length:13
HE'S ALREADY ORDERED NINE-THOUSAND PICTURES ONLINE…
THERE ARE DOZENS OF PRINTING SITES TO CHOOSE FROM…. NOW OFFERING
THE LOWEST-EVER PRICES FOR PRINTS… RANGING FROM AS LOW AS 5-CENTS TO 19 CENTS…FOR EACH FOUR-BY-SIX PRINT.

SOT
KEY @ : 17 ( SHORT)Ron Hallett, Prints online
"That looks pretty appetizing doesn't it?"

TRACK THREE Length:06
BUT ARE YOU GETTING MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR? INDUSTRY EXPERT GARY PAGEAU (pah-JEAU).SAYS YOU NEED TO READ THE FINE PRINT.

SOT
KEY @:29Gary Pageau, Photo Marketing Association International (PMAI)
"If they're going for a nickel print, is the shipping included in that? Is there a minimum necessary to achieve that?"

TRACK FOUR Length:08
ANOTHER THING TO WATCH OUT FOR? PROMOTIONAL OFFERS: MAYBE THE
FIRST 75 OR SO PRINTS ARE CHEAP… THEN THE PRICE JUMPS. RON HAS SEEN THAT….

SOT
NO KEY
"That's another thing that's catchy… only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday do you get these prices!"

TRACK FIVE Length:08
AND, ONCE THEY'VE LURED YOU IN WITH LOW PRINT PRICES, WATCH FOR
OTHER MERCHANDISE THEY'RE PUSHING….MUGS, T-SHIRTS, PHOTO BOOKS…YOU NAME IT.

SOT
KEY @:52Gary Pageau, Photo Marketing Association International (PMAI)
"Once they have your pictures they're going to tell you there's all these other things you could do with your pictures."

TRACK SIX Length:08
SOURCE: PMAI
IN FACT, MERCHANDISING MAKES UP 30-TO-40 PERCENT OF BUSINESS ON THESE SITES. GARY'S BEST ADVICE? KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND SHOP AROUND.

SOT
NO KEY
"It's very competitive. The consumer's in the driver's seat."

TRACK SEVEN Length:09
AND, HE SAYS, CHEAP PRICES DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN GOOD DEALS. RON HAS TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITES, FINALLY SETTLING ON ONE HE SAYS HAS GOOD QUALITY AT A FAIR PRICE…

SOT
NO KEY
"You just don't want to go and pick the lowest price thinking you're going to get the best for the money. You're not."

ANCHOR TAG:
GARY PAGEAU (pah-JEAU) SAYS MERCHANDISING - THOSE MUGS AND T-SHIRTS --IS THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF THE ONLINE PHOTO INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.

SOURCE INFO
FOR CLIENT-STATION USE ONLY
The information provided below is for client-station use only. It is provided to help you obtain answers to any additional questions you may have and to help you localize a story. This private contact information, including phone numbers, addresses and email addresses, cannot be given to viewers nor posted on your Website. It is for internal station use only. Any exceptions to this will be clearly noted. Thank you.

Gary Pageau,
PMAI
3000 Picture Place
Jackson, MI
PR contact: Dimitrios Delis
517-788-8100

PMAI is the worldwide trade association for the photo industry. Mr. Pageau says online print prices are at an all-time low, but consumers need to keep an eye on shipping costs, promotional offers and merchandizing. He says it's a competitive market right now and consumers should shop around.