Author Topic: noticing big change at Stockxpert? no sign of life ??? (Read 34315 times)

RGebbiePhoto · « **Reply #25 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:53 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on March 21, 2009, 17:34

I've noticed something similar, ibogdan, and think it might have something to do with whether or not you opt in or out of Subs. Have you "Opted Out" of subscription sales?

I opted out of subs and affiliate sales, and since then have submitted images for review. My review times are within 24 hours, and I have SOME new images with a few views, but the majority are sitting at zero. Feels good not to have XL subs anymore

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #26 on:** March 22, 2009, 11:29 »

Quote from: RGebbiePhoto on March 22, 2009, 07:53

Quote from: WarrenPrice on March 21, 2009, 17:34
I've noticed something similar, ibogdan, and think it might have something to do with whether or not you opt in or out of Subs. Have you "Opted Out" of subscription sales?

I opted out of subs and affiliate sales, and since then have submitted images for review. My review times are within 24 hours, and I have SOME new images with a few views, but the majority are sitting at zero. Feels good not to have XL subs anymore

It's confusing to me. I opted back in a few days ago. No sales yet but the views have picked up. I'm not sure if that is because of the Subs status or because the images have "settled in."

The confusion comes from the conflicting recommendations. Opt in ... Opt out?

tan510jomast · « **Reply #27 on:** March 22, 2009, 11:41 »

RGP and WP, go easy on the opt in , then opt out.
i did that twice due to fickle mindedness and basing it on opinions here to heart.
maybe it got StockXpert pissed off , and so they sat on my images in queque .

just guessing of course, as it 's odd to get reviewed within the hour from 3 months in a row to left sitting on the fence for 3 weeks in two sessions.

i am assuming it could just be a glitch, as my sales are still coming in.

RaFaLe · « **Reply #28 on:** March 25, 2009, 10:00 »

Just a question - how long did it take before you started getting more regular sales on StockXpert?
And how large was your portfolio at the time?

I've been uploading for 3 weeks without a sale (I know it takes time), but I've noticed activity on sales of my images already on SS, FT, CST and 123RF.
StockXpert, BigStock and DT are dead for me in the same time.
Altough, admittedly, my portfolio is tiny...

Would be interesting to see what the trends are in terms of time before first sale in relation to portfolio size (on StockXpert)

Chris

Twist · « **Reply #29 on:** April 14, 2009, 14:23 »

You know, it's weird. I'm not complaining because usually reviews are practically instant there for me...never longer than a day. But I uploaded some files last week - the 10th, Friday, to be exact - and they still haven't been reviewed. Thats something strange for me. Should I contact support? I don't want to be a hound because ultimately it hasn't been that long, but for them it kind of is and if no one is really having that problem...maybe somethings wrong?

araminta · « **Reply #30 on:** April 14, 2009, 14:27 »

The batch I've uploaded yesterday has been reviewed within 12 hours. Sales are AWFUL however here

RGebbiePhoto · « **Reply #31 on:** April 14, 2009, 15:24 »

@Tan, opting back in is NOT an option for us, unless they limit sub sizes to M and no vectors.
Affiliate sales are not an option at this point for us, since we feel we got hosed the last two times the affiliate sales *accidently* stopped reporting.

My position is clear. I signed up with StockXpert, read through the agreement, clicked the "I Agree" button to the terms they proposed, then began uploading. When that agreement changed, we did give it a chance to see if it would work for us. It didn't, so I opted out of subs and affiliates, to stay with the original plan.

Most sites have affiliates they work with. However, StockXpert has allowed theirs to call the shots and set the price. I did not sign up with JUI or Photos.com. However, they are dictating what my pay will be. And I don't think that is right.

But you must know, we are fighting a different battle. Whereas most of you are concerned with bottom line dollar figures, we are choosing to work with sites that do not walk all over our rights as contributors. I feel comfortable standing up for what I believe in. If StockXpert makes it mandatory to sell subscriptions at the current plan, then I will pull our port from their site.

I refused to accept Fotolias new plan, and pulled our port of almost 1,000 images from their site. And I don't regret that for one moment.

It's not a threat, it's a fact. We are a teeny tiny fish in a huge ocean. Pulling our port was probably not even noticable for them. However, it DOES make us feel good about our work and how we are willing to sell it. And that, my friend, is what it is all about for us.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #32 on:** April 14, 2009, 16:02 »

Quote from: RGebbiePhoto on April 14, 2009, 15:24

@Tan, opting back in is NOT an option for us, unless they limit sub sizes to M and no vectors.
Affiliate sales are not an option at this point for us, since we feel we got hosed the last two times the affiliate sales *accidently* stopped reporting.

My position is clear. I signed up with StockXpert, read through the agreement, clicked the "I Agree" button to the terms they proposed, then began uploading. When that agreement changed, we did give it a chance to see if it would work for us. It didn't, so I opted out of subs and affiliates, to stay with the original plan.

Most sites have affiliates they work with. However, StockXpert has allowed theirs to call the shots and set the price. I did not sign up with JUI or Photos.com. However, they are dictating what my pay will be. And I don't think that is right.

But you must know, we are fighting a different battle. Whereas most of you are concerned with bottom line dollar figures, we are choosing to work with sites that do not walk all over our rights as contributors. I feel comfortable standing up for what I believe in. If StockXpert makes it mandatory to sell subscriptions at the current plan, then I will pull our port from their site.

I refused to accept Fotolias new plan, and pulled our port of almost 1,000 images from their site. And I don't regret that for one moment.

It's not a threat, it's a fact. We are a teeny tiny fish in a huge ocean. Pulling our port was probably not even noticable for them. However, it DOES make us feel good about our work and how we are willing to sell it. And that, my friend, is what it is all about for us.

I can relate to your frustrations, as I know from one PM communication with you that you are a business in this field of portraiture,etc. Although I am also a working photographer, my stock photo works are separate from what I do with galleries, fashion,etc. . so in a way, I shoot for micro EXPECTING 25cents for downloads. I don't mix my gallery work with micro; not even midstock.

But yes, it would be nice to have StockXpert gain some signs of restablization to give us some kind of hint where they intend to go. The only good occurence during this interim is that my subs sales have been going up and I am getting more downloads than ever. I admit it still could be better if it were $1 instead of 25 cents, as the earnings at other sites look far better with far less downloads.

But I like Stockxpert as they have been one site that been consistently giving me downloads. Also, before Getty took over,the reviewers were approving my images within an hour, never more than having them in the queque longer than 12 hours. Now, my submissions are still sitting there lost in limbo.

So my decision now, is to just slow down on my submission, and just let my downloads keep going. If that continues, so much the better for me, I won't need to shoot anymore new images, lol..
but seriously, my port is so small, I need to increase it at least 5 folds. But if the new images are not being reviewed, I see no point of submitting any more.

Thank goodness there is more than one good site in the Big 7. But I do wish Stockxpert would rise from the dead. Hell, easter came and went, and the bunnies and eggs have all gone away...
WAKE UP STOCKXPERT , DON'T DIE ON US!!!

batman · « **Reply #33 on:** April 14, 2009, 16:11 »

Quote from: tan510jomast on April 14, 2009, 16:02

But I do wish Stockxpert would rise from the dead. Hell, easter came and went, and the bunnies and eggs have all gone away...
WAKE UP STOCKXPERT , DON'T DIE ON US!!!

Sorry Mr. Tan, there is no sign of life ! Requiescat in pace !

m@m · « **Reply #34 on:** April 14, 2009, 20:01 »

RIP StockXpert

madelaide · « **Reply #35 on:** April 14, 2009, 20:43 »

I hope StockXpert isn't dead, but sales have become more sparse lately (I'm opted out). Other sites (not all) aren't performing well either, so I wonder if this is a more generic problem.

michaeldb · « **Reply #36 on:** April 14, 2009, 20:47 »

Quote from: m@m on April 14, 2009, 20:01

RIP StockXpert

I'm not ready to write them off quite yet. As others have noted, there's a lot to like about StockXpert. I'm a vectorist, their reviews of vectors are fast and fair. Some of the problems there seem to have been caused by:
-bad people gaming the search engine
-the transitions of ownership to Jupiter and Getty
I think it is understandable that they are having some problems. I would not want the job of running StockXpert and making it work every day for everyone. Maybe we should have some patience with them?

tan510jomast · « **Reply #37 on:** April 14, 2009, 21:02 »

Quote from: madelaide on April 14, 2009, 20:43

I hope StockXpert isn't dead, but sales have become more sparse lately (I'm opted out). Other sites (not all) aren't performing well either, so I wonder if this is a more generic problem.

I have to admit that's true too. My new images are not being reviewed at all, maybe they fired the old reviewers, which is too bad, as they selected majority of my images which are now sales in subs regularly ie one sub sales almost every single day since April . so it can't be all bad.

Like you, and michaeldb, I am keeping my fingers crossed for StockXpert to sort things out, and hope they get the old reviewers back as well.

Phil · « **Reply #38 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:10 »

in the thread on StockXpert forums about people manipulating the search engine / rankings it is mentioned by 'admin' that the site has been on autopilot while the getty transfer has been occurring and that period is now over / done and they can get back to making the site better etc etc

Phil

batman · « **Reply #39 on:** April 15, 2009, 20:58 »

Quote from: Phil on April 15, 2009, 04:10

in the thread on StockXpert forums about people manipulating the search engine / rankings it is mentioned by 'admin' that the site has been on autopilot while the getty transfer has been occurring and that period is now over / done and they can get back to making the site better etc etc

Phil

let's hope so , phil ! but instead of expecting it to be better, i would be happy if it just gets back to being the StockXpert we once knew. It was working very well for many of us until Getty came.
Let's hope that the auto pilot is not set for the plane to go heading straight for a mountain

haap · « **Reply #40 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:16 »

Hello Everyone,

I just want to tell you that Stockxpert is not dead.

There was a very long transitional period during the JI/Getty deal, which slowed everything down considerably. We are working hard on fixing some of the important issues that couldn't get any attention earlier. You all know what they are. As for reviewers, we have the same people. Many of them have been with us since the start and some have looked at hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of images already. Reviews might have slowed down a bit lately because we're getting an unbelievable amount of images, but I believe we will be able to deal with them.

Thanks for your patience!
Peter (admin)

RaFaLe · « **Reply #41 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:31 »

Quote from: haap on April 16, 2009, 02:16

Hello Everyone,

I just want to tell you that Stockxpert is not dead. There was a very long transitional period during the JI/Getty deal, which slowed everything down considerably. We are working hard on fixing some of the important issues that couldn't get any attention earlier. You all know what they are. As for reviewers, we have the same people. Many of them have been with us since the start and some have looked at hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of images already. Reviews might have slowed down a bit lately because we're getting an unbelievable amount of images, but I believe we will be able to deal with them.

Thanks for your patience!
Peter (admin)

That's great news.
Thanks, Peter.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #42 on:** April 16, 2009, 14:20 »

Quote from: haap on April 16, 2009, 02:16

Hello Everyone,

I just want to tell you that Stockxpert is not dead. There was a very long transitional period during the JI/Getty deal, which slowed everything down considerably. We are working hard on fixing some of the important issues that couldn't get any attention earlier. You all know what they are. As for reviewers, we have the same people. Many of them have been with us since the start and some have looked at hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of images already. Reviews might have slowed down a bit lately because we're getting an unbelievable amount of images, but I believe we will be able to deal with them.

Thanks for your patience!
Peter (admin)

that's promising news. and so glad the reviewers are still with you.
so i guess my images in queque will be reviewed all in good time. i was afraid they would be collecting dust by now

Cheers Peter for coming here to let us know

lisafx · « **Reply #43 on:** April 16, 2009, 14:51 »

Quote from: haap on April 16, 2009, 02:16

Hello Everyone,

I just want to tell you that Stockxpert is not dead. There was a very long transitional period during the JI/Getty deal, which slowed everything down considerably. We are working hard on fixing some of the important issues that couldn't get any attention earlier. You all know what they are. As for reviewers, we have the same people. Many of them have been with us since the start and some have looked at hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of images already. Reviews might have slowed down a bit lately because we're getting an unbelievable amount of images, but I believe we will be able to deal with them.

Thanks for your patience!
Peter (admin)

Thanks for the information, Peter. I am looking forward to a resolution of the search gaming issue so that hopefully those of us who have played fair will find our sales picking back up again

rinderart · « **Reply #44 on:** April 17, 2009, 00:21 »

Hope so peter. im about ready to Hit The road. Your upload process has always been the dumbest thing ever, Go here, do that, FTP to special Folders....WHY???. i wish all sites Looked at SS or 123RF [123 is useless also} But the upload process is seamless. We do the work. Why In Gods Name would any site make it difficult and more time consuming Is beyond Me. It's really a shame whats going On at your Job. it's gonna take more than talk my friend. New Cool streamlined sites are on the horizon. Better Jump in Or Im thinking lucky Oliver here.sorry, Just expressing My feelings.

CofkoCof · « **Reply #45 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:49 »

StockXpert has been very consistent for me. Until this month that is. My sales are 61% down on last month, don't know what's happening.

sharpshot · « **Reply #46 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:54 »

My sales are still good and I find the upload much easier than fotolia, they are the site I think needs to catch up. Would be nice to have it simplified though. Review times don't bother me as long as it is the same for all of us.

stockastic · « **Reply #47 on:** April 17, 2009, 17:01 »

Looks like they removed some of the negative posts from their forum - in particular, a recent thread where several people said they'd stopped uploading because their new images were getting no views.

batman · « **Reply #48 on:** April 17, 2009, 17:59 »

Quote from: stockastic on April 17, 2009, 17:01

Looks like they removed some of the negative posts from their forum - in particular, a recent thread where several people said they'd stopped uploading because their new images were getting no views.

not getting any views is not a good reason to stop uploading. at least their images were reviewed and accepted. but from what i noticed, some people are not getting their images reviewed, they sat there for a long time. that could be make anyone stop uploading .i actually deleted a load of images that sat there for 3 weeks without being reviewed. i just thought Stockxpert didn't like them, so i deleted them all.
all of which are already live and selling elsewhere by now.

still, i wish those images are with Stockxpert as it is a good site for me; or at least it WAS a good site for me and many others here, from what i read.

stockastic · « **Reply #49 on:** April 17, 2009, 20:13 »

Quote from: batman on April 17, 2009, 17:59

not getting any views is not a good reason to stop uploading...

I disagree. Like many (most?) sites, StockXpert includes both 'popularity' and newness in their search ranking, which is something of a circular reference. As your new image ages, there's a popularity 'curve' it has to stay on or it sinks out of sight. So iIf your image doesn't get any views while it's new, it's lost. Something happened at StockXpert a few weeks ago and new images stopped getting views. Many submitters noticed this ans some decided to stop uploading now, and not waste their images, in hopes that StockXpert gets fixed in the future.

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Author Topic: noticing big change at Stockxpert? no sign of life ??? (Read 34315 times)

RGebbiePhoto

WarrenPrice

tan510jomast

RaFaLe

Twist

araminta

RGebbiePhoto

tan510jomast

batman

m@m

madelaide

michaeldb

tan510jomast

Phil

batman

haap

RaFaLe

tan510jomast

lisafx

rinderart

CofkoCof

sharpshot

stockastic

batman

stockastic

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