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Author Topic: new site stocktal  (Read 49198 times)

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« Reply #50 on: September 09, 2014, 08:03 »
+1
Jack,
You're coming over as really clueless.

Your advert shows up at the bottom of my page here, circumventing AdBlockPlus. That's as bad as cold callers phoning me although I'm in the telephone preference scheme, and as I always tell them, that does not make you seem like a company I'd want to deal with. It may be a problem with the way the forum is set up, but most msg ads are blocked.

I can't believe that people already signed up with you despite 'talent information' being missing at the time.

As Valo said, "legal" and "roughly OK" are incompatible. One thing I've learned through being in stock is how different legislation is in different countries, particularly consumer/advertising regulations in the UK vs the US (I've often been horrifed at what the US allows in advertising). You'd better make sure your legalese stands up in each country you're targetting (that doesn't always mean 'every country in the world, this is the www' as a nice person from the ASA explained.) I'm guessing Richard  Brennan isn't qualified in international law.

"I have read and understood the feedback above carefully and am surprised by what Im learning here."    ::)  At least you're honestly clueless, unlike some agency spokespersons who come on here and dig deeper holes for themselves by trying to seem like they know what they're doing when they don't.

"Yes the rights managed stuff is exclusive. Cant sell images with rights managed if they for example may be purchased easily elsewhere as royalty free. Sorry about the confusion." That's not necessarly a sequitur. Rights managed material can be sold at different RM agencies, provided the supplier keeps tabs on what has sold where and for what and that the agency contacts the contributor before entering into any specific sale. Clearly, that involves admin costs, so fair enough if you don't want to become involved in that, but your answer wasn't really relevant to the question.

Please learn about apostrophes. I realise I'm the Typo Queen, and it's "do as I say, not as I do", but I'm not trying to persuade people to risk their income with me as a professional. Your most recent post has several missing apostrophes and at least one which isn't appropriate. NB, I don't think that getting apostrophes wrong makes you a bad person, but it looks really amateur.

Did you reply to JoAnn's question about the 10% tax?
Conversely, where do you hit EU buyers with the info that VAT (different rates for each country) is added to the visible price?

Have you explained how you're going to market your site (as well as run the business) on 12% of micro income?

"Although there are many fair and specific questions above theres quite a lot of general comments that seem, with courteous respect, a tiny bit out of place." That again shows your naivety in this business. Have you no idea how contributors have been treated by agencies? Have you really no idea how many new agencies have started up, probably by 'well-meaning innocents' in past few years which have gone to the wall. Usually we can spot them a mile away, and even the one I thought had a good chance of succeeding has changed its focus and modus operandi a couple of times, yet is still not bringing in enough sales to make it worthwhile for contributors. Most of these new starts have either quietly disappeared within a couple of years, or drag on, with people announcing every few months that they've had a sale there. Bear in mind that a cynic is a disappointed optimist, so you need to expect to be severely grilled. If you think questions from potential contributors are 'out of place', it perhaps hints at your attitide towards suppliers. Again, at least you're upfront about that, so kudos on the honesty.

From my pov, all this talk of 'talent' comes over as really pretentious, but that could just be me. (That's not denigrating the talent of your photographers.) Stocktal itself is a good enough name, better as a name than the 'cutsie' one. But as Juliet realised, what's in a name?

While the legal angle is indeed ripe for correcting, this one bothers me the most. THAT, I don't believe is SUSTAINABLE unless the site is managed like FAA.....turn the switch on and walk away.  If Stockal is successful at attracting buyers and closing a few of the core gaps already mentioned in this thread, I think they'll quickly find that 12% will pay for the pizzas when they are in on the weekend working for free to fix site glitches. Joking aside, this is a BIG RISK because when you find out it isn't sustainable you will have to begin cutting commissions, and that will send the message to contributors that you are just another cut throat micro.  Look at Graphic Leftovers, they took a big hit I believe cuz of SEO on Google and they were close to cutting our commissions at 55%, but muscled through and kept commissions where they are.  Sotckal must be more 360 degrees and ask a lot more "what ifs" and "what's happened to other micros" and design those solutions into your current model in as much as possible.  I mean look at FOTOLIA.  They are losing out so badly in micro and what did they do? Created nose bleed seat pricing for micro vis DPC. How are you going to compete with the likes of these sponges?

You really need to step back and look at what's happened at other micros, other than greed, that is driving up costs. Plan ahead for these contingencies, and make sure you have an SEO EXPERT on your team, too.
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 08:07 by Mantis »


« Reply #51 on: September 09, 2014, 08:23 »
+3
Have been selling micro exclusively for 5 years. I make a decent living at it and understand what's involved to keep the money flowing. To me 78% is perfect IF they sell. Realistically, they can't do adwords forever and make a profit. A $9.95 RF image, minus adwords cost would slaughter any company.

It is fairly well known that using adwords increases SE visibility, but you cant count on it.

(Also I have seen the number 12% mentioned twice now, but 78-100 is 22 not 12 am I missing something here?)

For this to work they need support on a grand scale and they need it gradually. But yes, picturing an IS or SS caliber company paying ME 78% would be just marvelous. I'd retire today.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #52 on: September 09, 2014, 08:35 »
0
(Also I have seen the number 12% mentioned twice now, but 78-100 is 22 not 12 am I missing something here?)
Ha - no you're right - I can't count!  :-[
So you know not to jump in with me when I announce an agency.  ;D
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 08:40 by ShadySue »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #53 on: September 09, 2014, 08:39 »
0
Shadysue,
The analytical nature of your comments only mark you with respect. Thank you for the indepth reflections and observations.
Any more and I'll need to charge a consultancy fee.
However, you ignored the three crucial questions:
  • Did you reply to JoAnn's question about the 10% tax?
  • Conversely, where do you hit EU buyers with the info that VAT (different rates for each country) is added to the visible price (as it must be)?
  • Have you explained how you're going to market your site (as well as run the business) on 22% of micro income?

« Reply #54 on: September 09, 2014, 08:56 »
+1
This sounds amateurish to me from their front page.

"When you take purchase of a Stocktal image, you own it (the single instance of the image NOT the copyright) for life and can use it for commercial use of your own design freely without ever having to worry about royalty fees for one low upfront price."

How can someone own my image? I don't understand this at all.

Thanks for the answer Jack. But how do I know for sure you wont change the percentage later?

« Reply #55 on: September 09, 2014, 08:58 »
0
Few things We need as contributors from Stocktal.

1. Put a system in place to address the support tickets opened by Contributors.
2. Your upload system of various options goes all the way uploading and finaly errors out on resize errors etc. 8MB files also fail. Error in post_max_size directive in php.ini. Someone needs to fix that.
3.  Give us FTP settings, we can use that and upload the batches without worrying about timeouts etc.

Regards
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 09:12 by 08stock08 »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #56 on: September 09, 2014, 09:10 »
0
This sounds amateurish to me from their front page.
"When you take purchase of a Stocktal image, you own it (the single instance of the image NOT the copyright) for life and can use it for commercial use of your own design freely without ever having to worry about royalty fees for one low upfront price."
Indeed, the whole paragraph reads badly:
"Royalty-Free Photography
Purchase stock photography with confidence. Most images offered on Stocktal are Royalty free or Royalty free with extended license. The rights managed photograhy is clearly marked. When you take purchase of a Stocktal image, you own it (the single instance of the image NOT the copyright) for life and can use it for commercial use of your own design freely without ever having to worry about royalty fees for one low upfront price. Keeping a copy of your receipt serial number some place on your works files is standard good practice, but we do keep records if there is ever any issues, you can contact us freely.
"

So you sell RF and RM. You have explained RF, but not RM on the front page.
It's really mixed up.
Your heading is RF, and you mention RM en passant.
But you say, "When you take purchase of a Stocktal image, you own it (the single instance of the image NOT the copyright) for life and can use it for commercial use of your own design freely without ever having to worry about royalty fees for one low upfront price." which doesn't apply to RM.

Also, you don't 'take purchase of' anything, you purchase it. And of course, you don't purchase a file, you purchase a licence to use the file.

Photography, not photograhy.

Also it should be either 'if there are any issues' or  'if you ever have an issue', don't mix a singular verb with plural noun.

You can not imagine how that sort of thing bounces me right off a site. It's really hard to take you seriously when you don't even have your writty proof-read by several people.
« Last Edit: September 10, 2014, 16:53 by ShadySue »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #57 on: September 09, 2014, 09:43 »
+1
Again from the front page:
"Stocktal is one of the few Royalty Free microstock agencies that deliver full protection for our customers. We vet our stock with great diligence, however if there ever is an issue you can relax in the knowledge that we are there for you and you're not alone. "
When you say "the few RF which deliver full protection": which ones don't?
You "deliver full protection for your customers"? Even if they use a file contrary to the agreement?
You "vet your stock with great diligence", yet you say:
"It is the seller's due responsibility to make sure their work breaches no known copyrights and choose their licencing to reflect any such conflicts."
and
"stocktal generally does not asl for releases for the trademarks, logos or other intellectual property of other parties that may be depicted in some Works.".
(it's ask, not asl)
and
"stocktal generally does not ask for releases from property owners, manufacturers or designers of commercial products such as (without limitation) automobiles, aircraft, packaged products, designer clothing, etc. that are depicted in some Works"

Caveat venditor emptorque. (tx Valo)

Enough, already!
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 10:52 by ShadySue »

Valo

« Reply #58 on: September 09, 2014, 09:56 »
+2
*Venditor

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #59 on: September 09, 2014, 09:59 »
+2
*Venditor
Correct.  :)
My brain isn't functioning today. Earlier I kept saying 'cyclamen' and couldn't think of the word 'clematis'.

« Reply #60 on: September 09, 2014, 10:34 »
+1
i have now up to 6000 images. 50% is over 8mb..
Will you have a look at your image preview design. It feels a bit out of date. small preview images and so on. i think the look of other agencys with bigger previews is better
its a little bit too small?

« Reply #61 on: September 09, 2014, 11:04 »
+4
Jack,
One thing I think you should address quickly is your category system.  It is already out of hand and allowing contributors to add their own categories is a recipe for a confusing mess from the buyer side.  Of course I do not know how you use categories in the search but without some strict, ordered rules to your system I think you will quickly have a situation where the categories mean nothing.

Personally I think categories a waste of time but if you must have them they should be restricted to major divisions (food, animals,plants,people,objects,landscape,abstract)  Anything lower on the chain than that should be found using the keywords.  Categories always seem to make sense to new agencies, why I am not sure.  But after you have 10 million images what is the point?  No one is going to select a category and scroll through 100,000 images.

Another issue is the lack of a batch or bulk editing system.  If I  have 10 images that need the same category why do I have to select them all then individually change the category?  I already selected them, indicating that I was grouping them together, so all changes should be done to all images selected.  Or add a batch change function if you want to leave the current one alone.

Many of the people on MSG have been doing this for years, seen it all, seen agencies come and go.  If you want to attract 'talent' and their images you need to make things as simple as possible to contribute.  Take a look at GL Images.  FTP upload, done.  Compare that to the somewhat tedious process on your site, the amount of time I have available to spend uploading is finite.  Time spent uploading is time not shooting.

Valo

« Reply #62 on: September 09, 2014, 11:27 »
0
The boys from Stockbo were great at taking advice onboard and making changes on the fly. It seems Stocktal is more about thanks but no thanks.

Ubermansch

  • Im designed to think
« Reply #63 on: September 09, 2014, 11:47 »
-1


Thanks for the answer Jack. But how do I know for sure you wont change the percentage later?

Anybody else find this funny? Starling, he already answered your question. I think your clue is the EPP account, which stands for "early partners program"

From what I can understand with stocktal, they may or may not change the percentage, but if you have an epp account, the 78% is for life, it wont change...BECAUSE you were an early partner.

Also, you have like 2000 bird images on there, whats with that? Good snaps tho!

Ubermansch

  • Im designed to think
« Reply #64 on: September 09, 2014, 11:57 »
-1
The boys from Stockbo were great at taking advice onboard and making changes on the fly. It seems Stocktal is more about thanks but no thanks.

Stocktal and Stocksy are really the only cutting edge players as far as I can see, also 500px recently announced some 70% offer only if you pay them to upload your own work...pass.

Checked out stockbo months ago and frankly...
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 11:59 by Ubermansch »

« Reply #65 on: September 09, 2014, 12:07 »
+1
Jack,
One thing I think you should address quickly is your category system.  It is already out of hand and allowing contributors to add their own categories is a recipe for a confusing mess from the buyer side.  Of course I do not know how you use categories in the search but without some strict, ordered rules to your system I think you will quickly have a situation where the categories mean nothing.

Personally I think categories a waste of time but if you must have them they should be restricted to major divisions (food, animals,plants,people,objects,landscape,abstract)  Anything lower on the chain than that should be found using the keywords.  Categories always seem to make sense to new agencies, why I am not sure.  But after you have 10 million images what is the point?  No one is going to select a category and scroll through 100,000 images.

Another issue is the lack of a batch or bulk editing system.  If I  have 10 images that need the same category why do I have to select them all then individually change the category?  I already selected them, indicating that I was grouping them together, so all changes should be done to all images selected.  Or add a batch change function if you want to leave the current one alone.

Many of the people on MSG have been doing this for years, seen it all, seen agencies come and go.  If you want to attract 'talent' and their images you need to make things as simple as possible to contribute.  Take a look at GL Images.  FTP upload, done.  Compare that to the somewhat tedious process on your site, the amount of time I have available to spend uploading is finite.  Time spent uploading is time not shooting.

+1

Also I was advised to keep my uploads under 30 images daily and that together with setting the category image by image will take me forever to upload my portfolio there even if I have strongest will to do so.

I think I will wait and see if things will be smoother in the future because this will consume too much of my time

Im sorry because I would really like to support a site just for not offering subs if for nothing else and build portfolio on such sites so later I can pull it out from sites that are giving away my work for cents when I compensate my loss in income there if ever. :D

« Reply #66 on: September 09, 2014, 12:13 »
+1




Anybody else find this funny? Starling, he already answered your question. I think your clue is the EPP account, which stands for "early partners program"

From what I can understand with stocktal, they may or may not change the percentage, but if you have an epp account, the 78% is for life, it wont change...BECAUSE you were an early partner.

Also, you have like 2000 bird images on there, whats with that? Good snaps tho!

Ah! the light comes on!! So epp means early partner program. Thanks Ubermansch!

« Reply #67 on: September 09, 2014, 12:31 »
0




Anybody else find this funny? Starling, he already answered your question. I think your clue is the EPP account, which stands for "early partners program"

From what I can understand with stocktal, they may or may not change the percentage, but if you have an epp account, the 78% is for life, it wont change...BECAUSE you were an early partner.

Also, you have like 2000 bird images on there, whats with that? Good snaps tho!

Ah! the light comes on!! So epp means early partner program. Thanks Ubermansch!


Stock all is there going to be an opt out for partner program? If not you will lose a lot of us.

« Reply #68 on: September 09, 2014, 12:40 »
0




Anybody else find this funny? Starling, he already answered your question. I think your clue is the EPP account, which stands for "early partners program"

From what I can understand with stocktal, they may or may not change the percentage, but if you have an epp account, the 78% is for life, it wont change...BECAUSE you were an early partner.

Also, you have like 2000 bird images on there, whats with that? Good snaps tho!

Ah! the light comes on!! So epp means early partner program. Thanks Ubermansch!


Stock all is there going to be an opt out for partner program? If not you will lose a lot of us.

sorry I dont know what you asked me. epp means early partners program.

« Reply #69 on: September 09, 2014, 12:59 »
0




Anybody else find this funny? Starling, he already answered your question. I think your clue is the EPP account, which stands for "early partners program"

From what I can understand with stocktal, they may or may not change the percentage, but if you have an epp account, the 78% is for life, it wont change...BECAUSE you were an early partner.

Also, you have like 2000 bird images on there, whats with that? Good snaps tho!

Ah! the light comes on!! So epp means early partner program. Thanks Ubermansch!


Stock all is there going to be an opt out for partner program? If not you will lose a lot of us.

sorry I dont know what you asked me. epp means early partners program.


Yes that means you will have a partner program. What I am asking is whether we have the option to OPT OUT of the partner program and not participate in that.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #70 on: September 09, 2014, 16:10 »
0

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #71 on: September 09, 2014, 16:18 »
+2
sorry I dont know what you asked me. epp means early partners program.
Yes that means you will have a partner program. What I am asking is whether we have the option to OPT OUT of the partner program and not participate in that.
I interpreted that (but could be wrong) as meaning that they were referring to contributors as partners (like John Lewis shop assistants are Partners), and the EPP was a special deal for those who sign up first.

Photominer

« Reply #72 on: September 09, 2014, 17:09 »
+1
Well, I'm in. I like it for the most part except for the uploading. I find that I cannot leave it to upload more than a few at a time or it will log me out and cancel the upload. So I can't upload while I'm sleeping (which is what I usually do). Otherwise, I have no big issues. I'm willing to take a chance for a real commission rate. Even with the typo's and ambiguity, they still are not nearly as skewed in the agency's favour as some of the big ones. I hope they have a good plan to succeed.

« Reply #73 on: September 09, 2014, 21:09 »
0
sorry I dont know what you asked me. epp means early partners program.
Yes that means you will have a partner program. What I am asking is whether we have the option to OPT OUT of the partner program and not participate in that.
I interpreted that (but could be wrong) as meaning that they were referring to contributors as partners (like John Lewis shop assistants are Partners), and the EPP was a special deal for those who sign up first.

Ahhhhhh gotcha. Thanks.

« Reply #74 on: September 09, 2014, 21:44 »
0
coupla minor quibbles:

an emphasized message always says:
"You may have a new or updated message from curation team about your recent uploads" -- but there's nothing there

logs me out every 30 min or so
 



 

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