Author Topic: Different waiting times (Read 6984 times)

berryspun · « **on:** April 21, 2007, 10:19 »

As the majority of photographers here are non-exclusive, I would like to have your opinion about the waiting time in the submission process. Just in the context of microstock (macros have different sets of rules), and not taking in consideration the results nor the upload limitations, just the timing.

I have always been impressed with how SX gives very quick results.
SS is pretty quick too, usually a few hours.
123rf and SPM, although slow earners, are handling the volume quite well, with a result within 24 hours.
DT takes the longest time, 8 to 10 days.

How does the waiting time reflects about the perception of the site? Or does it? What do you think?

sharply_done · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2007, 12:08 »

I'm constantly working on new images; waiting time doesn't affect me at all, nor does it affect how I percieve a site.

Sales volume and acceptance rate are the two key things that influence my opinion of a site. I'm willing to tolerate a lower acceptance rate if the site provides adequate sales (for me). I'll abandon the site if they're "too picky" and my images don't sell there. iStock and Crestock are good examples of this.

snoozle · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2007, 12:59 »

Although I find it slightly frustrating when the estimated review time is 167 hours, at the end of the day, I don't mind if my images sell there. To be honest I don't even mind if I get rejected for artifacts or non stock worthy if the images that get accepted sell.

I must admit I was amazed that my images were reviewed so quickly on StockXpert, and that 67 out of 69 were accepted in my first 10 days or so there based on what I'd read previously, now i just need to achieve some sales and I'll be happy.

As far as I'm concerned the most important thing is how many sales I make. Not enough on any site, but that's down to me, not the sites.

Finally I do get frustrated when what I consider my boring images sell and what I consider my really nice ones don't, but I can't really argue with the buyers.

madelaide · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2007, 17:13 »

Berryspun,

There are two main concerns for me when waiting times are high:

- When I'm uploading holiday-related images and they only show up one or two days before the event. I know, I should have done them earlier.
- When submitting to a request, because it may take ages for the requestor to see it and maybe he buys something else or gives up before that. I haven't done lately and if I did with the current long waiting times in DT, I would email support to have them inspected quickly (though I don't know it would work in DT).

The assignment reviews are fast though, so the normal wait is not an issue there. If only they would accept my silhouetted joggers...

Regards,
Adelaide

halfzware · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2007, 07:51 »

StockXpert: amazingly quick (same day approval, ~1-5 hours)

SS: still very quick, but now half as fast as last year (~1 day now)

IS: depending on the queue length between 4-10 days ... I just got used to this ...

DT: once pretty quick (~3 days), now for most of the time the slowest in town (up to ~12 days in the last months). their ETR timer is both hilarious and annoying; it's simply depressing when it decreases ~4 hours within a complete day 24 hourd day. a quite nonsense feature IMO.

fotografer · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2007, 09:23 »

Quote from: madelaide on April 21, 2007, 17:13

- When submitting to a request, because it may take ages for the requestor to see it and maybe he buys something else or gives up before that. I haven't done lately and if I did with the current long waiting times in DT, I would email support to have them inspected quickly (though I don't know it would work in DT).

DT have inspected photos for me in a matter of hours if it's for a request and I e.mail them to let them know.

sharply_done · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:13 »

Quote from: halfzware on April 22, 2007, 07:51

... their ETR timer is both hilarious and annoying; it's simply depressing when it decreases ~4 hours within a complete day 24 hourd day. ...a quite nonsense feature IMO.

I think their "wait-o-meter" gets out of whack because it doesn't take into account images cutting in to the Pending queue from the Unfinished queue.

I typically upload images to DT (and FT) as soon as I've completed them, then pick out a few to keyword and categorize. Once these clear the Pending queue I'll finish off a few more, which go to the top of the queue. These Pending latecomers tend to wait longer than they used to; I don't think I'm the only one doing this.

They should perhaps change the unit of time from hours to days.

halfzware · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2007, 11:07 »

this ETR thing also misses weekends, holidays etc. IMO you can add another 2-4 days to the first estimation - in 90% of submissions the result will be closer to the actual review time than this software ever was.

I only wonder why they do not add these 2 days by default; at the moment there is always at least one weekend between submission and approval.