I have been a regular customer and Smile Saver member at our local Sears portrait studio (in the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, New York) since my older daughter was born 5 1/2 years ago. We have made no fewer than four or five trips there annually, often going eight or nine times in a single year. While I have often been disappointed in the scheduling and felt the photographers did not have enough time to spend on each shoot, I have always felt I was getting a good value for the money I spent.

Our family shoot at the studio yesterday, Nov. 8, will be our last. The appointment got started late, the photographer was inexperienced -- and Sears raised the price on the package I usually purchase by 35 percent since I was last there about two months ago while cutting whats included in it. This is unacceptable.