callumalden @ flickr

On Monday, I received an email from a person working for the Malaysian branch of a well-known advertising agency. She had asked to purchase the rights to use a photo of mine that she had stumbled upon on Flickr. The fact that she knew how to use Flickr made me thought that she was clued in on how business on the Internet works. I was wrong.

Here’s the email exchange on Monday. The first hint of trouble was when she asked me to define the usual conditions that go with selling images. Don’t they buy images all the time at an ad agency? Well, never mind I thought. Maybe she’s new on the job and wanted to make sure.

Hi there,

I’m [redacted], on behalf of ABCD (Advertising Agency), would like to ask for your permission to use the attached picture.

Usage is for our client advertisement in BTL items outdoor.

Kindly quote us for the picture and revert to me back by today!!

Thank you.

—

Hi [redacted].

The price I charge is USD80 for a royalty-free copy of the 640×480 version available off Flickr (largest resolution I have), which is non-exclusive and with non-transferable rights.

If this is ok to you, I will send an invoice via Paypal (let me know the email address that I should send it to).

Cheers!

—

Hi there,

Can you please advise us more specific on non-exclusive and with non-transferable rights.

Thanks.

—

Hi [redacted].

Non-exclusive = I can sell it again for similar purposes.
Non-transferable = It’s only for you and your company’s use as you see fit without restrictions, but you cannot on-sell the image on its own.

And royalty-free = you can use it as often as you like, for different projects.

Hope that answers your questions!

Then on Wednesday.

Hi there,

Cost approved AT USD80 for a royalty-free copy of the 640×480, please proceed our order.

Thank you.

—

Hi [redacted].

Will do - sending you an invoice via PayPal to your email address now. Your company can then pay via credit card at PayPal.

Thanks!

Note how many times I’d mentioned the use of Paypal to pay me and how they’d be invoiced. On the same day was when things got all Twilight Zone-y. Further signs of trouble was when she asked how long it would take for her to obtain the image. This when she’s already been to the page where she can download it from. Then there’s the questions about invoices.

Hi there,

I need to know once we paid through credit card how long will it take to get the image. Where is your company located??

Thank you.

—

Hi [redacted].

You just download the image at the link provided earlier. If you’ve lost it, here it is again:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mooiness/649396016/sizes/o/

—

Hi there,

Kindly provide us your details (name, contact no.)

Is it possible for us to make payment through bank transfer under your name/company name because we are buying the image on behalf of client? This is not for personal matter. Please provide us also what are terms and regulation.

—

Hi [redacted].

I do not run a company as my photos are sold on an adhoc basis. Furthermore, I’m in Australia so a payment to Paypal is the easiest way. If that is not possible, then I wish you best of luck in your search for an alternative photo.

Cheers!

—

Hi there,

One more thing after we paid to you is there any invoice for us.
Thank you.

—

The receipt will come from Paypal showing that you have paid to me, and what it was for - you can print this out for your records. I will not be issuing an invoice to you.

So after all that, you would assume that all questions about how to obtain the photo, and how payment should be made and transacted are answered right? Well, you’d be wrong.

On Thursday, I received another clueless email from her. That was when I had enough. She kept asking me about damn invoices and alternatives way of paying me! It was like she didn’t even read anything that I wrote to her in the past few exchanges! FFS!

Hi there,

Need to check with you is there any invoice before we make payment. One more thing I need to know do we need to register the Paypal because our company don’t have account with paypal. Can we straight away paid you via credit card without register Paypal.

—

Hi [redacted].

I think this is probably getting too difficult for you guys. I have already explained everything previously.

I will withdraw the payment request. Best of luck in your search for a suitable photo.

Cheers!

You’d think that someone working for a prominent ad agency would understand how to do business on the Internet. Buying a photo from me is no different to buying a photo off a professional outfit like Getty Images. Everything is done electronically, you pay with a credit card, and you’d get an email receipt to print out for your records.

At first I hesitated about publishing this for fear of ruining future opportunities of selling my photos. Burning bridges and all that. But what the heck, this is just a hobby. I still have my day job.

Because it really has to be said: clueless people really have no business doing business on the Internet.

Let me rephrase that: clueless people who do not read have no business doing business on the Internet.