Cutest Pets Around the Globe 2008--Is This a Scam?
Here's what the e-mail said... Congratulations Emily Your photo of Stella has been selected for inclusion in our newest Cutest Pets Around the Globe Photography Book Your Semi-Finalist Judgling Number is #100309111 We have chosen to publish your photograph of Stella in the "Cutest Pets Around the Globe 2008" coffee table book. (ISBN# 978-0-9770401-6-2) The book will be a collection of some of the cutest pet photos from around the world and only the best of the best photos are allowed to appear. As you may know, our photo books are distributed worldwide and have won the hearts of pet lovers from all over. We get letters every day telling us how much our books are enjoyed. Your photo of Stella has qualified and will be one of our "Featured Pets" in the book. Your photo will bring smiles to pet lovers from around the world. With your permission, your photo will appear as one of the best photos in the book scheduled for printing this coming Winter and delivered in early 2008. There are no fees and absolutely no requirements to make a purchase in order to win the contest. However, most people want to own the book featuring their pet photo to show off to friends and family! YOU WILL LOVE THE BOOK QUALITY! From the full color hard bound cover measuring 8 1/2" x 11" to the full color photographs on glossy paper, we have made our books to be everything your heart could desire. The book will be perfect for display on your coffee table or in your library. The quality of the book will impress all who see it. Its no wonder so many pet lovers give them as gifts. We are so sure you will love the book as have thousands of others, we happily extend our 100% money back guarantee offer. If you are not happy with the book for any reason, simply return it for a full refund of the purchase price. Just so you know, the copyrights to the photo will still be retained by you because the book is being copyrighted as a compilation of photos. PRE-ORDER NOW AND SAVE 40% OFF Although most pet lovers want to own the book featuring their photograph, you are under no obligation to purchase the book. Of course as a publisher we cannot give the books away for free but we want to make it easy for you to own one. As a token of our gratitude for letting us publish the photo in our newest photo book, we would like to offer you the opportunity to own the book at the pre-printing and contributing photographer discount of nearly 40% off of the retail store price. The regular retail price of the book is $89.95, but you are eligible to receive a copy of the book for the discounted price of $54.95. If you decide to order additional copies, you pay only $45.00 - nearly 50% off of the cover price. Makes a great gift. |
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| I don't think it's a scam in that they actually DO send you the book (from what I've heard about this type thing before), but you are right in thinking that they claim that you are a finalist, whereas they really just put any dog in there. They make money off of it because people pay for the book b/c they want to see their pet in it. |
| I think there was a post from Joahaeyo about one of these type of emails so perhaps she will be able to help you |
$89 for the finished book!?!?!? That's nuts. I would just wait if I were you... buy it on ebay.  |
| I don't think your dog will be in the book if you don't buy it, so judge for yourself if this is "a scam" or not.
Spend your $100 (Who could not refuse to buy a copy for their parents?) at a photography shop, or have your photo made into a couple of hundred howliday cards with envelopes and send one to everyone you know!  |
Ron wrote: Spend your $100 (Who could not refuse to buy a copy for their parents?) at a photography shop, or have your photo made into a couple of hundred howliday cards with envelopes and send one to everyone you know!
Like, for instance, everyone on our oes.org Christmas card list!! (hint, hint!  ) |
| I have dealt with these idiots before. They also run a photography site and go under the name of International Library of Photographers, www.ephotograph.com, www.picture.com and www.thephotosite.com
I know there are more.... 
I was so excited to find out I was a semi-finalist and that my photo would be in a book. I actually thought that I had some chance of winning something. But it turns out that everyone that enters gets into the semi-finals. So before I knew that I ordered the book....which took a year and a half to arrive.  I was VERY disappointed as 90% of the pictures should not have been in the book. They were totally out of focus, peoples head were cut off.
This is a money making scam for them. If you pay them, you will get a book with your picture in it. If you search the isbn# I guarantee you will not find that book. They are also notorious with using peoples photo's without consent to publish them just to fill up their books. I believe this company also runs the cutest kid contests too. If I paid a few hundred bucks I could get an award, trophy....etc and you can become a member of their club. |
| I found the link to the last time we discussed this topic. It can be found here: http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=12244
Here is an actual copy of an e-mail I received the other day from them..... mind you I have not submitted any pictures to them in some time. Quote: Dear Elissa, Over the past year or so, we have been reviewing the thousands of photographs that have been submitted to us, as well as examining various pictures that have been featured by other photography publishers. After an exhaustive examination of this photographic artistry, The International Library of Photography has decided to publish a collection of new photos taken by the best photographers we have encountered. Elissa, I am pleased to tell you that you have been selected to appear in this special edition . . . THE BEST PHOTOS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS OF 2007 Library of Congress ISBN 0-7951-5306-6 Congratulations on your accomplishment, Elissa! Only a small percentage of individuals whose photos we have examined were selected to be part of this distinguished group of outstanding photographers. And that's not all. To honor the accomplishment of this elite group of talented individuals, we have established a separate contest with over $4,500.00 in prizes to be awarded. You will automatically be entered into the final competition, but you must submit a new photograph (if you have not already done so). Prizes will be announced this winter, with an anticipated publication date of December 31, 2007. (This is a tentative date. More information will follow.) The Best Photos and Photographers of 2007 will be among the finest quality books we have ever published, so your photography will be presented in the most elegant way possible. Every aspect of publication and design will convey the quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that will go into the production of this special edition. The coffee-table quality book will feature a deluxe cover and spine. The stock itself will be of fine-milled, acid-free paper to last for generations, and quality typography will be displayed throughout. Best of all . . . This special edition will feature a new, unpublished photograph by Elissa Haden! Before going any further, Elissa, let me make one thing clear . . . you were selected for publication on the basis of your previously published photo. Your new photo, which you will select for this edition, will be accepted for publication on the basis of your previous accomplishments. Your prior photo was among the most interesting pictures we have encountered, so we wish to feature your artistry in this special edition and make this special prize money available to you and the others who have been chosen. You are under no obligation whatsoever to submit any entry fee or subsidy payment, or to make any purchase of any kind. As I mentioned above, your photograph will be accepted into this special edition, and as soon as we receive your picture, it may be immediately published on our website, www.picture.com and entered into the final competition of the contest. And let me reassure you, your photographic image remains your property - The Best Photos and Photographers of 2007 is copyrighted as a compilation. This means that you retain the copyright to your own work of art. In order to make our scheduled publication date, you must submit your photo as soon as possible (if you haven't already done so). Please make sure to use your unique control number, 1761619 - 7502, when entering your photo. Again, congratulations, Elissa. The Best Photos and Photographers of 2007 promises to be the most exclusive and widely enjoyed collection of photographs we have ever published. We feel that you take wonderful, captivating photographs, and we believe your newly submitted photo will add to the importance and appeal of this edition. Your contribution to this project is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Jeffrey Bryan Managing Editor |
| Hi there I receied one too. I am just wondering how big our pet photos wil be . I do believe that the have listed enough information that we can do our independant research. not sure though. we're doing it we're proud of our Bella & your stella is BEAUTIFUL too! Bella & Stella how cute.
Lisa Sackett owner, pug, Bella Wrinkles |
| Definately a scam.
There is a whole "line" of these types of scams. At least 4 times a year I receive an official letter from an organization who publishes "Who's Who in ___________" (you fill in the blank, sometimes it's Nursing, sometimes it's EMS services, sometimes it's Phit Theta Kappa). It's always a highly complimentary letter telling me am an outstanding person in my field and I am to be included in their book. For a mere $--.00 (price differs) I can receive a leather gold embossed copy. Of course they tell you purchase isn't necessary (who are they kidding). We all want to think that we are special, or our animals are special (and of course we are). But these types of things are 100% scams. |
| Thanks for posting this issue and for everyone who replied! I just received the same email about my picture (cat) being in the finals. I know that hundreds of people voted for my picture because I have extensive mailing lists and member websites that I sent thisout to, but something seemed "fishy". So, I Googled and came up with this board for which I am grateful! Thanks for the info, I won't waste any more money for a picture I already have! |
| I'm glad that you found these opinions useful!
Feel free to link to us.... |
Pepsi's Mommy wrote: .....go under the name of International Library of Photographers, www.ephotograph.com, www.picture.com and www.thephotosite.com
I know there are more.... Yep, another is International Library of Poetry, or something like that. It was fun to enter the contest, but after that............ just reading what they send you is entertaining. Didn't get a dime from me!!!!!
Unless you include postage. Wonder if all the above, and the post office are in business together? |
| Hi, I just got an e-mail too, but this time the $89.95 book is being offered to me for only $69.95, $55 for any additional books! I wrote to them and told them I thought it was a scam. I can't find the book for sale anywhere, except one on Amazon.com, but it's them selling the book for $54.95 because they say it has a bent corner and wasn't sent out for sale to the general public!
This is a scam, we were told to rush and get our order in before we missed the printing deadline. This scam prays on people knowing that you'll want a book with your dog or cat's photo in it. By the way, I was offered a special framed picture with certificate for $49.95 + shipping and the chance to enter bio information for only a $35 depost. Don't send these people money, it's definitely a scam. |
| I got my copy today. I too had the letter advising my dog was a semi-finalist for either the cover or the back of the book. Of course, I am going to purchase a book that has my dog in it that is being published around the world. How many people can say that! Anyway, I got it today and lo and behold, my dog IS in the cover and the book is a fabulous fun book of precious animals of all kinds and fabulous photos. Very exciting to have this for my coffee table. |
asmith@thompsoncoe.com wrote: How many people can say that!
Anybody who wants can say that because it's simple to make and order a photo book on kodak.com, ibook, or many other photo-sharing sites. So "published around the world" .... well. Let's just say one of the books is published with your dog on the cover for about $50 more than you could have published it yourself online. It's a scam. Everybody who "enters" wins with their dog as a "finalist". Others who fall for it will have a book that will look "a bit" different than yours. |
| Sure it is in response to the guest who "got the book" |
| I am in the printing industry, and work on one of the most advanced digital presses that kodak has to offer. We do lots of business in variable information post cards and books, in fact thats about 95% of our business. All it takes is a simple template of "the book" and in each specific place is a variable text, picture of your dog, map, whatever. They have it set up so when they plug the template of all your info and picture that is going into this "book" it links to certain places in the book and plugs in your information. This tech really works well when mailing coupons. When you get a piece of mail that has your name or current resident on it, somebody like me plugged in your name, address, and the phrase or current resident all in a spreadsheet into the file holding the cards design, I send that compiled file of your info and photo, or whatever it may be, to my press, which then prints every page that i had programmed with your name and your dogs picture on the front cover. you are paying out the you know what for a book customized specifically with your dog on the cover, because it doesnt take much more work to do so. Its all too easy to print a book like this. in fact I am going to make my own cutest pet book and rip all those people off too. I can design one in one day, and have it customized with fields to plug your pet on the cover. |
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