MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => 123RF => Topic started by: hungar1 on July 29, 2009, 04:54

Title: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: hungar1 on July 29, 2009, 04:54
About two weeks ago I noticed that about $80 was missing from my 123 account. Iwrote to support about ths but never heard a word from them. I wrote again and finally received this message;

From our investigation, the negative figure is due to deductions made from fraud and refund cases. Our accounts department is currently auditing backdated refund cases and contributor accounts which are affected will see reductions being made from their current earnings.

OK, I can understand that fraud happens, I have had a few small deductions on other sites, but $80 accounts for 1/6th of my total earnings at 123!!!  Furthermore, why was I not informed about the deduction, if I were a big player I may not have even known any money had been taken !!

I checked out the forums and it seems other members are having problems with sales being credited to their accounts, and the lack of communication from 123 seems quite rude.

So, has anybody else had these fraud deductions taken from their accounts in a lump sum recently , or had uncredited sales. Would be nice to hear from you.

Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: epixx on July 29, 2009, 05:18
Yes, I've had around $20 deducted today   >:(

Edit: the money is back. Don't ask what happened   ???
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: puravida on July 29, 2009, 11:43
why is it that every other new post is an announcement that one site or another is "trying to screw" us?  is this an epidemic?

i wonder how long this is going to continue. it will be a refershing change if one of the sites give us an excuse to post a topic announcing, :"hooray, at last , one site who thinks contributors' satisfaction is just as vital to micro stock as buyers' satisfaction".

any takers?   ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Magnum on July 29, 2009, 14:50
Maybe they´re angry cause 123RF is totally worthless IMO.     I´ve had thoughts about them as well...
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: madelaide on July 29, 2009, 16:01
I had no sales in 123RF.  They can deduct that if they want.   ;D
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: m@m on July 29, 2009, 16:19
$13.05 in the past 6 months with 200 uplds, hey! by the time I'm 105 years old maybe I'll have enough for a tank of gas...who said they're WORTHLES?!!!  :P
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Squat on July 29, 2009, 16:59
$13.05 in the past 6 months with 200 uplds, hey! by the time I'm 105 years old maybe I'll have enough for a tank of gas...who said they're WORTHLES?!!!  :P

Maybe if you can locate a local dealer of petrol in your part of the woods, you could convince them to start a SUB program for cheap petrol  ;)


Or maybe all the sites of microstock could join forces get into the petrol business, to  buy over one of these petrol companies, drive the prices of petrol down with subscription ?


Won't we'll all be happy drivers  :D
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: WarrenPrice on July 29, 2009, 17:58
Man...I can't seem to win for losing.  I signed on with 123RF based on some good reviews in here.  Now, everyone is slamming them.  After the Big Six, there doesn't seem like much left?   :-\
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: willie on July 29, 2009, 20:05
Man...I can't seem to win for losing.  I signed on with 123RF based on some good reviews in here.  Now, everyone is slamming them.  After the Big Six, there doesn't seem like much left?   :-\


How about try making your own wish list.
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/who-you-choose-to-replace-the-big-6-if-you-can-)/msg109481/?topicseen#new (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/who-you-choose-to-replace-the-big-6-if-you-can-)/msg109481/?topicseen#new)

Who knows, your wish might come true  ;)
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on July 29, 2009, 20:24
took me almost 3 years to hit payout with them. Pix that sell daily elsewhere had dismal sales.  Soon as I hit payout, I cashed and bailed (may 09). 8)=tom
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: PixelBytes on July 30, 2009, 12:59
Man...I can't seem to win for losing.  I signed on with 123RF based on some good reviews in here.  Now, everyone is slamming them.  After the Big Six, there doesn't seem like much left?   :-\

It's hard to tell from reviews in here which sites are good unless you know the portfolio size of the person talking. 

To some people $20/month from a site is awesome and to others $100/month is chump change and not worth the effort. 

Personally 123RF is barely worth the effort to upload anymore - and that's saying something considering how easy their upload process is!
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: WarrenPrice on July 30, 2009, 13:37
Guess I'm in the $20 camp.  Funny how a few downloads can affect your attitude.  :)

I did have a strange thing happen, however.  I had a sub download yesterday.  When I went to look today ... it's gone????  Very stange...
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Moonb007 on July 30, 2009, 14:58
To me they are a good site.  I am in Warrens camp too, I avg. about $10 a month at 123, which puts in in around 3rd to 6th place depending on the month.

I have made more money in one month at 123RF then I have in all my time at iStock...so it depends on the users I guess
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: m@m on July 30, 2009, 16:55
To me they are a good site.  I am in Warrens camp too, I avg. about $10 a month at 123, which puts in in around 3rd to 6th place depending on the month.

I have made more money in one month at 123RF then I have in all my time at iStock...so it depends on the users I guess

And $10 a month makes in your opinion one of the top 6 a good site?...then you must be one of those that thinks that a 0.25 for a subscription sale is a great deal!  ??? ??? ???...WOW!!!...don't spend it all in one place bud!
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: ptlee on July 30, 2009, 18:18
Had a similar issue at 123RF recently, when some of my earnings went missing, resulting in a -'ve balance. Was about to write to them when a couple of days later it was back again. Wonder what was that all about.

To me, they are ok, with an easy submission process, I have no major complaints.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: WarrenPrice on July 30, 2009, 18:45
To me they are a good site.  I am in Warrens camp too, I avg. about $10 a month at 123, which puts in in around 3rd to 6th place depending on the month.

I have made more money in one month at 123RF then I have in all my time at iStock...so it depends on the users I guess

And $10 a month makes in your opinion one of the top 6 a good site?...then you must be one of those that thinks that a 0.25 for a subscription sale is a great deal!  ??? ??? ???...WOW!!!...don't spend it all in one place bud!

Does 123rf pay only .25 for a subscription sale?  Maybe that's why mine disappeared; it was for .36 cents.  Is that good?   :P
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: m@m on July 30, 2009, 19:31
Better than .25...lol  ;D
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on July 30, 2009, 19:34
I never liked their manner of accounting.  For me it was always a pain in the backside trying to track sales....   8)=tom
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: jsolie on July 30, 2009, 22:12
I'm not sure what's up with them.  I've been checking out the picniche toolbar, and the other night, it reported that I had a $100 sale.  A few minutes later, it then reported that my balance was NEGATIVE $45.  It's been bopping around to all sorts of strange numbers lately, and is currently sitting at $0.14.  Something isn't adding up...
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on July 30, 2009, 22:17
Sounds like the same math I got from Verizon today....   or then again, maybe my brain has finally turned to oatmeal....    8)=tom
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Clivia on July 31, 2009, 00:45
I get a payout from 123 every other month. They are way down the list for priority of uploading, only getting pictures when I have a bit of spare time - not often! I would not dump them because I do get regular  payouts, just not enough of them! I don't check my earnings there often enough to notice any problems.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Oldhand on July 31, 2009, 03:21
My two cents (pounds!) worth!

Easy upload and high acceptance are well documented for the site and true.

Bottom line, I make between 50 and 100 $ every month. There are two reasons for this as most of my material is proabably average.

One, portfolio size, just over 2000 pics online.

Two, this allows me to fave over 100 images - obviously my best. The number of fave downloads is disproportionate to the rest of my portfolio, making the most income.

Never had any mysterious deductions etc, so for me it's a site with reasonable potential.

Rgds

Oldhand
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Moonb007 on July 31, 2009, 13:57
To me they are a good site.  I am in Warrens camp too, I avg. about $10 a month at 123, which puts in in around 3rd to 6th place depending on the month.

I have made more money in one month at 123RF then I have in all my time at iStock...so it depends on the users I guess

And $10 a month makes in your opinion one of the top 6 a good site?...then you must be one of those that thinks that a 0.25 for a subscription sale is a great deal!  ??? ??? ???...WOW!!!...don't spend it all in one place bud!

No M&M I am not a big fan of .25 sales.  After all I wont join snapix or what ever they are called because of how low they pay for sub sales.  I how ever am a hobbies when it comes to stock photography and do it because I enjoy it.  It also helps pay for new toys as I make payouts.  I don't get monthly payouts because like most small fry's, I just don't have that many images up and running yet, but 123RF does bring in cash...and no, they are not full of 25 cent sales.  I don't have a problem with iStock, its just they don't accept a lot of my images for "Not what we are looking for"  I mostly shoot architectural shots, as that is my field of work.  iStock seems to have plenty of those images I guess.  I do however put my support behind DT as the best stock agency out there.  This is just from my personal reviews.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: madelaide on July 31, 2009, 16:13
0 sales this month at 123RF.  I should try to find my images in their search engine to  know if they're really there.   ::)
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: graficallyminded on July 31, 2009, 16:20
A few nights ago it changed to (negative) -$420.  LOL I thought maybe that it was the picniche toolbar, but it was 123rf - their stats have been going a little nutty lately.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on July 31, 2009, 16:25
  I don't have a problem with iStock, its just they don't accept a lot of my images for "Not what we are looking for"  I mostly shoot architectural shots, as that is my field of work.  iStock seems to have plenty of those images I guess.

That blows my mind, Moonb007...  The site is loaded with arch shots.... seems to me keeping the pool fresh with new images would be a wise course. Not just check the counter.... Hey we have 200k arch shots, dont need any more, hit delete.

 Just goes to continue the fact that there is no figuring the whys and whats of their thinking. 8)=tom
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Moonb007 on July 31, 2009, 16:32
I think it just depends on the review.  I normally submit in batches of 5 to 10 and sometime all of them will go through...or all of them will be rejected for "not what we need"  I forget the exact wording.  The other day I submitted 4 building images and a paper heart...the paper heart was the only one that they took.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: KiwiRob on September 14, 2009, 11:43
I've never had a problem with this site until today, all sales from May, July and September have been cancelled and my account has a negitave balance. I've sent an email so maybe I'll hear something from them, maybe not if what other has said about customer support is true.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: goldenangel on September 14, 2009, 12:17
I don't think it's anything serious. 123rf has had quite a few problems lately displaying the right balance and statistics.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: m@m on September 14, 2009, 12:26
GA, on the contrary, it is becoming a very serious matter since this same problem is happening almost every month or every other month...I know I've got better things to do with my time than getting aggravated, and wasting my time emailing them over the same problem, just to see it happen again on the following month.  :-\
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: anonymous on September 14, 2009, 12:47
I've never had a problem with this site until today, all sales from May, July and September have been cancelled and my account has a negitave balance. I've sent an email so maybe I'll hear something from them, maybe not if what other has said about customer support is true.
same here....give it a few hours
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: goldenangel on September 14, 2009, 13:56
GA, on the contrary, it is becoming a very serious matter since this same problem is happening almost every month or every other month...I know I've got better things to do with my time than getting aggravated, and wasting my time emailing them over the same problem, just to see it happen again on the following month.  :-\
I totally agree. What I meant is that the data shown is not correct and does not reflect reality. At least for me it comes to the right amount at least sometimes. I believe they should fix this reporting error as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: alex123rf on September 23, 2009, 20:20
Short answer : No.

 :D
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: m@m on September 23, 2009, 20:29
Short answer : No.

 :D

Does that NO! applies to me getting pay for my missing commission as well?  :P
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: kaycee on September 25, 2009, 14:20
I don't know what is wrong now at 123rf.
My first vector rejections since one year for low commercial value.....BLEHHHHHHHH
Definitely something is going on besides disapairing earnings.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: traveler1116 on September 26, 2009, 12:10
For what it's worth I like 123rf, they do close to DT and FT and I have never had a problem with them.  I have more images up on 123 than either DT or FT because I would rather support them. 
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Pixart on September 26, 2009, 15:22
Isn't it crazy the way everyone's experiences are so wildly different?  This year so far I have made 87% more on DT than 123. 
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: leon_traut on April 15, 2010, 16:05
They definitly playing some game with us. 15 from 30 bucks disappeared from my account, possibly due to fraud and refund and blah-blah-blah, but since all my earnings are at least two months old, I assume they investigating old cons cases. Now I'm just looking for quick way to delete my portfolio on 123
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: ljooc on April 15, 2010, 16:18
I have never had any issues with my earnings nor had any refunds at 123rf, sales are good for me month on month, I have more images with them, images others deem not stock worthy and they sell. Payment is prompt around the 14th 15th of each month without me having to make any request or chase for it

It seems quite a few ppls on this board are less fortunate and experiencing all kinds of issues with them, guess I am the lucky few. The site is getting a lot of bashing as a result perhaps unnecessarily and 123rf should definitely look into the problems reported here and rectify them quickly?
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: lisafx on April 15, 2010, 17:40
They definitly playing some game with us. 15 from 30 bucks disappeared from my account, possibly due to fraud and refund and blah-blah-blah, but since all my earnings are at least two months old, I assume they investigating old cons cases. Now I'm just looking for quick way to delete my portfolio on 123

According to Alex at 123 they went through a big backlog of refunds, fraud etc. and most of them were deducted over a week's time.  After they clear the backlog it will be back to only the occasional deduction. 

Of course I hate having money taken away, but at least they are being straightforward in accounting for it.
Title: Re: Are 123 screwing us ?!!
Post by: Oldhand on April 16, 2010, 15:37
Hi there

My experiences have all been positive. Always paid on time, and with one hiccup when they had problems, which was corrected in the next payment.

For what it's worth it brings in circa  $75-100 per month, and accepts 99% of my pictures.

Growth is very small month on month, but as least it's going in the right direction.

Oldhand