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Author Topic: Crestock - new owner?  (Read 61833 times)

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Dook

« Reply #75 on: July 22, 2010, 11:58 »
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I expect big changes, since Masterfile is one of the top macro stock agencies. But, who knows. Corbies is the big one and look what happened to SnapVillage and now Veer still struggling.


« Reply #76 on: July 22, 2010, 12:05 »
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I browse through crestock, look like they just finish their first task..paying all outstanding payment to contributors, and start their second task, clearing all the backlog files waiting to be reviewed.

I think i will just wait after they had finished all the 'mess' left by the previous owner.. hopefully something like veer that paid for uploading!

I expect big changes, since Masterfile is one of the top macro stock agencies. But, who knows. Corbies is the big one and look what happened to SnapVillage and now Veer still struggling.

« Reply #77 on: July 22, 2010, 14:33 »
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I expect big changes, since Masterfile is one of the top macro stock agencies. But, who knows. Corbies is the big one and look what happened to SnapVillage and now Veer still struggling.
At least they are cleaning up the mess, since it was quite obvious that Crestock was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Well the macros obviously all want a micro leg now, since their macro income certainly must be fading away slowly. The issue is here that they have to fight against 4 giants that control the market with 7-12 million images in their collections. Whatever they can offer, it will be 10 times less and exactly the same content. So what could be their USP?

If the dust is settled there (it might take a while) I would consider uploading but only if they pay to upload. Veer has set the mark. I'm not going to waste time uploading any more to unproven sites that have a high risk of failure.

RaFaLe

  • Success level is directly proportional to effort
« Reply #78 on: July 23, 2010, 08:51 »
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Yeah, in lieu of what I thought might be an opportunity to grow my portfolio, I submitted a batch of 110 images.

You know, I always thought iStock to be my most critical reviewer. The hardest to get accepted, and the poorest acceptance ratio.
And that's fine - there's usually *some* reason to it.

But Crestock.. Woah...

Things HAVE changed. For sure.
My review was completed within AN HOUR after submission.
The problem: they accepted 10 of the 110 images :(

That's just plain insulting.
Crestock is all about quality. Ok, fine... but check to the right and see where they rank..
Oh, "low earners"...

I don't see iStock doing too badly with their images, and with just a few of my pics online so far, it's already competing against my regular SS sales where my port is a meagre 200 odd images.
But Crestock is just plain anal.

I think I should consider canning my account there.
That's just ridiculous.

I'd like to see what has really changed, other than the turnaround time.

« Reply #79 on: July 23, 2010, 09:54 »
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Things HAVE changed. For sure. My review was completed within AN HOUR after submission.
The problem: they accepted 10 of the 110 images :(
Thanks for the info. They are still the same then. No use considering uploading there. The same disease as all these new sites like Fresh, Veer. Too selective and ignorant reviewers as to what sells. It's an omen: they won't make it.

« Reply #80 on: July 27, 2010, 09:59 »
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Things HAVE changed. For sure. My review was completed within AN HOUR after submission.
The problem: they accepted 10 of the 110 images :(
Thanks for the info. They are still the same then. No use considering uploading there. The same disease as all these new sites like Fresh, Veer. Too selective and ignorant reviewers as to what sells. It's an omen: they won't make it.

i also gave it shot with crestock about 1 1/2 years ago. uploaded approx. 20 pics - don't remember exact number anymore. anyway, none of those pics ever got rejected on any other site. crestock accepted only 2 of them. so, where is the point of wasting time as long as they don't accept 90% of our (small player's) pics and offer us an rpd of probably far less than usd 0.50 + of course being a low earner (not even in the top 10).... ???

hehe - by the way, i just logged in to my account after more than 1 year. i got 1 sale and a balance of +25 cents  ;D
« Last Edit: July 29, 2010, 01:15 by thaimacky »

« Reply #81 on: July 27, 2010, 11:23 »
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Well, I am pretty optimistic about Crestock's chances now.  I just had my portfolio reactivated and Gudmund and Steve both could not have been nicer or more helpful.  :)
Traitor!  ;)
I had so much trouble leaving them (I even had to scorn them on a couple of forums before they finally reacted) I would rather swallow a living rattlesnake than do business with them again. Especially since the nitwits that ruined the site were recycled as "consultants". Old Wine into New Wineskins.
:D

Maybe bit off topic, but is really a big temptation for new people to join too many. I think I learn my lesson and now only stay with Shutterstock, Istock and maybe Dreamstime because Dreamstime old stuff sell better than new stuff.
Only now my problem, and I want to ask you all, what you do with your dead stuff in the other dead duck agencies? You  delete work? Is too much work ?.
What do you do youself ? You leave the old mouldy stuff  and hope everyone forget them, or you actually go in to delete account? Thank you .

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #82 on: July 27, 2010, 12:02 »
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is really a big temptation for new people to join too many. I think I learn my lesson

so true! made this error as well; and probably did recently again although I'm not a newbie anymore: shame on me

what you do with your dead stuff in the other dead duck agencies? You  delete work? Is too much work ?

I usually leave pictures there. Stop uploading and try not to check for sales too often. But some sites with 0 sales/months really make me want to go there and delete the account - I try to resist. Sometimes miracles happen: I was on the point of cancelling my Canstock account, then they joined fotosearch and now some sales happen. Glad I didn't.

I appreciated Crestock new owners' good start by paying debts and by announcing things on forums and replying to questions. Now if only they could improve reviews - strict criteria ok, but no random rejections please - I may regain faith in them. Will wait and see.
« Last Edit: July 27, 2010, 12:15 by microstockphoto.co.uk »

« Reply #83 on: July 27, 2010, 17:33 »
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Maybe bit off topic, but is really a big temptation for new people to join too many. I think I learn my lesson and now only stay with Shutterstock, Istock and maybe Dreamstime because Dreamstime old stuff sell better than new stuff.
Only now my problem, and I want to ask you all, what you do with your dead stuff in the other dead duck agencies? You  delete work? Is too much work ?.
Well it's a temptation and I plead guilty. I must have wasted days uploading on sites that never made it. The problem is a bit that you really don't know in advance. An upload fee certainly makes it worth its time. If a site treats you fair this way, no reason to leave them later, even if they don't sell a lot. I count Depositphotos in that group, and also Veer and Zoonar. If it's really too much work, you can just stop uploading for a while, but keep your port.

There are sites that don't sell much but that you want keep supporting out of sympathy. I count Canstockphoto amongst them. It was the first site that accepted me 5 years ago and it always has been the best programmed site around, thanks to the vision of Duncan. I always liked his style, and although he wasn't always the best communicator, he always has been the best "nerd".  ;) Even now, CanStockPhoto has the best upload and MRF attach module around. I think Artemis here on the forum is reviewing on CanStockPhoto (unless it's another Artemis).

Crestock can redevelop into a good site after some time, when they get rid of their past, and slowly decommission the people that ran it into bankruptcy. The site is programmed well and it has some great resources online. As the new owners slowly get hold of things there, they might breath a second life into Crestock, but they are pretty late in the game. Perhaps we will see a sortof Cash 4 Dash campaign later this year or next year when they see their collection stagnant, and that's perhaps the time to start uploading. I always saved loads of money waiting for the right sales season.  :P

« Reply #84 on: July 27, 2010, 17:48 »
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I've not joined Crestock mainly due to the negative feedback here over many years.
I agree that I wouldn't spend another second either deleting or adding to a portfolio on a dud site. Miracles do happen. Well, maybe not in this business. But you can have hope. That takes zero time.

CCK

« Reply #85 on: August 14, 2010, 00:04 »
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After not uploading anything at Crestock for perhaps over a year, I decided to give it a go again with the new owners. About 5 weeks ago I upoaded a batch, and today got the result, everything rejected for the reason: "As Crestock grows, we are tightening the acceptance of simplistic images that are somewhat easy for our buyers to create themselves. Thanks, Crestock." All the images were accepted by iS, SS, DT, FT and others.

I had another look at my photos: For the buyer to create that "simplistic image" he will just have to hire a professional photographer, get the neccesary props, travel to the location, pay for the use of the location, and for perhaps a couple of thousand dollars he can create the image himself.

My verdict: The newly owned Crestock is not worth the trouble.

« Reply #86 on: August 14, 2010, 01:42 »
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For a site that delayed payouts for months and pays the lowest subs commissions for most of their sales, I still can't be bothered reactivating my portfolio.  If they want the best quality, why pay only $0.25?  I know they have higher PPD commissions but there weren't many of them.  There just isn't an incentive to use them at the moment.

« Reply #87 on: August 14, 2010, 05:43 »
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There are sites that don't sell much but that you want keep supporting out of sympathy. I count Canstockphoto amongst them. It was the first site that accepted me 5 years ago and it always has been the best programmed site around, thanks to the vision of Duncan. I always liked his style, and although he wasn't always the best communicator, he always has been the best "nerd".  ;) Even now, CanStockPhoto has the best upload and MRF attach module around. I think Artemis here on the forum is reviewing on CanStockPhoto (unless it's another Artemis).

Eep? If there's a reviewer called Artemis its definitely not me. I have no relations with Canstock or Crestock, i don't upload there and dont think i've ever had their site open. :)
The only "small" ones i contribute to are Veer and BigStock (gave Vivozoom a chance too but that one's a lesson learned as well)

« Reply #88 on: August 14, 2010, 07:51 »
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"As Crestock grows, we are tightening the acceptance of simplistic images that are somewhat easy for our buyers to create themselves.
This is the weirdest rejection reason I ever heard. Isn't that what stock is about? A buyer doesn't want to shoot "simplistic" images himself since that would cost him much more than buy them on stock for a few bucks.

@Artemis: my mistake.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2010, 08:13 by FD-regular »

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #89 on: August 14, 2010, 07:57 »
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The site improved in some areas with the new management, but regarding rejections, they're still too random - which is different from picky. They risk being the weirdest instead of "the best".
« Last Edit: August 14, 2010, 07:59 by microstockphoto.co.uk »

« Reply #90 on: August 14, 2010, 10:24 »
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My sales just stopped there after it's been acquired. It's really weird. I used to make at least a 100 bucks a months there, now it's the middle of the month and my earnings are about 8 dollars!:)  I wonder if they disconnected my port from a search engine or something like that...
Regarding rejection reason stating the image is too "simplistic". Wow. That's really stupid. Did Masterfile come up with that one? I don't remember Crestock having one of those. In any case, all points to Crestock going down in flames...

CCK

« Reply #91 on: August 14, 2010, 10:58 »
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My sales just stopped there after it's been acquired. It's really weird. I used to make at least a 100 bucks a months there, now it's the middle of the month and my earnings are about 8 dollars!:)  I wonder if they disconnected my port from a search engine or something like that...
Regarding rejection reason stating the image is too "simplistic". Wow. That's really stupid. Did Masterfile come up with that one? I don't remember Crestock having one of those. In any case, all points to Crestock going down in flames...


My sales stopped even before the takeover. Since 1st of April this year I've had one single sale at CS!

« Reply #92 on: August 14, 2010, 11:06 »
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My sales stopped even before the takeover. Since 1st of April this year I've had one single sale at CS!
Yes but Elena is a stock celebrity. She can fill a stock house on her own.  ;) So what she reports is very significant.

« Reply #93 on: August 18, 2010, 13:28 »
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Quote from: CCK on August 14, 2010, 00:04
"As Crestock grows, we are tightening the acceptance of simplistic images that are somewhat easy for our buyers to create themselves.

I too decided to give them another shot - I had stopped uploading for 9 months until they actually made my first payment. I was hopeful that the review standards would become more coherent. So, as an experiment, I submitted 25 images (all with high rate of acceptance at other microstocks) about 3 weeks ago. All 25 were rejected today due to:

Due to a large number of submissions of this nature we can only accept those of superior quality.

I've asked for clarification and am waiting for a response. But, in short, their review strategy appears to be to reject the entire backlog. So, for me, not worth the bother until I hear that they are changing policies or they make a bounty offer for new submissions.

« Reply #94 on: August 18, 2010, 13:38 »
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I too decided to give them another shot - I had stopped uploading for 9 months until they actually made my first payment. I was hopeful that the review standards would become more coherent. So, as an experiment, I submitted 25 images (all with high rate of acceptance at other microstocks) about 3 weeks ago. All 25 were rejected today due to:

Due to a large number of submissions of this nature we can only accept those of superior quality.

I've asked for clarification and am waiting for a response. But, in short, their review strategy appears to be to reject the entire backlog. So, for me, not worth the bother until I hear that they are changing policies or they make a bounty offer for new submissions.

Hee-heeee.... They are selling images for 25 cents a shot and want "superior quality".... Wonder what are they smoking there... From what I heard about Masterfile they are a bunch of stuckup snobs - well, good luck to them losing money on their recent purchase;-)

cmcderm1

  • Chad McDermott - Elite Image Photography
« Reply #95 on: August 18, 2010, 15:42 »
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In a HOLDING PATTERN with Crestock.  Waiting to see what, if anything, Masterfile does to regain the reputation hugely tarnished by the old owners.

« Reply #96 on: August 18, 2010, 19:06 »
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In a HOLDING PATTERN with Crestock.  Waiting to see what, if anything, Masterfile does to regain the reputation hugely tarnished by the old owners.

I wouldn't hold my breath:)

« Reply #97 on: August 19, 2010, 03:47 »
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... their review strategy appears to be to reject the entire backlog. ...

Does not seem to be the case. They reviewed my 40 images, 12 got through, rest rejected. So they are likely looking at the images. Anyway, by far the worst acceptance ration...

« Reply #98 on: August 19, 2010, 19:23 »
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As followup, I heard back from the review team. (Quick response by the way - within 24 hours). Upon re-examining my submissions, she accepted 4 of the 25 photos that I had submitted. And separately, the reviewer noted that they should have provided different explanations. And, she was going to have a followup discussion with the original reviewer.  So, much better customer service even if the payout is still the lowest.

« Reply #99 on: August 20, 2010, 01:03 »
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But if they hardly accept anything and pay mostly the lowest subs commissions in the market, why are people still supporting them?  Wouldn't we all be better off if their buyers went to sites where we have much bigger portfolios and they pay us higher commissions? 

I just don't understand why people continue to use a site that is so bad for contributors.  It must make the other subs sites wonder why they are paying us so much and stop them increasing commissions.  We end up losing even more money buy accepting such a bad deal.


 

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