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Author Topic: Buyers Bailing on Istock  (Read 387888 times)

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« Reply #675 on: December 14, 2010, 15:27 »
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^^^ Followed by another swipe when Lobo locked the thread;
"So, we have another example of where the contributor base is duped into a discussion with a buyer who is also a contributor. Whereas it's appreciated that you are purchasing from the collection you are also EXCLUSIVE with I think it would be great if you could pick an account to communicate with and stick with it.

It just seems very disingenuous to attempt to use your buyer account as a leveraging tool when you participate as an exclusive contributor."


I don't understand why it is 'disingenuous' to complain as a buyer just because you are also a contributor (and an exclusive one at that). If the difficulties being experienced are in the search and purchase of images then what's wrong with speaking as the buyer in that regard? Istock makes money from Lizzielou in both  of her capacities so surely she should be treated with double respect not just ignored because of it.

That seems like the most loyal type of customer you could have. One that is an both an exclusive contributor and buyer.


« Reply #676 on: December 14, 2010, 15:39 »
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^^^ Followed by another swipe when Lobo locked the thread;
"So, we have another example of where the contributor base is duped into a discussion with a buyer who is also a contributor. Whereas it's appreciated that you are purchasing from the collection you are also EXCLUSIVE with I think it would be great if you could pick an account to communicate with and stick with it.

It just seems very disingenuous to attempt to use your buyer account as a leveraging tool when you participate as an exclusive contributor."


I don't understand why it is 'disingenuous' to complain as a buyer just because you are also a contributor (and an exclusive one at that). If the difficulties being experienced are in the search and purchase of images then what's wrong with speaking as the buyer in that regard? Istock makes money from Lizzielou in both  of her capacities so surely she should be treated with double respect not just ignored because of it.

That seems like the most loyal type of customer you could have. One that is an both an exclusive contributor and buyer.

Hopefully, not any more.

rubyroo

« Reply #677 on: December 14, 2010, 15:48 »
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That seems like the most loyal type of customer you could have. One that is an both an exclusive contributor and buyer.

That's what I was thinking.  I find the whole 'If you're a contributor too, you're opinion as a buyer is worthless' approach quite bizarre.  There wouldn't even be any iStock if weren't for such dual-identities.

« Reply #678 on: December 14, 2010, 15:53 »
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... he just added to it by pulling the old buyer/contributor/worthlessness card out of his sleeve ...

Methinks that you'd better listen to the buyer+contributor criticisms, when they are offered.  Since he/she has more skin in the game, a buyer/contributor is more likely to care about the company and is more likely to offer constructive criticism or advice.

Someone who's ONLY a buyer is a lot less likely to care enough to spend time trying to correct the problems.  I don't bother telling anyone at Walmart if I find that their little kitchen gadgets or pet supplies or whatever are not what I wanted, I just walk out and go to another store.

Imagine if at a Walmart employee meeting, one of the workers says that she thinks the displays of Christmas ornaments are messy and disorganized, and really confusing to the customers, for example she tried to buy a lighted reindeer and couldn't find one at a good price so she went down the road to get one at Home Depot.  Would the manager roll his eyes and explain to the others, well, never mind, because you see she's disingenuous, she's not only a customer but she's an EMPLOYEE TOO.

« Reply #679 on: December 14, 2010, 15:55 »
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Hopefully, not any more.

I can't imagine they would be loyal after being insulted like that. Gasoline puts out fires, right?

« Reply #680 on: December 14, 2010, 16:10 »
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... he just added to it by pulling the old buyer/contributor/worthlessness card out of his sleeve ...

Methinks that you'd better listen to the buyer+contributor criticisms, when they are offered.  Since he/she has more skin in the game, a buyer/contributor is more likely to care about the company and is more likely to offer constructive criticism or advice.

Someone who's ONLY a buyer is a lot less likely to care enough to spend time trying to correct the problems.  I don't bother telling anyone at Walmart if I find that their little kitchen gadgets or pet supplies or whatever are not what I wanted, I just walk out and go to another store.

Imagine if at a Walmart employee meeting, one of the workers says that she thinks the displays of Christmas ornaments are messy and disorganized, and really confusing to the customers, for example she tried to buy a lighted reindeer and couldn't find one at a good price so she went down the road to get one at Home Depot.  Would the manager roll his eyes and explain to the others, well, never mind, because you see she's disingenuous, she's not only a customer but she's an EMPLOYEE TOO.

great analogy!

rubyroo

« Reply #681 on: December 14, 2010, 16:12 »
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Ditto.

« Reply #682 on: December 14, 2010, 16:18 »
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great analogy!

Not really.  It would be more apt if the employee came back in with a mustache and beard and started yelling at the customer service desk that the place sucks and she can't find anything, so she is leaving.  Then she goes out and takes off the disguise and heads in to work.

It's more that everyone that is responding to the person doesn't know they are dealing with our good friend Bob the contributor, even though Bob thinks everyone might know.

Anyways, it sounds like the poster is part of a work group that uses the account, so it may be a ranting co-worker.  I don't know how they track all that stuff.

« Reply #683 on: December 14, 2010, 16:26 »
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Not really.  It would be more apt if the employee came back in with a mustache and beard and started yelling at the customer service desk that the place sucks and she can't find anything, so she is leaving.  Then she goes out and takes off the disguise and heads in to work.

It's more that everyone that is responding to the person doesn't know they are dealing with our good friend Bob the contributor, even though Bob thinks everyone might know.

Anyways, it sounds like the poster is part of a work group that uses the account, so it may be a ranting co-worker.  I don't know how they track all that stuff.

That's funny! I never thought about showing up to work in a disguise, so I can yell at my boss.

« Reply #684 on: December 14, 2010, 16:27 »
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^^^ Followed by another swipe when Lobo locked the thread;
"So, we have another example of where the contributor base is duped into a discussion with a buyer who is also a contributor. Whereas it's appreciated that you are purchasing from the collection you are also EXCLUSIVE with I think it would be great if you could pick an account to communicate with and stick with it.

It just seems very disingenuous to attempt to use your buyer account as a leveraging tool when you participate as an exclusive contributor."


I don't understand why it is 'disingenuous' to complain as a buyer just because you are also a contributor (and an exclusive one at that). If the difficulties being experienced are in the search and purchase of images then what's wrong with speaking as the buyer in that regard? Istock makes money from Lizzielou in both  of her capacities so surely she should be treated with double respect not just ignored because of it.

Wow. Just wow. The disrespect is just unreal. Are they seriously trying to get rid of all their buyers AND their sellers. How stupid can they be?

« Reply #685 on: December 14, 2010, 16:35 »
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That's funny! I never thought about showing up to work in a disguise, so I can yell at my boss.



« Reply #686 on: December 14, 2010, 16:54 »
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great analogy!

Not really.  It would be more apt if the employee came back in with a mustache and beard and started yelling at the customer service desk that the place sucks and she can't find anything, so she is leaving.  Then she goes out and takes off the disguise and heads in to work.

It's more that everyone that is responding to the person doesn't know they are dealing with our good friend Bob the contributor, even though Bob thinks everyone might know.

Anyways, it sounds like the poster is part of a work group that uses the account, so it may be a ranting co-worker.  I don't know how they track all that stuff.

I suppose you could be right, but we are not talking about someone trying to do this covertly.  Even when someone admits to being a contributor and buyer they should be allowed to raise concerns from the buyer point of view.  I dont recall reading anything blatantly obnoxious from the poster anyhow.  of course I didn't read all the threads, but then I think the point that is trying to be made here is that iStock should show more tact and respect with all of its customers - whether that customer is a buyer or a contributor. 

« Reply #687 on: December 14, 2010, 17:05 »
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great analogy!

Not really.  It would be more apt if the employee came back in with a mustache and beard and started yelling at the customer service desk that the place sucks and she can't find anything, so she is leaving.  Then she goes out and takes off the disguise and heads in to work.

It's more that everyone that is responding to the person doesn't know they are dealing with our good friend Bob the contributor, even though Bob thinks everyone might know.

Anyways, it sounds like the poster is part of a work group that uses the account, so it may be a ranting co-worker.  I don't know how they track all that stuff.

Is lizzielou an exclusive contributor? Does lizzielou (or her workgroup) buy credits to purchase images at IS? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then she deserves respect, instead of being told "don't let the door hit you on the way out." It doesn't matter if I know that she is an exclusive contributor...if she says she's a buyer and that is true, that's all that matters to me. One would think that would matter to IS.

Sean, I certainly hope that you are not saying you approve of the way Lobo cuts people down, "outs" them (he seems to think that is some sort of crime and is purposefully trying to make others believe it is criminal), and then locks the thread so that no one can even respond.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2010, 17:07 by cclapper »

« Reply #688 on: December 14, 2010, 17:22 »
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Have people seen this thread: http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=282362&page=1 ?

Two buyers out of nine responses:

Come on Istock - you are loosing money here. I search and get one page click next and get a blank page - please stop messing with something that is not broken. Im off elsewhere.

Truly, because now I have to go look at other sites. I have never shopped another site.

« Reply #689 on: December 14, 2010, 17:33 »
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Have people seen this thread: http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=282362&page=1 ?

Two buyers out of nine responses:

Come on Istock - you are loosing money here. I search and get one page click next and get a blank page - please stop messing with something that is not broken. Im off elsewhere.

Truly, because now I have to go look at other sites. I have never shopped another site.


It doesn't seem to matter, Lobo's gonna find something wrong with them, shut them up, then lock the thread.

Look in this thread:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=281812&page=12

Just 15 minutes ago rogermexico posted again about how there will be a fix for some bug or another. Bugs are still being reported. They are playing whack-a-mole yet again.  ::)

« Reply #690 on: December 14, 2010, 17:37 »
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How truly embarrassing. They should head on over to Dreamstime. :D. I'm really liking it over there. AND we get comp images that are nice and big.

Edited: Ugh. Typos.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2010, 18:31 by caspixel »

« Reply #691 on: December 14, 2010, 17:39 »
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It doesn't seem to matter, Lobo's gonna find something wrong with them, shut them up, then lock the thread.

Those people are all clearly Communist and their anti-Capitalism agenda biases their opinions.

« Reply #692 on: December 14, 2010, 17:40 »
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great analogy!

Not really.  It would be more apt if the employee came back in with a mustache and beard and started yelling at the customer service desk that the place sucks and she can't find anything, so she is leaving.  Then she goes out and takes off the disguise and heads in to work.

It's more that everyone that is responding to the person doesn't know they are dealing with our good friend Bob the contributor, even though Bob thinks everyone might know.

Anyways, it sounds like the poster is part of a work group that uses the account, so it may be a ranting co-worker.  I don't know how they track all that stuff.

Are you an iStock employee, Sean? I thought it was just an agency representing you.

Lobo's response was unforgivably rude. Instead of addressing the issue he just chose to insult the customer on what appears to be a false premise. Even if he was right about the dual account, that is not relevant to the complaint.

« Reply #693 on: December 14, 2010, 17:46 »
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...an agency representing you...

I'm thinking that might be pushing it. I'm going with they're just some people I do business with. You know like the guy you buy tickets from outside a concert.

lisafx

« Reply #694 on: December 14, 2010, 17:56 »
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Well, here are some more quotes from buyers.  This is just crazy.  And these are buyers that are still there after all the price increases, so they apparently aren't even the price sensitive ones!

Kudos to Sean for suggesting the Google workaround, BTW, but it should NOT be necessary.  Too bad only buyers who have slogged through 12 pages of that thread on the Help Forum will run across his post.  

Jessicaboyd:  

Getting one page of results and then click on the next button to get an empty page. Are we really doing away with clickable page numbers? The new options in the left panel look nice, but I'm not getting any images at all in some cases of very common words. I agree with whomever said it was a bad idea to release this during a busy holiday time. Not the most well-conceived idea. IMHO. Going to have to go somewhere else. Sorry iStock.

Ronnieb:

Any idea when this bug is fixed? I'm alrady waiting for more than a day to download some material. I agree with a lot of people here that this is NOT the way to do business... When my credits are used I quit Istock..

Keylock71:

Got to say... istock has been my primary go to site for stock imagery at work, but this roll out is been very poorly handled from what I can tell. Not at all professional or considerate to the folks who have been buying stock images from here.

« Last Edit: December 14, 2010, 18:00 by lisafx »

« Reply #695 on: December 14, 2010, 18:05 »
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Not at all professional or considerate to the folks who have been buying stock images from here.

[/i]

That seems to be iStock's new mantra.

« Reply #696 on: December 14, 2010, 18:07 »
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I wonder if all we are seeing is a small proportion of the istock buyers going elsewhere or if there's going to be something big happening here?  If there's a herd mentality, this could lead to a big change.  It seems that the vast majority of contributors are capable of putting up with anything istock do but are buyers the same?

« Reply #697 on: December 14, 2010, 18:20 »
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There is a number of reasons why someone would have two accounts, one for buying and one for contributing.

If I were working at some company as a designer, I would have one buyer's account.
And If I was contributing images in my free time, I sure wouldn't be using the same account I am using at work.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #698 on: December 14, 2010, 18:49 »
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I just got back to my desk and saw that the thread had been locked. I was thinking "thank goodness Lobo stepped in and stopped the verbal abuse" but no, he just added to it by pulling the old buyer/contributor/worthlessness card out of his sleeve and locked the thread in his usual cowardly way.

Just freakin incredible. I wonder how many times I have said that in the last few weeks about IS.
I am totally incandescent about this. Totally. I will refrain from saying more here. I have SMd Lobo directly.

« Reply #699 on: December 14, 2010, 18:55 »
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I just got back to my desk and saw that the thread had been locked. I was thinking "thank goodness Lobo stepped in and stopped the verbal abuse" but no, he just added to it by pulling the old buyer/contributor/worthlessness card out of his sleeve and locked the thread in his usual cowardly way.

Just freakin incredible. I wonder how many times I have said that in the last few weeks about IS.
I am totally incandescent about this. Totally. I will refrain from saying more here. I have SMd Lobo directly.

How can you be blocked from posting and still have access to sitemail? I thought the two were intertwined.


 

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