As some of you may know I stopped reviewing (bouncing) there many months ago when they made what I said at the time was a fatal mistake.

I've also commented on the Yaymicro thread here about another reason that I think contributed to LO's downfall.

But the main reason that LO has failed is because they failed to do the most basic things that any business needs to survive, MARKETING,  I liked Bryan he is a decent guy but unfortunately I think his ego took the better of him, it was clear a long long time ago that his marketing strategy of not advertising wasn't going to work, many people told him this and yet he continued along the same line.

Let this be a lesson to any new site that tries to enter this market, if you want to sell something you need to tell potential buyers that you have something to sell.

I've never seen a site get so many accolades from it's users and yet they have failed, if somebody with good marketing experience took over LO they could easily make it a huge success.

I wish Bryan and all involved at LO all the best for the future.

I just read the statement more closely. Am I reading this right that if you aren't currently above $25 you essentially lose that money, or only convert it to buy photos? If so, looks like the Valentines Day $1 cash-out was their way of providing a last chance to cash out.

yes that is how i understood it as well

You can delete them individually but that looks like about the only option.

You can delete them individually but that looks like about the only option.

It might not work but I'd suggest people do what I've done on my profile page, then hopefully some potential buyers might go somewhere else, of course most potential buyers go somewhere else anyway because they've never heard of LuckyOliver, but then thats what advertising does for you.

My LO profile page

I'm struggling to contain my disappointment at NOT having spent 2 years uploading and investing time there...

well, in my case, it was worth the time (at least i think so - i got several payouts) - altho not as much as some other places but more than one or two other sites i'm on that are more well known. And, I met a lot of great people in the forums

I like the fact that the site doesn't even have the common courtesy to tell it's contributors BEFORE it gets posted all over the message boards.  Jeez, what a way to find out!

I don't regret uploading there.  I had a few payouts and some of the ideas Bryan came up with have made me money on other sites.

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on April 16, 2008, 06:07

You can delete them individually but that looks like about the only option.

It might not work but I'd suggest people do what I've done on my profile page, then hopefully some potential buyers might go somewhere else, of course most potential buyers go somewhere else anyway because they've never heard of LuckyOliver, but then thats what advertising does for you.

My LO profile page

I can't see that working as the buyers will have credits to use up and they will lose money if they go elsewhere.

Ditto on the "no marketing--no survival" comment earlier.

I suppose now we can look on the list to the right and write off all those we never see do any mainstream advertising.

i've been deleting mine through out the day

So, what's a guy to do?

Open up each photo one at a time and delete it.  (Do I have time for this?)

Or hope that PT Barnum sweeps in and buys the carnival at a discount rate and lets the fat lady eat a few more twinkies?

I'm just surprized they didn't go straight out of business.   Normally a company goes into Chapter 11 - forgive me if that is not the correct U.S. term - and then into bankruptcy.  I'm just shocked that an Internet business is "winding down" instead of just dying.  They must have made at least something.

Remember all that talk about a photographer's collective?  Too bad we didn't have our poop together and we could have pounced on this. 

I am deleting the best sellers - just in case

No, not everyone looks at the sites each day.  For instance at the moment I am without my laptop so I just flicked onto this site at work.

An email should have been sent to ALL contributors at the same time as the blog being posted.

Also, ALL contributors should get their payouts.  Not just if they've made over X amount.  You cannot keep money that doesn't belong to you.

Well - i've had photos on 2 other sites that went under and cash in my account - all the "notice" i got was that the site wouldn't load one day - and poof - all my money was gone and who knows what the heck happened to the image library! How do you think that made me feel?

Some people are just never happy no matter what.

I am thankful that LO is giving their customers a month to use their purchased credits. I can understand why some photographers would want to remove their images so they aren't sold in the mean time. And, I've asked for some clarification on their plans for payouts (if they have any yet).

Many fine people are suddenly going to be looking for jobs and new opportunities. And I feel sorry for them. They have my thoughts today.