Website Spotlight: Arts Cow

Arts Cow is a relatively new online photo printing service. The biggest difference is that they are based in Asia. The first time I got an envelope from them, I was surprised to see a customs sticker on it! In spite of the international location, shipping and handling are still relatively reasonable, and they hand out free credits constantly! The biggest downer to the credits is that they have expiration dates - each credit is typically good for about a one-month period. They also send out periodic emails with credits, and when you sign in, there are often credit and discount codes right on the main page. As a sample, here is what I have for credits right now:

33 Prints 5" x 7" 6/28/08 7/28/08
50 Prints 4" x 6" 6/28/08 7/28/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 7/3/08 8/2/08
3 Large Mousepad 7/5/08 8/4/08
1 Playing Cards Single Design 7/5/08 8/4/08
1 Playing Cards 54 Designs 7/5/08 8/4/08
1 Key Chain (Heart) 7/5/08 8/4/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 7/7/08 8/6/08
2 8x8 Cover Photo Book 7/7/08 8/7/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 7/17/08 8/17/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 7/17/08 8/17/08
50 Prints 5" x 7" 7/28/08 8/27/08
50 Prints 4" x 6" 7/28/08 8/27/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 8/3/08 9/2/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 8/7/08 9/6/08
3 8x8 Cover Photo Book 7/7/08 9/7/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 7/17/08 9/17/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 7/17/08 9/17/08
50 Prints 5" x 7" 8/27/08 9/27/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 9/3/08 10/2/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 9/7/08 10/6/08
3 8x8 Cover Photo Book 7/7/08 10/7/08
2 Bottle Opener Key Chain 7/17/08 10/17/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 7/17/08 10/17/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 7/17/08 10/17/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 10/3/08 11/2/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 10/7/08 11/6/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 7/17/08 11/17/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 7/17/08 11/17/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 11/3/08 12/2/08
5 Prints 8" x 10" 11/7/08 12/6/08
2 Prints 12" x 18" 12/3/08 1/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 12/7/08 1/6/09
1 8x8 Cover Photo Book 6/13/08 1/15/09
1 2.25" Handbag Mirror 7/17/08 1/17/09
1 Rubber Square Coaster (4 pack) 7/17/08 1/17/09
2 Money Clip (Oval) 7/17/08 1/17/09
1 Money Clip (Round) 7/17/08 1/17/09
1 Letter Opener 7/17/08 1/17/09
3 Playing Cards Single Design 7/17/08 1/17/09
2 Prints 12" x 18" 1/3/09 2/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 1/7/09 2/6/09
2 Prints 12" x 18" 2/3/09 3/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 2/7/09 3/6/09
1 Money Clip Watch 7/17/08 3/17/09
2 Prints 12" x 18" 3/3/09 4/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 3/7/09 4/6/09
2 Key Chain Watch 7/17/08 4/17/09
2 Prints 12" x 18" 4/3/09 5/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 4/7/09 5/6/09
2 Prints 12" x 18" 5/3/09 6/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 5/7/09 6/6/09
2 Prints 12" x 18" 6/3/09 7/2/09
5 Prints 8" x 10" 6/7/09 7/6/09
2 Round Mousepad 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Ornament (Round) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Ornament (Oval) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Ornament (Heart) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Ornament (Star) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Key Chain (Rectangle) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Key Chain (Heart) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Cigarette Money Case 7/17/08 7/17/09
5 Dog Tag (Two Sides) 7/17/08 7/17/09
2 Glasses Cloth 7/17/08 7/17/09
10 Magnet (Oval) 7/17/08 1/17/10
10 Magnet (Heart) 7/17/08 1/17/10
5 Large Mousepad 7/17/08 7/17/10
5 Business Card Holder 7/17/08 7/17/10

Obviously I won't order half of that stuff, but the prints will come in handy. Also, 5x7 prints are 4x6 size. When you sign up, you get 400 prints (200 each of 4x6 and 5x7) and need to use 50 each month. Even with shipping the rates are comparable to other sites - cheaper with all of the credits.

If you decide to sign up, please use the link above or to the right!

Edit: I was asked how I got all of the credits. Well, anytime you see 50 prints, it came from the initial sign up order. Three of the photo books came from that too. The other ones come from either emails I receive from the company, or they come with my order confirmation when I order prints?

How can they afford to give this all away? First of all, you'll notice that most of the credits are around for a month. They're probably hoping people will make orders to use the credits, and order more while they're there. Secondly, I think most businesses make a profit off of their "shipping and handling" charges, so that helps to off-set the costs of the free credits. Finally, they're based in China, which has very cheap labor.