MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: fritz on April 25, 2013, 12:12

Title: Very large number of SOD sales!
Post by: fritz on April 25, 2013, 12:12
Well, within one hour I had 14 SOD dl for 13$. Looks like a fraud to me? What do you think?

 
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Poncke on April 25, 2013, 12:17
Shutterstock doesnt have ELs for 13 dollars. Those are SODs. If they are the same subject, it would appear to be legit. And scammers dont pay top dollar for getting an image. They can get the same image for sub prices. But if you are worried, [email protected]
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 12:17
I was just about to start the same thread.  I had dozens of "Single & Other Downloads" all show up at once.

Did you mean ELs or the "Single Downloads"?

Sure looks fishy, but here's hoping they're legit!!!!

UPDATE:  Just looked at all those Single Downloads and many of them do appear to be similar subject matter, suggesting a single buyer.  But why wouldn't someone just by a subscription?  That's what makes this look like it can't be real.  Who would do this?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Poncke on April 25, 2013, 12:24
SODs are special agreed licences. They might have had a different need for them outside the SL and EL.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 12:30
The other thing I'm wondering is if there was a "clog" in the system that didn't flow these through to be reported as they happened, and we're seeing a big dump of them right now in our reports.

But I have had several SODs earlier in the week, so that theory might not hold water.

Could it be there's a single buyer out there buying tons of our images as SODs today?  Or did some kid swipe his parent's credit card and we're going to see these downloads erased when Daddy gets home and calls to demand a refund?

If these stay, drinks on me!!!

Anyone else seeing these?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: falstafff on April 25, 2013, 12:37
Same here. Must be some delayed sales?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 12:42
Same here. Must be some delayed sales?

But are yours of similar subject matter, suggesting a single buyer?  That would point to all of them being bought at once.  My SODs today could be grouped by a few similar themes... mostly business concepts.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fotografer on April 25, 2013, 12:48
I've got 5 for 13,50$ each all the same subject matter.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 12:56
Someone posted a thread on the SS forum, saying that someone posted a thread on this forum.

Will be interesting to see what the response is there...


Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fritz on April 25, 2013, 13:00
Sorry, my fault it's SOD but still strange number of Dl
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 13:01
Oh great.

Someone in the SS forum pointed out that we could look up on the Shutterstock map on the submit main page to see where the buyer is located.

I just checked... Looks like they've been downloaded from a single location in Africa.

Maybe it's that Nigerian prince who keeps wanting to send me $14,000,000!!!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: click_click on April 25, 2013, 13:10
What's the SS contributor support email again? I only got 2 SOD sales today and I don't think this is fair.  ::)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fritz on April 25, 2013, 13:10
Oh great.

Someone in the SS forum pointed out that we could look up on the Shutterstock map on the submit main page to see where the buyer is located.

I just checked... Looks like they've been downloaded from a single location in Africa.

Maybe it's that Nigerian prince who keeps wanting to send me $14,000,000!!!
Same location here so it's most likely a fraud
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: click_click on April 25, 2013, 13:12
Let the clawback-session begin!!! Or maybe not.

Interesting to see what's going to happen...
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 13:13
Oh great.

Someone in the SS forum pointed out that we could look up on the Shutterstock map on the submit main page to see where the buyer is located.

I just checked... Looks like they've been downloaded from a single location in Africa.

Maybe it's that Nigerian prince who keeps wanting to send me $14,000,000!!!
Same location here so it's most likely a fraud


Someone on SS forum pointed out that if the top left corner of the image is in the Ocean to the left of Africa, it simply means SS can't determine the buyer's location.  Other images on the map have a little dot on the upper left corner of the thumbnail, as if targeting the location.  But these SODs have no dot on the corner, which could suggest SS doesn't know the actual location of the buyer. 

Still crossing all my fingers and toes that these are legit.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: ruxpriencdiam on April 25, 2013, 13:18
So far related to this post on SS.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130038 (http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130038)

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130039 (http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130039)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: click_click on April 25, 2013, 13:19
... Still crossing all my fingers and toes that these are legit.
What a sight...  ;D
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fotografer on April 25, 2013, 13:19
I've got 5 for 13,50$ each all the same subject matter.
Just got another one for 16.50 this time
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: michaeldb on April 25, 2013, 13:20
Oh great.

Someone in the SS forum pointed out that we could look up on the Shutterstock map on the submit main page to see where the buyer is located.

I just checked... Looks like they've been downloaded from a single location in Africa.

Maybe it's that Nigerian prince who keeps wanting to send me $14,000,000!!!
Same location here so it's most likely a fraud
"Someone on MSG worry its from Africa but if the left top corner of the image is in the ocean next to Africa it means the location could not be determined." semmickphoto on the SS thread
So far I have $247 in these SODS and the amount is rising fast (a few minutes ago it was $199.50). On the SS map, they are indeed "in the ocean" and do not have the little white dot in the upper left hand corner, so I think that the location is undetermined.
One bad thing about this were it to turn out to be fraud, it probably will not be settled til after the end of the month, meaning that it will mess up my keeping records of April revenues, as I will not know if any of the sales are possibly real. I hate it when that happens.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 13:20
Now there are a bunch showing up at $16.50 each.

Anyone seeing these?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: michaeldb on April 25, 2013, 13:22
Now there are a bunch showing up at $16.50 each.

Anyone seeing these?
Mine are various: $13.50; $16.50; $24
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: falstafff on April 25, 2013, 13:22
Same here. Must be some delayed sales?

But are yours of similar subject matter, suggesting a single buyer?  That would point to all of them being bought at once.  My SODs today could be grouped by a few similar themes... mostly business concepts.

No not the same buyer but there are some reporting the same thing over there. Could be something funny going on?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: mayaartist on April 25, 2013, 13:24
I've just got 4 SOD for 13.75 minutes ago.

Thank you SS!!!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: click_click on April 25, 2013, 13:27
OK good that SS support appears to be watching this thread and read my comment...

Just got another one as well  ;D

Keep em coming SS! Woooohooooo.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 25, 2013, 13:27
2 for 13.5$ (each)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 13:28
OK good that SS support appears to be watching this thread and read my comment...

Did you hear from someone at SS?  Did they suggest anything that they might not be legit? 

Keep us posted.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: click_click on April 25, 2013, 14:12
OK good that SS support appears to be watching this thread and read my comment...

Did you hear from someone at SS?  Did they suggest anything that they might not be legit? 

Keep us posted.
No I didn't hear from SS.

This meant to be a comic remark about me not getting as many sales as others...

Sorry for the confusion!  :-X
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 14:19
Part of me wants to reach out to SS to ask about these...

But another more paranoid part of me doesn't want to raise my hand and say "Excuse me, I suspect there's a problem here" and watch them all get erased.

On another note...

Unless there's a lag in reporting, it looks like the SODs have stopped.  Needless to say, a new BDE!!!  (I'll probably remove these from my daily stats I keep, because this will likely end up beating my previous BDE by about 200%.  Going to really throw my tracking and trend lines out of whack.)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Microstock Posts on April 25, 2013, 14:31
1 at $13.75  ???
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: asmai on April 25, 2013, 14:32
I hope it's not a bug. Having a heart attack right now and will have another one if i have to return them.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: farbled on April 25, 2013, 14:36
I had 2 at $15.40. Here's hoping they're legit. :)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 25, 2013, 14:36
weird to see some at 13.75$, I am in the last rank so gotta be a different client no? ???
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Red Dove on April 25, 2013, 14:39
Six so far and now I've seen this thread, I'm having doubts about pressing the confirm order details button on Amazon for those yellow golfing slacks I've been hankering after.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fritz on April 25, 2013, 14:40
Now there are a bunch showing up at $16.50 each.

Anyone seeing these?
Yes, another bunch of $16.50 each. I'm sure it's fraud  because in the last 2 hours my account rise by $500.  That's not normal!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: mayaartist on April 25, 2013, 14:54
I had today 4 X 13.75 (SOD) which is an amazing.

I'm not sure, but maybe because of this news :
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/shutterstock-expands-focus-northern-europe-125500320.html (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/shutterstock-expands-focus-northern-europe-125500320.html)

Thank you SS for your amazing work!!!


P.S. : I'm just enjoying a good day with two "Old Peculier" beers and good music
Birdy - The A Team [Live] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p856dtR4mms#ws)

Good evening for all!!!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Amanda_K on April 25, 2013, 15:08
Hmm I had one today for $12.60 it would be awesome if all of these were the result of a marketing push of some sort.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: scottbraut on April 25, 2013, 17:22
Hi All,

These downloads are not fraud...they're legitimate licenses.   While individual user reports might be describing a variety of customer purchases, we also had a single large-volume educational book publisher purchase a large number of licenses today.   I will have to check, but these may have been executed in a way in which the geographic location was not shown, which would explain the download map.

High "single image" royalties are often the result of a prenegotiated agreement with volume buyers such as large publishers and advertising agencies.  These volume buyers may require additional license or workflow features, such as the option for sensitive use, indemnification, multi-user accounts, prenegotiated pricing, and special billing and workflow features.

It's important to note that the licenses did **not** include an option for sensitive use. 


Best,

Scott
VP of Content
Shutterstock
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: click_click on April 25, 2013, 17:24
Awesome, thanks Scott!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fritz on April 25, 2013, 17:36
If downloads are not fraud in that case today it's gonna be the BDE and BME.
 Tks SS
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockmarketer on April 25, 2013, 17:37
Wow.  That's fantastic.  One of the best possible answers we could have hoped to hear.

Thanks, Scott!

Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: gostwyck on April 25, 2013, 18:03
Thanks very much for responding Scott. You are most definitely a gentleman and a scholar Sir!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 25, 2013, 18:07
watch this space people, we are talking about SS, remember their name ;D
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: pancaketom on April 25, 2013, 18:33
NICE. not a BDE, but a nice boost. thanks SS.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: michaeldb on April 25, 2013, 18:47
NICE. not a BDE, but a nice boost. thanks SS.
BDE at SS for me, by about $300. I guess the "educational book publisher" must have been one of my 13 "followers"? ::)

Seriously, as far as I'm concerned, this goes a long way to make up for a lot of the down things happening in microstock lately. Thanks for posting, Scott. Great day for SS! ;D 
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Amanda_K on April 25, 2013, 19:23
Gotta love the actual communication! Thanks Scott, it's such a nice change to see things like this :)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: JPSDK on April 25, 2013, 19:28
GREAT!
and a great reply from shutterstock, its so nice with fast and precise answers.
Shame I didnt get any of these Dls.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: VB inc on April 25, 2013, 19:46
I got my first enhanced download today for $28. I wonder if its part of what was going on today. I am sort of unfamiliar w SS license's. does it mean they can resell my art or just print it out as part of a graphic on a book or something like that.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 25, 2013, 20:00
I got my first enhanced download today for $28. I wonder if its part of what was going on today. I am sort of unfamiliar w SS license's. does it mean they can resell my art or just print it out as part of a graphic on a book or something like that.


http://www.shutterstock.com/newsletter/33/Standard_vs_Enhanced_License-1.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/newsletter/33/Standard_vs_Enhanced_License-1.html)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: JPSDK on April 25, 2013, 20:02
WRONG! It just updated, so I got some dls as well.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: VB inc on April 25, 2013, 20:23
thanks luis!

It seems kind of small sum of $28 to the contributor to let the buyer to resell your graphic/photo... Is there a way for you to opt out of this?

"You are allowed to use an image as a single, hand-painted reproduction (as opposed to printed), but you would not be allowed to resell it under the terms of the Standard License. However, with the Enhanced License, you are permitted to resell such reproductions. Again, the difference is Personal Usage (Standard) versus Commercial (Enhanced).

If you wish to incorporate an image in merchandise for resale or distribution, including without limitation, clothing, artwork, magnets, posters, mugs and mouse-pads, you will absolutely need an Enhanced License."
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 25, 2013, 20:29
thanks luis!

It seems kind of small sum of $28 to the contributor to let the buyer to resell your graphic/photo... Is there a way for you to opt out of this?

"You are allowed to use an image as a single, hand-painted reproduction (as opposed to printed), but you would not be allowed to resell it under the terms of the Standard License. However, with the Enhanced License, you are permitted to resell such reproductions. Again, the difference is Personal Usage (Standard) versus Commercial (Enhanced).

If you wish to incorporate an image in merchandise for resale or distribution, including without limitation, clothing, artwork, magnets, posters, mugs and mouse-pads, you will absolutely need an Enhanced License."


https://submit.shutterstock.com/admin.mhtml?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: ruxpriencdiam on April 25, 2013, 23:14
I got my first enhanced download today for $28. I wonder if its part of what was going on today. I am sort of unfamiliar w SS license's. does it mean they can resell my art or just print it out as part of a graphic on a book or something like that.


[url]http://www.shutterstock.com/newsletter/33/Standard_vs_Enhanced_License-1.html[/url] ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/newsletter/33/Standard_vs_Enhanced_License-1.html[/url])
That is from 2008!

http://submit.shutterstock.com/subscriber_license_index.mhtml (http://submit.shutterstock.com/subscriber_license_index.mhtml)


 PART II
RESTRICTIONS
YOU MAY NOT:


7.
Use or display any Image on websites or in connection with any service designed to sell or induce sales of "print on demand" products using or incorporating Image(s), including, by way of example only, postcards, mugs, t-shirts, posters, giclee prints, wallpaper, artwork and other items, this includes custom designed websites as well as sites such as Cafe Press (i.e. www.cafepress.com (http://www.cafepress.com)).
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 25, 2013, 23:21
they need to update it ;D
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: leaf on April 26, 2013, 01:20
Thanks for the comment Scott.  It's really nice when you pop in here and set things straight like this.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: flashon on April 26, 2013, 01:26
I got bunch of these as well. One of my best days there. I am a happy camper.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Microstock Posts on April 26, 2013, 04:39
Thanks for the comment Scott.  It's really nice when you pop in here and set things straight like this.

Yeah thanks Scott. We only got to 3 pages of speculative discussion. IS threads generally make for a far better read as there are pages of interesting speculation, but when the thread finishes no one really knows anything.  :D
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: rubyroo on April 26, 2013, 04:46
LOL!

Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fotografer on April 26, 2013, 05:01
BDE for me by  a long way.  Got a couple of ELs as well and more than usual normal dls.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: rubyroo on April 26, 2013, 05:11
Congrats to everyone that got caught in the 'sweep' there.  Isn't it lovely to hear that it's all legitimate?!   :D

Thanks Scott for letting us know so quickly.  We've become so accustomed to bad news that many of us will have been dreading getting any good SOD sales today.  Thanks for putting minds at rest.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Phil on April 26, 2013, 05:23
3 x $13.5 and 1 x $16.5 for me :)
(on top of 9 x el's and a $80.40 its a very nice month :D (I usually avg 2-3 els)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Mantis on April 26, 2013, 06:50
Now there are a bunch showing up at $16.50 each.

Anyone seeing these?

Yes.  I got four at 16.50 and four at 13.50, eight in total.  All the same theme except one.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Paulfleet on April 26, 2013, 06:56
5@ $13.50 + 1@ $16.50  :-\
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Ariene on April 26, 2013, 10:26
They don't like my photos... I sold only one (garbage in water) for 11,25$ yesterday... It looks poorly with your sales ;)
What theme are you selling mostly with SOD? I wonder if it is the same with everyone, or what?
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: JPSDK on April 26, 2013, 11:23
Butterflies
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: Paulfleet on April 26, 2013, 12:08
Magic bookcase, Bear Trap, Us Top Hat, Stem Cells and two  moral compasses.  :)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: fritz on April 26, 2013, 12:36
Documents, pills, magnifying glass, monitor, tag, wooden stamp.........
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: WebSubstance on April 26, 2013, 13:03
I got 4 sales at 13.50 from different kind of subjects.
It seems that it affected most of the contributors. I know it's not the case but it reminds me of the istock deal with Google. It would have been the same kind of bump in sales for everyone in one week. Don't you think?
I'm absolutely positive and 100% sure Shutterstock wouldn't do such a deal though.

Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: scottbraut on April 26, 2013, 13:14
I got 4 sales at 13.50 from different kind of subjects.
It seems that it affected most of the contributors. I know it's not the case but it reminds me of the istock deal with Google.

The customer in this circumstance was an educational book publisher, so the anticipated use itself is very different. 

Best,

Scott
VP of Content
Shutterstock
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: lisafx on April 26, 2013, 15:23
Well, I'm a day late (but not a dollar short! ;) ) to the party.  Thanks very much for coming in and explaining, Scott.  So I guess I can celebrate my BDE windfall without any misgivings.  Yay!!   

Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: borg on April 26, 2013, 17:22
97,50$, 16,60$, 13,50$
Just three!  :'(

Louis please, some words of comfort!  ;) :D
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: stockastic on April 26, 2013, 18:02
Amazingly, I - the smallest of fish - also scored a couple of these sales.   Photos of a micrometer, and a bicycle brake.  Some sort of encyclopedia?

Or maybe some spider or 'bot went off the rails and started actually buying things.   :)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: lisafx on April 26, 2013, 20:29
Sounds to me like this textbook publisher was looking for a wide variety of content.  People reporting a number of different subjects.  Most of my sales were medical related.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: JPSDK on April 26, 2013, 21:38
Scott
Tell the sales guys at shutterstock to get more of that kind of customers.

Its beginning to look like something..
Title: Do I have to worry?
Post by: jcpjr on April 26, 2013, 21:59
Sounds to me like this textbook publisher was looking for a wide variety of content.  People reporting a number of different subjects.  Most of my sales were medical related.
5 out 6 of mine were medically related as well.
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: VB inc on April 26, 2013, 23:46
So im curious if any vectors were sold this day? mine for $28 was for an enhanced download which doesnt seem like to be associated with this particular buyer...
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: andresr on April 27, 2013, 00:26
Awesome work Shutterstock! I got 83 of those! BDE!!  8) :o ;D
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: roboz on April 27, 2013, 00:47
Sadly I missed out on the big sale... might not have the right portfolio... still my BME though!

But congrats to all the lucky ones. Enjoy your payday!
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: lisafx on April 27, 2013, 11:31
Awesome work Shutterstock! I got 83 of those! BDE!!  8) :o ;D

Wow.  A BDE for you is really saying something!  Congrats! :)
Title: Re: Do I have to worry?
Post by: luissantos84 on April 28, 2013, 09:17
97,50$, 16,60$, 13,50$
Just three!  :'(

Louis please, some words of comfort!  ;) :D

ahahah only got 56$ in SODs this month, so be happy!!! ;D
Title: Re: Very large number of SOD sales!
Post by: OM on April 28, 2013, 09:35
Missed out on the SODs Bonanza  :( but review times seem to have normalised again for me at 6-7 days.  :)
Title: Re: Very large number of SOD sales!
Post by: luissantos84 on April 28, 2013, 11:09
Missed out on the SODs Bonanza  :( but review times seem to have normalised again for me at 6-7 days.  :)

but the normal (like 2 years ago) was 24 hours, I remember a lot less too
Title: Re: Very large number of SOD sales!
Post by: scottbraut on April 28, 2013, 12:53
Thanks all,

Regarding review times, we saw high submission volume this past month - the team has been actively working on this and turnaround times should continue to improve.

Best,

Scott
Title: Re: Very large number of SOD sales!
Post by: Microstock Posts on April 29, 2013, 17:00
Missed out on the SODs Bonanza

In the UK it would be appropriate to respond with "oh you poor sod".  :)
Title: Re: Very large number of SOD sales!
Post by: gillian vann on April 29, 2013, 19:09
Missed out on the SODs Bonanza

In the UK it would be appropriate to respond with "oh you poor sod".  :)

or
Quote
Awesome work Shutterstock! I got 83 of those! BDE!!   

you lucky sod!!