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Agency Based Discussion => Sites that no longer exist => StockXpert.com => Topic started by: HughStoneIan on February 10, 2009, 09:56

Title: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: HughStoneIan on February 10, 2009, 09:56
Has this happened to anyone on Stockxpert??  I looked at my account this morning and found I had 4 subscription sales.  However, the strange thing is that I have never, not even accidentally, had my subscription option enabled in my profile, and I looked immediately and sure enough it is NOT enabled.  Did I miss an announcement that sub sales are not optional anymore on SX, or what???   I contacted support, but wondering if you'd had a similar problem and how it was resolved, if ever.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: gostwyck on February 10, 2009, 10:01
That's a bit serious. Have you checked whether your images have the little yellow 'Sub' indicator on your profile and also whether they are showing up in searches at JupiterUnlimited and/or Photos.com?
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: HughStoneIan on February 10, 2009, 11:10
Looks like my images are coming up in JIunlimited searches, but as far as I could tell not on Photos.com.  Really weird!! In my profile I have never checkmarked the subscription nor the partner licensing options, not once.  However, I have always had the extended license option checked.  Could the EL option have anything to do with it?
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: itestro on February 10, 2009, 13:16
Me too. Today, surprise, I have seen a 30 cent from photo.com... never changed my checkboxes.
I had, in august, checked (7) "Subscription on SX" but never (5) "Extended license setting" and "Partner Licensing" (this last one not important for this issue).
If I remember the hot discussion in august the right configuration to sell with Juppiter 5 and 7 are required. That's right?
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: HughStoneIan on February 10, 2009, 15:06
From what I understood, checking the EL option isn't supposed to automatically opt one in for subscription sales.  If I find out it does, then I will uncheck it also.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: madelaide on February 10, 2009, 15:24
I would contact StockXpert imediately.  This is an absurd!  During the introduction of Photos.com deal, Steve-oh said there was no other partnership, so the Partner Licensing check box was actually useless, so it probably doesn't explain these subs sales either.

Everything looks normal to me, but I will keep an eye on it.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: dgilder on February 10, 2009, 19:47
Yep, same here, I actually came here to see if it was happening for anyone else.   When they first came out with the sub opt-in/out thing I tried it for a week or so but soon opted out.  I have had both the sub and partner options deselected (and they still are) for months, yet here I have a "Jupiterimages Unlimited subscription" download for $0.30 today.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: GeoPappas on February 11, 2009, 07:33
I also just received a subscription sale from Photos.com and have never approved subscription sales.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: ErickN on February 11, 2009, 08:53
Same here. I've got a sub sale on JI unlimited though I've never been opted-in for subs since their introduction. I've checked on JI Unlimited website, and yes, this image is for sale there (without even my name displayed  >:() and I've checked again in my StockXpert profile to ensure that I'm still opted-out.

My regular sales have already dramatically dropped during the last few months on StockXpert, to the point that thay went from one of my best-sellers to one of my worst. Now they sell my images for subs though I'm opted-out...

I've immediately contacted StockXpert support. Waiting for their answer.

Erick
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: dgilder on February 11, 2009, 10:35
I got hit with another three subscription sales today, this time all from photos.com.   Let me know what you find out from support.  All but one of of the sub sales has been large sized of course.   :-[
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: Pixart on February 11, 2009, 11:59
My regular sales have already dramatically dropped during the last few months on StockXpert...


How can a site that goes from being one of everyone's favorite (note that I did not say best selling) to such a mess.  StockXpert sales have virtually stopped which makes me ask if they have stopped marketing, keeping StockXpert only as an umbrella company that funnels content to their more lucrative chanels.  Their many reporting issues in the last few months have left me more than a little shy about trusting their fiduciary ability. 

The fact that you guys are having subscripton sales is just mind boggling.  Your Intellectual Property has been devalued by being offered as subscription.  I don't care if they made a mistake, they have violated your copyright.  Please consider sending a cease and decist order.   

Edit:  You'll have to modify the language from these but here's a couple samples:  http://www.craftmarketer.com/cease-and-desist-sample.htm (http://www.craftmarketer.com/cease-and-desist-sample.htm)
 http://rising.blackstar.com/how-to-send-a-dmca-takedown-notice.html (http://rising.blackstar.com/how-to-send-a-dmca-takedown-notice.html)
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: gostwyck on February 11, 2009, 12:14
How can a site that goes from being one of everyone's favorite (note that I did not say best selling) to such a mess.  StockXpert sales have virtually stopped which makes me ask if they have stopped marketing, keeping StockXpert only as an umbrella company that funnels content to their more lucrative chanels.  Their many reporting issues in the last few months have left me more than a little shy about trusting their fiduciary ability. 


I'd very much agree with that. Seriously considering opting out and/or exiting completely if the downturn continues.

They've gone from returning the highest royalty per sale to the lowest, but without the volume to justify it, in just 4-5 months. Amazing really, 8 months ago they were doing great.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: null on February 11, 2009, 12:26
Amazing really, 8 months ago they were doing great.

So was Istock before half of 2006. What would be the common factor? Hint: it starts with a G and it is now solliciting cellphone photos from Flickr.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: imageZebra on February 11, 2009, 12:29
The fact that you guys are having subscripton sales is just mind boggling.  Your Intellectual Property has been devalued by being offered as subscription.

Exactly!

Despite being opted out of Subscriptions or Partner Licensing today I got 2 subscription sales too, I am considering closing my account. This is way too disturbing, makes me thing what else is done to my images without my knowledge.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: itestro on February 11, 2009, 14:01
Here the answer from StockXpert:
"Our records indicate you have opted in to sell images at our other sites by checking 7. Subscription On Stockxpert.  If you wish to change this, please uncheck #7."

My subscription (#7) is cheked from august. What does it mean? ...I've never sold an image on Jupt-network since then? ...my portfolio is not so bad! Or something have been changed recently and I don't know it? Odd case for me.

I go to unchek #7.

Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: madelaide on February 11, 2009, 15:55
They said in the forum that they are looking into it.  Geez, what a mess!  What are these programmers doing, can't they leave working code alone?  I haven't suffered this yet, but I will be very upset too if this happens.

I wonder if anyone who is opted-out will get a US$50 PPD Photo.com sale "by accident"?

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: imageZebra on February 11, 2009, 15:57
I also got a reply "I apologize for any inconvenience you are experiencing with our site.  We are looking into the issue and it should be resolved soon."

I too have never opted into subscriptions and my account remains unchanged.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: imageZebra on February 11, 2009, 16:08
I wonder if anyone who is opted-out will get a US$50 PPD Photo.com sale "by accident"?

I just want to be reimbursed for those 2 XL images they sold for $0.30 each.  After all, I didn't strew up on my end.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: dgilder on February 12, 2009, 12:32
Four more today, all XL.   I sent a note to support asking them to Cease and Desist :)
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: Pixart on February 12, 2009, 13:08
Posted on their site, hopefully a fix coming:

ALERT! SYSTEM UPDATE ON FEBRUARY 12th

We'll be upgrading our site on Thursday, Feb. 12th beginning at 9:00 PM EST. This should be completed in approximately 2 hours. The site will not be available during this time. We hope this advance notice will help you plan your projects accordingly.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: HughStoneIan on February 12, 2009, 13:26
From the SX forum today:

"   Hi guys,

We've been doing some content migration between servers, and it appears a couple things happened out of sequence. This is what resulted in your images being offered in subs.

This has now been fixed. Images that are not offered through subscription are not available in Photos.com or JIU. The thumbs may still appear in the searches for a couple more days, but they won't be able to download the images.

Again, sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for bringing this to our attention.

If you are still receiving sub downloads through Photos.com and JIU but have not been opted in for a while, please let us know.

Thanks,
Steve "
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: madelaide on February 12, 2009, 15:28
I need to go back to the forum and see this, because I replied to a post in a thread there started by HughStoneIan 2 days ago and there was nothing of this there.

I got a Photos.com subs today.  I have opted out from subs months before the Photos.com deal started.  How can this possibly happen?

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: HughStoneIan on February 13, 2009, 14:13
I think they fixed it (for me, at least).  No subs today.  Back to ppd sales.
Title: Re: Subscriptions activated without my approval????
Post by: HughStoneIan on March 10, 2009, 09:11
Well, it's happened again on Stockxpert!!!  I got a  subscription sale this morning when I specifically have requested no sub sales.  I thought this was fixed!!  Unbelievable!!!