Ease of Use - Ordering Process:  

Using the same interface and upload technology as our top three services, Wal-Mart makes the upload and ordering process easy and familiar. However, it can be kind of confusing. Wal-Mart offers 1-hour in-store pick-up, in-store delivery and home delivery. Prices for each method are clearly displayed through the entire check-out process you just need to pay a tad closer attention while checking out.

We did like that Wal-Mart suggested we change our print size to retain the natural aspect ratio of digital pictures.

Quality of Prints:  

To test for quality, we sent the same digital photos to all of the online photo developers we reviewed. None of the companies reviewed lived up to all our expectations.

Unlike most companies, Wal-Mart’s photos are defaulted to print using a Luster finish not Glossy.

• Sunset: Many services we reviewed were able to enhance the color of our sunset and our models. The print from Wal-Mart was very dark. Take a look at our comparative shots from Wal-Mart.

• Black and White: With regard to color and hue it was unexpected to find that Wal-Mart produced truest best black and white prints or the bunch. However, since it was printed using a luster finish the photo did feel a bit noisy. Take a look at our comparative shots from Wal-Mart.

• Aerial: The aerial picture turned out well. Not perfect, but well. We liked how Wal-Mart cleaned up the foggy London skyline without using too much yellow. Take a look at our comparative shots from Wal-Mart.

Note: To check quality, we took each set of prints received from the online photo developer and laid them down side-by-side for comparison.

Service and Site Features:  

We found that one of Wal-Mart’s best assets is their photo organizer download. With this additional application you can manage you photographs on your hard drive without any worries of deletion. However, if you choose to solely use Wal-Mart’s online services, your albums will be deleted after one year of inactivity. Which means you have to buy at least one print, once a year.

Wal-Mart offers a huge selection of personalized gift options including aprons, keychains, magnets, mugs, playing cards, t-shirts and more. And most are the same price for in-store and home delivery.

This service shipped our prints in a paper sleeve, which is then placed inside a lightweight cardboard envelope. You can also choose to pick up your prints at a local Wal-Mart.

Each photo printing service we reviewed was given 1 to 6 business days, from the time we ordered them to get our prints back to us. Wal-Mart’s photos arrived in 4 days with most of the other companies.

Technical Support:  

The help page for Wal-Mart’s photo center is full of FAQs but lacking in a few other key features. While we enjoy the wealth of information that is accessible, Wal-Mart’s Photo Center lacks multiple avenues for support. No phone line is offered and no live chat is available. If you have a question, you must search their database for an answer or email them.

We were impressed that Wal-Mart, a company that is so diversified with so many different products and services, can maintain a fair digital photo printing service that produces decent photographs and has a well-rounded set of features. Additionally, we like their free desktop organizer.