Requests for updates (If Any)

Hi Readers, If you are reading this page, then it is very likely you have been a victim of unethical business practices from a makeover studio. I started this page in year 2008 in order to warn people of the practices of Snapz Image consultancy. I stopped maintaining the site after 2009 as my course work in NTU got too busy. I visited blogger today to look at my old blogs and realised that post 2009, this site continues to fulfil its original purpose and I sincerely hope any victims will have found a resolution to their experiences with S.I Consultancy. I am surprised (and disappointed) to see that Snapz continued to operate as late as year 2011. In order to keep the content of this blog relevant. I am requesting any recent victims to come forward and share their testimonies. Information that will be useful for the general public includes; 1. Confirmation of whether or not they are still in operation. 2. Any recent changes in name of the company. 3. Current operating address of the company 4. Current contact number of the company 5. Details of your experience there 6. If you have successfully resolved your dispute with the company, please provide information of how you have claimed fees back from the studio . As I am not actively managing this blog now, I will have to ask that you send the info direct to my email gabrielleowsm@gmail.com and I will respond accordingly. Regards, Gabriel

Snapz Image Consultancy is now also known as S.I studio

Received an email from a reader recently who highlighted that SNAPZ IMAGE CONSULTANCY is also marketing themselves as S.I STUDIO. Address remains unchanged though. Read on for her account.

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Hi Gabriel,

I almost become one of the victim but thanks to your blogspot. I received the phone call from S.I studio and almost believe the caller story that i was the lucky one, it was free and no obligation so I make an appt. At first, I tried to google S.I studio but nothing came up so i tot it was safe.

It was then the 2nd call, he call back and ask me whether I want the spa voucher (Now they are expanding to spa section!!) and he mentioned that it was situated at hong kong street, so I google the street name together. and this is how i came across ur blog and this girl post in flowerpod. unfortunately, pressured by the hard-selling, she signed up the 4k package. I am disgusted by their hard-sell services and hidden marketing gimmicks..

Please post her story for awareness. (URL: http://flowerpod.com.sg/forums/Snapz-Image-t75481.html ) We need to bring awareness to such degraded services!

Regards,
Serene

Latest update

It's been a year since I started this blog to warn others about the hard selling tactics of Snapz Asia.

Received an email 1 month ago warning that they might be changing their name to some thing else and decided to put up the message sent to me.

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Hi,

Here is my story

I have left a comment under one of the article....but guess I just email you as well.

Prob you can blog abt this too...they have changed their name to S.I. Studio. Currently still located at 5 HongKong street...but the survey form which I have filled in, throw some lights that they are moving to other location. Guess they will change their name too. They are also expanding to provide manicure and pedicure service.

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Totally sucks experience! A brunch of hypocrites!
They invite you down for **FOC** makeover and get 2 softcopy of the pictures to bring home. When I asked whether I could bring my sister along, they rejected immediately, even though I have tried very hard to convince them that my sister is only there to accompany me. Nevertheless, I still went down for the shoot as I need to hunt for good photographer for my ROM day.
When I reached there, I was greeted by a friendly receptionist who showed me to their changing room. There were a group of family too. So, I thought this might be a **clean studio** After choosing 1 outfit, they started to apply makeup. I can tell you, they are using extremely lousy makeup! It is MAC imitation!! After that night, I have hugh , ugly pimples near my eyes (eyes makeup is very thick) and on my cheeks! It is totally not worth the effort!
Anyway, I must credit the 1st photographer who took my pics! He is quite professional. What I can't stand is that so called image consultant!! She thought she could pose off as one, but her taste is really bad. She keep using the word "please use your common sense..." How can anyone in service line use such a strong word!
After the photoshoot, she showed me down to level 1 to choose the pics. Just like what other bloggers describle, the hard selling is at this part. I didnt really pay attention to what she is blabbering about as I was paying 100% attention on viewing my raw pictures!
Then she ask me " y arent you interested in asking how to become our exclusive VIP?"
Huh...she really hit my head hard with a hammer..haha
I replied...okie...what is the catch? She started to go through in details what are the VIP entitlements!

http://sg.redad.com/viewad.asp?id=50336133803156968 (I can't remember everything she said but I surf the net and came across this person selling her package)

1) 1 free photoshoot per annum
(60 to 100 shots, 2 designed images given in CD ROM)

2) 2 free event photoshot every 3 years
(engage our professional photograhers for up to 4 hours for any event such as wedding, functions, family gathering, birthdays, etc

3) 1 free corporate photoshoot per annum
(2 touch up images given in CD-ROM formatted into JPEG, passport size)

4) 2 free makeover per annum
(professional makeover for your special occasion such as D & D, wedding dinner, company function, etc..

5) 2 free design of personal images per annum
(touch up + design of your favourite photo from your personal collection)

6) 20% off any products and services

7) Photoshop, photography,make-up workshop
( a personal mentor will be attached during one to one workshop)

8) career opportunities (part-time, full-time, vacation and temporary job)

9) Snapz reward points programme

10) referral programme (refer friends and relatives who come for complimentary makeover and purchase any package and get cash rebates from $100 to $300)

additional products that comes with this package : 1 X 6 '' by 8'' album, 1 X 5'' by 7'' Album, 1 X A2 poster, 1 X A3 poster

Again she use the hateful word" use your common sense" Sound like she has alot of common sense?? If so, why is she still a less than average image consultant?! Ridiculous!!
She asked me whether any of these "perks" interest me. When I reply only the photography part, she doesn't seem very please. She kept pushing me to accept that other perks which are equally fantastic. Like after I attend the make-up workshop, I could be employed by them...and so on. Why would I be interested in that? I don't understand why would she thinks I would be grateful for an employment opportunity in SNAPZ?!

Now, her boss step in to highlight to me how great his company is and he is going to establish branches in China. I guess this is to convince me how worth my VIP membership will entitle me to in future. The most unbelivable part is that the VIP program is only exclusive for you to sign up on that day of the photoshoot. If not, you will never ever dream to become their customer..haha...(Crazy!) The "no common sense" image consultants assure me that there are no other company who can offer better service than them. (Well, at least I know that across the river, there is one NYBN who operate just like them)

After I have confirmed that I am not interested in the whole program, she showed her foxy tail. Before I can choose the pictures, she select 2 ugly pictures for me and deleted the rest in fornt of me! Sucks right?! I can tell you, this is not all about the cost, it is all about the attitude!
If the company could give clients cool off period or at least open its door, it is still worth considering.
Either it is the management or that no common sense so called image consultant, they will bound to be sued by others some of these days.

I didn't bother to remember any of their names....cos the thoughts of it really irritates me alot!

Another point to take note of, they have change their name to S.I. studio and planning to move to other location. Yup...guess u know what I want to hint right? They want to cover their ugly reputation to continue to con others. They wanted to offer medicure and pedicure service too.

After the incident, I have surfed the website and found out that they are others who have signed up and posted their pics over their website. Their type of album is definitely not worth $2k to $6k. $2k++ is only for a very small album and the effect is far far worse than coverlook or glamous shots. Who can guarantee that the lifetime VIP can last for the rest of our life? Haha...probably if you sign up now, the next thing is that they will cease operation next year? Who can guarantee? Those who have difficulty in rejecting such hard selling, better threaten them to call our own lawyer to sit in during the process on signing.

Retreived with permission
http://claris85.blogspot.com/2007/01/snapz-image.html

Wednesday, January 17, 2007


I’ve just received a phone call, claiming from Snapz Image Consultancy located in Hong Kong Street. Mr Salvin was telling me about complimentary makeovers and that there was no gimmicks, no purchase, nothing.

What the fish right? Taking me for an 18 year old huh? I was skeptical definitely. I asked them how they got my contact details. They said it’s through some shopping centers and participating restaurants. I was appalled to hear this as I did not give any one of these avenues my details. After telling him “No, I didn’t give them”, he quickly added that it could be some surveys I’d taken on the streets.

Oh really? I avoided surveyors like flies. Ok, I’m mean to do that. But I’m a busy person you see. If I’m on Orchard Road, my purpose there will just be some serious shopping, business meetings or movie-ing.

So obviously they could be some TimeShare company. Whatever.

I pretended to show some interest, and insisted on bring a friend along.

"No, you can’t bring him / her along. Because it’s going to be a 2 hours shoot with image consultancy, your friend might not want to wait. It’s a special invitation to you only.”

"Oh, my friend is patient enough to wait. He / she can wait.”

"No, you can’t bring him / her along.”

Sigh. How dubious. But well, I’m really keen to do a makeover. But not this sort of ‘free’ thingy, unless it’s sponsored by someone else.

Information from other sources - tommorrow.sg

From http://tomorrow.sg/comment/view/6107388

Quote:

I just received a call today from SNAPZ said is a free make over service and not selling anything and totally free. Initially I was agreed to go down for my appointment, after I google about this company and the comments posted here, I decided cancelled my appointment. If not dont knw what will going on tomorrow.
Posted by Anonymous Coward* on 10 January, 2008 - 5:31pm
reply to this comment

I totally agree! Dun have to waste time to go down for the stupid free makeover. I was there last saturday, greeted by their so called "image consultant". He started talking to me & asking me questions but after 10mins I was getting impatient so I asked him if we can start the shoot right away but he was just ignored my question & kept on talking. So when I appeared to be impatient then he said we can proceed to the studio. After he showed me around & after changing my clothes, he asked me to wait to do the make-up. While waiting he was telling me how personalised their services was, they dun serve walk-in customers, that's why everyone customers has personalised make-up artiste & image consultants. Then he said a few of their make-up artiste took leave on that day & one of them took MC that morning. The only make-up artiste & hairstylist was then doing a VIP member and I was getting impatient after waiting for 15mins so I told him in that case since you know your makeup artiste took MC in the morning then you should call & tell me to come later & not let me waste my time waiting, but he just kept quiet without further explaining. So after the photo session ended he ask me to proceed downstairs to see the pictures. After viewing the pictures he was explaining to me the kinds of special effects they could do to the pictures like removing the lines,eyebags,moles etc. He was rather inexperienced doing the special effects & I was getting impatient again cos as if I never seen this kind of photo effects before so I said ;forget it, just let me choose my 2 photos. But he ignored me & keep on fixing the photo. FInally after he finished and very pleased of himself finishing the special effect, he said he will show me more photos of what their professional designers did but I wasn't interested anymore & told him NO, just let me choose my photos. But he said "Oh, you cannot choose your photos, we will choose it for you!" I was really pissed off by then so I said what is the use of you choosing when I cannot choose what I like then in that case you can delete all my photos I dun want it! But he just ignored me & carried on choosing the photos he like. So after he chose the 2 photos, he left to take the CD & feedback form. So I wrote 'very disappointed in the services' & I know he wasn't pleased when he saw my feedback so after he copied the photos into the CD, he just passed the CD to me without putting it in a CD case. So I just took the CD & walked out. What kind of service is this!!! Is this how you do business? He told me that one of the bosses owns one of the hotels in s'pore which makes me more disappointed. Don't they know that it takes 10yrs to build up your reputation but it just takes 1day to destroy it? I was really tempted to call up the company & complain to the manager but I guess not. What if this is really the strategy of the company? Then I would be wasting my time calling. Anyway, if any of you intends to go for the free make-over, please think twice & be mentally prepared!
Posted by minnie on 3 September, 2007 - 10:03am
reply to this comment

Unquote

Which Snapz Image Consultancy?

In case I implicate another studio with the same name. I better make it clear. This Blog is talking about the following establishment;


URL: http://www.snapzasia.com/

Address: 5 Hong Kong Street #01-01 Singapore 059648

Telephone: 65367743

Snapz Image Consultancy Sucks

Okay, where did this website came from?

This blog was created to warn everyone who are going to be contacted by Snapz Image Consultancy for a "free" makeover.

A good friend of mine was approached to go down for such a session. Bizarre enough, the damn session took 2 hours to complete, with makeup, change of clothes and photoshoot.

The staff at Snapz Image Consultancy then spent another 2 hours of her time to try and hard-sell her photoshoot packages she doesn't need. The staff of the outlet was nice and polite when she first entered, once she said no to their pressure selling tactic, they got more and more aggressive.

Also, they got more and more people to "talk" her into buying the package.

Cost of package? SGD 2,800.

When she refused, the staff burned just 2 of the photos they taken into a CD and sent her off.

Worse of all, when they "invite" you to go down for the free consultancy services, you are not allowed to bring anybody else along. NO ONE AT ALL!!

When the receptionist saw that my friend visited their outlet with company, their faces turned black immediately! My only guess is that they figured it'll be tougher to pressurize her into buying anything.

Overall, it was a horrible experience for my friend and all the people who accompanied her (including me).

I am collecting any horror stories you may have of experiences with this studio. Please email me your account, together with your name. I am looking to publish such stories on this blog.

For accountability issues, anonymous accounts will not be published.