Photos have disappeared

[dubtrub]

Well folks, looks like our free ride with photobucket has come to an end after almost ten years. Most if not all of our photos dating back to the forums beginning are gone. Photobucket now requires a fee for third party hosting and all photos are apparently gone forever.

https://petapixel.com/2017/07/01/photob ... edded-web/

[Bob Shade]

I just saw this too. I can't believe a company based on "free" space for your photo's now wants 5 hundred dollars annually to be able to use them for third party hosting to see your photo's which was the whole reason for using them in the first place for years as FREE space as advertised. They have you over a barrel. All of the images posted over the years will be gone unless now you pay their outrageous annual fee now. I think they deserve a class action suit personally.

[panther]

If you want third party hosting like we use, Photobucket wants $399.00 per year for the service.
I have no issue with them choosing how they want to run their business, HOWEVER, this amount to Ransomware. They should be required to Grandfather all previous photos, and make new members pay a REASONABLE fee. They make BILLIONS on ads that are extremely annoying popups. This somehow reeks of the greatest bait and switch scheme EVER.
Maybe a class action lawsuit is in order.

Dan

[SASouth]

This is a test of using Flickr

[dubtrub]

Apparently it's just a photobucket thing. Unfortunately we've lost nine years of photos from members that have long ago left the forum.

[Bob Shade]

I thought of that too, why not grandfather the existing photo's and supposed free space and charge for future image space. That would have been the fair way to treat the issue. I see there are alot of people up in arms about this...........it will be interesting.

[panther]

I have just sent a lengthy email to the "The Securities and Exchange Commission" with these concerns.
They can change their service as they see fit, But I doubt they can charge for PREVIOUS use of the service before when it was free.

Dan

[dubtrub]

Okay, this is strange. I've gone to other forums where I've posted pictures from photobucket and they are still there. Go figure!

[StevieSTL]

-- Photobucket? More like Photo-suck-it! Ha. See what I did there? Anyways, I believe that I have all of my old pics backed up if anybody wants any of my pictures from related threads please message me and I would be happy to share!

[Bob Shade]

Good work Dan!