Author Topic: 123RF sales stopped. (Read 25422 times)

FHphotography · « **on:** August 21, 2023, 05:36 »

Hi!
I had sales there every day and the sales just stopped on August 14. They had some sort of error I think last year.
How are your sales? Is it just my problem.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2023, 05:54 »

I mentioned in another thread I had a portfolio glitch a few years ago and sales have plummeted since (literally more than 10 fold). Their IT support absolutely sucks. Raise a ticket with them if you like, but be ready for them to lose it repeatedly and have to start from scratch every few weeks.

MotionDesign · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2023, 10:45 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on August 21, 2023, 05:54

I mentioned in another thread I had a portfolio glitch a few years ago and sales have plummeted since (literally more than 10 fold). Their IT support absolutely sucks. Raise a ticket with them if you like, but be ready for them to lose it repeatedly and have to start from scratch every few weeks.

me too (it was in 2018). Never recovered the loss, despite the help of support. I think i'll close my account before the end of the year.
The support confirmed the glitch, most of my portfolio was (and is) 'invisible'.

FHphotography · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2023, 11:38 »

Do you have sales right now?

MotionDesign · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2023, 11:58 »

some sale here and there

2018 (before the glitch) $ 150/200 month
2023 $ 7/15 month

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2023, 00:17 »

Quote from: MotionDesign on August 21, 2023, 10:45

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on August 21, 2023, 05:54
I mentioned in another thread I had a portfolio glitch a few years ago and sales have plummeted since (literally more than 10 fold). Their IT support absolutely sucks. Raise a ticket with them if you like, but be ready for them to lose it repeatedly and have to start from scratch every few weeks.

me too (it was in 2018). Never recovered the loss, despite the help of support. I think i'll close my account before the end of the year.
The support confirmed the glitch, most of my portfolio was (and is) 'invisible'.

I think that was around the same time as mine!

pancaketom · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2023, 01:43 »

I remember one time a while ago (some time after 2015 but before 2020) trying to figure out how many pics I had at 123RF and only about half of them showed up in search. I think they fixed that eventually, but really ever since they promised a doubling of sales (when they cut our take significantly) they have just been going downhill. They are a shadow of their former self, and I should probably just figure out how to delete my port and close it.

Don't even get me started on their pathetic contributor portal - so many problems with it.

zebra007 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2023, 02:35 »

me too.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2023, 03:12 »

Quote from: pancaketom on August 22, 2023, 01:43

I remember one time a while ago (some time after 2015 but before 2020) trying to figure out how many pics I had at 123RF and only about half of them showed up in search. I think they fixed that eventually, but really ever since they promised a doubling of sales (when they cut our take significantly) they have just been going downhill. They are a shadow of their former self, and I should probably just figure out how to delete my port and close it.

Don't even get me started on their pathetic contributor portal - so many problems with it.

Even some of my images that did appear in searches would only display a broken link if you followed the thumbnail. Now I don't know how much of my drop in sales in because buyers can't see or buy my images, and how much is because buyers have stopped visiting the site altogether due to the bugs!

Sebastian Radu · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2023, 04:10 »

For me even the sales on SS have stopped for a few days... I have never had anything like this happen before. Augus in general is a slow sales month but it seemed like it wasn't quite like this.

The only place I can see sales is Adobe... For now at least...

$:-\$

KimC · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2023, 07:50 »

My sales on 123RF have also become very low since the start of this year. My portfolio seems to be there, but the whole site is so buggy and appears to be made by amateurs. I think 123RF is a candidate for bankrupcy, or being "obtained" by shitterstock.

FHphotography · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2023, 14:52 »

Quote from: zebra007 on August 22, 2023, 02:35

me too.

Ooh, this looks bad

. Now to think of it...mine is similar.

biibii · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2023, 16:29 »

was ok until 2020, now in 2023 around 10% of 2020

Wilm · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2023, 15:24 »

123rf has been dead for a few years. I have almost no downloads anymore. Either nothing is bought there anymore - then they'll go bankrupt soon and close up store, or they continue to sell and don't pass it on to us. It is no longer comprehensible for the contributors anyway.

stocky · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2023, 15:53 »

Just a steady decline over the years. I no longer send anything to them, waste of time.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2023, 05:00 »

Quote from: pancaketom on August 22, 2023, 01:43

I remember one time a while ago (some time after 2015 but before 2020) trying to figure out how many pics I had at 123RF and only about half of them showed up in search. I think they fixed that eventually, but really ever since they promised a doubling of sales (when they cut our take significantly) they have just been going downhill. They are a shadow of their former self, and I should probably just figure out how to delete my port and close it.

Don't even get me started on their pathetic contributor portal - so many problems with it.

They noticed a drop in sales, cut our commissions to stay afloat and then sales dwindled even further. They'll never recover from this: too much competition and 123RF has nothing unique to offer to customers.

DiscreetDuck · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2023, 08:28 »

123rf: from more than $200 sometimes to less than $5 everytime, by month.

hatman12 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2023, 20:11 »

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on August 25, 2023, 08:28

123rf: from more than $200 sometimes to less than $5 everytime, by month.

Same here.

JustAnImage · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2023, 05:26 »

It seems to me that I am one of the few for whom this is developing the other way around.
Since 2023, the revenues are getting better - we are not talking about huge amounts, but maybe $250 a year, but the trend is upwards.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2023, 06:22 »

Quote from: JustAnImage on August 26, 2023, 05:26

It seems to me that I am one of the few for whom this is developing the other way around.
Since 2023, the revenues are getting better - we are not talking about huge amounts, but maybe $250 a year, but the trend is upwards.

Nice. I saw 123RF growing consistently for years. When other people were complaining about falling sales I was in your position. It was only after the glitch that my sales plumeted. This isn't a theory in my case. Buyers literally couldn't see my work in detail or know they were going to get the file if they tried to buy it because thumbnails were leading to blank pages for half my portfolio, and all my best sellers.

Their tech support really is almost non-existent. I tried for years to get it sorted and they would constantly "lose" the ticket each time when I got back to them after several weeks. By the time that was more less sorted I had new glitch. Going through the same nonsense with them again now.

Mantis · « **Reply #20 on:** August 26, 2023, 07:55 »

Quote from: hatman12 on August 25, 2023, 20:11

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on August 25, 2023, 08:28
123rf: from more than $200 sometimes to less than $5 everytime, by month.

Same here.

That was me two months ago. I then deleted every image and video manually, then closed my account. I might have let the account go just to see what might happen in the future (such as 123 being bought and the content used elsewhere on a platform I'm not on), but since they rewrote their guidelines that they can use any of our assets to train AI with zero compensation to the contributor whose image they used, I said enough. Closed my account, but before I did I had a few very choice email exchanges with them. Yes, I felt better, but man I lost $3 a month.

Squaro · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2023, 03:53 »

Hi,
I have a portfolio of 1000 images at 123rf. I've had regular sales, small amounts since I signed up. But for the past 3 months I've noticed a drop in sales, especially since June $:-\$ . I asked the site if my portfolio was still visible and they said it was.
But by doing my own research, I may have found the reason for this drop in sales. Since June, 123rf has implemented an AI-assisted search. And in the search bar, AI search is activated by default. I compared a keyword search with and without AI, and found that my images completely disappeared from the results with a search WITH AI! My best-selling images are no longer visible even after 20 pages of results...
A search without AI brings them back, but not as well as before!

I wonder if some of you could do some research along these lines and see if it's the same for you?

Noedelhap · « **Reply #22 on:** November 29, 2023, 15:08 »

They are currently putting all their money on AI and promoting AI content, so expect your non-AI portfolios to lose more and more exposure.

123RF is desperately trying to stay relevant. They failed at selling our usual content in the past couple of years and now hope to regain market share by focusing on AI; the irony is that they'll struggle all the same because their competitors are also allowing AI content. They won't last.

Big Money · « **Reply #23 on:** November 29, 2023, 22:19 »

Quote from: Noedelhap on November 29, 2023, 15:08

They are currently putting all their money on AI and promoting AI content, so expect your non-AI portfolios to lose more and more exposure.

123RF is desperately trying to stay relevant. They failed at selling our usual content in the past couple of years and now hope to regain market share by focusing on AI; the irony is that they'll struggle all the same because their competitors are also allowing AI content. They won't last.

Well stated!

stoker2014 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 30, 2023, 14:12 »

Does anyone upload videos to an FTP server?

dk · « **Reply #25 on:** November 30, 2023, 15:20 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on November 30, 2023, 14:12

Does anyone upload videos to an FTP server?

They stopped accepting video a couple of years ago.

trek · « **Reply #26 on:** November 30, 2023, 15:59 »

Quote from: dk on November 30, 2023, 15:20

Quote from: stoker2014 on November 30, 2023, 14:12
Does anyone upload videos to an FTP server?

They stopped accepting video a couple of years ago.

Not surprised my 1200 videos have made almost $7- this year.

trek · « **Reply #27 on:** November 30, 2023, 15:59 »

Quote from: trek on November 30, 2023, 15:59

Quote from: dk on November 30, 2023, 15:20
Quote from: stoker2014 on November 30, 2023, 14:12
Does anyone upload videos to an FTP server?

They stopped accepting video a couple of years ago.

Not surprised, my 1200 videos have only made $7- this year. Might as well remove them.

Kamran · « **Reply #28 on:** December 06, 2023, 09:34 »

Same here.

Wilm · « **Reply #29 on:** December 06, 2023, 10:30 »

For me, that used to be $100 a month. Now I'm at $3.60.
They won't survive much longer either - I'm absolutely sure of that!

Big Money · « **Reply #30 on:** December 06, 2023, 11:31 »

My monthly income is $0.00 because I closed my account and removed all my images!

stoker2014 · « **Reply #31 on:** December 06, 2023, 11:57 »

123 accepts video. FTP upload works. But there are problems with loading, they changed the interface.

Infinity · « **Reply #32 on:** February 23, 2024, 02:26 »

Hi there!
Do you think it's worth starting your 123rf adventure in 2024? I'm a fairly successful contributor on Adobe Stock where my monthly revenue is between $2,000 and $3,000 and my portfolio is 35k images. I'm wondering if it's worth putting my entire portfolio on 123rf and to start uploading there on a regular basis?

I also noticed that they offer PREMIUM or PREMIUM+PLUS sales - which option is better according to your experience?

Diana Herrmann · « **Reply #33 on:** February 26, 2024, 09:20 »

Quote from: Infinity on February 23, 2024, 02:26

Hi there!
Do you think it's worth starting your 123rf adventure in 2024? I'm a fairly successful contributor on Adobe Stock where my monthly revenue is between $2,000 and $3,000 and my portfolio is 35k images. I'm wondering if it's worth putting my entire portfolio on 123rf and to start uploading there on a regular basis?

I also noticed that they offer PREMIUM or PREMIUM+PLUS sales - which option is better according to your experience?

No

Deyan Georgiev Photography · « **Reply #34 on:** February 26, 2024, 11:11 »

Quote from: Diana Herrmann on February 26, 2024, 09:20

Quote from: Infinity on February 23, 2024, 02:26
Hi there!
Do you think it's worth starting your 123rf adventure in 2024? I'm a fairly successful contributor on Adobe Stock where my monthly revenue is between $2,000 and $3,000 and my portfolio is 35k images. I'm wondering if it's worth putting my entire portfolio on 123rf and to start uploading there on a regular basis?

I also noticed that they offer PREMIUM or PREMIUM+PLUS sales - which option is better according to your experience?
No

If you do not need additional $100-$200 than do not submit.

Stock4Me · « **Reply #35 on:** February 27, 2024, 07:20 »

Quote from: Deyan Georgiev Photography on February 26, 2024, 11:11

Quote from: Diana Herrmann on February 26, 2024, 09:20
Quote from: Infinity on February 23, 2024, 02:26
Hi there!
Do you think it's worth starting your 123rf adventure in 2024? I'm a fairly successful contributor on Adobe Stock where my monthly revenue is between $2,000 and $3,000 and my portfolio is 35k images. I'm wondering if it's worth putting my entire portfolio on 123rf and to start uploading there on a regular basis?

I also noticed that they offer PREMIUM or PREMIUM+PLUS sales - which option is better according to your experience?
No

If you do not need additional $100-$200 than do not submit.

Is that every 5 years? Will 123 be in business in 5 years?

Deyan Georgiev Photography · « **Reply #36 on:** February 27, 2024, 10:24 »

Quote from: Stock4Me on February 27, 2024, 07:20

Quote from: Deyan Georgiev Photography on February 26, 2024, 11:11
Quote from: Diana Herrmann on February 26, 2024, 09:20
Quote from: Infinity on February 23, 2024, 02:26
Hi there!
Do you think it's worth starting your 123rf adventure in 2024? I'm a fairly successful contributor on Adobe Stock where my monthly revenue is between $2,000 and $3,000 and my portfolio is 35k images. I'm wondering if it's worth putting my entire portfolio on 123rf and to start uploading there on a regular basis?

I also noticed that they offer PREMIUM or PREMIUM+PLUS sales - which option is better according to your experience?
No

If you do not need additional $100-$200 than do not submit.
Is that every 5 years? Will 123 be in business in 5 years?

No, that is for every month and in accordance of the monthly income and portfolio mentioned above. Ofcourse not every portfolio can make such amounts.

alan b traehern · « **Reply #37 on:** March 04, 2024, 11:09 »

Quote from: Deyan Georgiev Photography on February 27, 2024, 10:24

Quote from: Stock4Me on February 27, 2024, 07:20
Quote from: Deyan Georgiev Photography on February 26, 2024, 11:11
Quote from: Diana Herrmann on February 26, 2024, 09:20
Quote from: Infinity on February 23, 2024, 02:26
Hi there!
Do you think it's worth starting your 123rf adventure in 2024? I'm a fairly successful contributor on Adobe Stock where my monthly revenue is between $2,000 and $3,000 and my portfolio is 35k images. I'm wondering if it's worth putting my entire portfolio on 123rf and to start uploading there on a regular basis?

I also noticed that they offer PREMIUM or PREMIUM+PLUS sales - which option is better according to your experience?
No

If you do not need additional $100-$200 than do not submit.
Is that every 5 years? Will 123 be in business in 5 years?

No, that is for every month and in accordance of the monthly income and portfolio mentioned above. Ofcourse not every portfolio can make such amounts.

If we believe the poll here that shows $15 a month, there must be many who don't come near $100-$200 a month to make the $15 average. You are the exception.

Dragonfly · « **Reply #38 on:** April 09, 2024, 18:20 »

My sales have all stopped too. I might sell one a month at 2 cents. I also have pictures missing from my portfolio and the numbers accepted and displayed don't match. I also can't find any of my own pictures if I do a search. Since they've been focusing on AI, I have so many problems just uploading images and having them display if they are accepted. When images are accepted they often don't even show up in my own portfolio. It's all very frustrating.

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Author Topic: 123RF sales stopped. (Read 25422 times)

Justanotherphotographer

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