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Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: Poncke on April 11, 2013, 15:00

Title: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: Poncke on April 11, 2013, 15:00
http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2497822#2497822 (http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2497822#2497822)

Negative amounts on footage sales are now appearing on the earnings page at Shutterstock. Some people were questioning these amounts. Since SS dont do refunds, it was quite surprising to see the answer from Shutterstock.

Quote from: VincentJansen
Hi,

I asked the billing department for clarification and they confirmed that these are in fact refunds.

If you have a refund for a download from a few months ago it is because of a delay in the processing of a claim between our bank and the bank of our customer. On average, this process takes approximately three months to complete, but it may take more time as well. To streamline all of these claims we often end up processing refunds in bulk. So, if you see footage refunds in your account it is very likely requested, processed and refunded to the customer months ago, but not taken out of your earnings until the day shown in your Earnings Summary.

Thanks,

Vincent Jansen


http://footage.shutterstock.com/faq.html#VIDEO_FAQ_Q_WHAT_IS_YOUR_REFUND_POLICY_ (http://footage.shutterstock.com/faq.html#VIDEO_FAQ_Q_WHAT_IS_YOUR_REFUND_POLICY_)

Quote
What is your refund policy?
We guarantee the quality of our content. Since we provide watermarked previews of all of our clips, we regret that we cannot provide refunds.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: gillian vann on April 12, 2013, 04:38
i never look at SS forums, they are a bit too clunky/chunky/ugly.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: mayaartist on April 12, 2013, 09:56
Thank you Poncke for posting it.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: motionguy on April 12, 2013, 10:30
That is normal at SS. I had two footage refunds last month. And it is nothing new.
Had my first refund back in 2010.
But it doesnt happen to often at least not for me.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: Poncke on April 12, 2013, 12:01
Well thats all great, but such contradicting information is not done. If someone goes by the FAQ he has every right to claim the money back from shutterstock.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: tickstock on April 12, 2013, 12:05
.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: luissantos84 on April 12, 2013, 12:10
I remember a topic here regarding this matter, even some footage contributors said they had refunds before
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: Poncke on April 12, 2013, 12:33
Is it contradictory?  The FAQ is for buyers, maybe they cannot get refunds.  Maybe the refunds contributors get are from credit card fraud.  Those are two separate things and seem consistent to me.
Fair enough, than my header is very true, SS doing an IS. Putting fraud on the contributor is a shame.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: ShadySue on April 12, 2013, 13:17
In the Shutterstock Submitter Terms of Service, it clearly spells this out:

7f
If you are credited with a download or downloads and Shutterstock thereafter issues a refund to the customer(s) / subscriber(s) that downloaded any or part of your Submitted Content, Shutterstock shall have the right to deduct royalties credited to your account and allocated to such refunded subscriptions. Credit card chargebacks will be treated in the same manner as refunded subscriptions. Shutterstock does NOT currently deduct chargebacks and refunds from submitters for Standard License downloads but reserves the right to change this policy at any time without notice. Shutterstock DOES deduct the amount credited to your account for refunds and chargebacks in respect of Enhanced Licenses and licenses issued for Shutterstock Footage. If Shutterstock makes an overpayment of royalties or other compensation to you for any reason, Shutterstock shall have the right to deduct the amount of such overpayment from your accrued royalties or to demand the immediate repayment of such overpaid royalties or other compensation.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/tostos.mhtml (http://submit.shutterstock.com/tostos.mhtml)
So it shouldn't be a surprise.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: tickstock on April 12, 2013, 13:37
.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: Poncke on April 12, 2013, 13:42
Yes, thats doing an Istock
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: tickstock on April 12, 2013, 13:45
.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: Poncke on April 12, 2013, 13:48
Thanks for the history update. I'll call it doing an Istock, as for me, thats how I first learned about refunds.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: tickstock on April 12, 2013, 13:51
.
Title: Re: REFUNDS - Shutterstock is doing an Istock
Post by: Poncke on April 12, 2013, 13:52
I am not blaming anything on anyone.