Earlier this weekend, I received this email from Shutterfly.

A NOTE FROM SHUTTERFLY’S CEO

Dear Shutterfly Customer,

You may have heard recently that an increasing number of online photo services including Kodak Gallery and HP Snapfish are forcing customers to make a purchase or they will delete their photos. I’m writing to remind you that your photos are safe with Shutterfly.

As a father of three boys, an avid photographer, and someone who knows the importance and the satisfaction of sharing life’s joy, I want to assure you we understand these are not just photos, but your treasured memories.

As a reminder, with Shutterfly you get:

• Free secure storage. In fact, we archive multiple copies of your images for safe keeping.
• No forced deletion of your memories. And no minimum purchase required.
• High-quality backups. We store your photos at the same resolution at which you uploaded them.
• Free photo sharing. Friends and family can view your pictures without having to sign up.
• Free personalized websites. Your own safe, secure place to share photos, journals, video and more.
• 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, we’ll refund your money.

The more than 500 people who work at Shutterfly are truly humbled that our loyal customers have made us the #1 online photo service. We are proud to provide innovative high quality products and services, an easy-to-use website, stylish designs, and customer-friendly policies.

Thank you again for choosing to create, share and preserve your memories with Shutterfly.

With warmest regards,

Jeffrey Housenbold
President & CEO

P.S. We always appreciate hearing from our customers. If you have suggestions for how we can make Shutterfly even better, please let us know at feedback@shutterfly.com.

Folks this is how it’s done.  The message was timely (lots of folks will be taking Easter Photos), proactive, and it reinforces why Shutterfly is a better choice for the consumer.

I’ve been a long time Shutterfly customer and can tell you that they have always over delivered on customer service.  This email is just another shining example of why I’ve made them my preferred choice for online photo storage, sharing, and development.