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Agency Based Discussion => Dreamstime.com => Topic started by: Goofy on August 07, 2014, 09:02

Title: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Goofy on August 07, 2014, 09:02
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse than last month- guess what? It has gotten worse this month! Was there a change recently to cause the low sales? Have the buyers decided not to use DT anymore? If so, where have these buyers gone to?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Ariene on August 07, 2014, 09:30
In that like moments I wonder if they want to buy files anymore. Look, they already get free images... Many, many free (http://www.dreamstime.com/free-photos) images available... Why I do think so? I read forums, I read clients... Welcome to the reality  :-\

Btw, last file I sold 9 days ago (and I used to have almost everyday sales, sometimes even few daily).
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Goofy on August 07, 2014, 09:33
In that like moments I wonder if they want to buy files anymore. Look, they already get free images... Many, many free ([url]http://www.dreamstime.com/free-photos[/url]) images available... Why I do think so? I read forums, I read clients... Welcome to the reality  :-\

Btw, last file I sold was 9 days ago (and I used to have almost everyday sales, sometimes even few daily).


If that was the case I would be seeing less sales on the other site (i.e., Shutter, iStock, Canstock, Fotolia) which I am not- having great months on those other sites.  Something is going on with DT - maybe they cut back on their marketing? They are losing market share fast compared to the other companies...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: cthoman on August 07, 2014, 09:37
Sales have been pretty normal. Maybe, a little down from last year, but not outside the realm of normal fluctuations.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: robhainer on August 07, 2014, 09:40
Dreamstime has totally fallen off the cliff for me. It's almost as bad as Veer now.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Nikovsk on August 07, 2014, 10:02
I already have more DT sales in August than July (because July was horrible).

But SS on the other hand... just awful this month, so many days with 0 or 1 downloads.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Cesar on August 07, 2014, 10:09
DT sales is normal, the last 4 mounths are the same, low sales are only on 123rf. for me is DT 3x more then 123rf, 123rf is 100% not big four. someone  is cheating.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on August 07, 2014, 10:24
July on DT was wretched for me, but so far this month there have been a bunch of credit sales and right now I'm only $12 shy of last month's total earnings and it's only August 7th (no extended licenses involved)!

Today is back to all-subs but I wonder if it was someone using up credits before they expired that accounted for the mini boom in credit sales on Tuesday and Wednesday?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Shelma1 on August 07, 2014, 12:29
I was surprised to see I made some sales. I guess when you expect nothing, any small thing seems good.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Goofy on August 07, 2014, 12:47
I was surprised to see I made some sales. I guess when you expect nothing, any small thing seems good.

called - lowering our expectations which for a top tier or even a middle tier company is not good for us...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on August 07, 2014, 18:16
Dreamstime has totally fallen off the cliff for me. It's almost as bad as Veer now.

I notice the same. But Veer sales actually went up lately.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: sdeva on August 08, 2014, 02:39
I'm seeing some real drop off in sales at DT as well in some recent months.

Hope there's others that are doing better there ...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: gillian vann on August 08, 2014, 03:51
yes, i'm also seeing no sales.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Beppe Grillo on August 08, 2014, 04:26
I don't know why but (better) sales on DT start always after the 15th of the month.

Is it casual, or due to their way to count sales?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on August 14, 2014, 12:03
Abysmal just like SS. Where will it all end ? Is nobody buying anymore ?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Goofy on August 14, 2014, 12:10
Okay, seasoned pro's please jump on this one.

In my 4 years of tracking sales August has been my worse month each year.  :-[

Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: pancaketom on August 26, 2014, 09:58
My monthly total is running about the same as last month (which wasn't so great), but 19 out of the last 20 are subs right now - a new low.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on August 26, 2014, 10:21
I can only assume DT is dead because I have had the same balance for a long time. No more uploads to DT. :-\
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: gimages on August 26, 2014, 11:28
it's been over two weeks since last sale
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: ITsME on August 26, 2014, 12:23
-66% compared to 2013, disaster...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on August 26, 2014, 13:15
I agree....horrible.  I thought I was doing bad last month when I made $180. I usually do $225-$250 a month, but for August I am at $135. That's a significant drop and signifiant in terms of something going on. That seems way more than a summer slump to me.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on August 26, 2014, 15:23
I agree....horrible.  I thought I was doing bad last month when I made $180. I usually do $225-$250 a month, but for August I am at $135. That's a significant drop and signifiant in terms of something going on. That seems way more than a summer slump to me.

I seen exactly the same kind of drop and similar numbers.  Had first 0 download day since I started there over 5 years ago too.  Its not normal. 
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on August 27, 2014, 03:09
It's happening at SS right now for a lot of us too. Perhaps this is the end of microstock and we have |Google to thank.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Nikovsk on August 27, 2014, 08:35
Can't wait to reach my payout in 2016.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on August 27, 2014, 09:22
Can't wait to reach my payout in 2016.


Lol :D
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Red Dove on August 27, 2014, 15:47
If September works out then it could be a best quarter ever - but DT usually tosses my portfolio onto the "ignore" pile one month out of three.

It even happens on a daily basis e.g. yesterday a big fat zero day followed up this morning with a 26 credit TIFF sale that had me choking on my cornflakes.


Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: pancaketom on August 27, 2014, 15:53
now I am "up" to 20 straight subs... sigh
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: SLStudios on August 27, 2014, 16:20
I have only had 3 sales over at DT this month but I have a very small port. there so I am not shocked. The month started like crap but is ramping up toward the end for me. Hopefully, this will continue that way.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: cuppacoffee on August 27, 2014, 19:46
I have only had 3 sales over at DT this month but I have a very small port. there so I am not shocked. The month started like crap but is ramping up toward the end for me. Hopefully, this will continue that way.

Your DT link under your post says "this account does not exist".
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Rinderart on August 27, 2014, 19:53
DT for me is showing some strong promise of late.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Rage on August 28, 2014, 03:20
It's been crazy slow for me .... but then again it was always slow. It perks up once in a couple of month to ensure that I stay hooked :)
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Gino on August 28, 2014, 06:17
My last 3 months were all over average on DT. They never sold great but they are ok. My average for the last 3 months is $178 per month with 1100 images and I have seen a steady growth. Compared to SS they are peanuts but still much better than most. But Dreamstime always has bigger swings than other sites. So if they drop $50 I am not worried right away.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on August 28, 2014, 10:15
Still abysmal. No more sales weeks on.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: pancaketom on August 28, 2014, 22:08
after 25 straight sub sales, I have a credit sale... level 0 for 0.34 perhaps the credit tap is on now though and the RPD can go up a bit.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: danienel on August 29, 2014, 01:25
Ironically DT was okay for me this month - relative to it's normal performance. I have found that my exclusive editorial files do well with them. Also, I'll have a surge of sales and it'll be quiet again for weeks. Anyhow, I get a payout once a year more-or-less from them.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on August 30, 2014, 01:07
It's disastrous for me this month, earnings about a sixth of my BME, half of last month and back to 2005 levels. The usual spate of decent credit sales that generally appeared once or twice a month have been pretty much absent and sales volume is one third of what it was last August.  I haven't uploaded for a couple of months as I've had other stuff to do, but even so.....
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: qwerty on August 30, 2014, 05:19
don't know whats going on there but its not good for me.
Dreamstime sales have been decreasing for me since 2012 but it just fell off a cliff big time.

All sales subscription and not a lot of them.

Earnings 1/10 of that of shutterstock which is consistent with the poll results.

Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: sgoodwin4813 on August 30, 2014, 06:38
WMY there for me.  Mostly subs so RPDL at $0.83 - first time below $1 all year.  Less than 1/10 of SS this month.  Hope it picks back up in the fall.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on August 30, 2014, 22:33
.  I haven't uploaded for a couple of months as I've had other stuff to do, but even so.....

I been uploading.  Makes no difference.   Worst month I can remember.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on August 31, 2014, 01:15
.  I haven't uploaded for a couple of months as I've had other stuff to do, but even so.....

I been uploading.  Makes no difference.   Worst month I can remember.

Last time I had earnings this low I had about 600 images online - today I have 4,350 - that means earnings per image have fallen to one seventh of what they were, a drop of 86%, compared with the June of 2005 (when commissions were all 50c each), the last time my sales were below this month was in February 2005, when I had about 400 files online.
This year, June, July and August sales numbers have all be down by between about 30% and 60% compared with my 13-month running average.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Ploink on August 31, 2014, 08:02
My last sale on DT dates back to August, 18th  :o and I don't see that changing with Labor Day just around the corner.

That said, August is still marginally better than July 2014 or December 2013. DT usually performs OK for me, but when the summer or X-Mas drought hits, it hits a lot harder than on all other sites - wonder why that is?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on August 31, 2014, 14:07
.  I haven't uploaded for a couple of months as I've had other stuff to do, but even so.....

I been uploading.  Makes no difference.   Worst month I can remember.

Last time I had earnings this low I had about 600 images online - today I have 4,350 - that means earnings per image have fallen to one seventh of what they were, a drop of 86%, compared with the June of 2005 (when commissions were all 50c each), the last time my sales were below this month was in February 2005, when I had about 400 files online.
This year, June, July and August sales numbers have all be down by between about 30% and 60% compared with my 13-month running average.

I hear you brother.  Same problem as you only you been at it longer.  But last week was the lowest at DT I can remember since I was a green newbie with couple hundred photos online.  I wish it improves in Sept.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Pixart on September 01, 2014, 12:22
Today is Monday Sept 1 and also a long weekend, I've had some nice sales on DT - equaling almost 1/4 of August sales.  Hopefully things are looking up!
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Tryingmybest on September 02, 2014, 10:24
I think part of the reason is their rigid "similars" policy hamstrings the buyers.  :-X

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse than last month- guess what? It has gotten worse this month! Was there a change recently to cause the low sales? Have the buyers decided not to use DT anymore? If so, where have these buyers gone to?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Elenathewise on September 02, 2014, 12:10
Earnings in August 2014 are almost 50% down compared to August 2013. Portfolio size more than 12,000. Added close to 1000 images during this time. The dip in earnings never been that bad before.
So... adding 1000 images leads to 50% drop in earnings. Speaking of sustainability of this business....
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: sdeva on September 02, 2014, 12:26
DT and SS - two of my top performers in past years are both shrinking in recent some months.  August was somewhat of a disaster on both!!

Maybe I'm doing something wrong - or maybe the whole market is topsy turvy - or maybe micro stock is finally in its death pangs.. a little more time should tell !!
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Pixart on September 02, 2014, 18:16
I have very small old port, but RPI was always very good and acceptance is good.  In the past couple years I have wondered if uploading has actually HURT my sales at DT.  The more I upload, the worse numbers at the end of the month.  New stuff just doesn't get any traction anymore and overall it lowers RPI.  I have  hundreds of model released dance photos, only upload a few here and there (they don't sell well so I'm not in a huge rush and not sure that micro is best) - but I really feel that new unsold photos have somehow hurt sales more than benefited them!  Also... I remember an old friend clearing out photos that haven't sold and he said it seemed to help his sales.    Just speculating, but...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: mojaric on September 10, 2014, 03:04
i've a small port on DT about 200 imgs....but ZERO downloads....!!! on IS and SS with 200 img you sell something occasionally....
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Ploink on September 10, 2014, 09:03
I just had my first sale after going without one for the last 23 days - it was a subscriptions sale for a whopping $0.35  :o

This is with a portfolio of around 2.700, in case someone is wondering...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on September 10, 2014, 12:49
In the last week I have made $3. I might make $12 this month.

Edit to add: I should mention that my last three months avg per month is about $200.  And I am not kidding about the dollar amounts in that first sentence. But in order to not start another thread about dropping sales I'll refrain from guessing why.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Elenathewise on September 10, 2014, 13:36
I have very small old port, but RPI was always very good and acceptance is good.  In the past couple years I have wondered if uploading has actually HURT my sales at DT.  The more I upload, the worse numbers at the end of the month.  New stuff just doesn't get any traction anymore and overall it lowers RPI.  I have  hundreds of model released dance photos, only upload a few here and there (they don't sell well so I'm not in a huge rush and not sure that micro is best) - but I really feel that new unsold photos have somehow hurt sales more than benefited them!  Also... I remember an old friend clearing out photos that haven't sold and he said it seemed to help his sales.    Just speculating, but...

I have only 4.8% of unsold files on Shutterstock, most of them are new photos that didn't get picked up yet. On Dreamstime, many of my good sellers never got found and sold. Clearing out these photos doesn't seem like a right thing to do to me, there is nothing wrong with them.  I wish DT focused more on delivering the content to customers and efficient advertising.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Elenathewise on September 10, 2014, 13:38
I just had my first sale after going without one for the last 23 days - it was a subscriptions sale for a whopping $0.35  :o

This is with a portfolio of around 2.700, in case someone is wondering...

Wow. That's incredible. What's happening with Dreamstime???
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Sheriff on September 10, 2014, 13:43
I just had my first sale after going without one for the last 23 days - it was a subscriptions sale for a whopping $0.35  :o

This is with a portfolio of around 2.700, in case someone is wondering...

Wow. That's incredible. What's happening with Dreamstime???

Not good!  I have 2,767 images over there as well and so far only 28 downloads for $20 this month.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PZF on September 11, 2014, 07:52
Hmmmm....for me it isn't just DT. It's most sites. OK - it may be my portfolio - but it's been a sudden demise.

I can't help wondering if this is the new state of play in which case it just isn't worth the candle any more.....
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: cascoly on September 11, 2014, 13:31
I've had the same experience - over the last6 mo or so, slaes have been 30-50% of previous year.

then, this last week, there's been a sudden burst of sales - subs and indiv images.  Sep sales are already about the same as monthly sales each of last 8 months!

 
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: stockmarketer on September 11, 2014, 15:29
Similar experience to SS for me... sales climbing back up in September... close to where they were a year ago, but I've added so much to my port since then... so much blood, sweat and tears just to tread water.   
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Red Dove on September 11, 2014, 15:32
On balance, I experience two good months in a quarter at DT and one that rubs my nose in it. September is looking like that month even at this early stage. Rotters.

Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: gimages on September 11, 2014, 15:46
one sale in the last 26 days :-\
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on September 11, 2014, 16:14
I seen some improvement on some sites, but no September bump on DT yet.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: stock-will-eat-itself on September 11, 2014, 16:34
Once the new changes come in at iS, agencies from Fotolia down will bite the dust. It's a 2 horse race over the next few of years.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Cesar on September 11, 2014, 17:26
23 credits sales tiff today 8$, that could happen only on shutter or DT.  good RPI site. go go DT

august was poor, sales are climbing on DT, september is ok.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: spike on September 11, 2014, 18:09
It sucks.

And because of the "similar" rejection reason I now have less than a quarter of photos compared to other stock sites, who happily sell them (and they all bring income).

Their loss.

Also, their submission system sucks, when is batch processing finally going to be implemented? It's 2014, not 2004.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: gbalex on September 11, 2014, 18:14
My sales on DT now exceed my sales on SS and have for over 12 months now.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on September 11, 2014, 18:18
My sales on DT now exceed my sales on SS and have for over 12 months now.

Dang, congrats. That is simply amazing. My sales on DT are 1/4 of SS.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on September 11, 2014, 23:18
My sales on DT now exceed my sales on SS and have for over 12 months now.

Is this  because of getting better sales on DT or simply the decline you have reported at SS?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Ploink on September 12, 2014, 00:03
My sales on DT now exceed my sales on SS and have for over 12 months now.

Wow! With the same (or at least a comparable) portfolio? Even in their best months DT never was higher than 1/3 of my SS income...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: pancaketom on September 12, 2014, 01:20
I think old content seems to make more and more $ on DT and less and less on SS, so if you have a relatively old portfolio I could see DT passing SS at some point.  Still I don't think DT has ever been more than 1/2 of my SS income and usually much less than that.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on September 12, 2014, 02:57
I can't help wondering if Fotolia's beggar-my-neighbour industry-destroying strategy is working.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: hansenn on September 12, 2014, 06:00
Dt seems to slow down a bit, but like before, days without dl's can easily be followed by some days with nice surprises.
August was  below average, but not as bad as may
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: dpimborough on September 12, 2014, 09:41
I just relegated these jokers to the "Can't be bothered to upload to pile" ::)

along with all those other $10 per month or less jokers  ;D
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: dpimborough on September 12, 2014, 09:43
I can't help wondering if Fotolia's beggar-my-neighbour industry-destroying strategy is working.

Yeah probably and I really do hope that these parasites take it in turn to destroy each other every last one of them

I HOPE THEY ALL GO OUT OF BUSINESS!!!  ::)
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Nikovsk on September 12, 2014, 09:58
My sales on DT now exceed my sales on SS and have for over 12 months now.

Dang, congrats. That is simply amazing. My sales on DT are 1/4 of SS.

I make 33 times more in SS than DT with about the same number of images.
DT's time has passed - outdated, painful submission, ridiculous reviews and insignificant sales.

Like somebody well said, it's going to be a 2 horse race from now on.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Cesar on September 12, 2014, 12:23
after 23 credit sale i have 4$ sale in 3$ sale and four subs. DT is at least fair agency and they dont steal money!



23 credits sales tiff today 8$, that could happen only on shutter or DT.  good RPI site. go go DT

august was poor, sales are climbing on DT, september is ok.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: gbalex on September 13, 2014, 09:30
My sales on DT now exceed my sales on SS and have for over 12 months now.
Is this  because of getting better sales on DT or simply the decline you have reported at SS?

1. My new images sell on DT while only my very old low selling images sell on SS.
2. We have experience several levels of demotions to our most popular files on SS. They purposly buried them to the point they no longer sell... Ever. While DT has not done this.

Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Stockcontributor on September 14, 2014, 12:57
For me.. DT is almost every month the same, around 40 dollars with 2000 images online.

Very bad in compare too other sites
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Daryl Ray on September 21, 2014, 13:19
About 500 images on DT, nearly the same on SS where I get 4-15+ sales a day.

Zero sales in the past 12 days on DT.

Last 16 sales have all been $0.35 sub sales.

Dreamstime is becoming dead weight.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: roede-orm on September 22, 2014, 01:27
It is only a question of time until DT falls back on the polling list. I see DT not longer as one of the BIG 4.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: roede-orm on September 22, 2014, 01:28
double posting  ::)
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Madpixblue on September 22, 2014, 03:01
Maybe just because all our finest files are sold on this pirate Russian site: http://hameleons.com/ (http://hameleons.com/)

Don't be over surprised if you will find you files sold in big bundles, without copyright notice.

Who knows how many sites like this are around here...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Beppe Grillo on September 22, 2014, 04:32
I don't know why but (better) sales on DT start always after the 15th of the month.

Is it casual, or due to their way to count sales?

hmm… this month they did not started at all……  :'(
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: cidepix on September 22, 2014, 05:06
DT used to be top 4, true..

Now it's not even top 10.

The poll is very inaccurate.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: robhainer on September 22, 2014, 08:02
DT has fallen to the bottom. Barely above Veer.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: spike on September 22, 2014, 09:14
123rf has consistently been a better performer than DT for some time now.

I wish I had all the sales that people for here report. But I don't.

And the lack of batch submitting is something I like so much I don't even care to upload there any more.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: stockmarketer on September 22, 2014, 09:17
I think for most ms vets and those who make a decent overall ms income, DT is very much still in the Big 4.   True, earnings are not what they used to be, but that is true at nearly every agency. 
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: sweetgirll on September 22, 2014, 10:16
Is it the same for vector files? Low sales?
   I wonder if vector / illustration is doing better than photos, or just the same...

  Actually is a pain to upload vectors there...I started years ago, and gave up...is too time consuming...even with the new system, I tried to upload, and it didn't work very well... you have to put the number of vector matching the photo and sometimes when I did something went wrong, only the bitmap ended up there...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on September 30, 2014, 10:53
There is a room called Dreamstime. When I can remember I push the creaky old door open, have a peek inside the cobwebbed room, musty smell and ah..... there it is. The same balance since last time I visited.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: marthamarks on September 30, 2014, 12:13
I hate to say it, Herg, but DT feels that same way to me now. In the past, I've had good, sometimes even great sales there. But from some point this past summer, or maybe even back in the spring, things began falling off a cliff. I don't see much point in uploading to them any more.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on September 30, 2014, 12:21
I think we're going to hear some kind of impending news OR MASSIVE PAYCUTS. They may simply be feeling the pain of crookery from the likes of FOTOLIAs DPC. And the competitive response can't be good for us.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: ITsME on September 30, 2014, 13:14
- 77% compared to September 2013, with a few hundred more photos in my portfolio. Dreamstime is (sadly) becoming dead weight.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: stockmarketer on September 30, 2014, 13:28
I had a good month at DT.  I had opted into that trial partnership that was so controversial here a few months ago.  I haven't heard anything about that since, but perhaps I saw good earnings in September because of it?
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: marthamarks on September 30, 2014, 13:56
I had a good month at DT.  I had opted into that trial partnership that was so controversial here a few months ago.  I haven't heard anything about that since, but perhaps I saw good earnings in September because of it?

Actually, I opted into that "trial partnership" too. Didn't seem to do a thing for me.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: cuppacoffee on September 30, 2014, 14:35
It's not active yet. From Achilles on 9/19 - Almost there, thanks for your patience! :)
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Red Dove on September 30, 2014, 14:52
Dreamstime has become Donkeytime.


Never did like saying to people I was a Dreamstime photographer - they thought with a name like that it had to involve some form of seedy boudoir photography - or worse
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Noedelhap on September 30, 2014, 18:04
The statistics show me that this quarter is the worst since Q2 2012
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: pancaketom on September 30, 2014, 18:10
DT posted the worst quarter since Q3 2010 for me. 3 underwhelming months for me. Sad because May was good and June was my BME at DT.

This quarter was 2 months of  slightly above avg dls but low RPD and one month of ok RPD with lower DL #s.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: dbvirago on September 30, 2014, 19:14
Far from a BME, but my best month on DT since 2012.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Anyka on October 01, 2014, 02:16
I can't help wondering if Fotolia's beggar-my-neighbour industry-destroying strategy is working.

I thought so too, but in my stats, DST decline started in January 2014 or earlier (average -20% compared to 2013), but the latest trend is even -50% compared to 2013. 
Must say this is certainly NOT the general trend for stock photography, because almost every other site is status quo or going up (for me).
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Red Dove on October 01, 2014, 10:52
Not so much a decline for me, more of a failure to keep pace with the growth elsewhere since early 2013 - DT has been out of the top 4 for me for most of this year.

In actual fact, I could probably exceed my DT income by standing outside the local train station playing tunes on my kazoo.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: etudiante_rapide on October 01, 2014, 12:12
2 me, dreamstime should be re-named comatose-time 8)
it all started to fall apart that day when they rejected anything more than 2 similars
and when they introduced likes for fb.
shame, as this was an agency aimed for success to unseat IS and SS.
serbian got cocky and now look where they r?

frankly, i wish they resurrect from their comatose, as they used 2b my best earner, during the days of that other potential which got hijacked by IS. forgot that agency's name already.
i think everyone old here will help me remember . it was that agency where we used to promote each other's images and we were earning well with them too. good agency, good PR, good everything...
until IStock bought them and killed it.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: sgoodwin4813 on October 01, 2014, 13:10
during the days of that other potential which got hijacked by IS. forgot that agency's name already.
i think everyone old here will help me remember . it was that agency where we used to promote each other's images and we were earning well with them too. good agency, good PR, good everything...
until IStock bought them and killed it.

Stockxpert?  I still get sales there almost every month, although not a lot.

Back to the OP - I had a BMY at DT, and August was my WMY.  I have still been getting decent amounts of higher-credit sales, their levels system really works when there are buyers.  Overall though am averaging less per month this year than in 2013 or 2012 so the trend is definitely downwards.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Asthebelltolls on October 01, 2014, 14:41
Judging by the length of this topic the "DT Titanic" is all but submerged. Really too bad. It was my top agency three years
ago before I got in with SS and has been taking on water ever
since. Metaphorically speaking I guess SS became my "lifeboat".

"Women and children first!" :'(
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: MilanLipowski on October 01, 2014, 18:13
Today I deactivated all my files on DT. More space for others, lol. My sales are just too low - veer or bigstock are making more sales for me. Anyway, I am buyer of photos too. A month ago I needed some photos, but I was just dissapointed by their search engine and there are too many low quality files, it is just messy there. IS, SS, FT, or envato are better for shopping...
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Megastock on October 01, 2014, 19:08
Interesting how varied results are.  DT falls every month, but continues to hold as my 2nd best site.  It has a long way to fall still before #3 moves up, for me.  So while I'm disappointed, I should be much more disappointed in the other sites below it!

Looking at my graphs, my real story is that my monthly RPI at DT has been cut in half in the last year.  SS has been steady.  Same number of uploads, roughly.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Daryl Ray on October 02, 2014, 09:28
47 of my last 50 sales have all been $0.35 subscriptions.

Highest number of DL's last month ever, but 3rd lowest month in total dollars earned over the last 13 months. Their handy stats page helped illustrate that with graphs. Depressing.

Knowing the image levels are going up despite the poor sub prices is less of a comfort these days when the direct sales are all but becoming extinct anyways. Probably going to stop new uploads until if and when things start looking less bleak there.

Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on October 02, 2014, 09:52
47 of my last 50 sales have all been $0.35 subscriptions.

Highest number of DL's last month ever, but 3rd lowest month in total dollars earned over the last 13 months. Their handy stats page helped illustrate that with graphs. Depressing.

Knowing the image levels are going up despite the poor sub prices is less of a comfort these days when the direct sales are all but becoming extinct anyways. Probably going to stop new uploads until if and when things start looking less bleak there.

My guess is that they are really pushing their subs. I get a ton of those and only a sprinkling of $1-5 commissions. In sept I made almost exactly 1/2 of the years average....$200 to $100
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on October 02, 2014, 14:49
My sales are finally going back up after a very slow summer.   But most are subs.  I do expect October will be better than September,  but September is worst month since I keep records.  RPD at lowest ever.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Cesar on October 02, 2014, 14:54
BME on DT, 1$ RPD, sales are growing
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Red Dove on October 02, 2014, 15:40
Of course, in an effort to make my previous comments look stupid and churlish, DT has poked the dying embers of my portfolio and managed to get a roaring fire going for the first two days of October. Typical.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: marthamarks on October 02, 2014, 19:45
Of course, in an effort to make my previous comments look stupid and churlish, DT has poked the dying embers of my portfolio and managed to get a roaring fire going for the first two days of October. Typical.

Tell 'em to share the wealth, will you?  ;)
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Red Dove on October 03, 2014, 05:33
Of course, in an effort to make my previous comments look stupid and churlish, DT has poked the dying embers of my portfolio and managed to get a roaring fire going for the first two days of October. Typical.

Tell 'em to share the wealth, will you?  ;)

DT are like the kings and queens of old, scattering their coin among the poor. Unfortunately, two days of bread and wine are often followed by a week in the thumbscrews.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: etudiante_rapide on October 03, 2014, 11:57
Stockxpert?

ah yes, stockxpert. thx much sgoodwin.
btt, it 's high season , so it's not unusual to see an increase in earning at dreams..slumber.. comatose world  ;)
10 sales after 10 months of one sale per month. yayyy !!! (cough cough).
seriously, i wish they would wake up... they used 2b an excellent site.
meteorology says the global-warming worsens, so perharps the ice is melting
and comatose is slowly moving into dream state.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: sdeva on October 05, 2014, 02:01
My DT sales are sinking, and how!  Led by subscription sales the RPD has tanked as compared to last year, not leaving too much optimism for the future.

DT was an agency that seemed to work the RPD in an upward direction, rewarding images as they ascended up in sales.  But subs seem to have taken over.  Today uploading to them brings no joy - they dont get me  enough volume at the sub rate to justify returns on time and work. And they don't get RPD as they did before.  Regrettably it may soon be an agency not worth uploading to anymore :(
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: PixelBytes on October 05, 2014, 08:02
My DT sales are sinking, and how!  Led by subscription sales the RPD has tanked as compared to last year, not leaving too much optimism for the future.

DT was an agency that seemed to work the RPD in an upward direction, rewarding images as they ascended up in sales.  But subs seem to have taken over.  Today uploading to them brings no joy - they dont get me  enough volume at the sub rate to justify returns on time and work. And they don't get RPD as they did before.  Regrettably it may soon be an agency not worth uploading to anymore :(

Streamlining the upload process would help.  Their upload process is one of the more bothersome.   Was worth it for past returns, but now not as much. Notice how 2nd & 3rd tier sites make uploading much easier?  Otherwise they get no content.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on October 07, 2014, 12:09
Just pushed the creaky door open and the cobwebs and balance are the same.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: MilanLipowski on October 29, 2014, 06:57
My sales looks like in screenshot. And as buyer I just don't like their search tool. DT is just messy. I left them.
(http://www.lipowski.pro/!nd/dt_sales.jpg)
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on October 29, 2014, 07:01
Funnily enough I'm having a great month by my mediocre standards - for me DT seems to have  good spells followed by (longer  :( ) moribund periods
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: KingFoot on November 01, 2014, 02:29
close to BME for me... excellent sales all around. October was a great month!
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: ijansempoi on November 10, 2014, 21:55
Gone were those days where DT was amongst the top agency. While sites like SS and IS has opened up to more contents. DT pretty much closed itself from the real world and rejected all contents that are considered similar. DT has created a totally different set of reality and has been living in it's own world ever since. Secluded from most buyers,  it is still displaying the free image of that ugly woman once a while.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: zstoimenov on November 11, 2014, 02:41
Small port alert! :P
I have sold only a couple of files for the last three months. Even 123RF is selling more for me. Back in the day they were my number 3 :'(
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: roede-orm on November 11, 2014, 05:06
Meanwhile, I'm doing more sales in German agencies, such as Zoonar, Clipdealer and PantherMedia, as in Dreamstime. For me this is a clear indicator that something is wrong.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: CatTheCat on November 11, 2014, 08:55
I sent big batch of photos to dreamstime. They were approximately 600, all from different subjects. the first 100 were accepted, then all were rejected for 'too niche'. Well, that's the point! In shutterstock they sell very well because they don't have competition!
I waited some months, and I could see that in Dreamstime, those 100 accepted were selling 50% of my 500 images portfolio sells (number of images on dreamstime). So I sent them an email, explaining that those images were selling well, that they rejected almost everything for 'too niche' and I wanted to send a new batch of the same style I recently made, but I wanted to make sure I would not spend my time submitting, to see the images rejected for the same reason.
They answered saying "oh, tell me the ID of the files so the reviewer explain the rejection to you" It was like a copy-paste answer. what??? I understand the rejection, I just think it's stupid. Well, and then I tried to submit the new batch but they were rejected again for 'too niche'...
So they are not very smart I think.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Asthebelltolls on November 11, 2014, 09:50
Funnily enough I'm having a great month by my mediocre standards - for me DT seems to have  good spells followed by (longer  :( ) moribund periods

Ditto for me as well. Short spurts ;D followed by long dry spells. :-X
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Phadrea on November 14, 2014, 04:46
Just pushed the now very creaky door open and the cobwebs and balance are the same.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: mojaric on November 20, 2014, 05:10
i have to quote someone that said that i will have payout in 2019!
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Mantis on November 20, 2014, 07:29
This will be the worst month for me on DT in roughly 5 years. I am at $48, normally $150-$200 a month and we have a holiday here in the USA next week, so pretty much guaranteed it will establish a new low for me there with almost 3,000 images (I don't upload video there).
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: ibogdan on November 20, 2014, 08:09
Laso worst month in a long time so far. Very low sales in November and I'm wondering why.
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: Maximilian on November 20, 2014, 08:20
I checked dreamstime it`s low as usual as $50 for me this month. No up no down. But i am surprised about: "59.9% Your approval ratio". The most agencys are about 99%. Never watched this. Now i know the reason why i get less sales..
Title: Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
Post by: michaeldb on November 20, 2014, 19:34
WMY for me so far, and down about 30% from November 2013.

The worse news is that the last week of the month is Thanksgiving in the US and a holiday in some other countries as well I think. So if the pace of Nov sales is bad so far for you, it is probably going to look even worse after the month ends on a weak week.  :'(