FYI - photobucket users... the party is over

[pete_mac]

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this - mods please move if need be!

I just noticed that all of my photobucket-hosted images on this forum and elsewhere are no longer visible.

Photobucket have now introduced a user-pays system (they changed their terms and conditions yesterday it would seem)

For third-party hosting, it's not exactly cheap!

http://photobucket.com/pricing



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Pricing: The cost of a PLUS account varies according to how much storage you need! Please note, all subscriptions are billed annually.

• 2 GB - Free
• Ad Free (no additional storage or bandwidth) - $2.49 / Month
• 50 GB - $59.99 / Year
• 100 GB - $99.99 / Year
• 500 GB - $399.99 / Year

When you upgrade to PLUS:

• Premium Support. You have direct access to our tech support team. Email our PLUS Support Team
• Storage. You get more space for your media.
• Bandwidth: Bandwidth is a measure of the resources needed to display your media outside of Photobucket (example: images linked to your blog).

Plus 50 offers 52GB of Storage and No Linking or 3rd Party Hosting

Plus 100 offers 102GB of Storage, Unlimited Linking and No 3rd Party Hosting

Plus 500 offers 502GB of Storage, Unlimited Linking and Unlimited 3rd Party Hosting

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The definition of third-party hosting:

http://support.photobucket.com/hc/en-us/articles/115009597607-What-is-3rd-party-hosting-



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What Is 3rd Party Hosting?
Photobucket defines 3rd party hosting as the action of embedding an image or photo onto another website.

For example, using the <img> tag to embed or display a JPEG image from your Photobucket account on another website such as a forum, Etsy, eBay auction listings, blog, etc. is definitively 3rd party hosting.


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So... I can do one of two things:

* Update EVERY existing photobucket link on this forum and elsewhere, and change it to a link which instead takes people to the photobucket site, for $10/month; or

* Keep all my existing links functioning as-is, and continue to use photobucket for hosting pics, for $40/month.

I completely understand that hosting and bandwidth costs money, but this came out of the blue for me.

Ever get that feeling that someone has one of your arms pinned behind your back?

FYI and beware using photobucket from now on, unless you understand these new terms and conditions.

 

[hjames]

Darned shame ...
Tho some of us have been warning folks that free wouldn't last forever, and asking them to post directly to AK or the other forums,
for the long terms ... just like we cut and paste CL and eBay images so they'll be there years from the original thread posts ...

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[2011etec]

Even the freebee is brutal now ,adds pop up continuously and without respite.

 

[ZebraBlvd]

Me - Multiple accounts = less than 1gb each. I'm good.

 

[2011etec]

Well looks like im on the hit list for some reason or other even though ive got a small number of photos.Ive heard but havnt confirmed yet that their not allowing you to transfer your pics to other hosts.If true it might be time to look into a multi million dollar class action suit.Ok lawyers start circling you sharks,lol.

 

[2011etec]

Told p.b to delete my account and to f off in no uncertain terms that even somebody as stupid as them can understand!Frankly it was getting brutal anyways with the 50 pop up adds just to look at one pic.

 

[Alobar]

I'm expecting something like this to happen with the music streaming business too someday. I don't see how a business can go on losing money like that. Still photo bucket has gone completely off the rails here. Photofucket.. there is going to be a lot of threads with broken links. .

 

[SuperjazzyJa]

Well, I'm glad I never used photo bucket, which is something I can say about a great many things.

 

[philo426]

Yeah real bad news,luckily many sites allow you to upload directly from your tablet or phone so it is all good.

 

[Ronald1973]

Anything of importance is on my computer anyway, and I also learned to back that up to an external. I used to use the PB account years ago to quickly link photos, but I couldn't tell you the last time I used it.

 

[usedto]

.If true it might be time to look into a multi million dollar class action suit.Ok lawyers start circling you sharks,lol.

Of course, you completely read their "Terms and Conditions" before you started using their FREE service, didn't you?

 

[SoCal Sam]

I will never pay photobucket. Terrible strategic mistake, IMO. Think of all the "how to" posts supported by photobucket images that have been gutted. This will generate universal bad will.

 

[sol7]

Never was a fan of those "free" picture hosting sites. I pay $120yr for web hosting with unlimited bandwidth and storage. I'm in control of my stuff.

 

[restorer-john]

I never used Photobucket or any other image hosting service. It was obvious from day one that this would happen.

I'm sure the AK servers will always maintain adequate space for the images we upload on this site as it is in their own interests to do so.

Sure, many 'how to' threads will get wrecked, but it could be an opportunity to revisit and repair those threads by having the OPs upload the images to AK's server?

 

[sol7]

Isn't there a storage limit for non-subscribers?

 

[restorer-john]

Yes, I believe there is, but for some reason, since 2002, I've not hit a limit AFAIK.

 

[ZebraBlvd]

^...........^ Yes they do sol7. I have been using their service for over 10 years now, as a non-subscriber. I use it as a depository for distribution to family and friends. I also have every pic on PB on a RAID 5 system at home. My pics are well covered in case something happens at any given point in the chain I have employed. Hell, I even keep a 3TB drive in my backpack (which I ALWAYS have with me) that has all my important data\pics\info. This is my Off-Site backup in case something happens to my backup system @ home (God forbid like the house being destroyed). Shit, external dives are cheap. You can buy a 3TB drive these days for less than $100, cheap insurance IMHO.

 

[SoCal Sam]

I joined Imgur and am back in business:

 

[Zekeman]

This is why I despise any and all subscription services.

 

[rxonmymind]

Looks like their trying to make things up.
From Business insider:

"The new prices start at $1.99 per month for 10 gigabytes of images stored and rise to $3.99 monthly for 20 gigabytes and $8.99 for two terabytes of storage. All the plans enable third-party hosting for a $2.49 monthly add-on price."

They should have done this from the beginning and supposedly a "new" CEO has been hired (who was the CFO prior).