Photobucket

[Joe Handley]

just got the email in the last hour, time to remove the pics and maybe send them a letter. I might leave one pic on there, I can't post it here though, not exactly safe for here.

[Bernard Kron]

I just sent the following message to their customer support address (support@photobucket.com). :

You have summarily broken links to images in literally hundreds of postings I (and millions of other loyal Photobucket Free users) have made over the years trusting Photobucket. What are you thinking? And you offer me as my only option to remedy this a service costing $399.00. I urge you to reestablish all existing links immediately and seriously rethink your policy before it is too late. Your Free users will never forgive you and will seek out any other option than Photobucket if you don't.

I suggest any Photobucket users who have been effected contact them immediately and urge them to reconsider. I say they have perhaps 48 hours at best to reverse this madness. In the meantime millions of threads (not just posts) throughout the internet have been rendered useless.

[Joe Handley]

I just sent the following message to their customer support address (support@photobucket.com). :

I suggest any Photobucket users who have been effected contact them immediately and urge them to reconsider. I say they have perhaps 48 hours at best to reverse this madness. In the meantime millions of threads (not just posts) throughout the internet have been rendered useless.

Honestly Bernard, I've had it with that site and ready to go elsewhere.  The app can be problematic and the actual site is constant and obnoxious pop ups when ever I've tried to access it with my lap top.

 

I'm done with them!

[Tesla]

Photo bucket wants me to pay 399.00 a year to post pics here . I removed all my pics from there. I can post from my phone . anyone else ?? 

 

I received an e-mail from them stating that for $399 a year I can link pictures to forums...talk about extortion!

I have switched to Fotki and couldn't be happier! I have the Premium 100 account...100 GB for $24 per yr. Very user friendly, great help files. I wish I had switched sooner. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

If the change in policy is simultaneous across their entire Free user base then I suspect hundreds of thousands of netizens will be simultaneously effected. If they have any hope of surviving Photobucket will likely have to re-establish the old links and re-think their policy. Regardless of whether they do or not the damage across the web is considerable. What are they thinking??????!!!!!!!

I'm thinking "class-action suit". A BIG one...if this is actually PB who's had their brains explode and not some more malicious hacker BS.

This amounts to the same thing as "ransom" hacks that hold your data hostage until you pay some exorbitant fee.

PB has been hacked before, and their weak management hasn't always been forthcoming about full disclosure.

It strikes me as odd that ALL free users did NOT get the same e-mail simultaneously if this incredible idiocy is actually being initiated by PB.

PS. To get an idea of the extent of the scope of the ransom demand, and the reactions, just Google "Photobucket $399 per year".

Edited June 30, 2017 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER...

While $399 per year is exorbitant, it might be good to stop and remember that Photobucket IS a business, and businesses can't survive without income.

If you have a FREE account and run an adblocker, you've screwed Photobucket out of the only way they can make anything on your free account...the ads running.

Thousands of people doing the same thing are simply stealing the service P-bucket provides.

Maybe P-bucket just got tired of so many people seeming to think they were entitled somehow to something for nothing, and decided to simply clear out all the freeloaders.

PS. I've been paying for the service for several years. So far, no ransom demand. We'll see.....

Edited June 30, 2017 by Ace-Garageguy

[Foxer]

I have been using Photobucket for years and it has all my linked photos. I haven't received the update email everyone's mentioning. As Ace mentions, this does seem suspicious. I can't imagine any business doing this, even with poor management.

I do use an ad blocker and only get one popup ad to upgrade when I log in and that's it.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

SOMETHING ELSE TO REMEMBER:

While everyone is in such a hurry to embrace the hip-cool-happening-with it "cloud", other-party hosting of your data exposes everyone who doesn't maintain on-site data backup to this kind of potential for ransom demands.

Think about it.

[mrmike]

After 12 years of being a loyal Photobucket user, they want me to fork over $400 a year for the ability to be able to post my model car pictures on this or any other forum or website.  I am retired and I cannot afford this kind of extortion!  I'll find another free photohosting site and post my pictures from there.  I won't be reposting my pictures from the new site since I have been a member here for 8 years and it would be a monumental task.  I want to tell PB my displeasure with their actions, but they don't have any working links to customer support or service.  I understand that they are a business, but when you offer a free photohosting service, you don't go and pull the rug out from under your supporters.  OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.

[Ace-Garageguy]

 but when you offer a free photohosting service, you don't go and pull the rug out from under your supporters.  

If you're using the free service AND running an adblocker, you're not a supporter. You're using something for nothing.

Again, the only way P-bucket makes any revenue from free accounts is when the ads run, and their counters automatically bill the advertisers.

P-bucket can NOT host millions and millions of photos free and provide a 3rd party linking service with NO INCOME.

I'm not saying this applies to YOU, but it applies to anyone using the FREE service and adblockers.

[caine440]

So who has been using Fotki and are you happy with them?

 

Only response from Photobucket so far.

Hi Ctiaudiori,

This is an auto-response from Robert, the Photobucket robot, regarding the most commonly asked questions at Photobucket. The following information may help to resolve your issue and may answer any questions you have regarding site use. If you are still unable to find the information you have requested, please reply back to this email and a Photobucket Support Representative will contact you shortly.

Edited June 30, 2017 by caine440

[DeeCee]

I have 2 x PB accounts, 1 is 99.95% full, the other about 10%, all my pics still work, from both accounts???   so who knows what is going on,

maybe they were hacked with the recent BS  going on in the data world.

[Tom Geiger]

If you're using the free service AND running an adblocker, you're not a supporter. You're using something for nothing.

Again, the only way P-bucket makes any revenue from free accounts is when the ads run, and their counters automatically bill the advertisers.

P-bucket can NOT host millions and millions of photos free and provide a 3rd party linking service with NO INCOME.

I'm not saying this applies to YOU, but it applies to anyone using the FREE service and adblockers.

Bingo!   Many Internet based businesses started out offering free everything.  So people thought the Internet would always be free.  The business model has been that once the service grabbed a considerable audience and became important to people, that's when they start charging.   eBay started out that way,  Paypal started out that way. eSnipe did.  Most photo services did too.  

This worked during the big Internet boom where the sites had big venture capital and were running on this money.  Now after the big bust, sites have to produce income to exist.  I believe in paying a fair price for a fair service. Obviously $399 is not a fair price! I have been a paid Fotki customer for over a decade. Someone said it's $24.99 a year.  I see my renewal rate is $18.36.  In the past, they've had periodic sales and I've re-upped for 5 years at a time on both my own account and the NNL East account. Right now we are paid up through the end of 2018.  So only sign up for one year for starters.

And for those saying that Photobucket has applied this retroactively, understand that the old posts on boards do not contain the photo. They only have a link to that photo on the Photobucket server. So no matter how old your post may be, when someone views it they are puling it fresh from the Photobucket server. This works the same way if you delete photos from Fotki, or your own server.  Photo no longer on server, no photo in old posts!

[slusher]

I have been using PB for 12 years and it can be slow I have not had any problems. I don't have anything on there but model pictures mainly. How many hosting sites are out there free? I am curious.

[crazyjim]

I just opened a Flickr account.  PB pics are still up on my latest under glass post.

Edited June 30, 2017 by crazyjim

[Impalow]

I feel like this could be a hack... maybe?  If you go to their blogs, and social media there is no mention of it... and the email came from funky address...  

I hope so because all my project logs will be gonzo... and i dont know if i have the drive to rebuild them and make them stronger....

[mrmike]

I do see myself as a supporter by steering others who don't have a photohosting site to Photobucket.  I've been doing this for years.  I also realize that what I am doing doesn't generate any monetary income for them, just giving them another member who may or may not pay them for their service.  This all comes at a time when my funds are low and I don't have the $400 for them to continue hosting my pictures for a year.  This whole thing has made me angry and I am trying to adjust, and yes, vent a little bit here.          

[Randy D]

Hi Folks,

   This is really weird. I have been a paying Photobucket user for years,  I pay $9.99 a year to be ad free.  I am going to go with more space upgrade soon.  I have never seen an option on PB's site for  anything close to $399.00 per year !!!

  I have not received the message that you guys got and my stuff shows up fine.  I'm with Bill & Eric,  smells like a hack job. If it was legit I would think they would be offering  their many payment plans / storage options.

 

Randy 

 

 

[Xingu]

What exactly is 3rd Party Image Hosting?

 

[mrmike]

It's no hackjob.  I got the email from Photobucket this morning.  It was posted on their website about a change in Terms In Service for sometime now and now all my pictures posted here and on other forums are gone.  3rd Party Hosting is only available with the top plan that they offer. 

3rd Party Hostong is when you post a link from Photobucket onto a forum or webpage and an image is to appear.    

[Bernard Kron]

Hi Folks,

   This is really weird. I have been a paying Photobucket user for years,  I pay $9.99 a year to be ad free.  I am going to go with more space upgrade soon.  I have never seen an option on PB's site for  anything close to $399.00 per year !!!

  I have not received the message that you guys got and my stuff shows up fine.  I'm with Bill & Eric,  smells like a hack job. If it was legit I would think they would be offering  their many payment plans / storage options.

 

Randy 

 

 

If it's a hack job it's pretty sophisticated, and they're responding to it as of yet. Go to you P-Bucket account. When you log in there should be a blue banner stripe across the top reading "We have updated our terms of service - Read More" If you click on it you'll be sent to thousanmds opf tiny words defining their Terms Of Service. What follows is a quote of available Photobucket services:

Types of Accounts, Pricing and Limits

• Visiting : There is no cost to visit the Site or to register as a Member.
• Free account : Each individual Member gets one free account that provides 2 GB of free storage or space available for your original photo files, or videos under 10min. The free account does not allow any image linking or 3^rd party image hosting. If a free account Member exceeds their Content Limit, their account will be immediately suspended and they will need to become a “Paying Member” (defined below) in order to continue accessing their account. You can upgrade to a Plus account at any time.
• Ad-free Account : The Ad-free Account offers Members the ability to use the Site without seeing any third party banner advertisements when logged into your Ad-free Account (note, viewers of your images within Photobucket will see ads unless they, too, have Plus accounts and you will continue to see Photobucket offers and announcements). This account level is available for $2.49 / month, payable by the Member on a monthly recurring basis.
• Plus Account : The Plus Account offers several paid options that may give the Paying Member more storage, bandwidth, 3^rd party image hosting, image linking and/or other services as outlined below. Once and during such period of time in which you subscribe to and pay for a Plus Account, we will consider you a "Paying Member." Please note that all Plus Account subscriptions are billed annually at the commencement of the service. Photobucket may also offer a monthly billing option for its Plus Accounts (see terms and restrictions, below).

• Available Plus Account Plans : Photobucket offers the following Plus Account Plans:

o Plus 50 Plan: 52 GB of Storage for $59.99 / Year. The Plus 50 Plan does not allow any image linking or 3^rd party image hosting.

o Plus 100 Plan: 102 GB of Storage for $99.99 / Year. The Plus 100 Plan allows for unlimited image linking but does not allow 3^rd party image hosting.

o Plus 500 Plan: 500 GB of Storage and unlimited bandwidth for $399.99 / Year. The Plus 500 Plan allows for unlimited image linking and unlimited 3^rd party image hosting.

• Additional Features of all Plus Accounts : When you upgrade to any Plus Account, you will also receive:

o Premium Support. You have direct access to our tech support team. Email our PLUS Support Team

o No Ads: When you're logged into your Plus account, you won't see any ads on Photobucket pages (note, viewers of your images within Photobucket will see ads unless they, too, have Plus Accounts and you will continue to see Photobucket offers and announcements).

• Modifying Your Plus Account : Photobucket has the right to change the limits at any time. If you are a Paying Member, you can always upgrade to a higher-level Plus Account and will have the opportunity to downgrade your service at the beginning of the next annual period anniversary following any such modifications.

Read more: http://photobucket.com/terms#ixzz4lUuhAiFv

 The only option that allows you to display images stored on Photobucket in your MMC forum posts is the Plus 500 plan at 399.00 per year.

[Impalow]

This last paragraph of this sums it up.... 

https://www.pcmag.com/news/354711/photobucket-breaks-image-links-across-the-internet

If this is real... the shoot for the moon price is just a royal goof up...   I would pay 20-30 a year to not have to rebuild project logs as im sure many others will.... not many are going to pay 400.00... I'm fairly confident they would have made more money at a lower price point.  

 

[Xingu]

3rd Party Hostong is when you post a link from Photobucket onto a forum or webpage and an image is to appear.    

Then what is photo linking? Photobucket seems to consider these two different things.

[Don Sikora II]

Then what is photo linking? Photobucket seems to consider these two different things.

That's probably when a clickable link is displayed, not the actual photo.

[Impalow]

Copied from another forum.... but seems true... and scary.... i hope this is not the case.

 

"oh i've known about it for years. there is unseen consequences yet to come

but people will figure out how big a nuke was dropped on the internet soon.

i run numerous websites, and forums, i'm also admin and moderator on a few others.

for a few years we have seen traffic of forum users going to facebook groups or google+ groups.

by losing photobucket for easy hosting of photos they effectively just nuked Forums like this out of existence.

Google stopped allowing 3rd party hotlinking a few months ago.

i have gone through photobucket ruining my accounts and albums for years now, each time i have to start all over again. at this point it would be months of me relinking dead photos in 10000000s of threads i have made. that is not going to happen this time.

in the short term people are scrambling to go to other free host services. this will quickly overload them and start a cascade effect of them switching to pay sites. that leaves social media as the main load holder. thus it is easier for the entire user group to flip over to facebook in even greater numbers then before.

daily content will drop off even more then usual. there will be no reliable free hoster of images and the entire thing will grind to a halt.

we have all seen the massive drop in user content over the last few years on all forums, now it will accelerate.

----

little history... before photobucket i hosted images on my own server. in a short amount of time, 3rd party hotlinking nuked my server and bandwidth and i had to shut down 3rd party linking just like photobucket. i then had to switch to photobucket which i never liked and have had all my stuff nuked numerous times over the years as evidence of all my dead photo links.

so at this point I'm not moving on with any free hosting sites because they will all eventually turn into photobucket just like anglefire, geocities BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH storms, i refuse to go on social media, so i have no choice but to use my self contained Website where i have to keep 3rd party hotlinking turned off to survive there is no way i'm going to start Url linking on this forum to another website to show off my stuff. so basically i'm done, and many others are also. you should see the Firearms forums going down in flames the last 2 days.

and so expect to see these forums all over turn into ghost towns the next week or 2 and then poof."