Obviously there has been a lot of speculation going on in the last few weeks and now with the latest StockXpert site mail announcement things haven't gotten any clearer.

I haven't been following all the latest threads (if there were any about this specifically) but does anyone know more detailed info about StockXpert's future?

StockXpert does generate an important amount of sales for me even without JIU and PHotos.com so this would be quite a hard hit for me and possibly for some others as well if they would (be) shut down.

The messages in StockXpert forum say that the team was reduced significantly and will reduce even more from 1-Jan - however the same note says that several reviewers will stay.

Thus it seems they are going to freeze any development of StockXpert but keep it running and accepting new pics. At least for the time being.

http://www.stockxpert.com/forum/show_messages/27171
Well, no one can tell.

I emailed support a couple of days ago regarding the future of my commission pending at StockXpert after the January set date, since I opted out of the IS new subscription site, and this was their respond:

"Your earnings will remain in tact. You will still be licensing images
through StockXpert."

So it looks like they will still be running (I don't know how well) after January 

I hope they don't close either. They still sell well for me and they tend not to reject my images. They definitely seem to have a lot of underdog support from contributors and possibly buyers as well. Hopefully, that support will jeep them going.

I really don't think Getty will shut down StockXpert ... unless it is loosing money, which I can't see it doing.  If they were to shut down the site they couldn't guarantee that all the buyers would go to istock so they would be loosing income.  By having StockXpert they also get full access to the non-exclusive photographers which might not upload to iStock.

Quote from: leaf on December 16, 2009, 20:37
I really don't think Getty will shut down StockXpert ... unless it is loosing money, which I can't see it doing.  If they were to shut down the site they couldn't guarantee that all the buyers would go to istock so they would be loosing income.  By having StockXpert they also get full access to the non-exclusive photographers which might not upload to iStock.

Makes sense.

But how is it with the big mess there regarding footage?

I haven't been up to speed what's happening since I can't get my photo-jpg movs accepted there. For some reason my files (and other contributors' files) keep getting refused by the server.

Also the rare sales are often returned. It used to be a big problem.

Since they are going to cut down on personnel I wonder how they can keep this ship on course...

Or will they drop footage? HD is almost half price compared to iStockphoto - I'm curious how good that is for them...

Sorry to be negative on this, but with apparently eliminating their subs program and partner tie-ins, combined with drastic cuts in staff, it looks to me like they are being phased out entirely.

I wouldn't mind seeing it going back to being a "small guy". I really liked them when they were independent.

I'm fairly new at this, elvinstar, but I too like the independent atmosphere.  Maybe closing StockXpert would support the rise of the likes of yay, cutcaster, etc. 
I guess it all depends on what the buyers want?

I went ahead and removed my StockXpert portfolio.  It was doing decently well before the whole subscription thing, then it tanked until I added subscriptions, now its lost both subscription services, and I'm suspecting they lost their audience with it.  I don't think the buyers have much incentive to come back to StockXpert when they've obviously been doing a lot of buying through the other sites, especially since many of the images are going to be on those same sites through iStock.

It would be interesting to know what their buyers think of all this.  Are they going to want to go to istock when their owners look to be killing off StockXpert?  Perhaps StockXpert will go on but they should of made a statement that they will keep it going.  A lot of us are losing confidence and I am sure the buyers will as well.  Without buyers and contributors, there isn't a site.

Next step from Greed(t)y images it sounds to bee as(s) they previous from JI. "From now you commissions at Stockexpert will bee 20% bla bla because of our selfish greedness.... bla bla..."
If it is really going too bee I am really turn myself inside out of puking on them...

I suppose StockXpert might have been loosing money in the past with all the developments they were making. Probably Getty wants to stop any developments because StockXpert isn't strategic and they have iStock for that, but they will probably make it profitable by significantly reducing costs.

The post in StockXpert forum that was mentioning personnel cuts seems to be deleted now. Basically it said that most people left StockXpert, and a few more will leave as of 1-Jan - however few reviewers will stay.

Thus it seems to me that Getty is going to keep it as on-going money maker but without any developments, any new programs or anything of that kind. Just to keep their current customer base.

Quote from: dgilder on December 16, 2009, 23:23
I went ahead and removed my StockXpert portfolio. 

I've never understood why contributors remove portfolios from micro sites, unless going exclusive on another, or as a sign of protest against new policies.

Why remove your port if it's selling even a little bit?  Seems like you're cutting off your nose to spite your face.  Sure, stop contributing to a site if you feel it's a waste of time, but what's it hurting to keep it there? (Again, if you're taking a stand against a site, I sort of understand... but unless contributors do it in a big organized fashion, the micro will not notice or care about your sudden absence.)

Myself, I've seen a pretty nice spike in StockXpert sales this month after two months of slow decline.  Really hoping it's allowed to live on, even if it gets no future development.

Another bad sign?  Getty now own StockXpert outright.  I have signed up for further info about dreamcsoport, Peter started StockXpert and might come up with something as good again.

QuoteDear Everyone,

I have an announcement to make.

As of this week, I am no longer with Stockxpert and SXC. After nearly 9 years we (the founders of HAAP) decided to quit the company and sell our remaining share to Getty Images.

Thank you very much for your dedication and support over the years. It was amazing to watch these sites grow from a simple hobby to a 3 million+ community that changed the life of many people including ours, but it's time to say good bye now.

Maybe we'll meet again in another project!

If you are interested in what we're up to, please sign up here:

http://www.dreamcsoport.hu/stockphoto/

You can also read the accompanying press release there.

I wish everyone a fantastic holiday and great sales for the future!

Best regards,
Peter

http://www.stockxpert.com/forum/show_messages/27221

Quote from: WarrenPrice on December 16, 2009, 23:20Maybe closing StockXpert would support the rise of the likes of yay, cutcaster, etc.

Most probably not. Those sites are on death row by some early technical flaws that were corrected too late, and they don't offer real subs. If the photos.com and JIU buyers will find out that they can't access a large part of the previous content, they will probably (hopefully) move over to the first and genuine subscription site with loads of content (over 9M images, an offer that the new Getty site can't match in the begin), and which is ShutterStock.

Quote from: sharpshot on December 17, 2009, 12:21I have signed up for further info about dreamcsoport, Peter started StockXpert and might come up with something as good again.

Thanks for the info.

I might be wrong, but it sounds like StockXpert might be closing down after the end of the year.  They are probably only keeping the doors open until the end of the year for tax purposes.

Is it time to cash out?

Maybe they won't close StockXpert, they paid well for StockXpert and StockXpert isn't only competition to close it...

I think they will transform StockXpert in subscription site and change its name, IS will stay mainly PPD site , StockXpert will be subscription (like SS and BigStock)

P.S.

Yesterday I had two sales of same photo on StockXpert, 5$  and 25 $  

I went to the site sharpshot posted above, www.dreamcsoport.hu to sign up to keep in touch with what Peter Hamza and partner are doing now that they've sold 100% to Getty.

I think it interesting to note that on that splash page, at the bottom, are some urls listed, one of which is stockxpert.com. Does anyone think that maybe Peter & co. retained that site name, since Getty is obviously merging their stockxpert business in with istock? If they sold, I would imagine they signed some sort of no-compete, but I'm wondering why that url is on that page.

Quote from: cclapper on December 17, 2009, 12:46
I went to the site sharpshot posted above, www.dreamcsoport.hu to sign up to keep in touch with what Peter Hamza and partner are doing now that they've sold 100% to Getty.

I think it interesting to note that on that splash page, at the bottom, are some urls listed, one of which is stockxpert.com. Does anyone think that maybe Peter & co. retained that site name, since Getty is obviously merging their stockxpert business in with istock? If they sold, I would imagine they signed some sort of no-compete, but I'm wondering why that url is on that page.

Omg.. that's it.. wow, can't blame them really.. bet they made a pretty penny too for that 10%..

Quote from: GeoPappas on December 17, 2009, 12:31

Is it time to cash out?

Why? They are owned by Getty. I don't think it is realistic to think Getty won't finish payouts.

Quote from: Danicek on December 17, 2009, 13:15
They are owned by Getty.

Is that supposed to be a good thing???

Quote from: GeoPappas on December 17, 2009, 14:32

Quote from: Danicek on December 17, 2009, 13:15
They are owned by Getty.

Is that supposed to be a good thing???

In terms of getting your payout - Yes. Much better than small standalone company about to go bankrupt or about to terminate their business.