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Author Topic: The Shutterstock website is a disaster area  (Read 10814 times)

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« on: December 06, 2016, 08:17 »
+16
Anyone else seeing a heap of problems?   Many images from the last two weeks just disappeared from my portfolio. Even the thumbnails. Meanwhile on the contributor page the counter is showing more or less the correct number of files.  When I click on images sometimes their page loads, other times not.
Looking my gallery newest firs the first page has only about half the number of photos than other pages.
Some new images appeared, had few sales, then disappeared.

Last week we had this earnings calculation problems, where Shutterstock accidentally told me that I had earned $99000 in a moment. Then it happened 4 more times in 2 days.

It's a total chaos.

I guess they can't handle the number of images they accept.
I was looking at some searches with newest first and i couldn't believe the amount of crap I see. I used to think that on average my photos are on the crappy side compared to other contributors but I had to change my mind. I've seen pile of pictures from barely different angles on the same subject, not processed properly, colorless landscapes with fully blown out clouds. Piles of photos that even a fully amateur vacation photographer should delete. All of them on Shutterstock.

I think no other major site has ever seemed so unprofessional with website falling apart.

It is worrying because Shutterstock is still the biggest earner.




« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2016, 08:40 »
+3
All that is so true but the most painful is the missing images. I can still see my last approved batch in catalog manager but they vanished from my port and from search too. These images will never see the light in search.

More than that, hundreds of images are missing and I can't track them down.
I always upload the same batch to SS, FT and DT except editorials to FT and similars to DT, still I have the smallest port on SS.

I know this is not the result of rejections, approved images are just vanishing in thin air.

« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2016, 08:53 »
+5
Shutterstock is agonizing. Each week worse than the previous, sales wise. Meanwhile FT/Adobe and DT are steadily rising. This is sad, Jon... very sad...

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2016, 08:53 »
+7
I think no other major site has ever seemed so unprofessional with website falling apart.

IStock beat them to that particular accolade, but it beggars belief as to why SS decided to go down the same route.

The bigger they come (and, apparently, the more they are liked by contributors), the harder they fall.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 14:32 by ShadySue »

« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2016, 08:59 »
0
sorry to tell you, no problem on my end...
« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 09:12 by Josephine »

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2016, 10:23 »
+6
It's very sad. My stuff is now reviewed more quickly on FT and starts selling there right away, while work in my SS port vanishes and sometimes reappears.

Adobe/FT is the new SS, SS is the new iS, and iS will be history soon enough.

« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2016, 10:30 »
0
The glitch with funny numbers showing gave your all-time earnings instead of your current earnings, I believe. That's what mine were, anyway.
I'm not sure why one temporary error (which even has an obvious explanation of what it is) should cause such angst. D! I missed the beginning of the message.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 10:32 by BaldricksTrousers »

alno

« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2016, 10:51 »
+2

I guess they can't handle the number of images they accept.


I guess you are right. It looks like fixing brakes on the move in a bus which is going downhill faster and faster. And they are too far from some garage startup project to make any kind of technical break.
Someday they will remember that stupid marketologist race for 100 millions of images...

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2016, 11:03 »
+4
I can't even bring myself to look at the search results ... My sales are falling so fast. I'm doing a lot of Family Photography this month to help with the decrease but I don't know what I will do in Jan. and Feb to make up the income ...

« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2016, 11:22 »
+3
I don't contribute much to Shutterstock any more and glad I don't depend on it .... November earnings dropped 43% from October 2016 and 60% from November 2015.

« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2016, 11:43 »
+5
It's been - I forget - 2 years since they went public?   A lot of people have probably left in that time.  After an IPO the pressure to deliver short-term profits just builds and builds.  The people who stick around tend to be the ones with nice fat stock options; middle and lower level people burn out.  They've probably lost all continuity in their IT group and the newer guys don't have the deep knowledge of the site code and infrastructure that would let them avoid, or quickly repair, these sorts of problems.

« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2016, 13:26 »
0
Shutterstock is agonizing. ...

I completely disagree.
"agonizing" means something different, for me.
Not the best earner, at least.

gyllens

« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2016, 14:10 »
0
Its not a matter of if they crash just a matter of when?   Adobe /Ft is far better handling bugs and glitches but if you are Emerald ranking sales are going downhill.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 14:12 by gyllens »

« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2016, 15:31 »
+2
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often

and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink

Sad time for contributors

« Reply #14 on: December 06, 2016, 17:49 »
+3
I'm still missing 70 images accepted yesterday. They had a few sales right after approval but now they are gone.
It is not the usual "file pending or not approved message" message. This time even the thumbnails disappeared from my portfolio.

« Reply #15 on: December 06, 2016, 18:42 »
+4
Same here, a huge amount of images and thumbnails missing... and even if they correct that, the window for the has passed, they'll never be seen when customers search for them.

With the amount of money they have, I'd imagine they could at least keep the site running. Imagine if facebook or google suffered from these problems. Heads would roll!

« Reply #16 on: December 07, 2016, 05:32 »
+4
I took an overnight drop of 30% around the end of June. Now it's recently happened again, and my weekly earnings are down almost 60% from earlier in the year.

I am still uploading in the hope that the next search change will bring me back up again, but I honestly think I'm clutching at straws.

Like many, Shutterstock was my highest earner and my priority site for uploads. So sad to see what it has become in such a short space of time.


« Reply #17 on: December 07, 2016, 08:11 »
0
I noticed that for these disappearing images the confirmation email was not sent (receives) at the time the images first showed up in port. For the batch approved on the 5th I received the email on the 6th and today they are back in my port.
Is it possible that the reviewer forgets to push the button to send them to the library once approved?

« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2016, 08:18 »
+2
I don't think that's the problem. I had a batch approved yesterday and I did receive an email of such.  They were not in my port for a while and then they showed up only to disappear again.  When I went to bed, they were all in my port and in the search results but when I woke this morning they were no longer in the search or my port.  If you check your port stats though, they are all there.  Something over there is definitely messed up.

« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2016, 09:42 »
0
I don't think that's the problem. I had a batch approved yesterday and I did receive an email of such.  They were not in my port for a while and then they showed up only to disappear again.  When I went to bed, they were all in my port and in the search results but when I woke this morning they were no longer in the search or my port.  If you check your port stats though, they are all there.  Something over there is definitely messed up.

It sounds to me as if they have a bunch of servers and they don't update simultaneously, so if you connect to one that hasn't updated your new images are missing, if you get one that recently updated then they are there.

« Reply #20 on: December 07, 2016, 13:42 »
+1
That definitely sounds like a logical explanation but it has been too long now.  They were on and off yesterday and back again but since this morning, they have disappeared from my port and the searches.  The photo still shows in the stats but if you click on the ID number you get the message that they are under review or don't exist.  It is all the photos for my last approved batch that were uploaded on the 5th.  Is anyone else having this problem still.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #21 on: December 07, 2016, 13:58 »
+1
My last batch now seems to be visible...a week after submission and two days after approval.

« Reply #22 on: December 07, 2016, 20:29 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2016, 02:48 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often

and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink

Sad time for contributors


Sorry, but for the last 2-3 weeks, any new images I upload have started selling within minutes, literally. Out of a batch of 200, 75% had sold once or more within the 1st 3 days of being live.

About a month 1.5 months ago I noticed an improvement with new sales but the last few weeks have been excellent. Hope sales of new images continue.

The likelihood is there has been a change in the algorithm a while back and that they've continued to tweak it. They'll have seen the slowdown of new images as much as we feel it so these tweaks are bound to happen. Will it last, how knows with SS, they change like the wind but hopefully it does stay. I've been uploading like a crazed man to make the most of it  ;D

« Reply #24 on: December 08, 2016, 03:49 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often

and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink

Sad time for contributors


Sorry, but for the last 2-3 weeks, any new images I upload have started selling within minutes, literally. Out of a batch of 200, 75% had sold once or more within the 1st 3 days of being live.

About a month 1.5 months ago I noticed an improvement with new sales but the last few weeks have been excellent. Hope sales of new images continue.

The likelihood is there has been a change in the algorithm a while back and that they've continued to tweak it. They'll have seen the slowdown of new images as much as we feel it so these tweaks are bound to happen. Will it last, how knows with SS, they change like the wind but hopefully it does stay. I've been uploading like a crazed man to make the most of it  ;D

did you read my post or just part that you bold?

« Reply #25 on: December 08, 2016, 03:53 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

according to survey called "Reading contributors posts on forums as well as my own experience"

you can read even in this topic that some people experienced better sales for new files

« Reply #26 on: December 08, 2016, 04:03 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often

and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink

Sad time for contributors


Sorry, but for the last 2-3 weeks, any new images I upload have started selling within minutes, literally. Out of a batch of 200, 75% had sold once or more within the 1st 3 days of being live.

About a month 1.5 months ago I noticed an improvement with new sales but the last few weeks have been excellent. Hope sales of new images continue.

The likelihood is there has been a change in the algorithm a while back and that they've continued to tweak it. They'll have seen the slowdown of new images as much as we feel it so these tweaks are bound to happen. Will it last, how knows with SS, they change like the wind but hopefully it does stay. I've been uploading like a crazed man to make the most of it  ;D

did you read my post or just part that you bold?

I read it all, including the "And Now". This suggested any improvements you referred to in your first sentence had now been wiped out because images can't be seen or searched. Hence, my reply.

"and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink "


« Reply #27 on: December 08, 2016, 04:14 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often

and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink

Sad time for contributors


Sorry, but for the last 2-3 weeks, any new images I upload have started selling within minutes, literally. Out of a batch of 200, 75% had sold once or more within the 1st 3 days of being live.

About a month 1.5 months ago I noticed an improvement with new sales but the last few weeks have been excellent. Hope sales of new images continue.

The likelihood is there has been a change in the algorithm a while back and that they've continued to tweak it. They'll have seen the slowdown of new images as much as we feel it so these tweaks are bound to happen. Will it last, how knows with SS, they change like the wind but hopefully it does stay. I've been uploading like a crazed man to make the most of it  ;D

did you read my post or just part that you bold?

I read it all, including the "And Now". This suggested any improvements you referred to in your first sentence had now been wiped out because images can't be seen or searched. Hence, my reply.

"and now... this. New images are can't be seen or searched. (file pending or not approved message)

When you think something changed for better, you only need to wait and rethink "

ok, let me explain

as you experienced in the last 2-3 weeks new images started selling within minutes, was the same thing I experienced

I finally feel like it is encouraging to keep uploading new stuff. (I upload regular every week for last 2-3 years) but earlier this year "new" files started selling better when they were online for a month or so...

I dont know when was your last images accepted, but this week happened that new files were unsearchable and with error message (pending or not approved) when you click on them.

So, I was talking about that, finally started selling (at least for me and you and many more) and then this bug happened

It is cleared now, images can be search and started selling again, but when I was writing that message none of my approved images this week were correct.

Excuse my english

« Reply #28 on: December 08, 2016, 11:16 »
+1
My last batch now seems to be visible...a week after submission and two days after approval.

Week, two days? I get approved in minutes during the day, last photo was 6 hours at night, FT was about 3 hours behind that. Both are fast an much better then waiting for three weeks on IS or over a month on some others.

We get one day reviews, hours, or less, servers need to update and it is warned up to 72 hours to get placed. But all some do is cry and complain. Remember when good fast reviews was a week? Maybe not?

Adobe has the new system, faster and clean, and people still complain. SS is rebuilding the whole system, and will trash the old lame, flawed, broken, terriblely buggy one we have now. Nothing will please or satisfy some people here.

A week for SS reviews is from years ago. What's wrong? Are these all vectors and video? Maybe FT is faster at vector review. Mine are photos and illustrations.

« Reply #29 on: December 10, 2016, 15:07 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

according to survey called "Reading contributors posts on forums as well as my own experience"

you can read even in this topic that some people experienced better sales for new files

so basically, no supporting data -- you can't even show the 2  events are correlated, much less that one causes the other;  random posts in a forum are not a statistical sample

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #30 on: December 10, 2016, 15:12 »
+1
My last batch now seems to be visible...a week after submission and two days after approval.

Week, two days? I get approved in minutes during the day, last photo was 6 hours at night, FT was about 3 hours behind that. Both are fast an much better then waiting for three weeks on IS or over a month on some others.

We get one day reviews, hours, or less, servers need to update and it is warned up to 72 hours to get placed. But all some do is cry and complain. Remember when good fast reviews was a week? Maybe not?

Adobe has the new system, faster and clean, and people still complain. SS is rebuilding the whole system, and will trash the old lame, flawed, broken, terriblely buggy one we have now. Nothing will please or satisfy some people here.

A week for SS reviews is from years ago. What's wrong? Are these all vectors and video? Maybe FT is faster at vector review. Mine are photos and illustrations.

Goody for you. It's taking several days for my vectors to be reviewed, and then they "don't exist" for a couple of days after that, though they appear on my sale page. My latest batch "don't exist" right now. That means they'll appear several pages back in newest search.

I'm hoping once they have this new system in place things will settle down, but unfortunately all these glitches are happening during the holiday season.

« Reply #31 on: December 11, 2016, 03:36 »
+3
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

according to survey called "Reading contributors posts on forums as well as my own experience"

you can read even in this topic that some people experienced better sales for new files

so basically, no supporting data -- you can't even show the 2  events are correlated, much less that one causes the other;  random posts in a forum are not a statistical sample
I do know I have seen a marked changed in my sales....I'm pretty sure they tinker with the algorithm more than it the past. However, how ever much I speculate on motives and whether its just me I will never know as there is no evidence and whats more I can't do anything about it.

« Reply #32 on: December 11, 2016, 05:35 »
+1
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

according to survey called "Reading contributors posts on forums as well as my own experience"

you can read even in this topic that some people experienced better sales for new files

so basically, no supporting data -- you can't even show the 2  events are correlated, much less that one causes the other;  random posts in a forum are not a statistical sample

then we have no supporting data for anything going on stock sites

« Reply #33 on: December 11, 2016, 05:50 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

according to survey called "Reading contributors posts on forums as well as my own experience"

you can read even in this topic that some people experienced better sales for new files

so basically, no supporting data -- you can't even show the 2  events are correlated, much less that one causes the other;  random posts in a forum are not a statistical sample
I do know I have seen a marked changed in my sales....I'm pretty sure they tinker with the algorithm more than it the past. However, how ever much I speculate on motives and whether its just me I will never know as there is no evidence and whats more I can't do anything about it.

yes, many more experienced the same thing, I have 2 friends (not on this forums) with same experience, one is only vector artist being active for about 5 years, other one is only photo artist active more then 8-9 years. Last few weeks new files started to sell as good as it was years ago, maybe SS changed default search to newest for some buyers or something else I don't know and don't care.

When I wrote that about finally starting to sell newest images few weeks ago, it was my experience, 2 of my friends regular uploaders (and only two who do microstock) as well as 4-5 people I talked about that from this forums. So it's about 100% from my experience.

In the same time, same day, same pattern about same thing  from all people I know personally selling on SS, and for much more people on forums then I see pattern. Maybe someone can't.

Before that most of my new images started selling after about 3-4 weeks online. That was same thing those people experienced before latest changes.

Ofcorse where will always be people with different experience.

I'm not planning to win special olympics so I will probably work more on my images then explaining someone why I wrote what I wrote, even I did it now.

Internet will always be Internet.


« Reply #34 on: December 15, 2016, 13:13 »
0
My last batch now seems to be visible...a week after submission and two days after approval.

Week, two days? I get approved in minutes during the day, last photo was 6 hours at night, FT was about 3 hours behind that. Both are fast an much better then waiting for three weeks on IS or over a month on some others.

We get one day reviews, hours, or less, servers need to update and it is warned up to 72 hours to get placed. But all some do is cry and complain. Remember when good fast reviews was a week? Maybe not?

Adobe has the new system, faster and clean, and people still complain. SS is rebuilding the whole system, and will trash the old lame, flawed, broken, terriblely buggy one we have now. Nothing will please or satisfy some people here.

A week for SS reviews is from years ago. What's wrong? Are these all vectors and video? Maybe FT is faster at vector review. Mine are photos and illustrations.

Goody for you. It's taking several days for my vectors to be reviewed, and then they "don't exist" for a couple of days after that, though they appear on my sale page. My latest batch "don't exist" right now. That means they'll appear several pages back in newest search.

I'm hoping once they have this new system in place things will settle down, but unfortunately all these glitches are happening during the holiday season.

Must be a vector thing, sorry to hear that it takes a week for your reviews and they don't appear for two days after accepted. I think many of us have a different experience, like same day or one day reviews and fully on the web in 2-3 days, as per the SS notice saying up to 72 hours.

But mine are photos so I can't speak of vector times or issues. Maybe some other artist like yourself can comment on vectors.

« Reply #35 on: December 15, 2016, 13:52 »
+2
They have been having server and server sync issues since 2007. Countless contributors have railed on the numerous issues that continue to crop up without resolution. They simply try to convince us that there are no problems.

Have come to the conclusion they do not care to resolve them. Will NOT base my success on a company who does not care about the success or welfare of its contributors. Greed is the order of the day at SS.

« Reply #36 on: December 15, 2016, 16:20 »
+2
there's a whole thread about stuff that's broken at shutterstock.

http://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/88885-things-that-are-broken-on-ss/ [nofollow]


IT team there is like a school project. changes code on a live site.
« Last Edit: December 15, 2016, 16:42 by relativity »


« Reply #37 on: December 16, 2016, 10:26 »
0
there's a whole thread about stuff that's broken at shutterstock.

http://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/88885-things-that-are-broken-on-ss/


IT team there is like a school project. changes code on a live site.


Some of these are flat out wrong and the complaint is wrong. You want me to list them all one by one. This is my complaint. People who don't understand, will write complaints of error when there is no error and it's not broken.

There are many parts of SS broken and it is a disaster area, but making up errors and not understanding how they work, is not a flaw on the SS website.

Changing code you hit one of the most unprofessional parts of their IT team. Change a live site and don't test. School projects have more sense.

« Reply #38 on: December 16, 2016, 19:32 »
0
for last several months many experienced almost no sales from new images

few weeks ago something changed and new approved images started selling much more often



many??  much more???

according to what survey?   and even if the results you assume are true that still wouldn't point to 'something changed' as the cause

too many unknowns to provide any clear statement

according to survey called "Reading contributors posts on forums as well as my own experience"

you can read even in this topic that some people experienced better sales for new files

so basically, no supporting data -- you can't even show the 2  events are correlated, much less that one causes the other;  random posts in a forum are not a statistical sample

then we have no supporting data for anything going on stock sites

that's precisely the point!   people are perpetually whinging here about events for which they have  no evidence.  most agencies are black boxes - our images go in one end and royalties come out the other end.   

« Reply #39 on: December 17, 2016, 02:34 »
0
"that's precisely the point!   people are perpetually whinging here about events for which they have  no evidence.  most agencies are black boxes - our images go in one end and royalties come out the other end. "

That's spot on in the end we are totally in the hands of the agencies and can only try and second guess their processes no wonder there's so much speculation.

« Reply #40 on: December 19, 2016, 10:52 »
+2
"that's precisely the point!   people are perpetually whinging here about events for which they have  no evidence.  most agencies are black boxes - our images go in one end and royalties come out the other end. "

That's spot on in the end we are totally in the hands of the agencies and can only try and second guess their processes no wonder there's so much speculation.

Yes, but things that have been broken since the start and repeat being broken, is not news. The website is a disaster area is not news. Also these speculations are about things that we have no control and can't change, the agencies know they are broken, except IS which is in denial and feeding us BS about how much we have been looking forward to more BS, which makes it just a waste of time complaining here.

Reviews on SS and FT are now hours or a day in most cases, instead of weeks, and still people want to start complaing about that improvement. Files have been disappearing since 2010 and worse for many years. It's not news of something recent.

Black boxes Pauws I like that one. Maybe black holes, where lighted files go in and sometimes something escapes in the form of some small dim commission. Support at SS is slow, and that's being kind. Support on IS is like molasses in Winter, if they answer at all. FT is probably the best now, but used to be just as bad. The rest they might as well have a blank page that says, you can write but we won't answer, and if we do it won't be an answer, just some double talk generailitiy.

Welcome to the world of Microstock.


 

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