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Agency Based Discussion => Dreamstime.com => Topic started by: Kone on September 08, 2013, 21:32

Title: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Kone on September 08, 2013, 21:32
My current earnings at DT are not even 25% of what I made in 2009. All the credits that they sell for now are credits from 2010.  For example, one of my last sold images was (16 credits - 2010) level 5, $7.55, medium-size. I don't understand how they can still sell for credits from 2010. If it's not a sale from credits from 2010, it's a subscription - $0.35.
I've been with DT from September 2006, and I think they are putting us down more and more every year. I don't think I will stay with them for much longer.
How about you?

Admin Edit: changed the title to something more 'professional'
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: disorderly on September 08, 2013, 21:57
The credits weren't purchased in 2010.  That's just the last time DT changed their credit offerings.  They list purchases in old (up to 2006) credits, 2007 credits, 2008 credits, and 2010 credits.  Any credits anyone buys now are 2010 credits, meaning they have the same purchasing power as credits offered starting in 2010.

As for my revenues, 2009 was my high point at DT.  Last year was down 30% vs. 2009.  Not as bad as you, but not great.
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: tab62 on September 08, 2013, 22:02
Okay, DT Sucks?

So, when something sucks in life what should we do?

a. accept it
b. reject it

If you feel you are 'undervalued' that 'b' would be the way to - we all know things aren't going to change for the better - mostly likely those .35 commissions will go even lower in the near future.
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: Pilens on September 08, 2013, 23:13
 How about

c. set up your own (Symbiostock) site?  :D
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: Megastock on September 09, 2013, 00:16
I've been with DT from September 2006, and I think they are putting us down more and more every year. I don't think I will stay with them for much longer.
How about you?

My experience seems to be the opposite - they are my best agency, and growing in sales!  So no plans to leave here :)
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: gillian vann on September 09, 2013, 06:10
RPD is good, which is why I continue on.
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: Beppe Grillo on September 09, 2013, 07:06
^
I prefer the bad Shutterstock RPD with hundred of downloads every month to the excellent Dreamstime one with two downloads a month ;)
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: daveh900 on September 09, 2013, 08:15
My RPD at DT is about $1.25.

My own (SymbioStock) site has outperformed DT over the past couple months, and my RPD there is over $7.00.

I haven't submitted to DT in months, but I'll keep my files up and take a payout every other month or so.

Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: fritz on September 09, 2013, 08:17
Okay, DT Sucks?

So, when something sucks in life what should we do?

a. accept it
b. reject it

If you feel you are 'undervalued' that 'b' would be the way to - we all know things aren't going to change for the better - mostly likely those .35 commissions will go even lower in the near future.
Exactly! That's why upload to DT only when I have nothing smarter to do.
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: enstoker on September 09, 2013, 08:26
^
I prefer the bad Shutterstock RPD with hundred of downloads every month to the excellent Dreamstime one with two downloads a month ;)

Beppe, You are my man  :D
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: Ron on September 09, 2013, 12:49
^
I prefer the bad Shutterstock RPD with hundred of downloads every month to the excellent Dreamstime one with two downloads a month ;)

Took the words right out of my mouth
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: cthoman on September 09, 2013, 12:56
^
I prefer the bad Shutterstock RPD with hundred of downloads every month to the excellent Dreamstime one with two downloads a month ;)

My earnings have actually been fairly comparable the last few months between the two.
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: daveh900 on September 09, 2013, 13:07

My earnings have actually been fairly comparable the last few months between the two.

I think it's fair to say that is very unusual.

I started contributing to DT in December of 2010. My monthly revenue at Shutterstock exceeds my total income at DT since I began.
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: cthoman on September 09, 2013, 14:15

My earnings have actually been fairly comparable the last few months between the two.

I think it's fair to say that is very unusual.

I started contributing to DT in December of 2010. My monthly revenue at Shutterstock exceeds my total income at DT since I began.

I haven't uploaded to either in a long time. DT has stayed pretty consistent and SS has been declining for a while.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: heywoody on September 09, 2013, 15:35
Frankly, I don't believe anyone is getting 100 DLs on SS and 2 on DT with the same portfolio.  Probably 20 with at least twice the RPD which still puts them miles behind SS.  However DLs per image probably in the same ballpark as FT, 123 and (even IS after recent innovations) and these last three have SS RPD without the volumes, not to mention they have bent contributors over again and again in recent times. 

Reason to be negative compared to SS but dropping them and submitting to those other three makes no sense.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: WarrenPrice on September 09, 2013, 16:01
Frankly, I don't believe anyone is getting 100 DLs on SS and 2 on DT with the same portfolio.  Probably 20 with at least twice the RPD which still puts them miles behind SS.  However DLs per image probably in the same ballpark as FT, 123 and (even IS after recent innovations) and these last three have SS RPD without the volumes, not to mention they have bent contributors over again and again in recent times. 

Reason to be negative compared to SS but dropping them and submitting to those other three makes no sense.

I do.

Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: gbalex on September 09, 2013, 16:10
I've been with DT from September 2006, and I think they are putting us down more and more every year. I don't think I will stay with them for much longer.
How about you?

My experience seems to be the opposite - they are my best agency, and growing in sales!  So no plans to leave here :)


My earnings have actually been fairly comparable the last few months between the two.

I think it's fair to say that is very unusual.

I started contributing to DT in December of 2010. My monthly revenue at Shutterstock exceeds my total income at DT since I began.

I haven't uploaded to either in a long time. DT has stayed pretty consistent and SS has been declining for a while.

My earnings on DT have exceeded my SS earnings since June of this year.  Last month by 28%
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2013, 16:18
I've been with DT from September 2006, and I think they are putting us down more and more every year. I don't think I will stay with them for much longer.
How about you?

My experience seems to be the opposite - they are my best agency, and growing in sales!  So no plans to leave here :)


My earnings have actually been fairly comparable the last few months between the two.

I think it's fair to say that is very unusual.

I started contributing to DT in December of 2010. My monthly revenue at Shutterstock exceeds my total income at DT since I began.

I haven't uploaded to either in a long time. DT has stayed pretty consistent and SS has been declining for a while.

My earnings on DT have exceeded my SS earnings since June of this year.  Last month by 28%

its you and Megastock, don't think there are more
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Anita Potter on September 09, 2013, 16:21
I just had a nice refund of $7.20 on an image bought the other day.  Not happy about it as I though the credit sales I got were giving me a hope of a turn around.

How silly of me to think that  :'(
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: MarcvsTvllivs on September 09, 2013, 16:39
Frankly, I don't believe anyone is getting 100 DLs on SS and 2 on DT with the same portfolio.  Probably 20 with at least twice the RPD which still puts them miles behind SS.  However DLs per image probably in the same ballpark as FT, 123 and (even IS after recent innovations) and these last three have SS RPD without the volumes, not to mention they have bent contributors over again and again in recent times. 

Reason to be negative compared to SS but dropping them and submitting to those other three makes no sense.

I do.

Me too. And the two DT downloads will likely be subs, too.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: heywoody on September 09, 2013, 17:10
Frankly, I don't believe anyone is getting 100 DLs on SS and 2 on DT with the same portfolio.  Probably 20 with at least twice the RPD which still puts them miles behind SS.  However DLs per image probably in the same ballpark as FT, 123 and (even IS after recent innovations) and these last three have SS RPD without the volumes, not to mention they have bent contributors over again and again in recent times. 

Reason to be negative compared to SS but dropping them and submitting to those other three makes no sense.

I do.

Me too. And the two DT downloads will likely be subs, too.

Wow  :o
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: DF_Studios on September 09, 2013, 18:40
DT has been beating SS for me last few months by about 13% but I have more than twice as many files on DT.

Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Millionstock.com on September 09, 2013, 19:36
I agree with Pilens.
You build your own Symbiostock site. It's simple and has high sales potential.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2013, 19:58
DT has been beating SS for me last few months by about 13% but I have more than twice as many files on DT.

2.7 times more and you have 356 exclusives files
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: robhainer on September 09, 2013, 21:00
RPD is such a meaningless figure. Shutterstock pays me 10-15 times what I make on Dreamstime every month. The total amount that hits my Paypal is all that matters.

I still contribute to Dreamstime. It doesn't take that much more time and $100 to $150 a month is better than a poke in the eye.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: lisafx on September 09, 2013, 22:23
Sorry to hear your earnings have dropped so much, Kone.  It doesn't match my experience at Dreamstime at all. 

Of all the major sites Dreamstime has held its value for me better than any of the others.  Even SS has declined from its glory days for me, but DT is holding strong, both in sales volume and price.  Even with subs my RPD for August was still 1.78 and on track to be about the same for Sept.   
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on September 10, 2013, 00:36
Thanks to endless subs my RPD on DT this month is 60c whereas on SS it is 68c, so DT's not even winning on that front. Admittedly, last month's DT RPD was $1.43, which gave me my best month since the back end of last year but unless quite a few of the big credit sales roll in, this month is going to be the worst in almost a decade. Unfortunately, there seem to be fewer and fewer credit buyers at DT.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Beppe Grillo on September 10, 2013, 02:08
I agree with Pilens.
You build your own Symbiostock site. It's simple and has high sales potential.

Does "high sales potential" means "high sales" ?
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: danienel on September 11, 2013, 03:45
Dreamstime is nr 4 or so out of the 12 I submit to. I find a strange phenomenon. Just before I reach $100 every time, like at $98, suddenly my sales stops for weeks! I know it sounds very conspiracy theory, but very weird... A nice way to save cash-flow for them....
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: flashon on September 11, 2013, 06:30
I had BME at DT last month but this month is really slow. If things don't improve it would very likely be my WME from a long time. Don't understand how it can have this kind swing from month to month. Oh well.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: enstoker on September 11, 2013, 13:56
Dreamstime is nr 4 or so out of the 12 I submit to. I find a strange phenomenon. Just before I reach $100 every time, like at $98, suddenly my sales stops for weeks! I know it sounds very conspiracy theory, but very weird... A nice way to save cash-flow for them....

Well known scenario.
Not only on DT.
I wrote about this already.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Yure on September 11, 2013, 14:09
Dreamstime is nr 4 or so out of the 12 I submit to. I find a strange phenomenon. Just before I reach $100 every time, like at $98, suddenly my sales stops for weeks! I know it sounds very conspiracy theory, but very weird... A nice way to save cash-flow for them....

Sales stopped for me 2 months ago before reaching $5 :)
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Proteus on September 11, 2013, 14:26
Dreamstime is nr 4 or so out of the 12 I submit to. I find a strange phenomenon. Just before I reach $100 every time, like at $98, suddenly my sales stops for weeks! I know it sounds very conspiracy theory, but very weird... A nice way to save cash-flow for them....

Well known scenario.
Not only on DT.
I wrote about this already.

Where can I read this? Please give me a link. Thanks
Title: Re: DT Sucks
Post by: Alvera on September 11, 2013, 15:07
How about

c. set up your own (Symbiostock) site?  :D
Hi. I am exclusive contributor on DT. Can I join Symbiostock without leaving exclusivity? Thanks.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: ACS on September 11, 2013, 15:28
What I really don't like at DT is their well known "similars" policy.

I can understand the logic behind to a certain point; it's good to see Level 5 image sales for 7 something dollars.

But I too feel negative about them when they accept only 7 of my 20 2014 calendar vector designs for this reason.

In one of the batches, they accepted a calendar in English but rejected 3 in German, Portuguese and Turkish languages. All four were completely different designs. Resubmitting didn't change the result.

Strange...
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: marthamarks on September 11, 2013, 15:31
I agree with Pilens.
You build your own Symbiostock site. It's simple and has high sales potential.

Does "high sales potential" means "high sales" ?

You'll only know if you actually build your own SYS site.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: Pauws99 on September 11, 2013, 16:34
They are flatlining for me hoping its a blip
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: michaeldb on September 11, 2013, 22:50
Yes, the bad 'similars' rejections have been costing DT a lot of money for a long time. I wonder why they don' fix it.
What I really don't like at DT is their well known "similars" policy...
...In one of the batches, they accepted a calendar in English but rejected 3 in German, Portuguese and Turkish languages. All four were completely different designs. Resubmitting didn't change the result.

Strange...
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: gillian vann on September 12, 2013, 05:18
RPD makes me feel better. I agree it doesn't mean much. however, I do sell different stuff there. my port is largest at DT (despite the irony of the similars policy, they accept lots) and quite varied.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: lisafx on September 12, 2013, 13:17
Yes, the bad 'similars' rejections have been costing DT a lot of money for a long time. I wonder why they don' fix it.
What I really don't like at DT is their well known "similars" policy...
...In one of the batches, they accepted a calendar in English but rejected 3 in German, Portuguese and Turkish languages. All four were completely different designs. Resubmitting didn't change the result.

Strange...

There was an announcement a couple of months back that they were relaxing the similars policy.  Since then I don't remember having a rejection for similars.
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: tab62 on September 12, 2013, 16:59
Feeling Negative about DT?

More like -Feeling like dumping them!
Title: Re: Feeling Negative about Dreamstime
Post by: cuppacoffee on September 12, 2013, 19:20
If you feel that strongly what's preventing you from "dumping them"?