Quote from: stocker2011 on September 09, 2012, 00:08
I'm a video contributor with a port of only around 130 videos however sales are fairly consistent each month which is encouraging, and Duncan sounds like a really honest chap.

However, i can't help but think that if us video contributors were pushed further up in the search instead of being lumped at the very back of the search results (heck i'd even be happy if videos were somewhere in the middle) and in addition were given the ability to change thumbnail to represent what the video is about instead of a blank, I'm confident that my sales would be much higher. And course that would mean a higher margin of profit for you as well Duncan as video sells for much more.

At the moment i feel like we are being choked for some reason which i do not know.

Just to be clear I think Duncan also "sounds like a really honest chap." Ya know when some of us criticize an agency (and I am not saying that you are saying this) we don't always criticize an individual.  We probably shouldn't since most angered comments by us are based on decisions by them as a company, not an individual.

Yeah, Duncan's a good guy. I had a payment problem once, it turned out to be the banks' fault, but Duncan was very concerned about it and gave his personal attention to my next payment or two.

I just wish they would sell more and those big Fotosearch sales would come back again.

Quote from: Dan on September 08, 2012, 22:56
      I  have  a  very  small  port  but  unlike  what  was  said  that  maybe  a  small  port  could  pull  in  a  couple  sales.  Hasn't  worked  for  me  but  i'm  still  hanging  in  there.
     All  my  sales  elsewhere  are  from  small  ports  so  maybe  i'll   can  get  a  sale  or  two  here  also.
  I  won't  give  up  because  Duncan  sounds  like  he  really  cares  about  us  contributors.

Dan, it all depends on how you want to built up your port and what to expect from it.
If you are looking for good sales from the start a small port would require high quality/concept/niche.
Also keep in mind that vectors seem to sell best on CS which might be true for other small sites too.

Good luck

I would want someone to care first about their business otherwise it would go down the swanee pretty darn quick!

Unfortunately there are too many sites out there whose bosses may care about their business but who long since stopped caring about their contributors, regarding them as replacable and generally irrelevant. Unfortunately, they seem to be able to keep making money while doing that.

in the short term id like to think  :-\canstock are one of those sites i tend to give higher priority than maybe the numbers deserve as they seem to have an eye on the long game

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on September 09, 2012, 13:52
Unfortunately there are too many sites out there whose bosses may care about their business but who long since stopped caring about their contributors, regarding them as replacable and generally irrelevant. Unfortunately, they seem to be able to keep making money while doing that.

Well stated.^^^

I'm very flattered by the warm personal regards by many of you. Thanks!

In 2003 I was a photographer on a certain microstock agency, who I felt treated us photographers poorly and with shockingly little respect. It ate away at me until the following year when I quit and started my own agency, with the sole focus of treating photographers fairly and with respect. I set commissions at 2x that of the other agency, and aimed to run CanStock as the first "fair trade" stock agency. The goal was never to make millions, or even personal gain, but much rather doing what I thought was right.

Now over 8 years later, I think it's clear these principals still drive us today. I'm still regularly shocked to read experiences people here have in dealing with other agencies - and personally make sure we don't fall into the same grouping.

There has been lots written about the backgrounds of some of our competitors, and it would be easy to see that their focus always has been and always will be bottom line profits. While we're not a non-profit, I think it's important to remember that we're started by photographers, run by photographers, and treat our contributors how we would want to be treated.

I hope people see that this is not just marketing spin, but is how and why we were started. Which is something we are very proud of.

Cheers,
Duncan

Well with 4012 files there I still can't get more than 60-70$ per month but much better than DP. That agency really sucks

I keep thinking about uploading to Canstock.  I'm a great procrastinator.  But, I think you just knocked me off the fence, Duncan. 
Now, if I can just find a wee bit more inspiration ...

Good post and congratulations on the continued success.

is it normal these days to wait for more than 2 weeks for images review at CS? I remember it used to a few hours some time ago...

Quote from: MikLav on September 09, 2012, 20:44
is it normal these days to wait for more than 2 weeks for images review at CS? I remember it used to a few hours some time ago...

No, Mine are getting reviewed very quickly still.

Quote from: MikLav on September 09, 2012, 20:44
is it normal these days to wait for more than 2 weeks for images review at CS? I remember it used to a few hours some time ago...

No, thats not normal, they normally get reviewed same hour, same day and lately 2 days. 2 weeks is not normal. Write a note to Duncan via support and he'll sort you out.

thanks!

Quote from: MikLav on September 09, 2012, 20:44
is it normal these days to wait for more than 2 weeks for images review at CS? I remember it used to a few hours some time ago...

We, too, have images pending since the end of August, and reading this tread, I contacted Duncan.

usual reasons for such delays can be copyrighted terms ("disney", "olympics", etc) in kewyords, or new model releases, as they need to be checked by CS' legal deptartment.

I also pointed Duncan to this thread. Hope it gets resolved, soon.

I've also noticed in the past if you upload a new model release it can take extra time.

Even if I had 1 sale per month, I will continue supporting CS just out of principle, based on the agencies general attitude and devolution.
What Duncan said is not a marketing ploy, as I can confirm from all my dealings with him, that he is a person of integrity (something one can barely say of 5% agencies around).

+1 Duncan has always been extremely helpful and open in communications. Besides, CS performs pretty nicely with 1 to 2 payouts per month. Site is fairly straight forward, and uploading is easy.

My pending images are fairly generic, no special copyrighted words. Reported via support ticket, Duncan confirmed he is checking it.

Quote from: CD123 on September 10, 2012, 19:08
Even if I had 1 sale per month, I will continue supporting CS just out of principle, based on the agencies general attitude and devolution.
What Duncan said is not a marketing ploy, as I can confirm from all my dealings with him, that he is a person of integrity (something one can barely say of 5% agencies around).

Nice!
Will You continue supporting CS also with ZERO, NADA, NULL sales?
My sells on SS, DT, FT are rising but on CS stopped.
25 days not even one sold, 1300+ photos.
Upload and forget is NOT my system.
My system is upload and sell !

In 3 months I've only had 7 sales but have reached payout, so much better to sell less for more I think 

Quote from: flotsom on April 16, 2013, 08:02
In 3 months I've only had 7 sales but have reached payout, so much better to sell less for more I think 

7 sales..... 50 $   realy???
With so big luck You must bet on lottery, not sell stock photos

My sales are slow there, usually just few per month. I keep uploading because there is no so much work to do it.
Just got the $32 sale over the weekend definitely made my day!

Sale for me are normal this month on Can. Their upload process is so easy and awesome and review times are so very fast. I really enjoy uploading to Can. Thank you Canstock for the easy enjoyable upload process and fast review times!

Easy upload, fast reviews, reasonable sales, bug free site, I'm ok with that. Wish there were more places like that.