Author Topic: Very Disappointed (Read 15322 times)

Allsa · « **on:** August 11, 2012, 13:39 »

I'm very disappointed with DepositPhotos, most of my sales are subs for paltry $.30 a download, with very few sales and no sign of improvement. I had hopes my pay rate would increase, but it appears that no progress is possible. I should have progressed to the bronze level at 500 downloads, yet I'm now at over 600 downloads and still at the bottom level. I've tried contacting them at their site twice to ask what the holdup is, but I've received no response. I'm seriously considering taking my portfolio down, I wouldn't miss the money, because my earnings are so low there that the loss of income would be insignificant. If this problem isn't corrected soon, goodbye DP. Really, what incentive do I have to stay?

Lagereek · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2012, 14:35 »

Quote from: Allsa on August 11, 2012, 13:39

I'm very disappointed with DepositPhotos, most of my sales are subs for paltry $.30 a download, with very few sales and no sign of improvement. I had hopes my pay rate would increase, but it appears that no progress is possible. I should have progressed to the bronze level at 500 downloads, yet I'm now at over 600 downloads and still at the bottom level. I've tried contacting them at their site twice to ask what the holdup is, but I've received no response. I'm seriously considering taking my portfolio down, I wouldn't miss the money, because my earnings are so low there that the loss of income would be insignificant. If this problem isn't corrected soon, goodbye DP. Really, what incentive do I have to stay?

hang in there! Rome wasnt built in a day or two. DP, have gone quickly to the top, and my experience with DP so far is good.

Mantis · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2012, 14:46 »

Quote from: Lagereek on August 11, 2012, 14:35

Quote from: Allsa on August 11, 2012, 13:39
I'm very disappointed with DepositPhotos, most of my sales are subs for paltry $.30 a download, with very few sales and no sign of improvement. I had hopes my pay rate would increase, but it appears that no progress is possible. I should have progressed to the bronze level at 500 downloads, yet I'm now at over 600 downloads and still at the bottom level. I've tried contacting them at their site twice to ask what the holdup is, but I've received no response. I'm seriously considering taking my portfolio down, I wouldn't miss the money, because my earnings are so low there that the loss of income would be insignificant. If this problem isn't corrected soon, goodbye DP. Really, what incentive do I have to stay?

hang in there! Rome wasnt built in a day or two. DP, have gone quickly to the top, and my experience with DP so far is good.

^ Agree with Lagereek. I have about 2700 images there and got two EL's last month and made almost as much as BS and 123. They are indeed very cyclic but I think they are becoming more of a force. But like Lagereek said, be patient. Give it time. Wait for some of these buyouts/acquisitions/consolidations to happen. That can be a game changer for some of the agencies. Also you might consider that if an agency that you are not on purchases DP, for example, you may get your port mirrored on their site before they shut down DP....who knows. It's worth waiting in my opinion. How big is your port and what kind of content do you shoot?

chromaco · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2012, 14:51 »

I think only credit sales count as a sale and subs are only a portion of a sale. So your sales may be at 600 but by DP counting you're only at 375 or the like. I might be confused with another agency but I think I'm in a similar position.

Allsa · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2012, 15:15 »

Quote from: chromaco on August 11, 2012, 14:51

I think only credit sales count as a sale and subs are only a portion of a sale. So your sales may be at 600 but by DP counting you're only at 375 or the like. I might be confused with another agency but I think I'm in a similar position.

I know that it takes 4 subs downloads to add up to one 'real' download at Fotolia, but I'm not sure if DP does the same. If DP does the same that could explain why I'm stuck at the bottom after 600 downloads, since most of those downloads were subs. I just would like DP to get back to me and let me know what's going on.

Allsa · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2012, 15:22 »

Quote from: Mantis on August 11, 2012, 14:46

Quote from: Lagereek on August 11, 2012, 14:35
Quote from: Allsa on August 11, 2012, 13:39
I'm very disappointed with DepositPhotos, most of my sales are subs for paltry $.30 a download, with very few sales and no sign of improvement. I had hopes my pay rate would increase, but it appears that no progress is possible. I should have progressed to the bronze level at 500 downloads, yet I'm now at over 600 downloads and still at the bottom level. I've tried contacting them at their site twice to ask what the holdup is, but I've received no response. I'm seriously considering taking my portfolio down, I wouldn't miss the money, because my earnings are so low there that the loss of income would be insignificant. If this problem isn't corrected soon, goodbye DP. Really, what incentive do I have to stay?

hang in there! Rome wasnt built in a day or two. DP, have gone quickly to the top, and my experience with DP so far is good.

^ Agree with Lagereek. I have about 2700 images there and got two EL's last month and made almost as much as BS and 123. They are indeed very cyclic but I think they are becoming more of a force. But like Lagereek said, be patient. Give it time. Wait for some of these buyouts/acquisitions/consolidations to happen. That can be a game changer for some of the agencies. Also you might consider that if an agency that you are not on purchases DP, for example, you may get your port mirrored on their site before they shut down DP....who knows. It's worth waiting in my opinion. How big is your port and what kind of content do you shoot?

I'm an illustrator, mostly 3D renders, just a few vectors. My port on DP is at around 1000 because I stopped uploading to DP (in frustration) at the beginning of May this year. I'll probably leave the portfolio in place since you and others are reporting good returns, but I'm reluctant to resume uploading at this point.

klsbear · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2012, 16:20 »

Quote from: Allsa on August 11, 2012, 15:15

Quote from: chromaco on August 11, 2012, 14:51
I think only credit sales count as a sale and subs are only a portion of a sale. So your sales may be at 600 but by DP counting you're only at 375 or the like. I might be confused with another agency but I think I'm in a similar position.

I know that it takes 4 subs downloads to add up to one 'real' download at Fotolia, but I'm not sure if DP does the same. If DP does the same that could explain why I'm stuck at the bottom after 600 downloads, since most of those downloads were subs. I just would like DP to get back to me and let me know what's going on.

It is a similar system at DP. Credit sales count as one DL and SMS and Subs count as 1/3 of a sale. If you go to the Profile tab it will show your current level and how many DL's you need to get to the next level.

Mantis · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2012, 20:06 »

Quote from: klsbear on August 11, 2012, 16:20

Quote from: Allsa on August 11, 2012, 15:15
Quote from: chromaco on August 11, 2012, 14:51
I think only credit sales count as a sale and subs are only a portion of a sale. So your sales may be at 600 but by DP counting you're only at 375 or the like. I might be confused with another agency but I think I'm in a similar position.

I know that it takes 4 subs downloads to add up to one 'real' download at Fotolia, but I'm not sure if DP does the same. If DP does the same that could explain why I'm stuck at the bottom after 600 downloads, since most of those downloads were subs. I just would like DP to get back to me and let me know what's going on.

It is a similar system at DP. Credit sales count as one DL and SMS and Subs count as 1/3 of a sale. If you go to the Profile tab it will show your current level and how many DL's you need to get to the next level.

I hate to be negative but their tiered commission incentive is laughable. But, hey, that's what I signed up for!

Microbius · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2012, 02:48 »

Almost all 31c with some 23c and 20c downloads thrown in. I am also very disappointed.

ETA I have been reviewing my figures again and am seriously considering suspending uploads or deleting my portfolio.
DP is so clearly only competing on price, of course they are getting lots of business, they are so much cheaper than anywhere else, but I have the horrible feeling that I am shooting myself in the foot (and maybe the face) by continuing to give them my work.

With an RPD well below 50c I would only need about a quarter of the buyers to buy elsewhere to make up for the loss in income.

sharpshot · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2012, 03:05 »

I'm disappointed that they seem so similar to FT. I wouldn't be surprised if the same commission cuts were in their plans at some point. If they were more distinctive and didn't rely heavily on selling subs, I might feel like uploading more.

Wim · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2012, 03:06 »

Yup same here guys, getting well fed up with it.

Could be worse, zero sales last three months at GL, they are a goner next month, more to follow afterwards, especially the little sites with big attitudes.

Good of the OP to take action! that's the only way to go in microstock, complaining gets you nowhere.

stocker2011 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2012, 09:38 »

Around 30c for a photo really is low and it saddens me to hear you are receiving that for your hard work and talent. I know this is microstock but not freestock, no photographer deserves such a low amount of commission. It's agencies such as this one and FT which are killing the industry and we as a contributor only have one strong response which we can make.

PixelsAway · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2012, 11:24 »

http://submit.depositphotos.com/seller-price.html

Note: Each file downloaded using credits counts as 1 download toward your Level. A file purchased via subscription plan or SMS counts as one-third download toward your Level; i.e., 3 files downloaded via subscription plan or SMS count as 1 download toward your Level.

Microbius · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2012, 11:30 »

Even if you are a Platinum contributor with 150 000+ downloads you would still get less than you get at SS with 10000 downloads for a sub sale

Roadrunner · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2012, 13:25 »

I dropped DP about a year ago; nothing moved and they were rejecting images that were already accepted by DT and SS.

If a tree bears no fruit, I curse it (give it up).

Wim · « **Reply #15 on:** August 12, 2012, 13:55 »

Rejections? at DP? seems impossible, they take just about everything I throw at them.
I have my largest port there +1400 (SS +1000)

StockCube · « **Reply #16 on:** August 22, 2012, 15:47 »

I must say this thread bears no relation at all to my experience with Deposit, which has been very favourable.

Their inspections are fair and very quick and my sales have been building up nicely. I now get a sale there most days and feel very encouraged to upload more there. My sales have grown even when my portfolio size hasn't so I put this down to the agency expanding and attracting more customers.

They are middle tier, but definitely a keeper for me.

leaf · « **Reply #17 on:** August 22, 2012, 16:24 »

DepositPhotos is gaining quite quickly for me and I woudln't doubt if it overtakes Dreamstime next year (for me)

velocicarpo · « **Reply #18 on:** August 22, 2012, 16:43 »

Quote from: leaf on August 22, 2012, 16:24

DepositPhotos is gaining quite quickly for me and I woudln't doubt if it overtakes Dreamstime next year (for me)

I already make more with Deposit than with DT, 123rf or Bigstock. They are growing fastly and this month I reach new highs in daily sales.
If they keep improving their site and strategy and throw every now and then some extra incentives (like Photo+ at istock e.g.) for us into the game they quickly could grow to one of my favourite sites - both, income wise and by sympathy. The only thing left for me to criticise is the missing payoneer support or another payout method wich is more reliable than paypal (although lately I am fine with MB).

fotografer · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2012, 06:58 »

Deposit is getting better but still not even close to 123rf and bigstock let alone the big 4. They have managed to catch up with canstock though.

dreamstock · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2012, 07:10 »

just want to ask you guys who gain "quite a lot" from DP, what value we talking about here? so far this month (23/aug) i have made more than $750 from DT, and DP only $70, DP is no way near DT.

Mantis · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2012, 07:19 »

Quote from: dreamstock on August 23, 2012, 07:10

just want to ask you guys who gain "quite a lot" from DP, what value we talking about here? so far this month (23/aug) i have made more than $750 from DT, and DP only $70, DP is no way near DT.

If you're making $750 on DT, congrats. To me, that is a huge accomplishment. I don't know what you shoot but the more power to you.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2012, 08:19 »

Quote from: dreamstock on August 23, 2012, 07:10

just want to ask you guys who gain "quite a lot" from DP, what value we talking about here? so far this month (23/aug) i have made more than $750 from DT, and DP only $70, DP is no way near DT.

750$ on DT? Wow...I never made that much there. I make on DT about 12% of what I am making at Shutterstock on average.

roboz · « **Reply #23 on:** October 01, 2012, 00:44 »

I guess I have missed the "cycle of sales" at DP. 17 sales in the first three months, with more than 700 images online. Same period with SS more than 700 sales, even DT is working fine for me, with around 150 downloads since July. Thanks to the simple upload system I am hanging in there and still hope for better times.

Regards

Rob

JPSDK · « **Reply #24 on:** October 01, 2012, 02:46 »

I have taken my port down from dp for 3 reasons:
1.. RPI too low
2.. Affiliates are obscure
3.. I dont want to compete with myself on other sites.

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Author Topic: Very Disappointed (Read 15322 times)

Allsa

Lagereek

Mantis

chromaco

Allsa

Allsa

klsbear

Mantis

Microbius

sharpshot

Wim

stocker2011

PixelsAway

Microbius

Roadrunner

Wim

StockCube

leaf

velocicarpo

fotografer

dreamstock

Mantis

velocicarpo

roboz

JPSDK

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