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Agency Based Discussion => Dreamstime.com => Topic started by: ravens on October 15, 2020, 23:02

Title: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: ravens on October 15, 2020, 23:02
I'm getting a few Dreamstime "customer refund" emails lately. Anyone else? Is this some form of image abuse?
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: marthamarks on October 16, 2020, 01:04
I'm getting a few Dreamstime "customer refund" emails lately. Anyone else? Is this some form of image abuse?

I had one about two weeks ago. First time ever in my 10 years with DT.

But that was the only one. It hasn't become a pattern.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Firn on October 16, 2020, 03:07
I think I had three this month. Got a mail about one and two more image just disappeared from my sale list. I had a refund only once before that and then the mail about it arrived weeks later, so I am not sure I am just overlooking things or really had 3 refunds. If it's 3 that's 3 more than I usually have per month, because, as said, only had one single refund in the whole year prior to that.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Artist on October 16, 2020, 03:16
I am also witnessing the same... too frequent refunds
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Mir on October 16, 2020, 03:48
I recently had one too.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on October 16, 2020, 10:50
I keep track of these emails. My last one from Dreamstime was July 23 2019; the one before that was Feb 12 2018. They do happen, but they haven't been frequent or numerous.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Mantis on October 16, 2020, 12:51
I'm getting a few Dreamstime "customer refund" emails lately. Anyone else? Is this some form of image abuse?

Yes, and my response would be to say, thanks. That is 2 months worth of sales!
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Mrblues101 on October 16, 2020, 14:43
I'm getting a few Dreamstime "customer refund" emails lately. Anyone else? Is this some form of image abuse?

Me too, maybe three or four days ago...
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: ravens on October 19, 2020, 00:33
Thanks for your responses.. I got 4 subscription sales refunded in less than 3 weeks time. Considering how easy it is to copy & reuse, easy returns open up more possibilities for image misuse.  Dreamstime doesn't provide any information why a file is returned and refunded, which is the very least they could and should do.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Firn on October 19, 2020, 01:39
Yes, refunds are a whole huge open window for abuse and I think any customer should provide a very detailed and beliavable explanation why he wants to "return" an image. Basically large technical flaws should be the only allowed option for refunds (and then it's debatable whether the agency or the contributor are to blame, as the agency did a "quality control" after all)

It's stupid to allow refunds for something you can't really give back and get to keep - the full size image without watermarks. It is even more stupid to allow it months after the sale happaned like Alamy does.  Yes, strictly speaking the customers return the licence and thenaren't  allowed to use the image, but when you see a full size image of yours somewhere, how are you to know whether the customer has a licence?
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Uncle Pete on October 19, 2020, 10:57
This is how they pay for that extra special raise.  ::)
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: KuriousKat on October 19, 2020, 12:09
I got a 38c refund a few days ago, but  DT refunds are generally few and far between. Maybe 1 or 2 a year.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Customer refunds
Post by: Uncle Pete on October 21, 2020, 10:06
I got a 38c refund a few days ago, but  DT refunds WERE generally few and far between. Maybe 1 or 2 a year.
  ;D

Wait and see isn't always just taking a passive role, sometimes, it means, there's a change and it shouldn't be ignored using the past as an example of what to expect in the future. Refunds are starting to be more regular and more common.