MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => GLStock => Topic started by: niserin on October 17, 2018, 05:54

Title: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: niserin on October 17, 2018, 05:54
Hi,

I have $27 of Unpaid earnings. I didn't have any sale since March 2017, so I in recent weeks I have been trying to request payment and close the account. Despite sending a few e-mails I didn't receive any response.

Has anyone had any luck getting a payout from them ? What can I legally do to request payout and close the account ?

Thanks!
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: stockastic on October 28, 2018, 15:04
Any news on this?

I guess it's time to bail out - I'd rather not leave my images laying around on old hard drives. Has anyone been able to get closure?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: nobody on October 28, 2018, 16:29
Hi,

I have $27 of Unpaid earnings. I didn't have any sale since March 2017, so I in recent weeks I have been trying to request payment and close the account. Despite sending a few e-mails I didn't receive any response.

Has anyone had any luck getting a payout from them ? What can I legally do to request payout and close the account ?

Thanks!

Minimum payout is $50... 8)
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: noodle on October 28, 2018, 16:54
More importantly....
You mean you reached payout?!
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: niserin on October 29, 2018, 06:43
Any news on this?

I guess it's time to bail out - I'd rather not leave my images laying around on old hard drives. Has anyone been able to get closure?

Still no luck on this.

No idea what I can do.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: obj owl on October 29, 2018, 09:58
Any news on this?

I guess it's time to bail out - I'd rather not leave my images laying around on old hard drives. Has anyone been able to get closure?

Still no luck on this.

No idea what I can do.

"GLStock will pay to you amounts earned as a Seller and Referral Commissions earned by you in accordance with clause 18 subject to the following conditions:

    If you have earned more than $50.00 in your account, then GLStock will pay a minimum of $50.00 through a Payment Agent (and in no other manner).
    Other than as provided for in clause 13, GLStock will not pay any earnings or Referral Commissions standing to your credit in your Member Account which are less than $50.00 in total but you may use this to buy Images."

https://glstock.com/member-agreement
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: stockastic on October 29, 2018, 15:24
Back when I was actually doing microstock, I always worried about giving my then-current images to small startups, because if they don't make it they could end up selling off assets which might include hard drives full of photos.  GL is the only one I stuck with and today, it's the only stock agency besides Alamy where I still have an account.

As long as the new owner kept posting here, I figured there might be hope for reviving the agency, and I had nothing to lose by leaving a few hundred old photos there.

I guess that was a bad idea, I should have followed my original instincts and not left photos with an agency that clearly wasn't going anywhere.  Now I'd be happy to just get my account closed. Of course that's no guarantee that files actually get erased, but it's all we can do..
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Me on October 30, 2018, 00:25
It took me years to reach payout, after requesting $57 (I think it was) it then took them 5 months to pay me - after I eventually threatened legal action! Immediately closed my account after payout.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: derek on October 30, 2018, 02:24
The concept of GL was actually brilliant! but leftovers aimed towards advertising and designers they chose micro which was totally wrong. They should have gone the RM/RF way instead!
I know these guys very well and theyre a clever bunch but unfortunately when they started micro was already on a decline!
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 30, 2018, 03:19
The concept of GL was actually brilliant! but leftovers aimed towards advertising and designers they chose micro which was totally wrong. They should have gone the RM/RF way instead!
I know these guys very well and theyre a clever bunch but unfortunately when they started micro was already on a decline!
Not actually that clever then if they made a fundamental business mistake  ???
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: derek on October 30, 2018, 07:56
The concept of GL was actually brilliant! but leftovers aimed towards advertising and designers they chose micro which was totally wrong. They should have gone the RM/RF way instead!
I know these guys very well and theyre a clever bunch but unfortunately when they started micro was already on a decline!
Not actually that clever then if they made a fundamental business mistake  ???

Nope! they are not your run of the mill owners, I know them personally and they have tons of knowledge in the ad-world, art-direction etc, etc....its like the guys of Stockxpert, one of the best agencies ever in its time then bought by Isock and it went to crap!....then these guys opened up stockfresh or something and it just never got off the ground.

Paws!!  hehe! you dont know EVERYTHING you see, you have to know the actual people in question!! ;)
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: YadaYadaYada on October 30, 2018, 08:52
The concept of GL was actually brilliant! but leftovers aimed towards advertising and designers they chose micro which was totally wrong. They should have gone the RM/RF way instead!
I know these guys very well and theyre a clever bunch but unfortunately when they started micro was already on a decline!
Not actually that clever then if they made a fundamental business mistake  ???

Nope! they are not your run of the mill owners, I know them personally and they have tons of knowledge in the ad-world, art-direction etc, etc....its like the guys of Stockxpert, one of the best agencies ever in its time then bought by Isock and it went to crap!....then these guys opened up stockfresh or something and it just never got off the ground.

Paws!!  hehe! you dont know EVERYTHING you see, you have to know the actual people in question!! ;)

Knowing somebody doesn't make you smarter or more right about their business.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: stockastic on October 30, 2018, 10:02
Yesterday I emailed GL (the support address) asking them to close my account - to my surprise I got a reply today saying it was closed and the images deleted.  So it looks like right now, someone is actively running the site and responding to email.   

They won't miss me, I hadn't had a sale in many months and most of my images were several years old.   
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: dpimborough on October 30, 2018, 16:25
Yesterday I emailed GL (the support address) asking them to close my account - to my surprise I got a reply today saying it was closed and the images deleted.  So it looks like right now, someone is actively running the site and responding to email.   

They won't miss me, I hadn't had a sale in many months and most of my images were several years old.

Are they paying any money they owe you?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: stockastic on October 30, 2018, 19:42
Yesterday I emailed GL (the support address) asking them to close my account - to my surprise I got a reply today saying it was closed and the images deleted.  So it looks like right now, someone is actively running the site and responding to email.   

They won't miss me, I hadn't had a sale in many months and most of my images were several years old.

Are they paying any money they owe you?

My balance was shown as 0.  I think that's correct, didn't bother to check.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: GLStock on November 08, 2018, 11:39
The site is of course being actively run.  I have not had time to actively post here or work on any significant changes to the site, but we make all payments that are requested once meeting our $50 threshold.

@ Niserin, please PM me your username or email address and I will look into your request.  It's possible that since this post we've already addressed it, but I am not finding a username under "niserin" so unsure of your account credentials with us.

@ Me - I'm sorry to hear that, under my ownership I have paid out all payments requested in a timely manner.  I don't imagine that was any time recent, but I'm happy to discuss further.

@ Stocktastic, I'm sorry to see any contributor account go, but being realistic with the nature of sales volume for many contributors, I of course understand it.  I welcome all contributors to continue uploading, or to keep their portfolios on account.  At the end of the day, even when an image doesn't sell, we incur costs of hosting the images, but that is not necessarily a reflection of the contributors work.

If anybody has any questions, you can always email me at [email protected].  I receive the emails directly to my phone and always try to respond same day.

Thanks,

Phil Shapiro
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Noedelhap on November 08, 2018, 12:02
The site is of course being actively run.  I have not had time to actively post here or work on any significant changes to the site, but we make all payments that are requested once meeting our $50 threshold.

@ Niserin, please PM me your username or email address and I will look into your request.  It's possible that since this post we've already addressed it, but I am not finding a username under "niserin" so unsure of your account credentials with us.

@ Me - I'm sorry to hear that, under my ownership I have paid out all payments requested in a timely manner.  I don't imagine that was any time recent, but I'm happy to discuss further.

@ Stocktastic, I'm sorry to see any contributor account go, but being realistic with the nature of sales volume for many contributors, I of course understand it.  I welcome all contributors to continue uploading, or to keep their portfolios on account.  At the end of the day, even when an image doesn't sell, we incur costs of hosting the images, but that is not necessarily a reflection of the contributors work.

If anybody has any questions, you can always email me at [email protected].  I receive the emails directly to my phone and always try to respond same day.

Thanks,

Phil Shapiro

Just to make sure, outstanding royalties will be paid out upon account closure, even when the $50 minimum isn't met?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: THP Creative on July 30, 2019, 09:09
I have also tried contacting them and have not received a reply. Had the same question, have been waiting to hit payout threshold to leave, but haven't had a sale there in over a year.

Anyone else gotten in contact with them recently?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on July 30, 2019, 14:12
I haven't tried contacting them, but I have a $20.80 balance sitting there with no new sales in nearly 2 years (but I stopped uploading there when sales stopped).

I was sort of hoping that if they shut down they'd pay their balances owed - it's not our fault their site is moribund and they should just pay us our earnings and shut up shop if they aren't going to actively manage the site.

They've been able to hang on to all those earnings for all those who haven't met the payout threshold - money in the bank for them to offset their operating expenses even if they aren't doing much beyond keeping the site up.

How about changing your policy on payout of balances to those closing accounts? Or reducing the threshold to $5 (to avoid nuisance payments for a few cents)?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: mj007 on July 31, 2019, 15:27
My balance is 33 bucks. I have made 2 dollars this year. So in maybe 10-13 years I will reach payout. Not sure I will even be on this earth by that time. Maybe I can donate the balance to my creditors then.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Chichikov on August 02, 2019, 05:09
Same for me, my balance sticks at $26 since 2017...... no sign of life (and no sign of death too)

Edit
In fact no, I have got one sale (hallelujah!)

(https://i.postimg.cc/vZ6ZZ4Kf/Scr-2019-08-02-at-13-11-08.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: THP Creative on August 02, 2019, 08:49
I can see this going the way of so many other agencies....

One day you try to login and the site (and remaining royalties) are simply gone.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: THP Creative on August 02, 2019, 11:55
UPDATE: Just got an email from Phil from GL, my outstanding royalties were paid just now despite being under the threshold, and account should be closed soon.

Thank you Phil if you read this.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: PokemonMaster on December 04, 2019, 01:11
I had a payout this year without a problem. Surprisingly, I had 3 sales right after this. So, I am not sure, should I run next year, or abandon it, or stay.
But, what I really don't like right now, is that I wrote a letter to support two weeks ago. A simple yes/no question. And I see no answer at all.

PS: Wow, I see 5 sales already by now! They don't send notifications anymore.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Mimi the Cat on December 04, 2019, 03:55
I've emailed them ([email protected])twice over the last month and had no reply.

No sales for 2 years.

Of course their terms and conditions say if you close your account your forfeit all earnings under the $50 threshold :(

I was rather hoping to get the $30 on my account  :-\
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: ppdd on December 04, 2019, 10:46
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: THP Creative on December 04, 2019, 11:02
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.

Where did you see this?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Mantis on December 07, 2019, 20:24
The site is of course being actively run.  I have not had time to actively post here or work on any significant changes to the site, but we make all payments that are requested once meeting our $50 threshold.

@ Niserin, please PM me your username or email address and I will look into your request.  It's possible that since this post we've already addressed it, but I am not finding a username under "niserin" so unsure of your account credentials with us.

@ Me - I'm sorry to hear that, under my ownership I have paid out all payments requested in a timely manner.  I don't imagine that was any time recent, but I'm happy to discuss further.

@ Stocktastic, I'm sorry to see any contributor account go, but being realistic with the nature of sales volume for many contributors, I of course understand it.  I welcome all contributors to continue uploading, or to keep their portfolios on account.  At the end of the day, even when an image doesn't sell, we incur costs of hosting the images, but that is not necessarily a reflection of the contributors work.

If anybody has any questions, you can always email me at [email protected].  I receive the emails directly to my phone and always try to respond same day.

Thanks,

Phil Shapiro

Absolute joke. Your site generated maybe $3 to $5 a month, so an average portfolio size of 3,000 has to wait for 10-17 months to make payout.  I get it that others' mileage may vary but the relativeness of my post is the point I'm making.  This is why I bailed. 
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: georgep7 on December 08, 2019, 05:51
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.

Where did you see this?

"Glstock is for sale" google returned result #4 under #3 that is acually another MSG thread :P

https://flippa.com/10338282-11-year-old-stock-photo-marketplace-w-over-3-million-high-quality-stock-images
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Mimi the Cat on December 08, 2019, 06:06
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.

Where did you see this?

"Glstock is for sale" google returned result #4 under #3 that is acually another MSG thread :P

https://flippa.com/10338282-11-year-old-stock-photo-marketplace-w-over-3-million-high-quality-stock-images

Net profit $173 p/m???

We'll never get to a payout then :(
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Uncle Pete on December 08, 2019, 08:49
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.

Where did you see this?

"Glstock is for sale" google returned result #4 under #3 that is acually another MSG thread :P

https://flippa.com/10338282-11-year-old-stock-photo-marketplace-w-over-3-million-high-quality-stock-images

Net profit $173 p/m???

We'll never get to a payout then :(

Auction: Starting price
$5,000 USD
12 days left
Reserve not met

            Revenue    Costs    Profit
Nov 18    $2,520    $1,827    $693
Dec 18    $1,605    $1,592    $13
Jan 19    $1,195    $1,341    -$146
Feb 19    $1,565    $1,215    $350
Mar 19    $1,745    $1,013    $732
Apr 19    $1,380    $1,293    $87
May 19    $1,910    $1,268    $642
Jun 19    $1,625    $1,535    $90
Jul 19    $1,655    $1,988    -$333
Aug 19    $2,085    $1,486    $599
Sep 19    $1,580    $1,769    -$189
Oct 19    $1,315    $1,772    -$457

Here's your chance, all the people who want to run their own stock site and know how to do it better. You can own one that's established and operating.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: THP Creative on December 08, 2019, 12:35
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.

Where did you see this?

"Glstock is for sale" google returned result #4 under #3 that is acually another MSG thread :P

https://flippa.com/10338282-11-year-old-stock-photo-marketplace-w-over-3-million-high-quality-stock-images

Net profit $173 p/m???

We'll never get to a payout then :(

Wow. The new owners didn't last long.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: georgep7 on December 08, 2019, 12:57
Quote
Here's your chance, all the people who want to run their own stock site and know how to do it better. You can own one that's established and operating.

There is this for-kids story when mouses decided to hang a bell to the cat so that they know when she approach. But no one volunteered to be the one to hang the bell to the cat :P
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Desintegrator on December 08, 2019, 12:57
i've requested payout. Nothing happened, just the "Request payout" button disappeared. Is that normal?  Should i just wait?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Hannafate on December 09, 2019, 10:32
You may have to get aggressive to get paid.

GLstock is apparently owned by one person, who also has a day job.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Uncle Pete on December 10, 2019, 11:14
Only ten shopping days left and the reserve has not been met @ $5,000. Come on, someone here must have $5,000 to buy a working agency and show us how to do it right? Start with 50% commission because at 40% GL is going broke. LOL  ;D
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: noodle on December 10, 2019, 11:21
You mean you can’t just sit back and watch the profits roll in?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Uncle Pete on December 10, 2019, 11:34
You mean you can’t just sit back and watch the profits roll in?

Of course, it's like a sailboat, or an expensive new car.  ;D How do you make $1 million dollars in the stock photo business? Start with $2 Million dollars.

Here's the plan. We all get together, sell shares in the GLstock company, then buy it. Anyone here can buy a share for $100 (or more shares) that's what? 50 investors? Then every year, the profits are divided equally to investors, according to the number of shares owned. Every share holder must work 175 hours a year on the site to earn their share dividend.

See easy, no employees, the business is run my the co-op of share holders, and the profits shared equally.

In the case of a loss, all share holders can buy more stock... and so on.  ::)

Buy It Now!
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: georgep7 on December 10, 2019, 12:36
Only ten shopping days left and the reserve has not been met @ $5,000. Come on, someone here must have $5,000 to buy a working agency and show us how to do it right? Start with 50% commission because at 40% GL is going broke. LOL  ;D

Here is a question. Why don't any other  agencies buy it? Migrating libraries dificulties, previous pending financial issues or just similar content? Even the glamorous "dear customer now GLStock is part of our growing family... Blah blah blah..." worths the five thousand dollars. It actually costs less than a full advertising campaign in some cases.

?
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: charged on December 10, 2019, 14:08
Only ten shopping days left and the reserve has not been met @ $5,000. Come on, someone here must have $5,000 to buy a working agency and show us how to do it right? Start with 50% commission because at 40% GL is going broke. LOL  ;D

Here is a question. Why don't any other  agencies buy it? Migrating libraries dificulties, previous pending financial issues or just similar content? Even the glamorous "dear customer now GLStock is part of our growing family... Blah blah blah..." worths the five thousand dollars. It actually costs less than a full advertising campaign in some cases.

?

As a company that basically makes no money, it isn't worth anything. But to replicate all the work that has gone into it is worth more than $5,000. If I knew how to code, I'd buy it. But not knowing how to code makes it kind of useless to me. I did take a look at their images online and the selection isn't that great. My guess is that without exclusive content, there is no way for GLStock to compete. It is too small and thus worth nothing.
Title: Re: GLStock does not pay ?
Post by: Uncle Pete on December 11, 2019, 10:28
Only ten shopping days left and the reserve has not been met @ $5,000. Come on, someone here must have $5,000 to buy a working agency and show us how to do it right? Start with 50% commission because at 40% GL is going broke. LOL  ;D

Here is a question. Why don't any other  agencies buy it? Migrating libraries dificulties, previous pending financial issues or just similar content? Even the glamorous "dear customer now GLStock is part of our growing family... Blah blah blah..." worths the five thousand dollars. It actually costs less than a full advertising campaign in some cases.

?

As a company that basically makes no money, it isn't worth anything. But to replicate all the work that has gone into it is worth more than $5,000. If I knew how to code, I'd buy it. But not knowing how to code makes it kind of useless to me. I did take a look at their images online and the selection isn't that great. My guess is that without exclusive content, there is no way for GLStock to compete. It is too small and thus worth nothing.

Wouldn't the price include the domain name and all assets? ie the software code? And all assets could include all debt, like money owed to artists. I think it's a big risk, liability and (https://i.postimg.cc/QxNFsBSL/canofworms.gif)

But to answer George_ further, the images are all the same as on many other sites, no value to buy something that any marginal agency, and every big agency probably already has. Most of the smaller, dying, agencies have pretty much nothing to offer that can't be found on most other agencies. Buyers can find the same images anywhere.

So for $5,000 someone would get, the code and the domain name, the debt and nothing much of value. The stock image assets are a common commodity at this stage in the business.