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Author Topic: Yotola - What are Your Thoughts?  (Read 24309 times)

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ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #50 on: June 17, 2012, 04:22 »
0
Why is their 'video' just some bloke reading out some slides as they're being shown, like a lazy Powerpoint presenter? Do they think we can't read? (OK, I only waited for two slides being read before exiting.)
That is one amateur looking site!


gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #51 on: June 17, 2012, 04:38 »
0
on principle I don't get involved with any who:
a) uses bold text randomly
b) underlines words in sentences
c) uses fluro yellow/red on their site
d) use exclamation points
and most importantly  ;D
e) highlights text in yellow

« Reply #52 on: June 17, 2012, 07:05 »
0
No thanks.

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #53 on: June 17, 2012, 08:18 »
0
I was going to let Yotola save face, but since they couldn't handle the heat, I'm going to share with you something: Yes, all of you have been deceived and you are being manipulated.

I want to tell you that I did not change the subject line. A person from Yotola actually sent me a direct message, requesting that I change it. I still have the message to prove it! The reason was they are new and my "Yotola (scam)" subject line was showing up in the search engines. Yep, that's the truth!!!

I stated that by principle I could not because "Yotola (scam?)" was a sincere question and not an accusation. But after many of you confirmed my instincts and I got this benevolent censorship request, I knew I definitely couldn't change it! So what do I change it to? Yotola (slickness?); Yotola (scheme?); Yotola (hustle?). If you don't like what you see in the search engines, then do good deeds and provide fairness and justice to those who work for you! Was I trying to make them look bad? No, I found them and was intrigued. For a minute, I was hooked into their bait and switch hard sell landing page. But it smelled wrong and I thought I'd ask the experts here on Microstockblog.

I thought I'd compromise: I responded that I was offended by Yotola and soYotola contact the owner/moderator of this forum with a request to change the subject.

Well, looks like it happened. Sure the owner has a livelihood and a reputation to maintain. But I'll admit, I was taken aback. Wondering on whose side the owner is on. Maybe both sides. Maybe my days at microstockgroup are numbered. But I don't care. As evidenced by the responses here, the sales and marketing strategy Yotola is using is unethical and offensive to many. I hope they take this crowd-sourced study on the forum seriously enough to reconsider their scheme (not a perjorative).

We're already paid pennies. Now we are expected to make ONE PENNY on some magical promise of advertisers "lined up" to pay money to advertise (good luck in overpowering people's Firefox AdBlock Plus as they download our images for FREE!!!>:(  No, none of these "free" sites tell you that do they!!!!! They may get United Airlines, Ford and Apple as advertisers. But folks will never see the ad with AdBlock Plus! And with 3,200 5-star average reviews, you can tell lots of people use AdBlock Plus!

I may end up being an old microstock fossil, but I'm going to speak out and express my opinion. Sorry to hurt your feelings Yotola, but you're a bunch of bullies. You hit a bunch of my classmates and I'm going to stand up to you, even if it means I get piled into the ground. Although you might get big and fat enough one day to pull more magnificent manipulations, like iStuck, eventually you'll need to reap what you sow.

Good luck my photographer, illustrator and videographer friends. The battle for our dignity is at a new level of intensity of huge proportions.

« Reply #54 on: June 17, 2012, 09:09 »
0
I didn't see anything illegal on their site and while I thought there were lots of unanswered questions I wouldn't have used the scam word myself. I can see the point of removing the Scam? word by the moderator simply to avoid hassles. In fairness, there are so many intentionally misleading pitches on the internet, this one only reaches my category of mildly offensive. 
I think the sensitivity on this subject stems from the irritation of having someone else changing one's words that were used in good faith.

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #55 on: June 17, 2012, 09:39 »
0
I didn't see anything illegal on their site and while I thought there were lots of unanswered questions I wouldn't have used the scam word myself. I can see the point of removing the Scam? word by the moderator simply to avoid hassles. In fairness, there are so many intentionally misleading pitches on the internet, this one only reaches my category of mildly offensive. 
I think the sensitivity on this subject stems from the irritation of having someone else changing one's words that were used in good faith.

Lou you are providing an excellent example of being rational. Thank you for bringing balance. However, legal and illegal is not always moral. Slavery was legal in the United States. But many privileged Americans believed it was wrong. I know life isn't that simple. But I wanted to address that word.

« Reply #56 on: June 17, 2012, 09:55 »
0
I think the topic title should have stayed as the original. There were so many topics with offensive titles regarding istock or fotolia or other big agencies that make the most of our money, but if some rep of some site (yotola-who?) asks here, the moderator changes the title. WTH is this? I am more and more getting fed up with what's going on in this forum.
Regarding the subject, this smells scam really bad and as Sean said, it's just one more nail in the coffin.
Dribble, dude - you surely are not that (insert_censored_word_here), yes? You can "contribute" to these guys, of course. Maybe this way you'll add some value to your work. I'll be number 23 on the list of people who ignore you - and you my one and only ignored creature.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2012, 10:24 by Tabimura »

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #57 on: June 17, 2012, 10:42 »
0
Looks like someone posted something about Yotola in the iStock off-topic forumand it was promptly deleted...Understandably so.  :P

WarrenPrice

« Reply #58 on: June 17, 2012, 10:46 »
0
I think the topic title should have stayed as the original. There were so many topics with offensive titles regarding istock or fotolia or other big agencies that make the most of our money, but if some rep of some site (yotola-who?) asks here, the moderator changes the title. WTH is this? I am more and more getting fed up with what's going on in this forum.
Regarding the subject, this smells scam really bad and as Sean said, it's just one more nail in the coffin.
Dribble, dude - you surely are not that (insert_censored_word_here), yes? You can "contribute" to these guys, of course. Maybe this way you'll add some value to your work. I'll be number 23 on the list of people who ignore you - and you my one and only ignored creature.

Here is a good example of not pissing off the "buyer."  Tyler must have to play go-between -- between his "paying" customers and active forum participants.  After all, the forum is paid by advertisers.

fotorob

  • Professional stock content producer
« Reply #59 on: June 17, 2012, 11:12 »
0
Looks like someone posted something about Yotola in the iStock off-topic forumand it was promptly deleted...Understandably so.  :P

Seriously? The post a video on their site with a detailed explaination on how to rip off istock-contributors and they dare to post about their site on the istock forum? What were they thinking...

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #60 on: June 17, 2012, 11:24 »
0
Looks like someone posted something about Yotola in the iStock off-topic forumand it was promptly deleted...Understandably so.  :P

Seriously? The post a video on their site with a detailed explaination on how to rip off istock-contributors and they dare to post about their site on the istock forum? What were they thinking...

Yep, I found it with yippy.com search engine. If anyone is going to remove yotola links from their forum, it would definitely be istock!  ;D

« Reply #61 on: June 17, 2012, 11:34 »
0
Scam or not, I'm really not crazy about Yotola obtaining phone numbers and calling people!  Here in the US, we have a national Do Not Call Registry and List.  When you register your phone number, marketers from companies you've never done business with are forbidden by law from calling you. 

https://www.donotcall.gov/faq/faqbusiness.aspx#who

Those who break the Do Not Call law be warned:

Quote
A consumer who receives a telemarketing call despite being on the registry can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, either online or by calling a toll-free number. Violators could be fined up to $16,000 per incident.

Lagereek

« Reply #62 on: June 17, 2012, 11:52 »
0
Selling rejects from other sites?  jeez, how low can one stoop?  oh well, crap in, crap out I suppose. I heard there are sites promoting reusable toilet paper? You know, you use it and then some sites will wring out the garbage, hanging it up to dry. BIG money in this business. ::)
« Last Edit: June 17, 2012, 11:56 by Lagereek »

« Reply #63 on: June 17, 2012, 12:41 »
0
Yeah, I changed the title of the thread after receiving an email from Yotola.  The email was considerate and simply asked that the subject of the thread be changed.  I felt it was a fair request and everyone's posts and opinions are still in tact and so obliged. 

I am not supportive of the way Yotola has their site set up or even their business model but I am a believer in giving everyone (or at least trying to give everyone) a fair platform, so I changed the thread title to be more neutral in stance.  If someone does a search for Yotola on google and wants read some opinions there is plenty of food for thought inside the thread despite the neutrality of the thread title.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2012, 13:11 by leaf »

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #64 on: June 17, 2012, 12:51 »
0
I think the topic title should have stayed as the original. There were so many topics with offensive titles regarding istock or fotolia or other big agencies that make the most of our money, but if some rep of some site (yotola-who?) asks here, the moderator changes the title. WTH is this? I am more and more getting fed up with what's going on in this forum.
Regarding the subject, this smells scam really bad and as Sean said, it's just one more nail in the coffin.
Dribble, dude - you surely are not that (insert_censored_word_here), yes? You can "contribute" to these guys, of course. Maybe this way you'll add some value to your work. I'll be number 23 on the list of people who ignore you - and you my one and only ignored creature.

Here is a good example of not pissing off the "buyer."  Tyler must have to play go-between -- between his "paying" customers and active forum participants.  After all, the forum is paid by advertisers.

Well, since you so prudently reminded us that money talks, I just bought premium membership at microstockgroup.com. So not only am I an active forum participant, but now I'm a "paying" one.

I can't afford to buy those ads at microstockgroup.com (which I will no longer need to see). But I can do something and encourage Tyler to keep up the good work. That wayassuming Yotola doesn't beat me to itI'll have more money in the forum than them.

cI encourage all of you that regularly use this forumand especially those annoyed with people wanting our work for ONE PENNYto do the same. $25 (or 2,500 "free" downloads of your best sellingor rejectedimages), if it means we can secure a safe haven from unscrupulous BUYERS.

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #65 on: June 17, 2012, 12:56 »
0
Yeah, I changed the title of the thread after receiving an email from Yotola. 

I am not supportive of the way Yotola has their site set up or even their business model but I am a believer in giving everyone (or at least trying to give everyone) a fair platform, so I changed the thread title to be more neutral in stance.  If someone does a search for Yotola on google and wants read some opinions there is plenty of food for thought inside the thread despite the neutrality of the thread title.

Although I disagree, I understand your position.

« Reply #66 on: June 17, 2012, 13:03 »
0
My decision to change the thread title had nothing to do with money - Yotola hasn't given me a dime.  Not in terms of stock sales or ads or otherwise.  It had only to do with providing a fair starting point for the discussion, simple as that.

Thanks for the membership though - it won't give you more 'influence' but it will remove the ads as you say, and it will fund a kiva loan


Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #67 on: June 17, 2012, 13:09 »
0
My decision to change the thread title had nothing to do with money - Yotola hasn't given me a dime.  Not in terms of stock sales or ads or otherwise.  It had only to do with providing a fair starting point for the discussion, simple as that.

Thanks for the membership though - it won't give you more 'influence' but it will remove the ads as you say, and it will fund a kiva loan


Understood. I use Kiva as well. I'm not trying to buy influence. I'm trying to put my money where my mouth is. I did some complaining and did very little action. The membershipand including a call for everyone else to donateis that action. However, I do hope you hold the same standards of same fair starting point for all discussions on the forum.

« Reply #68 on: June 17, 2012, 13:18 »
0
My decision to change the thread title had nothing to do with money - Yotola hasn't given me a dime.  Not in terms of stock sales or ads or otherwise.  It had only to do with providing a fair starting point for the discussion, simple as that.

Thanks for the membership though - it won't give you more 'influence' but it will remove the ads as you say, and it will fund a kiva loan


Understood. I use Kiva as well. I'm not trying to buy influence. I'm trying to put my money where my mouth is. I did some complaining and did very little action. The membershipand including a call for everyone else to donateis that action. However, I do hope you hold the same standards of same fair starting point for all discussions on the forum.


Absolutely I would.  I would say this thread is exactly an example of that.  I changed the subject of thread for a company who I have no history with, and whose business strategy I don't agree with.  I'd certainly change a thread for a fellow contributer or stock agency whose business strategy or purpose I DID agree with.

I can't say I catch all the unfair thread subjects or even realize or consider them unfair unless someone mentions it, but I'll always take a request seriously when I'm sent a notice about a thread.

« Reply #69 on: June 17, 2012, 13:33 »
0
sophisticated scam

drugal

    This user is banned.
« Reply #70 on: June 17, 2012, 13:40 »
0
sophisticated scam

"Trads" always said that microstock is an extremely unsophisticated scam.

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #71 on: June 17, 2012, 15:31 »
0
sophisticated scam

"Trads" always said that microstock is an extremely unsophisticated scam.

New Oxford American Dictionary:
scam |skam|
noun informal
a dishonest scheme; a fraud : [with adj. ] an insurance scam.
verb ( scammed , scamming ) [ trans. ]
swindle : a guy that scams the elderly out of their savings.
DERIVATIVES
scammer noun
ORIGIN 1960s: of unknown origin.

grafix04

« Reply #72 on: June 17, 2012, 21:39 »
0
I don't see why the title should be changed.  The title didn't say "Yotola is a scam!" or "Warning: Yotala Scam".  It was a question asking whether Yotola is a scam or not.  They're a new site, a new concept and looking at their ridiculous website, it sure looks like a scam.

If they were so hell bent on looking legitimate, then why did they create a site that screams SCAM!   Why the lack of transparency?  Why are they grabbing people's phone numbers from registries when they hide their details in their registry?  These guys are a joke and lack the professionalism to run any sort of legitimate business.

Everything about Yotola reaks of a scam so I can't see what the big deal is.  The title should have remained because it could possibly be a scam.

« Reply #73 on: June 18, 2012, 04:02 »
0
I don't see why the title should be changed.  The title didn't say "Yotola is a scam!" or "Warning: Yotala Scam".  It was a question asking whether Yotola is a scam or not.  They're a new site, a new concept and looking at their ridiculous website, it sure looks like a scam.

If they were so hell bent on looking legitimate, then why did they create a site that screams SCAM!   Why the lack of transparency?  Why are they grabbing people's phone numbers from registries when they hide their details in their registry?  These guys are a joke and lack the professionalism to run any sort of legitimate business.

Everything about Yotola reaks of a scam so I can't see what the big deal is.  The title should have remained because it could possibly be a scam.

I didn't know that previous title was different..  and I called it a scam without any influence..

This is very clearly a scam and changing the title otherwise can only mislead some naive people into this trap..

Actually, the title must be something like: SCAM ALERT: STAY AWAY FROM YOTOLA

Lagereek

« Reply #74 on: June 18, 2012, 04:07 »
0
I don't believe this is a scam. I foresaw this concept a few years ago so the pitch is no surprise. The question is will it be worthwhile to upload. The income projections were vague to say the least but I image the payment to photographers will be in the .01 to .02 per download. No idea what the payout amount will be.
I'm no longer uploading to any of my current sites, mainly due to spending my computer time on my more artistic interests. But I'd love to keep track of Yotola to see what happens.
Not sure what we'll call this new concept. Maxi-Mini Microstock?

Hi there!

Same here,  with all the cowboys and scams going on its not hard to guess that someone would come along scaveging on cadavers, in the wild, the bones are left,  here its the rejects.


 

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