MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => 123RF => Topic started by: paperboy on October 09, 2006, 07:51

Title: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: paperboy on October 09, 2006, 07:51
It's really strange stock for me. I submit to the whole "Big 5" and the rule is (more or less) that when I add photos sell increases. I can even foresee how much it will be. Growth is almost constants to the number of photos. It's work for all of the "Big 5" stocks except 123rf. I'm adding the same photos there but sell remains in the same level (almost). Do you have the same?

Oh, and one more thing. What is their pay period? I can't find answer on their site.
Thanks!
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on October 09, 2006, 08:03
Given tehy are owned by one of the big macros, I am supprised they haven't spent more on advertising.  Sales a slow but regular (on a monthly basis) for me.

I think they pay on a monthly basis, So if you are above payout, then they payout the follwoing moth (like SS) but not positive as I am not quite there yet.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: paperboy on October 09, 2006, 08:19
I have passed 100 USD in the middle of September but nothing happened yet.
I think there is no reason to include "123rf" to the "Big 5". StockXpert works MUCH better for me (almost as good as Dreamstime) and it shoud take it's place. Leaf - my vote for StockXpert!
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: berryspun on October 09, 2006, 09:19
I have passed 100 USD in the middle of September but nothing happened yet.
I think there is no reason to include "123rf" to the "Big 5". StockXpert works MUCH better for me (almost as good as Dreamstime) and it shoud take it's place. Leaf - my vote for StockXpert!

Same for me, StockXpert has 4 times more sales than 123rf, and to be fair should be ranked accordingly.  :)
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Aquilegia on October 09, 2006, 09:30
I have had a few payouts from 123RF. They pay monthly in arrears, one month after the end of the month in which you reached payout. If you reached payout in September you can expect payment at the end of October/early November. They pay slower because they pay the subscription sales as a percentage of the overall profit, and they need time to work it out. (So I was told)
It is nice when they decide the percentage is higher, and your earnings suddenly go up. ;D
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: dbvirago on October 09, 2006, 09:32
I've grossed twice as much on SX, but that is more a product of higher payouts. .22 doesn't add up very quickly.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Pichunter on October 09, 2006, 16:00
I've grossed twice as much on SX, but that is more a product of higher payouts. .22 doesn't add up very quickly.

It was 30 cents in September, 28 cents in August & July  :-*
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: dbvirago on October 09, 2006, 17:34
You're right. But I've been getting some $2.50 sales at SX lately.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Egypix on December 10, 2006, 04:22
I have there 138 photos ...

http://www.123rf.com/portfolio/hamdan/1.html
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: kosmikkreeper on December 10, 2006, 09:17
SXprt out ranks 123RF by far! 3x the $$ there for me. I even make more on BS!  :o
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Freezingpictures on December 10, 2006, 11:46
Yes, 123 is not really good in earning money. I am on 2$ average in a month. StockXpert is 10 times better. So for me 123 is definetly not in the Big 5. In addition I still have 5 Images pending since September.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: madelaide on December 10, 2006, 12:17
My average at 123RF is also around US$2, which is disappointing.  I had read good reviews about it when I signed up and the first sales happened very fast, but then... 

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: fintastique on December 11, 2006, 05:15
Due to 123rf high acceptance rate I have over 2,000 images there so in terms earning/image they are low with earnings the same as istock where I have about 400 images but in terms earning/hassle factor they rank very high with no categories and the FTP upload.

My only major grip is that if you reach payout at the beginning of the month you don't get paid until the end of the month  >:(
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: nightowlza on December 11, 2006, 06:04
My Last 3 months at 123RF were:
Sept - $5.42
Oct  - $8.46
Nov  - $6.94
123RF makes only 3.34% of my Total earnings between all the sites.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: roman on February 16, 2007, 06:28
After few months, my conclusion is that 123rf is rubbish.  Look at their website, even images at the front display are never updated.  It took them four weeks to review a batch of 30 images.  They accapted first 25 in a row, then rejected the last five.  I don't know why...  As far as sales go, I have images on istock that make more in a week than my entire 123rf collection in three months. 
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 16, 2007, 06:43
I think the problem is that they aren't given much attention by management.  I think Inmagine have put very little effort to date  (keeping a foot in teh door of microstock but trying not to let the door open which would affect their main macrostock portfolio). 

This could all change.  A quick site redevelopment, a bit of marketing and it could go off like a frog in a sock.  They have both subscription and one off sales so could compete with both istock and shutterstock.

Same goes with StockXpert.  Sales could be better.  They are actually equal is sales for me with 123 improving and StockXpert falling back.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on February 16, 2007, 09:08
Have had 27 pix in review for 10 days now.....  even DT is faster than that.  I will say this, if there isn't a reasonable acceptance of those pix  (they are all on SS).....  I'll probably pull out of 123.   Of course, that's contingent on them ever being reviewed.  :D   -tom
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 16, 2007, 09:31
They are slow for me as well, but very consistent. I have no problems with review times though. It rarely takes more than a day or two, but I upload 5-10 photos on a daily basis, and I don't use ftp.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 16, 2007, 09:52
Mine are reviewed within a week.  Had two batchs of 12 reviewed this month.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: madelaide on February 16, 2007, 15:32
Reviews have been quite slow lately.  And sales are slow too, though happening, and with a reasonable balance between subscription and individual sales.  It's much like CanStockPhoto for me. 

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on February 21, 2007, 18:41
Is it only me?  Did I tick someone off? ???   Are my pix THAT bad? :'(
I've had 27 pix uploaded and under review for 15 days now.... anyone else  having this problem over at 123rf?     8)  -tom
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 21, 2007, 20:36
Is it only me?  Did I tick someone off? ???   Are my pix THAT bad? :'(
I've had 27 pix uploaded and under review for 15 days now.... anyone else  having this problem over at 123rf?     8)  -tom

Review times have been getting worse the last week. I have had a whole bunch waiting for quite a while now. Those guys have potential. I wonder why they can't get their act together.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: lbarn on February 21, 2007, 22:00
It sure seems like the only way I get mine through after a couple of weeks, is to upload several more small batches, that has seemed to prompt them to review the old 15-20 day batches, but the new batches assume the same position seemingly in limbo.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Kngkyle on February 21, 2007, 22:07
I submitted my first batch of 20 files to them about a week ago (just wanted to test the site out see how they do) and this super long review time is not going to cut it for me. For a supposed up and coming site they sure are not trying very hard.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 21, 2007, 22:29
I submitted my first batch of 20 files to them about a week ago (just wanted to test the site out see how they do) and this super long review time is not going to cut it for me. For a supposed up and coming site they sure are not trying very hard.

If it had been a new site, it would have been understandable, but they have been around for a while, so they shouldn't have problems like this. On the other hand, IS also has increasing review times now. It's strange to see how some handle this well and some don't.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Peiling on February 21, 2007, 22:33
I just joined 123RF in Jan 2007, this year but review time is extremely slow. Takes about 2-3 weeks to get approval for a batch. But since I have some photos sitting there already, I am not too concern. Just wondering about sales??? I have been here for about 2 months and have about 90 photos online and I just finally got my first sale today at $0.30. Is this normal?
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 21, 2007, 23:14
Sales at 123rf are slow, but consistent.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: MiguelAngelo on February 22, 2007, 01:10
123RF have just slowed down this month for me.
All month so far only 3 downloads from credits and none from subscription.
Today I ad my first aproval from this month submissions

This one is another I must consider stop uploading. But since it's so easy to upload, I'll give it some more time.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: hatman12 on February 24, 2007, 16:18
I have deleted my photos from 123RF and I have asked them to close my account.

In fact, I have asked them TWICE to close my account, but neither request has been acknowledged or dealt with.

I'll give it a few more days then ask them a third time........
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: HughStoneIan on February 24, 2007, 17:42
I have deleted my photos from 123RF and I have asked them to close my account.

In fact, I have asked them TWICE to close my account, but neither request has been acknowledged or dealt with.

I'll give it a few more days then ask them a third time........

Does anyone know if it's really necessary for 123 to close your account if you have deleted all your photos?  Is there any potential danger in leaving the account open as long as your pics are all gone?
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 24, 2007, 18:16
I would keep the account open even if you have no photos.  It reserves your name and means you can start up again if it gets better.

Also means you keep your credits should you start up again.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Daneel on February 25, 2007, 11:42
Hi!

Sales at 123rf are slow, but consistent.

Same for me. 123RF is currently performing the same as StockXpert for me. The next better ones are Lucky Oliver and Featurepics. Then comes Bigstockphoto, Fotolia, Dreamstime and Shutterstock is (by far) the best earner for me. I just got accepted at iStockPhoto, so I have no valuable data for them. I'm staying with all of them for now, but I might eventually cut down as well. Specially StockXpert (even as it is listed as one of the "big 6") is falling like a stone for me.

All the best,
Michael
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: hatman12 on February 25, 2007, 16:32
I'd simply rather not have my name associated with 123RF.  I don't regard it as good quality.

Also, if I eventually decide to go exclusive with an agency I don't want to find I've got a problem because of various accounts open elsewhere.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on February 26, 2007, 16:43
............  my saga continues at 123rf.   27 pix in review now...  20 days, uploaded on February 6th. 

what's that all about?
                     8)  -tom
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 26, 2007, 19:44
............  my saga continues at 123rf.   27 pix in review now...  20 days, uploaded on February 6th. 

what's that all about?
                     8)  -tom


Same here. I have 42 in the queue, some of them almost two weeks old. All my batches from before 14 Feb have been reviewed though, but sales have been slow as well recently, and much slower than they used to.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Greg Boiarsky on February 26, 2007, 20:35
35 in the queue for me.

............  my saga continues at 123rf.   27 pix in review now...  20 days, uploaded on February 6th. 

what's that all about?
                     8)  -tom


Same here. I have 42 in the queue, some of them almost two weeks old. All my batches from before 14 Feb have been reviewed though, but sales have been slow as well recently, and much slower than they used to.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Kngkyle on February 26, 2007, 22:51
I have decided to pull all my images off of 123RF. After waiting over 2 weeks for my images to be approved I really don't want anything to do with this site. It seems they don't sell anything anyway. I would consider taking this off of the Up and Coming list and creating a new "Dying" list just for 123RF. And I hope somebody from 123RF reads this.  ;)
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: berryspun on February 27, 2007, 00:00
Slow but consistent sales for me every month.

Also, my experience with the review time is very positive.  The pictures are reviewed either the same day or the next day the latest.

Since Inmagine owns it, I see some potential success in the future for this site.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 27, 2007, 02:35
I am with beryspun - all uploads are approved within the week.  Good acceptance. and sales are getting better.  They are currently above StockXpert and bigstock but it is close.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: leaf on February 27, 2007, 03:28
mine must be stuck in oblivian then.  I have 151 images i uploaded on the 14th that are still pending. - almost 2 weeks ago.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Daneel on February 27, 2007, 03:58
I uploaded >500 photos about 1 1/2 weeks ago which were reviewed about 1 week ago (after I asked in the forum how long it will take :-P)

All the best,
Michael
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 27, 2007, 05:27
Is everyone using FTP.  If not, I wonder if they have separate queues??
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Daneel on February 27, 2007, 05:27
I used FTP - yes.

All the best,
Michael
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 27, 2007, 05:52
I do not use ftp there.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 27, 2007, 05:54
I do not use ftp there.
Any one else.  Maybe they do have two queues.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on February 27, 2007, 08:01
do not use  ftp.    8) -tom

p.s.  now  21 days.... 27 in review.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: fintastique on February 28, 2007, 04:26
I personally have found that any photos that were stuck in pending limbo were lacking keywords. They tend to review any pending images all in one go maybe some reviewers are scared by over 100 images to review. I haven't had any major problems with FTP I like the fact it tells you if it has read the IPTC data.

I find the SS image processor the most unreliable for reading IPTC data.

They are a steady but slow earner for me
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: digiology on February 28, 2007, 13:36
Sales are not great but they always review within 24 hours or so. Was not always like this. Once I started submitting 10mp they seem to get faster.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: madelaide on February 28, 2007, 15:58
Images uploaded on Feb 19th were reviewed today.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on February 28, 2007, 16:22
Images uploaded on Feb 19th were reviewed today.

Regards,
Adelaide

No such luck for me. I still have images back from the 15th waiting. Apparently, their system is somewhat random.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Greg Boiarsky on February 28, 2007, 16:49
I guess I may just forget about 123.  I've had images under review since Feb. 10 and still no answer.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: takestock on February 28, 2007, 17:08
I don't think it's fair for contributors to have to wait that long - surely not good for prospective ones.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on March 01, 2007, 17:15
Well it's officially 23 days for me now.... have 27 pix in review since Feb 6th.   Hey, maybe I'll break the record!!  :)  If I can't get published on 123rf,  maybe I can get published in Guinness Book of World Records!  Yeah!!    8)  -tom

p.s.  Does anyone think I'm considering uploading any more pix there? :P
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: epixx on March 01, 2007, 18:49
All my pending images were reviewed yesterday, or probably late on the 28th. I've even seen some sales there the last couple of days   :)
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: leaf on March 01, 2007, 21:11
well i dunno how their image cue works over there, but when i had a few images stuck a few days ago (had been there 2 weeks) i used Daneel's advice.

I made a little post in their forum saying.. i have X amount of images waiting since X, what is going on?

the next day they were reviewed :)

looks like they just need a kick in the pants or something.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on March 01, 2007, 22:06
worth a try......    8)  -tom
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Greg Boiarsky on March 02, 2007, 11:21
Did the exact same thing.  They were reviewed immediately, with very reasonable acceptances and rejections.

well i dunno how their image cue works over there, but when i had a few images stuck a few days ago (had been there 2 weeks) i used Daneel's advice.

I made a little post in their forum saying.. i have X amount of images waiting since X, what is going on?

the next day they were reviewed :)

looks like they just need a kick in the pants or something.
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: Freezingpictures on March 02, 2007, 14:04
Well it's officially 23 days for me now.... have 27 pix in review since Feb 6th.   Hey, maybe I'll break the record!!  :)  If I can't get published on 123rf,  maybe I can get published in Guinness Book of World Records!  Yeah!!    8)  -tom

p.s.  Does anyone think I'm considering uploading any more pix there? :P

Sorry, if you want to break the record, you have to beat me! And that will take months!
I have 5 images pending from sometimes in September last year  ;D
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on March 02, 2007, 16:57
WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   :o  I SHALL COMPLAIN NO MORE!!!  :D  Man-o-man.... Freezingpictures, that IS a record!!    Hang in there......  or.... something... ???   I think I'll try that  forum angle!!   WOW....   8)  -tom

modify:  well, I just got back from the 123 forum. Left a query about my pix.   5:09 pm est,  3/2.     we'll see what develops. 
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: khwi on March 06, 2007, 19:39
slow review slow sales...  ???
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on March 07, 2007, 16:34
WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   :o  I SHALL COMPLAIN NO MORE!!!  :D  Man-o-man.... Freezingpictures, that IS a record!!    Hang in there......  or.... something... ???   I think I'll try that  forum angle!!   WOW....   8)  -tom

modify:  well, I just got back from the 123 forum. Left a query about my pix.   5:09 pm est,  3/2.     we'll see what develops. 

To quote Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of his movies ...  "I LIED"...
To quote me,  "I shall complain again."   I finally got back on 123rf today only to find my 27 uploads from February 6th,  are   "missing".. ??? I'm wating on reply from support....       I sure hope it's my stupidity in that I just haven't been able to navigate around the new site....  but I'm pretty sure it isn't me...           we'll see.     8) -tom
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on March 08, 2007, 07:37
FOLLOW UP:  Got mail from the 123 folks..123 was very prompt in answering my questions.    They have my pictures, they just aren't up yet due to the migration process still on-going.  I'm told they are reviewed as well..   good news.           8) -tom
Title: Re: What's wrong with 123rf?
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on March 14, 2007, 20:52
My 27 pix uploaded on Feb 6th just showed up in the portfolio today. 25 approved.  8) -tom