Author Topic: istock organises conference call with selected few (Read 82814 times)

gostwyck · « **Reply #175 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:36 »

Quote from: sjlocke on March 14, 2011, 14:26

I think of it more as a user focus group. But whatever, I guess. I have no problems sitting down in a chat or whatever and pointing out where I am having usability problems.

Haven't they already got all the 'user focus' they could possibly need from all those forum posts? How will expressing your view by 'conference call' be different from writing it on the forum. At least on the forum it remains a permanent record which can be referred back to.

Anyway, it's pretty obvious what's wrong (perhaps to everyone but Istock), they just need to pull their finger out and get it sorted.

Holding 'user focus' groups is usually a sure-fire method of getting nothing done at all. Lots of meetings, lots of talking, very little 'doing' other than writing up the minutes of the previous meeting and arranging the next one.

caspixel · « **Reply #176 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:41 »

How much more do they need than Sean's Greasemonky scripts???

jamirae · « **Reply #177 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:43 »

Quote from: gostwyck on March 14, 2011, 14:36

Quote from: sjlocke on March 14, 2011, 14:26
I think of it more as a user focus group. But whatever, I guess. I have no problems sitting down in a chat or whatever and pointing out where I am having usability problems.

Haven't they already got all the 'user focus' they could possibly need from all those forum posts? How will expressing your view by 'conference call' be different from writing it on the forum. At least on the forum it remains a permanent record which can be referred back to.

Anyway, it's pretty obvious what's wrong (perhaps to everyone but Istock), they just need to pull their finger out and get it sorted.

Holding 'user focus' groups is usually a sure-fire method of getting nothing done at all. Lots of meetings, lots of talking, very little 'doing' other than writing up the minutes of the previous meeting and arranging the next one.

hmmm.. good point. If a "focus group" is just another way of asking for input but going ahead and doing what they want to do anyway (kind of like how the Pimp Thread of the Week was handled), then I suppose it is pointless. I am wearing my rose-colored glasses today and am hoping there is something good to come of all this. But I suppose that hasn't happened in all these months so why would this be any different. I think the "community" is broken beyond repair at this point.

Did anyone see PastorScott's recent post (page 29, I believe) of the nomination thread:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=313542&messageid=6083042

lagereek · « **Reply #178 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:43 »

Quote from: caspixel on March 14, 2011, 14:30

Quote from: sjlocke on March 14, 2011, 14:26
I think of it more as a user focus group. But whatever, I guess. I have no problems sitting down in a chat or whatever and pointing out where I am having usability problems.

But you can post them on the forums? And have been for months, no? What makes these panels any different? Except, oh, you might have to sign an NDA and get some super special 'iStock secrets'.

Nah, you are expecting too much mate. If we can get the site back to normal so everyone can do business again and go about their everyday routine, thats good enogh for me.

All this is bad for business, thay cant be earning much right now and if they are not earning, we are not earning. We cant expect a type GM saviour to come out of the woodworks.
Istock secrets??? dont know what youre talking about here, this is a picture agency not the CIA.

Lets get this mumbojumbo out of the way and do business again.

Now if Sean can go there and get a few things done or out of the way. Thats great.

fotografer · « **Reply #179 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:47 »

Great post by Lisa on this page http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=313542&page=29

cathyslife · « **Reply #180 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:51 »

Quote from: fotografer on March 14, 2011, 14:47

Great post by Lisa on this page http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=313542&page=29

Yep. Give em hell, ~~Harry~~ Lisa!

caspixel · « **Reply #181 on:** March 14, 2011, 14:56 »

What I also find amazing is that so many people seem to be so willing to give iStock their time and expertise FOR FREE (in the form of these panels). Are they not taking enough from you already? Do people need to be reminded that this is a multi-MILLION dollar company (who are already taking the bulk of the selling price of your photos)? This is not the up-start company where people were sharing files anymore and need all the free support they can get. I've never understood why people are so willing to do stuff for big corporations for free. It's genius marketing. Corporations pay companies big bucks for consulting (or to run focus groups if that's how you want to look at it), yet iStock's going to get it for free. Amazing.

jamirae · « **Reply #182 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:00 »

Quote from: cclapper on March 14, 2011, 14:51

Quote from: fotografer on March 14, 2011, 14:47
Great post by Lisa on this page http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=313542&page=29

Yep. Give em hell, ~~Harry~~ Lisa!

my thoughts exactly! And Kris' reply to Lisa to not make it personal kind of pisses me off. He made it personal when he put his post in LARGE font and basically said that all independents have no integrity and could easily be bought. Give me a break. what's to say that an istock exclusive can't be bought for their "inside" information as well?

OhGoAway! · « **Reply #183 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:03 »

Quote from: jamirae on March 14, 2011, 15:00

Quote from: cclapper on March 14, 2011, 14:51
Quote from: fotografer on March 14, 2011, 14:47
Great post by Lisa on this page http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=313542&page=29

Yep. Give em hell, ~~Harry~~ Lisa!

my thoughts exactly! And Kris' reply to Lisa to not make it personal kind of pisses me off. He made it personal when he put his post in LARGE font and basically said that all independents have no integrity and could easily be bought. Give me a break. what's to say that an istock exclusive can't be bought for their "inside" information as well?

That's Kris Hanke for you. His standard forum MO. He's been shut down in the forums multiple times, I believe, for just those same type of attacks.

lisafx · « **Reply #184 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:12 »

Thanks for the support guys.

For some reason his shouting about how we independents don't have anything at stake, or any relationship with Istock, nor the integrity to adhere to an NDA, really fries my bacon. Guess because it is just adding insult to injury. My stuff is stolen, but I don't count because I'm allergic to Kool-aide?

There is a very distinct Animal Farm atmosphere over there lately and his post epitomizes it.

If there turns out to be some difference in the way this is dealt with for exclusives vs. non-exclusives, meaning that site security and retention of income earned becomes an "exclusive perk", then that will be the last straw for me.

cathyslife · « **Reply #185 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:19 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 14, 2011, 15:12

Thanks for the support guys.

For some reason his shouting about how we independents don't have anything at stake, or any relationship with Istock, nor the integrity to adhere to an NDA, really fries my bacon. Guess because it is just adding insult to injury. My stuff is stolen, but I don't count because I'm allergic to Kool-aide?

There is a very distinct Animal Farm atmosphere over there lately and his post epitomizes it.

If there turns out to be some difference in the way this is dealt with for exclusives vs. non-exclusives, meaning that site security and retention of income earned becomes an "exclusive perk", then that will be the last straw for me.

There was more than one person today hinting that this is the way it should be in that thread on the istock forum. Don't know if it's true, but one more reason to add to the list of things to find out in an audit.

Risamay · « **Reply #186 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:28 »

Quote from: caspixel on March 14, 2011, 14:30

Quote from: sjlocke on March 14, 2011, 14:26
I think of it more as a user focus group. But whatever, I guess. I have no problems sitting down in a chat or whatever and pointing out where I am having usability problems.

But you can post them on the forums? And have been for months, no? What makes these panels any different? Except, oh, you might have to sign an NDA and get some super special 'iStock secrets'.

Exactly.

The IS forums are just one big open panel, discussion, bug-list, etc. Call it what you will. If they can't fix things based on what people report on the IS forums, then they can't fix things.

Adding a new layer of private panel isn't going solve anything. And that's CLEARLY not the point of it - IS has proposed this to quell the rash of rage. And apparently it's working, on some of the outraged. Which I find quite outrageous, in and of itself!

C'mon folks. We're smarter than ... "Oh look - a squirrel!"

Risamay · « **Reply #187 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:31 »

Quote from: cclapper on March 14, 2011, 14:51

Quote from: fotografer on March 14, 2011, 14:47
Great post by Lisa on this page http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=313542&page=29

Yep. Give em hell, ~~Harry~~ Lisa!

Awesome post, Lisa. Go, you!

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #188 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:35 »

Quote from: caspixel on March 14, 2011, 14:56

What I also find amazing is that so many people seem to be so willing to give iStock their time and expertise FOR FREE (in the form of these panels). Are they not taking enough from you already? Do people need to be reminded that this is a multi-MILLION dollar company (who are already taking the bulk of the selling price of your photos)? This is not the up-start company where people were sharing files anymore and need all the free support they can get. I've never understood why people are so willing to do stuff for big corporations for free. It's genius marketing. Corporations pay companies big bucks for consulting (or to run focus groups if that's how you want to look at it), yet iStock's going to get it for free. Amazing.

I can only speak for myself, but I don't want to give iStock anything for free for the reasons you mentioned, however it might be in my best interests to do so.

While that may sound contradictory, to the extent that I can help get them back on track - and it'd have to be the most blinkered soul who'd argue about them having severely lost their way - I benefit from that. I don't know if I'll be participating in any of those future panels (if they occur), but I would definitely consider it if I thought it could help get problems addressed faster. People who know the site and can prioritize the things that will make the most difference; consultants will take a bunch of time to come up to speed (or will suggest things like redesigning the my_uploads page).

If I thought it was turning into the same black hole as the suggestion forum - where tons of good ideas have gone ignored for years - then I'd bail.

And as far as Lisa's reaction to the anti-independent sentiments, see here for my take on that.

caspixel · « **Reply #189 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:55 »

Quote from: jsnover on March 14, 2011, 15:35

If I thought it was turning into the same black hole as the suggestion forum - where tons of good ideas have gone ignored for years - then I'd bail.

But see, that's the thing. They've had countless (free) suggestions from the forums. And it hasn't helped a bit. I don't know why these panels would be any different, aside from the fact that instead of wasting your valuable time typing, you'd be doing it sitting on the phone. Still not getting paid. At this point, I think that place is beyond fixing, but a few "feel good" gestures might hold the contributors at bay for a while longer (at least until they can cook the books

)

gostwyck · « **Reply #190 on:** March 14, 2011, 15:58 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 14, 2011, 15:12

Thanks for the support guys.

For some reason his shouting about how we independents don't have anything at stake, or any relationship with Istock, nor the integrity to adhere to an NDA, really fries my bacon. Guess because it is just adding insult to injury. My stuff is stolen, but I don't count because I'm allergic to Kool-aide?

There is a very distinct Animal Farm atmosphere over there lately and his post epitomizes it.

If there turns out to be some difference in the way this is dealt with for exclusives vs. non-exclusives, meaning that site security and retention of income earned becomes an "exclusive perk", then that will be the last straw for me.

Simply brilliant post Lisa __ THWACK!!! You've certainly made me re-think my thoughts on the issue. Take a Heart for your trouble (I read it via the link from here so it counts!) and the smile you put on my face.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #191 on:** March 14, 2011, 16:05 »

Quote from: caspixel on March 14, 2011, 15:55

Quote from: jsnover on March 14, 2011, 15:35
If I thought it was turning into the same black hole as the suggestion forum - where tons of good ideas have gone ignored for years - then I'd bail.

But see, that's the thing. They've had countless (free) suggestions from the forums. And it hasn't helped a bit. I don't know why these panels would be any different, aside from the fact that instead of wasting your valuable time typing, you'd be doing it sitting on the phone. Still not getting paid. At this point, I think that place is beyond fixing, but a few "feel good" gestures might hold the contributors at bay for a while longer (at least until they can cook the books )

I'm married, and I think there's a similar set of issues in the maintenance of long term personal relationships - are you better off with him or without him. And sometimes, even if people have been truly sh*tty, you try to patch things up and make it work.

I wouldn't argue with you that iStock has behaved unbelievably badly over the last 7 months or so. The fact that they're largely unrepentant makes it worse. However, I'm not yet ready to give up on them. I have a lot to gain if they turned it around. If they don't, I'll at least feel that I gave it my best shot.

And BTW this marriage is my 2nd, so I do know about the process of deciding that it just isn't going to work and moving on - I'm not a hopeless pollyanna

caspixel · « **Reply #192 on:** March 14, 2011, 16:12 »

Well, I wish you good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Zephyr · « **Reply #193 on:** March 14, 2011, 16:27 »

Perhaps Istock will reconsider adding an independent to the five. FWIW, I think LisaFX would be an excellent representative for the non-exclusives.

I'm a fellow Floridian btw. ( I saw you post that in another thread.)

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #194 on:** March 14, 2011, 16:41 »

Under the proposal of an NDA I think it fitting that no one show up. Just politely decline.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #195 on:** March 14, 2011, 16:47 »

Quote from: retrorocket on March 14, 2011, 16:27

Perhaps Istock will reconsider adding an independent to the five. FWIW, I think LisaFX would be an excellent representative for the non-exclusives.

I'm a fellow Floridian btw. ( I saw you post that in another thread.)

Don't suppose I'd get a vote in that, but she absolutely would. Plenty at stake; has been around microstock since 2005; articulate and reasonable but with good BS radar and an unwillingness to be pushed around.

lisafx · « **Reply #196 on:** March 14, 2011, 16:49 »

Quote from: retrorocket on March 14, 2011, 16:27

Perhaps Istock will reconsider adding an independent to the five. FWIW, I think LisaFX would be an excellent representative for the non-exclusives.

I'm a fellow Floridian btw. ( I saw you post that in another thread.)

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. I doubt there will be an independent at all, and especially me. Probably nobody at Istock HQ thinks I could keep my big mouth shut

vonkara · « **Reply #197 on:** March 14, 2011, 17:06 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 14, 2011, 16:49

Quote from: retrorocket on March 14, 2011, 16:27
Perhaps Istock will reconsider adding an independent to the five. FWIW, I think LisaFX would be an excellent representative for the non-exclusives.

I'm a fellow Floridian btw. ( I saw you post that in another thread.)

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. I doubt there will be an independent at all, and especially me. Probably nobody at Istock HQ thinks I could keep my big mouth shut

LOL - I do think people like Lisa, JoAnn and others should be paid for their work in the contributors working condition topic. I would certainly throw a 10$ per month in this, knowing than I would eventually get more in return on the long term.

Digital66 · « **Reply #198 on:** March 14, 2011, 17:07 »

Quote from: Risamay on March 14, 2011, 15:28

The IS forums are just one big open panel, discussion, bug-list, etc. Call it what you will. If they can't fix things based on what people report on the IS forums, then they can't fix things.

Adding a new layer of private panel isn't going solve anything. And that's CLEARLY not the point of it - IS has proposed this to quell the rash of rage. And apparently it's working, on some of the outraged. Which I find quite outrageous, in and of itself!

C'mon folks. We're smarter than ... "Oh look - a squirrel!"

Where? Where? I can't see it!

thesentinel · « **Reply #199 on:** March 14, 2011, 17:29 »

Quote from: Digital66 on March 14, 2011, 17:07

Quote from: Risamay on March 14, 2011, 15:28

C'mon folks. We're smarter than ... "Oh look - a squirrel!"
Where? Where? I can't see it!

It's over there, next to the log with a wig on!

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Author Topic: istock organises conference call with selected few (Read 82814 times)

gostwyck

caspixel

jamirae

lagereek

fotografer

cathyslife

caspixel

jamirae

OhGoAway!

lisafx

cathyslife

Risamay

Risamay

Jo Ann Snover

caspixel

gostwyck

Jo Ann Snover

caspixel

Zephyr

PeterChigmaroff

Jo Ann Snover

lisafx

vonkara

Digital66

thesentinel

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