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Author Topic: New Survey...  (Read 23263 times)

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« Reply #75 on: August 25, 2011, 06:30 »
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I didn't get the survey. I got the newsletter where KKT talked about Rebecca stepping in from Aug. 4th, so I get emails from them, just not ALL emails from them, I guess.

Same for me.
Maybe they decided to not send it out to contributors without active files in their portfolio....


« Reply #76 on: August 25, 2011, 06:33 »
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I didn't get the survey. I got the newsletter where KKT talked about Rebecca stepping in from Aug. 4th, so I get emails from them, just not ALL emails from them, I guess.

Same for me.
Maybe they decided to not send it out to contributors without active files in their portfolio....

But I actually still have 5 active files, so that can't be the excuse.

Microbius

« Reply #77 on: August 25, 2011, 06:42 »
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I think it's probably just another bug.

« Reply #78 on: August 25, 2011, 06:52 »
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But I actually still have 5 active files, so that can't be the excuse.

Oh, I thought you had deactivated everything - my mistake.

Anyway, sending an e-mail to all contributors seems to be a major challenge...

« Reply #79 on: August 25, 2011, 08:10 »
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Excellent post from StanRohrer on the previous page. I couldn't agree more, and have raised at least some of those points in the survey I returned.

lisafx

« Reply #80 on: August 25, 2011, 13:57 »
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Excellent posts Stan and Liz.  You were both more detailed in your responses than I was, but the bottom line was the same.  My main concerns are the RC system (and the grossly high sales numbers required to meet the levels), the confusing collections and pricing schemes, and the incompetent site maintenance.

« Reply #81 on: August 25, 2011, 14:21 »
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Excellent posts Stan and Liz.  You were both more detailed in your responses than I was, but the bottom line was the same.  My main concerns are the RC system (and the grossly high sales numbers required to meet the levels), the confusing collections and pricing schemes, and the incompetent site maintenance.

yes, I agree, I wasn't as verbose, but pretty much responded the same way. 

« Reply #82 on: August 25, 2011, 14:37 »
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I didn't get the survey. I got the newsletter where KKT talked about Rebecca stepping in from Aug. 4th, so I get emails from them, just not ALL emails from them, I guess.

Same for me.
Maybe they decided to not send it out to contributors without active files in their portfolio....

But I actually still have 5 active files, so that can't be the excuse.

did you check spam folders?  it isn't actually coming from them since it's a survey monkey thing or some other service (i dont exactly remember).  i didnt think I got it either but there it was hiding in the spam folder. :)

« Reply #83 on: August 25, 2011, 15:40 »
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Nothing in the spam folder either...

« Reply #84 on: August 26, 2011, 09:55 »
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Not in mine, either. I went back to July 27. No biggie, most have shared the same thing I would have and was probably more eloquent about it. I seriously don't think it matters a bit, since ALL of these concerns have been posted over and over at the forums and no one bothered to pay attention. All Rebecca had to do was sit and read through the threads. Maybe then she would at least get the idea of how annoying it is to have to wade through threads just to find important IS announcements.

To me it just looks like another carrot being dangled to get everyone to "settle down" and feel as though they actually ARE important.  ::)

« Reply #85 on: August 26, 2011, 11:02 »
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I think the survey is important because this should give her the opinion of the overall mood of the contributors. She has no prior experience with istock, maybe she thinks that the forums are just for the "untalented whining artists" while the "real pros" are all superhappy and content and dont bother with the forums at all.

That is why I believe  it is very, very important to make your voice heard and fill out the survey even if you just answer every question with just a half sentence.

« Reply #86 on: August 26, 2011, 13:20 »
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I think the survey is important because this should give her the opinion of the overall mood of the contributors.

Sorry but you are fooling yourself if that's what you believe. Rebecca will only be interested in meeting the targets set by Getty/H&F. Contributors and their precious feelings are essentially an irritation and inconvenience to their ambitions to make spectacular short-term profits and sell the business on.

« Reply #87 on: August 26, 2011, 13:54 »
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their ambitions to make spectacular short-term profits and sell the business on.

I think you have said similar before. I cannot find a link, sorry, but I believe it was either here or on the iStock forum. And I wondered then -- which bit of the business do you believe will be "sold on" - the portfolio of Getty brands as a whole or iStockphoto in isolation ?

Do you think that it is likely that iStockphoto would be sold in isolation when so much of what has happened over recent years seems to point towards stratifying and streamlining the various brands such that there is product available at all price points across various different models - whilst really they are all part of the same whole. The whole thing surely only works if they are all part of a whole.

« Reply #88 on: August 26, 2011, 14:01 »
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I really dont know - who would they sell istock too? Maybe Getty as a whole?? But I still dont understand the business logic of undermining the community.

The community was the basis of the economic success of istock. It is in their own economic interest to keep people interested in staying exclusive, uploading as many pictures as possible to fill several agencies and various collections.

I know a lot of exclusives who are thinking of quitting or are just uploading a lot less. The photographers are focussing more on their assignment work, the people with other day jobs on their other work. And pond5 is attracting the photographers who are learning video. 50% royalties with no shifting mirage targets is hard to beat as a offer.

Like Stan said, the RC system is dividing the community, there is a lot less interest in sharing and JJs announcement that the "hard working and talented artist has nothing to fear" is unfortunately not calming people. Because who will make that decision? The customers or istock?

Ok, now i am ranting. I just thought the survey was really well designed. It gives me hope that they do want to bring the site back into its leadership position.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 14:03 by cobalt »

« Reply #89 on: August 26, 2011, 15:11 »
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Gray suit to lowly intern: "So here's the new batch of the responses to go through. The interface is a little buggy but as you can see in the column on the left these are your keywords to search for. The main one of course is 'professional', then there's 'communication', etc. That's what we're focusing on, we need to get rid of rogermexico. He's Mr. Casual and that won't cut it any more with the kind of news we have in the pipeline. He's got to go but we need the data to back us up, so find it. Good luck, you'll do swell. Oh, and if you finish by 4pm, you get a really cool rubber duck as a memento. Bitter used to play with it in the corporate bathroom. Just imagine!"

I ain't filling out no stinkin survey!

« Reply #90 on: August 26, 2011, 15:17 »
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Both rogermexico and lobo are doing a great job. Id be very surprised if they let go of them.

I know lobo and his comments arent popular, but the "good cop/bad cop routine" works well between both.

They can always bring in additional moderators or admins to liven up the place if they want to. Or just post any bad news and disappear from the forums without answering questions.

I am still trying to be optimistic and hope there will be a new positive direction. But maybe as an exclusive I have to see the half full glass.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 15:23 by cobalt »

Cogent Marketing

« Reply #91 on: August 26, 2011, 15:48 »
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Cobalt - and I quote "Both rogermexico and lobo are doing a great job. Id be very surprised if they let go of them"

Sincerely - what planet are you living on?

Rogermexico (OK - maybe) but Lobo...? Your are completely insane, or delusional. In your defense your 'exclusive' so probably the latter.

« Reply #92 on: August 26, 2011, 15:53 »
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their ambitions to make spectacular short-term profits and sell the business on.


I think you have said similar before. I cannot find a link, sorry, but I believe it was either here or on the iStock forum. And I wondered then -- which bit of the business do you believe will be "sold on" - the portfolio of Getty brands as a whole or iStockphoto in isolation ?

Do you think that it is likely that iStockphoto would be sold in isolation when so much of what has happened over recent years seems to point towards stratifying and streamlining the various brands such that there is product available at all price points across various different models - whilst really they are all part of the same whole. The whole thing surely only works if they are all part of a whole.


I think the general assumption, based on what H&F does, is that it will sell what it acquired in 3-5 years (if possible) to make a profit and move on. Whether the pieces are sold separately or as a whole is only a matter of where they can find the best deal. I read one article about them that claimed their men's room urinals are named for deals that didn't work out.  Google brings up many articles about their other acquisitions and one has a picture of Mr. Hellman with some of his acquired wisdom.

The dividend recapitalization at the end of last year (talked about before here in another thread and in this article) suggest that they can't sell at a profit at the moment.

« Reply #93 on: August 26, 2011, 16:40 »
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"Rogermexico (OK - maybe) but Lobo...? Your are completely insane, or delusional. In your defense your 'exclusive' so probably the latter."

No, I was a moderator. MichaelJay and me had similar dynamics on the German forum. He took a lot of heat but sometimes his hardline attitude was necessary. Moderators get a lot of emails and sitemails with complaints about other contributors. Keeping a balance and communication flowing is an art form. What you see in the forum is just a small part of their work.  

Especially during the crisis in September I admired Chris (lobo) very, very much. He was doing one hell of a job and he was doing it alone.

However, I did add in my forum comments that I think too many posts are being zapped and not just by him. I believe in editing posts, but of course it takes a lot more time.

At the moment rogermexico isnt there to balance the team but he is coming back end of summer, at least that was what he said.

In the end it all comes back to what the management directs the moderators to do. They dont work in a vacuum.

They are also welcome to get on the stage and do it themselves...;-)
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 16:46 by cobalt »

« Reply #94 on: August 26, 2011, 18:22 »
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I am not nearly as worried about the moderators as I am the future direction of Istock.  As an independent it's a hard world over there....so many * layers that it becomes nearly impractical to upload.

« Reply #95 on: August 26, 2011, 18:54 »
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I am not nearly as worried about the moderators as I am the future direction of Istock.  As an independent it's a hard world over there....so many  layers that it becomes nearly impractical to upload.

I was a little worried too, after reading this thread, that some of the real issues won't be looked at because of the tons of minutia/complaints. After all, are nicer moderators and better communication really going to make you happy?  ;D
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 18:56 by cthoman »

« Reply #96 on: August 27, 2011, 19:10 »
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After all, are nicer moderators and better communication really going to make you happy?  ;D

I was under the impression that is was, since the money didn't ;)

« Reply #97 on: August 27, 2011, 19:46 »
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The forums don't pay my bills. The survey was so heavily weighted to "does LOBO or Pinky do you right?" that it tells me clearly that the message of this survey is "facade at its best".  Challenge me, please.  Istock has stuck it to their contributors so hard and for so long that this survey is nothing more than a business facade.  If this new gal was really interested in turning the business around in favor of the contributors this survey would have been way different.   They need to focus on what the buyers have to say and not what the contributors have to offer.

ayzek

« Reply #98 on: August 28, 2011, 02:39 »
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Great posts.
After changing too many variables now they look behind and they cant see which footprint cause the biggest demolition.
You could not explain more clearly.

« Reply #99 on: September 03, 2011, 11:26 »
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I never got the survey either, but you can bet I have some opinions for them now.


 

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