Same story here but without the email "come back to us". Only 3 months with a small portfolio, started at SS, IS, DT, 123RF, Fotolia and Deposit. While at the big 4s I have regular (daily on some) sales, Deposit only sold 1 picture of mine, so I deactivated my files. On 123RF had only 2 sales so for now stopped uploading.

BTW, Deposit fell to Low Earners, and that reflects my experience, probably very inaccurate due to the short time and small port

We uploaded the first part of our portfolio to Deposit and then I started reading about all the dis-rest and frustration over their partner programs. I decided to pause uploading there and just leave our initial port online. We have 655 images there and some videos. We have never sold a video there and make $5 or less per month from deposit. So you're not missing out on much.

I'd give 123RF a go. They are slipping a little these days but their review process (if long) is also easy (no categories) and it's feasible to jump up a level or two without an industrial-sized portfolio. Note that I don't have vectors in the port yet so I am speaking from photo & video experience.

There are a couple of reasons to join an agency - or not to. One is earnings potential and one is the reputation and trustworthiness of the agency.

You should read the past threads here about Deposit Photos and their many underhanded dealings, probably the most prominent of which was the ShotShop deal where contributors were paid a subscription royalty on a sale at a partner site (ShotShop) where images were sold for up to 99 euros (I can't remember exactly, but not subscription prices)

http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/

They have also played all sorts of sleazy games where contributors would opt out of partnership programs, then find themselves on a partner site, only to have DP claim that the site was an API reseller, not a partner and thus the opt out didn't apply.

I never joined them, primarily because I found their initial approach to me to be fundamentally dishonest. I got e-mail offering a special deal - not to start at the lowest royalty rate and preferred search placement for my images. As you can't give "preferred" placement to everyone, I assume this is just some ephemeral thing that would last until the next contributor signed up. Not to mention how you're not really serving buyers if you're not even trying to give them the best results for each search.

I'd stay away...

Also, regarding 123RF: I dumped them back in 2012/13 after they initiated their RC scam. I went from .36 per subscription sale down to .25. Small ports naturally have fewer sales and it was a slap in the face I could not accept for them to say my work was worth less because there was less of it.

Had i started with them after the RC scam came in, I would probably not think twice about it. Funny how we all decide what we are willing to take. I won't go back to them.

Thank you so much everybody for your input. I was really close to re-joining Depositphotos when I received the email (I guess I was flattered that they contacted me). Glad that I asked for advice and I will simply not bother now.

Don't join!

Don't join, they are the evil�
And they have an outdated understanding of the market.

They invited me to join with a number of promises that never happened. I haven't added anything new recently.

Sales have gone from minimal to non existent. I have had two good size sales show up recently but both disappeared without explanation the next day. I'm sure they would say the are refunds but they are beginning to smell like a dead fish to me.

Me too never had any refunds, at leats that I know of. . And I even had one EL sale about a week ago.