Author Topic: where are you now with Stockxpert? does anyone knows anything? (Read 12086 times)

Squat · « **on:** July 07, 2009, 20:03 »

hokey, I was the one who posted the old thread on how cool and awesome StockXpert was, when I first got my feet wet in microstock. They were the best site for me, and I made no secret about it. Great reviewers, fast approval time, constructive helpful hints on rejected and resubmit. Then like some bad dream it became like a ghost town, and nobody knew what the heck was going on there. According to many, no response from even the moderators or people in the know.
I know this sounds like a frigging scratch vinyl, or some bad rap musicbox, but after what seemed to be a revival of hope with my best months in feb, march, and a bit of april, StockXpert sort of forgot about me all over again.
Does anyone have anything good to say about where we are heading with this site?
Are you still uploading to them? Did you get any response from Support?
Other than Getty's invitation to move our stuff to IS.

Let me know, anything goes... no holds barred...
get dirty, I don't care, just give me the goods...
thanks.

stockastic · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2009, 20:07 »

I'm one of the people whose views (and sales) on new images went to 0 back in February. I quit uploading at that time. Oddly enough, I do make a 30 cent sale every few weeks, on one of my older images.

So why haven't I just closed my account? Waiting for a miracle, I guess. But by now I'm pretty well convinced that the miracle isn't coming.

The weird thing has always been - some people continue to get views on new images, and make sales. But never any explanation for the 2 groups.

Enough is enough, I think it's time for me to pull the plug. It's just a distraction.

disorderly · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2009, 20:10 »

Still uploading, and still getting sales. I expect that to change when the partner program ends, at which point I'll decide if the minimal effort to upload and submit is no longer worth it.

Phil · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2009, 20:32 »

Still uploading and still slowly getting rising sales (bme about 2-3 months ago), it will be different once they pull the JI / photos.com stuff, but it will still be worth uploading to for me.

click_click · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2009, 20:48 »

Good as always. I'm pleased with the results.

Actually I got more credit sales directly through StockXpert so I'm confident that once the non-StockXpert-sub-deals are phased out my earning won't go dry.

I've heard they got something in the pipe. I wouldn't bet my life savings on it but I'm still optimistic that they will be around for a while.

microstockinsider · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2009, 22:32 »

yes, still uploading, but sales results are somewhat 'ordinary'. Once the jupiter sales drop off they will be half what they are now which is not so good. I think it's still worth it, and I get the feeling/have read that they are working on the site to upgrade things to getty standards. I got a load of empty review messages this morning which are new - hopefully they will eventually have something in them!

lurkertwo · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2009, 22:39 »

Quote from: click_click on July 07, 2009, 20:48

Good as always. I'm pleased with the results.

Same here. No complaints, roughly same income as Bigstock and Photolia, and not dying at all.

sharpshot · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2009, 22:55 »

I have good sales there but it isn't the same knowing that their new owners could do something to reduce my earnings again at any point. I think it was a bad move to stop the link with photos.com and jupiter. Bad decisions often lead to more bad decisions.

Clivia · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2009, 01:53 »

I have good sales there, and I make the most money from SX single sales, so the loss of the other two sites will not be a tragedy. New images are still very slow to get going, but not as slow as at istock. Perhaps because the volume is less. I still reach payout a few times a month, so I would miss them if they were not around.

RGebbiePhoto · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:20 »

The second time they stopped reporting income from JUI/Photos.com, we stopped subscription and affiliate sales.

Since then, we had views, but no sales for 2 months. Then, wonder of wonder, we sold 2 back to back for a staggering sum of $3 in our bank (I had just cashed out right before I disabled subs/affiliates). I was hoping this was going to start an upswing, however those lonely $3 are still just sitting there, mocking me.

My biggest question is, will they allow me to pull my $3 out when the site closes down? Or do I have to write it off like I did with LO.

No holds barred, right? I think most of you have it wrong. They sent us info on joining iStock, however there is going to be no bonus for moving from StockXpert to iStock. We still have to apply and follow their guidelines. No problem, we already have a port there. True, it's 1/5 the port I have at other places, but they know what their site sells, and I have to agree with them. Not every picture we make is suitable at every agency. But the part everyone has wrong is... they don't give a crap if our images are at Photos.com, because they are using that as a tool to appease their exclusives. Yes, the library will shrink considerably, but the NEW selling point will be that the photos were prior exclusive to iStock, and have not been seen on a different site before, so while they will have SOME files that will transfer straight over, they have tons more that have never been seen in that market. Face it, the photos that were on JUI/Photos.com were the same ones we put at ALL of our stock sites, so there was no real difference in their site. But now, with exclusive files, they have a fresh look.

StockXpert content is the same as all the other micros. And, frankly, that just won't do for Getty. So, IMHO I feel that, by the end of the year, StockXpert will be turned over as a raped and used shell of a company, and HAAP will have to put it back together again from scratch. And I'm just not sure most will be able to stick out the changeout.

Just my opinion, I have no inside info. Just going by what I've been seeing.

Gebbie

goldenangel · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:41 »

Still getting sales, BME in June. StockXpert has always been #3 or #4 site for me, on par with FT. It seems like there are more PPD sales now than a couple of months ago.

sharpshot · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:34 »

Quote from: RGebbiePhoto on July 08, 2009, 02:20

...But now, with exclusive files, they have a fresh look.

Perhaps not that fresh when when exclusives can only put on images older than 18 months and some of the top non-exclusives will lose the majority of their portfolios, if they agree to taking a commission cut. I also think lots of the exclusives wont bother when they see the low sales volume. Hopefully shutterstock will now look fresh to the photos.com buyers who can no longer find what they want.

grp_photo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:55 »

I'm still uploading my best stuff to them (even stuff I don't have on any other micros), I'm uploading to them first, and I even accepted subscription now. I have still good and strong sales with them and I want them to get stronger, if Getty will shut down the place I hope they will get some angry response from customers because of missing files. In my case they will loose over 5000 files that are not on Isuck and I guess I'm not the only one.

fotorob · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2009, 05:54 »

I had my BME in June there is well und July seems to be strong in sales so far. let's see how it develops...

Dreamframer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2009, 06:29 »

Still getting sales. I had very good last 3-4 months.

Squat · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2009, 07:38 »

Quote from: click_click on July 07, 2009, 20:48

Good as always. I'm pleased with the results.

Actually I got more credit sales directly through StockXpert so I'm confident that once the non-StockXpert-sub-deals are phased out my earning won't go dry.

I've heard they got something in the pipe. I wouldn't bet my life savings on it but I'm still optimistic that they will be around for a while.

I hope u r right. There was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel in the sense that after I decided to try uploading 4 or 5 new images, they got approved the same day. That was a welcome change for me at least after having my submissions sat weeks without review . Sales wise, I had good months a couple of months ago for 3 full months, then it dried up. Not sure if it had anything to do with the reshuffle between IS/StockXpert subs, but I like to think there is something in the pipe too.

astrocady · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2009, 08:27 »

I'm still uploading, for now.

My sales were good there before association with Photos & Jupiter. After that merger, my StockXpert sales all but stopped, but the subscription sale were fairly strong. Had a good spring with them, but have seen some slowdown since the whole getty/rape thing. Since it's been a LONG time since I"ve had an actual StockXpert sale, I expect the site to dry up once their images are removed from the photos & jupiter sites.

I just passed payout threshold yesterday, to I'm breathing a little easier. I won't cashout now -- will wait and see what happens after the "split" -- but at least I know I won't be stock with $48 in my account waiting and waiting and waiting for sales that don't come to push me over the threshold

gbcimages · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2009, 08:35 »

I opted out of JI and photos.com so I don't get any sales at all. I upload a photo once in a while there. Just kinda waiting to see if they do close the doors.

willie · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:39 »

Quote from: astrocady on July 08, 2009, 08:27

I'm still uploading, for now.

My sales were good there before association with Photos & Jupiter. After that merger, my StockXpert sales all but stopped, but the subscription sale were fairly strong. Had a good spring with them, but have seen some slowdown since the whole getty/rape thing. Since it's been a LONG time since I"ve had an actual StockXpert sale, I expect the site to dry up once their images are removed from the photos & jupiter sites.

I just passed payout threshold yesterday, to I'm breathing a little easier. I won't cashout now -- will wait and see what happens after the "split" -- but at least I know I won't be stock with $48 in my account waiting and waiting and waiting for sales that don't come to push me over the threshold

Good 2 know you reached payout. I'm almost there too, but * , even the subs have dried up for me.
One question for you, astro:
Why are you not cashing out? If something screwy happens (which I hope not, as I like StockXpert to revamp), you could wait forever to get paid. No?

PixelBytes · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:44 »

Quote from: fotorob on July 08, 2009, 05:54

I had my BME in June there is well und July seems to be strong in sales so far. let's see how it develops...

Me too, on both counts. Sales are great at StockXpert and partner sites too.

I keep hoping TPTB and Getty will change their mind and leave StockXpert images on the sub affiliate sites. If people aren't opted in through istock it would make more sense to leave things status quo rather than lose the content altogether, right?

gostwyck · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:52 »

Quote from: PixelBytes on July 08, 2009, 10:44

I keep hoping TPTB and Getty will change their mind and leave StockXpert images on the sub affiliate sites. If people aren't opted in through istock it would make more sense to leave things status quo rather than lose the content altogether, right?

It'll be interesting to see how JIU/PC customers react when those 3M images suddenly disappear even if they do get 1M IS images to replace them.

willie · « **Reply #21 on:** July 08, 2009, 11:00 »

Quote from: gostwyck on July 08, 2009, 10:52

It'll be interesting to see how JIU/PC customers react when those 3M images suddenly disappear even if they do get 1M IS images to replace them.

gostwyck, I get the feeling the buyers already grabbed all they wanted when the writing was on the wall . That sort of explained why many of us had our 3 best months , each group staggering with more subs downloads than ever before, than dead after that. Then another group is now having the same good 3 running months of sub downloads.
So maybe, the buyers are on the fly grabbing all they can from everyone before the hammer falls.
Just an educated guess.

PixelBytes · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2009, 11:34 »

Quote from: Perseus on July 08, 2009, 11:00

gostwyck, I get the feeling the buyers already grabbed all they wanted when the writing was on the wall . That sort of explained why many of us had our 3 best months , each group staggering with more subs downloads than ever before, than dead after that. Then another group is now having the same good 3 running months of sub downloads.
So maybe, the buyers are on the fly grabbing all they can from everyone before the hammer falls.
Just an educated guess.

That would make sense if the buyers were notified what's going on.

But given Getty's poor communication with buyers, it is possible many of them have no idea what's coming. In that case I bet Gostwyck is right and the sh*t will really hit the fan when 2/3 or more of the collection vanishes.

Anyone know if Jupiter and Photos buyers were contacted?

Squat · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2009, 17:54 »

Quote from: PixelBytes on July 08, 2009, 11:34

That would make sense if the buyers were notified what's going on.

But given Getty's poor communication with buyers, it is possible many of them have no idea what's coming. In that case I bet Gostwyck is right and the sh*t will really hit the fan when 2/3 or more of the collection vanishes.

Anyone know if Jupiter and Photos buyers were contacted?

Good question.

bad to the bone · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2009, 20:18 »

Buyers search images and not agencys. Still uploading at StockXpert, still it takes hours until review, still 100% acceptance and still sales every day. ...and still i'm glorify myself, if someone ask for it.

And still I'm into this: microagencies behave like blind persons. Anyone, nobody knows who, start anywhere at any time with the idea images have to be cheaper to gain sales. This idea was well, but it depends on licened images what can/could cost between 10.000 or 1.000 or 400$ depending on their use. Between 100 or 10 or 1 or 0.10$ there's no difference for advertising buyers. Maybee ther's a difference between 100 or 10$ for 10% of buyers but ther's no difference between 10 or 1$ and for shure no difference between 1 or 0,10$.

IS reject my images for good reason, they want to have them perfect. Therefor they offer me to pay me well and offer me a lot of buyers. StockXpert accept all my pictures and pay me well because my images are not perfect. StockXpert pay me less. But, that's a real natural way this business should go. If i take more time to do my pictures good enough for IS, i would be earn more but have to take more time do improve them. I don't see why Getty should close StockXpert. It's a good concept, if microstock will dissolut macrobusiness, IS is the market leader. For images what are cheaper and not on this level StockXpert is the second trade. But, changing trades from photos.com from StockXpert to IS was an error. They will be revoke this soon. Because it will damage the reputation of IS.

On every image i have to decide if it is worth for the complicate and high level orientated process to slip at my IS portfolio or if i just take the easy way to go at StockXpert. Most StockXpert is the winner, because i'm lazy....or, let me say impatient. And don't tell my there's a difference between an illustration or a foto. Waiting for a better light, walking around (don't use the zoom), return to the location at a better time and weather, change the models, change the cloth, change the light...perfection is allways a matter of patience (if know-how is your problem, don't measure with the pros)

astrocady · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2009, 08:56 »

Quote from: Perseus on July 08, 2009, 10:39

Good 2 know you reached payout. I'm almost there too, but * , even the subs have dried up for me.
One question for you, astro:
Why are you not cashing out? If something screwy happens (which I hope not, as I like StockXpert to revamp), you could wait forever to get paid. No?

I'm not cashing out, because I could get another $40 in sales between now and when StockXpert sales dry completely up. If I had cashed out, I would be in the dreaded position of waiting and waiting for the final $10 in sales that never comes.

It would be different is StockXpert was a ma and pa outfit, deeply in debt and being forced out of business by creditors. But I don't think Getty would deny its contributors payment once payment level is reached.

willie · « **Reply #26 on:** July 09, 2009, 09:16 »

Quote from: astrocady on July 09, 2009, 08:56

Quote from: Perseus on July 08, 2009, 10:39
Good 2 know you reached payout. I'm almost there too, but * , even the subs have dried up for me.
One question for you, astro:
Why are you not cashing out? If something screwy happens (which I hope not, as I like StockXpert to revamp), you could wait forever to get paid. No?

I'm not cashing out, because I could get another $40 in sales between now and when StockXpert sales dry completely up. If I had cashed out, I would be in the dreaded position of waiting and waiting for the final $10 in sales that never comes.

It would be different is StockXpert was a ma and pa outfit, deeply in debt and being forced out of business by creditors. But I don't think Getty would deny its contributors payment once payment level is reached.

Very smart. I must remember that, as I am almost close to payout . Like you, I will gather as much as I can while the harvesting lasts. Thanks for the hint. Congratualtions again!

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #27 on:** July 09, 2009, 12:30 »

Will keep uploading and hoping for the best. I haven't had a sale since opting out of subs. A long way from first payout. Only been there 3-4 months. My images are not on iStock, so, to me, it is just like before StockXpert offered subs. Was StockXpert in the Big Six before joining up (being eaten) by JUI and switching to subscription?
If so, why would we not expect the same after being turned off at JUI and Photos.com?

RacePhoto · « **Reply #28 on:** July 09, 2009, 15:08 »

When did it get shut off, or not yet? Just had a sale listed as "Photos.com subscription" on StockXpert?

PixelBytes · « **Reply #29 on:** July 09, 2009, 17:49 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on July 09, 2009, 15:08

When did it get shut off, or not yet? Just had a sale listed as "Photos.com subscription" on StockXpert?

Doesn't appear to have been turned off yet. I am getting more sales at Photos and Jupiter now than before the announcement our images would be pulled.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #30 on:** July 09, 2009, 18:13 »

If so, why would we not expect the same after being turned off at JUI and Photos.com?

Sorry if that part of my post was misleading. I didn't mean that the subs at JUI and Photos.com had been cut off. I was talking about WHEN they are cutoff... I think the projected date was August???

astrocady · « **Reply #31 on:** July 10, 2009, 08:36 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on July 09, 2009, 18:13

If so, why would we not expect the same after being turned off at JUI and Photos.com?

Sorry if that part of my post was misleading. I didn't mean that the subs at JUI and Photos.com had been cut off. I was talking about WHEN they are cutoff... I think the projected date was August???

I think that's the $64,000 question, Warren. Before the Jupiter buyout, I had reasonable pay-as-you-go StockXpert sales. Once they started posting the ports on the other sites, the StockXpert sales started to drop, and within about 2 months they stopped. At least for me.

The original "deal" for StockXpert contributors whose pix were being transferred to the other Jupiter sites was horrible. There was a revolt among contributors, so there was LOTS of chatter on forums. At that time the StockXpert forum was very active (not the case anymore), so perhaps the buyers found out they could buy the same pictures on the other Jupiter sites for bunches less. Don't know for sure why StockXpert direct sales dropped. All I know if I've had 1 in the last 3 months.

PixelBytes · « **Reply #32 on:** July 10, 2009, 12:10 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on July 09, 2009, 18:13

Sorry if that part of my post was misleading. I didn't mean that the subs at JUI and Photos.com had been cut off. I was talking about WHEN they are cutoff... I think the projected date was August???

I had thought they said they would be removing images over the course of July and expected to have them all off by August.

Judging from my sales and portfolio the process of removal hasn't started, so maybe I am misremembering about that...?

takestock · « **Reply #33 on:** July 10, 2009, 15:47 »

Quote from: disorderly on July 07, 2009, 20:10

Still uploading, and still getting sales. I expect that to change when the partner program ends, at which point I'll decide if the minimal effort to upload and submit is no longer worth it.

Same here - Still uploading and getting regualr sales - 6 today in all ( 1 jupiter,the rest StockXpert)
Can't complain!

cathyslife · « **Reply #34 on:** July 22, 2009, 11:02 »

I'm still uploading and sales are about the same, maybe slight increase. In July, about half of my sales were StockXpert ppd and the other half split between photos.com and JUI.

puravida · « **Reply #35 on:** July 22, 2009, 13:48 »

I think StockXpert has forgotten my portfolio existed. I am thinking of deleting my account. I wonder if they would give me my money even though I am about 10 bucks shy of payout. Any ideas?

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #36 on:** July 22, 2009, 14:50 »

I was getting concerned. Had not had a sale since opting out of subs (again), but had a payperdownload today. They may not be paying but they're still collecting. $:-\$

disorderly · « **Reply #37 on:** July 22, 2009, 14:55 »

I'm on target for a BME and a third place finish behind SS and iStock. Granted, that'll chance when the subs move over to iStock, but there may be some life in the old site yet.

massman · « **Reply #38 on:** July 22, 2009, 14:55 »

StockXpert has done well for me this month (and last month), they are ahead of IS and a tad behind SS in $$.

stockastic · « **Reply #39 on:** July 22, 2009, 15:17 »

Nothing. No views, no sales, for weeks on end.

Phil · « **Reply #40 on:** July 22, 2009, 16:49 »

had bme in may, 2nd best last month, this month is half way in between so far, with the rise towards the end of the month I'm hoping to do better than may.

corepics · « **Reply #41 on:** July 22, 2009, 18:28 »

Sales are still good on StockXpert for me. Review of new images continues to be speedy, which indicates they're still alive, and have the intention of continuing after the JUI and photos deal ends.

What worries me more, is that support is completely unreachable. The only way to contact them is through a web form. (no phone numbers, nor email addresses listed anywhere, as far as I've looked) I've sent a few tickets 7 months ago, without answer. Although I can't retrace my steps now, I recently filed another one concerning a license agreement infringement, and after submitting that one, I ended op on the thank-you page with a message informing me, that I can also contact StockXpert[at]istockphoto.com.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #42 on:** July 22, 2009, 18:46 »

Quote from: taglist on July 22, 2009, 18:28

Sales are still good on StockXpert for me. Review of new images continues to be speedy, which indicates they're still alive, and have the intention of continuing after the JUI and photos deal ends.

What worries me more, is that support is completely unreachable. The only way to contact them is through a web form. (no phone numbers, nor email addresses listed anywhere, as far as I've looked) I've sent a few tickets 7 months ago, without answer. Although I can't retrace my steps now, I recently filed another one concerning a license agreement infringement, and after submitting that one, I ended op on the thank-you page with a message informing me, that I can also contact StockXpert[at]istockphoto.com.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....that last sentence is VERY interesting. I'm sure there is some kind of magic going on. I just had an entire batch rejected for "Poor Lighting." There were rejected before I could go from upload to editing categories. I don't think they were there long enough to see the light. LOL

Does anyone know if Stu99 is an admin at StockXpert? He's the only one who seems to have any answers???