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I want to first say that, on behalf of my fellow employees, I am truly sorry to those of you who have not received your pictures yet. At 11 pm EST, I received a phone call from my studio manager who had just received a text message from our "district manager", if you'd call her that, saying that CPI Corp, the owner of PictureMe and Sears Portrait Studios, had decided to close all the U.S. portrait studios and file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. We were told to not report to work this morning. We were also told to not call any of our customers, even the ones with appointments today, and tell them that we are closed and will not be able to take anymore pictures or deliver picture packages to them. I had a shipment of 30+ Easter pictures come in yesterday, and I have another 20-30 picture packages due in next Wednesday, April 10th. There is no one in the studio to call the customers and let them know their pictures are in and are ready for pick up.

I am truly sorry for the way CPI Corp is treating it's valued customers. There is no sense, or reason, why at least one employee could work 2-3 days a week for the next 2 weeks ensuring that our customers received the memories that we helped create, and that they paid for! Yesterday alone three customers came into my studio and spent almost $400 on their children. Now I don't know if they are going to get their pictures or not. The company has not given any of the employees any information whatsoever concerning our customers and the hard earned money they spent in our studio.

My only advice to anyone who had pictures due in today or next week, or who are still waiting for their specialty product (10x10, 10x30, 16x20, or 20x20 pictures, memory books, greeting cards) is to google CPI Corporation in St. Louis, call them, and ask them when/how you are going to recieve your pictures, memories that your photography helped you create. But please, do not be upset with the associates and studio managers regarding the closing. We did not know when we left work yesterday afternoon that we were going to be closing. Many of us have families that we have to care for, many of them are like me and the only one in the household working and a small child to care for. Just please be upset with the ones at corporate in St. Louis who made the decision to close the company, not the employees who were woken up last night with the shocking, upsetting news that we were out of a job.

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Zaynah Cxe

Well said anonymous. Thinking about my customers dealing with the walmart employees who have no idea about anything in "my" studio.

And all the items that dribble in...they are just goiung to get lost. I wish I could talk to each one and let them know how sorry I am for what has happened.

Guest

I also recieved a text last night stating that we were closing and I didn't need to go to work. I don't care what CPI had to say.

I was at my studio at 7am this morning calling customers. What are they going to do fire me? Our loyal and valued customers should not have been treated this way and the same goes for us as employees.

I'm not saying that everyone should have gone into their studio this morning, that is the individuals choice. Me personally I was irrate and felt the customers had been through enough.

Raylyn Edj
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-632815

I wish I lived in Wisconsin and had gone to YOUR studio! I walked into the store today to go speak with the PictureMe employee about a portrait CD that I needed to replace, and there was a note on the closed gates around the studio.

Didn't even give anyone to contact.

So now I am out the CD, and out the pictures. :cry :(

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Raylyn Edj

Thank, I actually worked in a studio in Kentucky. :) I'm sorry that you're not able to get your CD.

Hopefully there is something you can do about getting a refund on your pictures or something. The Better Business Bureau has an 800 number for CPI and google has the company headquarter's phone in St.

Louise. Hopefully that helps!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-632815

I wish I would have been able to go in and call my customers. I live an hour away from my studio, and due to the fact that the studio hours were cut I barely made enough to put gas in my car and care for myself, my husband (who is laid off), and our 3 year old daughter. I had like 5 cents to my name and was driving on fumes Thursday, so there was nothing I could do for my customers.

Raylyn Edj

So what do we do? I tried calling CPI corp, but it doesn't give me an option to speak with anyone.

I need to have an extension number to reach someone, and I don't have an extension number to do that.

I am beyond pissed at this place!!!!!! :(

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Raylyn Edj

As a former employee, so are we pissed with this place. I'm not sure we'll get paid our last paychecks.

I'm also not sure calling CPI will work because the company no longer exists. You should still be able to access your photos online though.

Raylyn Edj
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-632788

Yes, I can access the photos online, but then I have to pay another arm and leg for them, because the photos online all have words slashed through the face!! :(

Guest

sorry to hear you people are losing your jobs. your compassion however is very touching.your comments will no doubt save people time and frustration. i hope you find work again soon.

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