Black and White Photography Blog, Vol. I

Comment from Patrick
Time: December 21, 2007, 12:06 am

Hi Dave, it sounds like a great internet money scam. I hope not, but…….. I’d give them another try.

Comment from dave
Time: December 21, 2007, 12:25 am

It’s not a scam. It’s a SNAFU (situation normal - all f**ked up).

Comment from Patrick
Time: December 21, 2007, 12:52 am

I understand that part, but it also sounds like a scam.

I know you paid for the book, but it is still undelivered. Did you pay a “processing fee” for the image to be nominated, it’s a common fee when submitting an image to a photo annual. Has the book received a ISBN-10, or ISBN-13 number? Is it listed on amazon for preordering? Did you order the book from the publisher direct, and is it a well known publisher?

I’m sorry if I’m a pessimist but………..

Comment from jamesbird
Time: December 21, 2007, 1:01 am

Sounds like my experience with Focus Mag (was Inked). I tried to back order a copy of issue number one because u were published in it and even though they allowed it to be ordered on the site after not receiving it for a long time I wrote only to be told it was out of print, then same kind of thing, writing a couple of emails asking for a refund but never getting one. It’s too bad, seems like a fine publication but I refuse to subscribe to it since I have tried several times to get my paypal payment refunded and have not been able to (only 7.95 or something? but, the principle and all that).

-james bird

Comment from dave
Time: December 21, 2007, 2:05 am

James — I had a very bad experience with Inked. I couldn’t get a complimentary copy of the magazine when it was first published with my photos in it.

Someone - sorry can’t remember who - found it at a gallery somewhere and eventually sent me a copy.

Then after months of pestering them - I got a copy. But it was an awful experience - and there were months of emails that went unanswered.

Now most of the photographers pay to get in - and sometimes people write me and ask if it would be worthwhile paying. I just tell them what a bad experience I had with them.

Patrick - I paid an entry fee to enter the contest. That was it. They say they received something like 13,000 entries. True or not - I don’t know. Obviously they they didn’t print 13,000 nominees. It may have been a hundred or so.

They are still doing a brisk business - and I receive emails from them all the time for this years contest. If you look at the members of the jury - it is very impressive. Magnum (at least according to them) is heavily involved. You can still order the book on their site. I’ll see if I can find it on Amazon.

I tend to believe that this is just incompetence. Where some people find conspiracy, or venal motives, I usually chalk it up to incompetence. Who knows.

Comment from mcananeya
Time: December 21, 2007, 10:04 am

Dave,

I hate to say it, but I agree with James. It sounds like you’ve been had. This is actually a pretty common scam, though it sounds like they have refined it slightly in your case. Usually, the scammer gets access to your name and associates it with some achievement, however minor. Then, you receive a notice saying that you have been selected to be included in a book of the best [x] and as a result, you are eligible to pre-order the book at a discount. Sometimes the book follows, sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, it’s still a scam. Let’s see, my name and biography has supposedly been included in a book of the top American high school student, the top American college students and the top photographers on Flickr (nevermind that I don’t have a Flickr account and have never posted any of my photographs on the web). The scam is extremely simple and highly successful. Rather than appealing to greed, as most scams do, it appeals to people’s vanity and ego. People are so surprised when a supposedly objective 3rd party selects them as being among the best at anything, that they are eager to hand over money in order to be able to have physical proof of their recognition.

I hope this isn’t the case for you and that the contest/book is legitimate, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. I don’t think continued e-mails for this year’s contest indicate anything other than a continued desire to make money off contest entry fees and phantom book orders. As for the jury members… Well, there is a saying in German: “Papier ist geduldig”, which literally translates as “Paper is tolerant”. A more fitting translation is: “You can write anything you want on paper.” The same applies for the internet.

Anyway, don’t let this disturb your holiday season. I wish you all the best for the new year!

Best,
Adam

Comment from dave
Time: December 21, 2007, 10:16 am

<p><p>Here, btw, is the website:</p><br />
<p>http://www.thespiderawards.com/</p></p>
<p>If this is a scam, then it is the best, and most elaborate one I’ve ever seen and I’m totally impressed. I should mention, that shortly after I got the nomination, I did get a calendar in the mail from them. </p> No - I believe it is just incompetence; though I would suggest that before they sell a book, they have it printed first.

Comment from Stephen Bray
Time: December 21, 2007, 1:58 pm

“I would suggest that before they sell a book, they have it printed first.”

Maybe they also are one person in a small apartment and wouldn’t have room to do so

Actually . . . from your description, they seem to behave more like a corporation . . . I am sure that one person in a tiny apartment could provide far better service.

Stephen

Comment from MitchK
Time: December 21, 2007, 3:15 pm

Their website says the book is “NOW SHIPPING!”.

http://www.thespiderawards.com/store.htm

A new development, or simply false advertising?

Comment from JAC
Time: December 21, 2007, 3:31 pm

SPIDER is an acronym for “Scamming People Is Deliciously, Excitingly Rewarding.” Coincidence? I think not.

Comment from Craig Nisnewitz
Time: December 22, 2007, 3:53 am

Sounds like a very clever scam to me.

Comment from oliver
Time: December 22, 2007, 10:02 pm

So the last time you were in touch with them was September and now they deliver the books all of a sudden?
Maybe they got wind of this discussion here and started to fear for their reputation

Comment from dave beckerman
Time: December 22, 2007, 11:43 pm

Oliver - It shipped on Dec. 17th, before I began this post. “Royal Mail. Postage Paid UK. Air Mail.

The book is paperback, high quality printing, and my shot is pretty tiny on the page (about 1/8th size I guess).

The fact that the books shipped almost a year after they were supposed to - that does make you wonder about the organization. But I never saw this as a scam - much too elaborate. Too many ways to get sued - not by your average customer, but by the various celebs mentioned on the site etc. But organized? Not exactly, mate.

Comment from Sally Stevens
Time: March 17, 2008, 7:09 pm

Dave,

Your story is fascinating! I just discovered, while googling for other information last night, that I too was a “nominee” in three categories! But I was never notified following the 2005 competitions…had I not stumbled upon the information I never would have known. I have sent an email as of yesterday and also called the office here in California (Beverly Hills) but have not heard back from anyone.

I would like to request a copy of the book, assuming there are any around. Can’t believe I just would never have known had I not stumbled upon it. Nominee, amateur, in: Nature, Fine Art, and Sillouette Divisions.