MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Crestock.com => Topic started by: epixx on October 27, 2008, 18:51

Title: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: epixx on October 27, 2008, 18:51
I shouldn't worry about what happens at Crestock, since it's a really, really low earner, but since they claim to be such a high quality agency, I'm wondering why:

- It's six weeks since I've heard anything about payout via Moneybookers. Other agencies have had hick-ups with MB too, but this is plain silly, and absolutely amateurish.

- The forums haven't worked for well over six months. There's a message on the forum page saying they will open again at the end of August, but it doesn't say which year. Every silly, little amateur website have a functional forum nowadays. What makes the Crestock forum so special. Will it include live video and smell?

- Subs payouts at Crestock are the lowest anywhere. If you sold photos like hotcakes, it would have looked better, but you don't. Your sales are slow as molasses, even compared to that other Norwegian agency, Scanstockphoto (who by the way pays 1 Euro per download).

- Now you're having a Photoshop contest again. That would be fun if the rest of your system was functional, but it isn't. You're ignoring your contributors, and that's bad.

Get your priorities right!
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: sharpshot on October 27, 2008, 19:17
They receive a lot of criticism but I like the fact that they have spent lots of money on advertising and even though I haven't uploaded anything for a few months, they are going to have a BME this month.  Hopefully they will see sense and raise the $0.25 commission so I can start uploading again.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: BrokenPhotographer on October 27, 2008, 19:21
I find it amusing that my images sat in a month long queue there without review, but the moment I made a comment about it here where I know a staff member? reads that suddenly within a day every single one gets rejected, heck I know I'm not the greatest and some of my pictures deserve refusal but some of those pictures were accepted by bigger and better stock sites.
I'm throwing in my hat already with this site, I'd rather go where I believe the reviews actually look at my images and give me real reasons apart from - custom. I'll be off to do my remove my account mail right now.

While I don't like to put my eggs in one basket, I don't believe in supporting a bad site for the sake of a few extra pennies.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: lobby on October 27, 2008, 20:32
please close the door behind you....

it's a looser site that's all

:-)

craps out one by one
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: epixx on October 28, 2008, 03:43
Had an email today (six weeks after the last one), where they apologize for the MB delay. That's better than nothing, but it still doesn't explain why solving the MB matter is so much more difficult for them than for other agencies.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: Enrique on October 28, 2008, 04:43
Stopped uploading to Crestock and will wait and see.

- Supscriptions are too little

- Support doesn't answer

- Reviews are not consistent

- Earnings are very low

Although I liked their high quality concept I'm now very disappointed.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: PeterChigmaroff on October 28, 2008, 11:28
Again, I  find Crestock unusual, in that they seem to be doing everything right, except paying more for subs and now taking forever to edit. Yet sales are rock bottom. I too have to say I will stop submitting for the time being. I have enough there to see if anything changes in the future.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: slobelix on October 29, 2008, 03:48
Ive received an email also stating that Crestock still has MB troubles. It pleases me that they have recognized the need to inform us,
id be very glad to help in any way.But this is just a start of making Crestock PR job better. Ill be satisfied when i receive my money and when MB payment is automated, like with other agencies. Best regards from Slobodan
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: Milinz on November 29, 2008, 04:28
Sorry guys for my late response... But, I've signed-in here just a couple days ago...

If I knew this earlier - I'd deactivate my account sooner.

http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6111.30 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6111.30)
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: leaf on November 29, 2008, 19:13
Sorry guys for my late response... But, I've signed-in here just a couple days ago...

If I knew this earlier - I'd deactivate my account sooner.

[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6111.30[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6111.30[/url])


did you read the whole thread?  The photographer realized he had problems with his images after all...
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: Milinz on December 01, 2008, 08:35
Sorry guys for my late response... But, I've signed-in here just a couple days ago...

If I knew this earlier - I'd deactivate my account sooner.

[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6111.30[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=6111.30[/url])


did you read the whole thread?  The photographer realized he had problems with his images after all...


That may be true, but on iStock they/ve approved ALL THAT IMAGES Crestock rejected... So making some comaration in thorough reviews I more beleive to iStock than on this kind of rejections on Crestock - not to mention all other sites approved that images including some traditional stock agencies too... I will return to Crestock if they give me 110% commision and not a single one rejection - that means never ;-)
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: epixx on December 21, 2008, 07:53
Just had an SMS from Moneybookers. Crestock just paid  :)

Merry Christmas everybody!
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: MichaelMiller06 on January 01, 2009, 14:42
So far my short experience with CS has been just like everyone else here, except for Josh and Leaf. Since I'm just getting started with them, I don't mind the tough inspections and small income. What I do mind is the non-existence of support to contributors. The only time you will see Josh respond in a forum is when the contributor is in the wrong. Other than that, forget it. BTW, the business model (abnormally high quality images at the lowest prices in the world) only works with slave labor. You can't serve your customers and screw your workers and still stay in business.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: Milinz on January 02, 2009, 14:03
So far my short experience with CS has been just like everyone else here, except for Josh and Leaf. Since I'm just getting started with them, I don't mind the tough inspections and small income. What I do mind is the non-existence of support to contributors. The only time you will see Josh respond in a forum is when the contributor is in the wrong. Other than that, forget it. BTW, the business model (abnormally high quality images at the lowest prices in the world) only works with slave labor. You can't serve your customers and screw your workers and still stay in business.

So far - so goooood for Crestock :-) Who cares about 'stupid slaves'?
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: madelaide on January 02, 2009, 18:40
I was going to say that Crestock was my top earner this month, with two awesome subs sales, but I have just checked BigStock and I got $2 in one sale there.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: epixx on January 03, 2009, 01:05
Almost congratulations, Adelaide   :-\

I also noticed that, when they at last paid through Moneybookers last month, they didn't update the payout to the accumulated sum, but paid what I had asked for three months later, leaving me with 16 dollars that I have to wait for another year or so   >:(
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: Milinz on January 03, 2009, 06:34
Almost congratulations, Adelaide   :-\

I also noticed that, when they at last paid through Moneybookers last month, they didn't update the payout to the accumulated sum, but paid what I had asked for three months later, leaving me with 16 dollars that I have to wait for another year or so   >:(

We should introduce some new rules with interest calculated for more than 3 months that our money is held on some agencies  ;)
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: madelaide on January 03, 2009, 12:47
I would not ask for interest, but it would be fair enough if they paid us every 6 months if we don't reach the minimum payout (Stockphotomedia does that, don't they?).  After over two years at CS I only made US$35, so it looks like I will need another year to reach a payout.  Ok, it's my fault that I only have 60 files there, but I stopped uploading when I noticed the almost absolute subscription sales.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: epixx on January 04, 2009, 09:29
I would not ask for interest, but it would be fair enough if they paid us every 6 months if we don't reach the minimum payout (Stockphotomedia does that, don't they?). 


Yes, they do (Stockphotomedia, I mean), every three months actually. I'd forgotten, so thank you for reminding me. Payment requested.  :)
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: josh_crestock on January 05, 2009, 19:26
Since I'm just getting started with them, I don't mind the tough inspections and small income. What I do mind is the non-existence of support to contributors. The only time you will see Josh respond in a forum is when the contributor is in the wrong.

True to form, I would like to suggest that prior to sending Helpdesk an email that you add the address, help[at]crestock.com to your address book. Spam filters have proven to be culprit to a lot of responses not getting through. And, of course, not meaning to only suggest error on the part of the contributor, but its frustrating for us with a team of 4 different people on the team ready to respond to support requests, that people are just not receiving the responses.

We will continue checking and double checking that responses are being sent out.

Josh - The Crestock Team
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: helix7 on January 07, 2009, 21:12

How are review times for you guys? I've had stuff pending for over a month now.


Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: sharply_done on January 07, 2009, 21:35
My current batch has been waiting 3 days. Batches before that were 6, 2, 9, 10, and 14 days. One month is too long. But then again I make photos - you make vectors.

Edit: Just got my batch approved.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: vanias on January 22, 2009, 08:25
I received mail from crestock:

The Crestock image collection is continuing to grow bigger and better!


But why my pics are waiting two months ?

vanias
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: Dreamframer on January 22, 2009, 08:33
I have 6 files pending some 2 months. I wrote to support about weeka ago...still waiting
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: kaycee on January 22, 2009, 08:43
same here with my illustrations.more than two months pending...
I recieived and e-mail couple of days ago  that they have some problems regards review but they working on it in there growing agencie........................
Also I noticed that the best/worst picture of the day could be changed to ........best/worst of the week at  least a week ago.............
Maybe workers crestock are on strike............................
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: anaire on January 22, 2009, 10:59
Hi there, - that's mostly to you, Josh,
I live in Dublin, Ireland, and for years I've been a subscriber to the UK magazine 'Photoshop Creative'.
By now I'm well used to browsing through plenty of advertising coming from all of the major stock sites.
Crestock is often there, but in the last edition, what do you know ... instead of the usual logo and a photo, things have moved forward and Josh was actually giving an interview!
He was urging photographers to upload to Crestock.
Of course, he never mentioned a word about the 2 months waiting time, lowest payment in the market, the most generic, perplexing rejections and crappy sales.
And how about the difficulty of actually getting paid?
Moneybrookers didn't work for ages, e-mails to support didn't get any replies, cheques didn't arrive and VaniaS had to come over here, on this forum, to ask for his money.
But not to worry!
Josh never mentioned a word about all of these 'minor' glitches.
Nope! Not a word!
All is well at Crestock.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: lephotography on January 30, 2009, 01:54
Josh, hows it going at Crestock?  Havent heard from you in quite awhile
You don't answer your emails from me. I understand you are truely busy running Crestock plus so is everyone there..
I think Crestock is a great company and is great to work for and my sales have raised more in the last 2 months than they ever have before. I have never had a problem getting paid as people talked about in previous posts.. I think that must be a fluke... they always have done right by me.
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: josh_crestock on January 30, 2009, 02:42
Hi Lisa,

Am sorry for not replying any emails you may have sent me, please understand i receive a lot every day and can't answer every one, sometimes somethings get labelled as unessential. Obviously, this is not the place for me to discuss reasons why you lost your position at Crestock. I will contact you personally.

Things are going well at Crestock, we are just very busy organizing and dealing with the rate at which we are expanding. When Crestock started we had a lot of employees, unfortunately, we have down-scaled to a more 'guerilla-sized' team. Not including the inspector team which was downsized but now expanded to deal with submissions.

I and the rest of the Crestock team wish to remain open and frank about the way Crestock is run. We're rational people and will put up with a lot of criticism. However, Lisa, I really must ask you to respect the Terms and Conditions of employment at Crestock and not discuss any compromising details in a public forum. I understand you have not, and I just hope it will remain so.

All the best,

Josh
Title: Re: What is happening at Crestock?
Post by: lephotography on January 31, 2009, 00:57
Thank you Josh for your personal email you sent me this morning.