Author Topic: What do you strongly dislike about Dreamstime? (Read 55280 times)

traveler1116 · « **on:** September 12, 2009, 12:56 »

Just my quick list:
1. 6 months of holding images
2. increased amount of subscription sales
3. falling RPI
4. new pricing policy
5. disabling images not deleting them
6. slowest disabling process for images, having to put a reason for each one
7. getting images rejected for having a model release
8. locking keywords on basically every image
9. giving away free images

edited because hate is too strong

cthoman · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2009, 13:08 »

Right now, my biggest complaint would be that my sales fell off a cliff in July and haven't seemed to recover. I'm not sure what the reason is. Hopefully, they recover because Dreamstime used to be my solid number 3 earner, but last month they were 4th. This month they may even end up fifth.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2009, 13:10 »

They have been my fifth as well.

epantha · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2009, 13:35 »

1. Inconsistent sales.
2. Inconsistent image reviews

Alatriste · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2009, 13:42 »

Rejections for too many images of the same or similar subjet.

gostwyck · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2009, 13:42 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 12, 2009, 12:56

Just my quick list:
1. 6 months of holding images
2. increased amount of subscription sales
3. falling RPI
4. new pricing policy
5. disabling images not deleting them
6. slowest disabling process for images, having to put a reason for each one
7. getting images rejected for having a model release
8. locking keywords on basically every image
9. giving away free images

Rather a silly statement isn't it? 'Hate' is a very strong word. Why would they have locked your keywords anyway? It usually only happens when someone is trying to screw them around when they suddenly decide they no longer like the lock-in period.

Personally I think they're an excellent agency who treat their contributors with respect and have always paid the highest % of commission compared to any other significant microstock agency.

madelaide · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2009, 13:45 »

The only thing I hate is subs. Everywhere.

gostwyck · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2009, 14:05 »

Quote from: madelaide on September 12, 2009, 13:45

The only thing I hate is subs. Everywhere.

Sub's would be absolutely fine if only the various agencies had increased package prices at the same rate as have for PPD sales. They're slashing their own throats as well as ours by not doing so.

When SS started they were paying out the same per sale as we were getting for a medium-sized sale at IS (20c). Now we're getting 38c on SS (at most) whereas at IS a medium sale (non-exclusive) pays between 1.14 - 1.80.

fotografer · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2009, 14:17 »

I agree with you ,
although the policy of rejecting an image for having a model release for part of a body is annoying as you sometime don't know where they draw the line.

Quote from: gostwyck on September 12, 2009, 13:42

Rather a silly statement isn't it? 'Hate' is a very strong word. Why would they have locked your keywords anyway? It usually only happens when someone is trying to screw them around when they suddenly decide they no longer like the lock-in period.

Personally I think they're an excellent agency who treat their contributors with respect and have always paid the highest % of commission compared to any other significant microstock agency.

lisafx · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2009, 14:31 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 12, 2009, 13:42

Personally I think they're an excellent agency who treat their contributors with respect and have always paid the highest % of commission compared to any other significant microstock agency.

+1 !

Seriously, when you compare Dreamstime to their competition they are head and shoulders above most in the way they treat contributors and run their agency.

gostwyck · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2009, 14:38 »

Quote from: fotografer on September 12, 2009, 14:17

I agree with you ,
although the policy of rejecting an image for having a model release for part of a body is annoying as you sometime don't know where they draw the line.

Oh yes __ they can be absurdly pedantic at times!

takestock · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2009, 14:59 »

I don't hate anything about DT.
For me (and I'm sure many will agree) it's one of the most professionly run sites and I never have had any reason to complain there.

MikLav · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2009, 15:29 »

Quote from: lisafx on September 12, 2009, 14:31

Quote from: gostwyck on September 12, 2009, 13:42

Personally I think they're an excellent agency who treat their contributors with respect and have always paid the highest % of commission compared to any other significant microstock agency.

+1 !

Seriously, when you compare Dreamstime to their competition they are head and shoulders above most in the way they treat contributors and run their agency.

I agree - I don't see anything to 'hate'.

Artemis · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2009, 17:23 »

I love DT because of it's friendliness and it's willingness to listen to their contributors; i do get the feeling they honestly try to respect us and our wishes...and that's the only reason i haven't ditched them yet.
What i truly hate about them is the sales; somehow DT just doesn't get started for me. I'm into stock for about a year now and DT is the only one lagging really behind in sales. I made $173 in a whole year there, that's a lot less than i make in 1 month on iStock or Shutterstock. It comes even after BigStock in revenue!
I have the feeling i dont get any exposure there (my topseller on every other site has 41 views and 3 sales on DT).
With only 221 pics i'm aware my portfolio is tiny, but it seems to work on the other sites, just not on DT.
Pities

Pixart · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2009, 17:39 »

Dude, I don't think it's very healthy to sit around making hate lists. If your relationship is so toxic it's probably a good idea to sever ties and move on.

disorderly · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2009, 17:52 »

I do my best to avoid working for or with people I hate. DT annoys me on rare occasion, and on even rarer occasion I have to express my dissatisfaction. But hate? I save that for the truly deserving.

Allsa · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2009, 17:56 »

I've always been dealt with fairly by Dreamstime. The only complaint I have is about subscriptions, but that's a problem with most of the micros these days.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2009, 20:36 »

Quote from: Pixart on September 12, 2009, 17:39

Dude, I don't think it's very healthy to sit around making hate lists. If your relationship is so toxic it's probably a good idea to sever ties and move on.

In the process, already spent 4 or 5 hours deleting 25% of my images, only 10+ hours to go sitting here click click write a reason click back click again and start over.
Right now the biggest thing is their changing the pricing policy and not allowing me to opt out or disable my images, stating that the terms say they can change the pricing when and how they want and still keep your images for 6 months. I think that is unfair but it's in their TOS which btw means they could give your images away for nothing and still keep on here for 6 months and while giving away images for free is not realistic they could more likely switch to a more aggressive subscription plan with lower payouts and force you to stay with that.

rene · « **Reply #18 on:** September 12, 2009, 20:53 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 12, 2009, 12:56

Just my quick list:
1. 6 months of holding images
2. increased amount of subscription sales
3. falling RPI
4. new pricing policy
5. disabling images not deleting them
6. slowest disabling process for images, having to put a reason for each one
7. getting images rejected for having a model release
8. locking keywords on basically every image
9. giving away free images

I don't like
10. Changing policies for old contributors. No possibility to option-in/out or close account when TOS change.
11. Exclusive images - you can check in but cannot check out
12. Assignment images blocked for one year
13. They pay only 25$ for assignment image and in the same time recommend 250$ for others
14. "Selective" forum, what they don't like disappears
15. Very slow earnings compared to IS and SS
16. About 40%!!! commission drop.
17. No information send to contributors about important changes, like new prices policy
18. Lack of information about Partners program
19. Sometimes strange earnings like 0,24. DT team never explain that
20. Usually announces made are not clear, not precise for me. Like politicians speech.
21. Subscriptions not limited in size.
22. "sale is a sale" reasoning

traveler1116 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 12, 2009, 21:07 »

Quote from: lisafx on September 12, 2009, 14:31

Quote from: gostwyck on September 12, 2009, 13:42

Personally I think they're an excellent agency who treat their contributors with respect and have always paid the highest % of commission compared to any other significant microstock agency.

+1 !

Seriously, when you compare Dreamstime to their competition they are head and shoulders above most in the way they treat contributors and run their agency.

The thing is, even if fotolia does something terrible I can decide not work with them, when DT does it I cannot decide to leave and to me that makes them way below everyone else, regardless of sales or how responsive they are to some issues or percentage paid.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2009, 21:26 »

Count me another fan of DT. Sub sales, sure I don't like them, but it's a market force that's affecting many of the sites so you can't just punish DT. Not crazy about the upload process, how it ties up my browser... have to wait till the uploads are completed to work in other tabs. But that's just me being lazy and not opening another window to keep working while I wait. What counts is the total dollars in my pockets, and DT has been on a steady rise for me lately, knock on wood.

hoi ha · « **Reply #21 on:** September 13, 2009, 00:01 »

Quote from: lisafx on September 12, 2009, 14:31

Quote from: gostwyck on September 12, 2009, 13:42

Personally I think they're an excellent agency who treat their contributors with respect and have always paid the highest % of commission compared to any other significant microstock agency.

+1 !

Seriously, when you compare Dreamstime to their competition they are head and shoulders above most in the way they treat contributors and run their agency.

+2!
While my sales volume at DT is lower than at other sites, they are my highest RPI even with sub sales - the 19 cent commissions on istock bother me more than the subs commission at DT. But sales aside, I think they are the only site to get the balance just about right between contributors' and buyers' interests. I respect how they run their business.

Clivia · « **Reply #22 on:** September 13, 2009, 02:02 »

I have a great deal of respect for the owners of Dreamstime. Over the years they have always been open and up front about any changes, both good and bad. They treat the contributors with respect, and always respond to questions.
All the sites have the ability to change terms written into the contract, they have to in order to stay in business.

kaarsten · « **Reply #23 on:** September 13, 2009, 02:36 »

I have no reason to complain about DT, too. They`re doing a fine job and show respect to interests of buyers as well as contributors.

sharpshot · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2009, 04:13 »

I used to like DT a lot but my rejection rate jumped a few months ago and then they announced the commissions cut. It is hard to see how I am going to increase earnings with more rejections and less commission. I am holding off uploading until I can see how this works out.

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Author Topic: What do you strongly dislike about Dreamstime? (Read 55280 times)

traveler1116

cthoman

traveler1116

epantha

Alatriste

gostwyck

madelaide

gostwyck

fotografer

lisafx

gostwyck

takestock

MikLav

Artemis

Pixart

disorderly

Allsa

traveler1116

rene

traveler1116

PowerDroid

hoi ha

Clivia

kaarsten

sharpshot

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