Author Topic: StockXpert: Rest in Peace (Read 11111 times)

StockManiac · « **on:** February 11, 2010, 21:28 »

It looks like StockXpert was just shutdown a little while ago.

The search feature is now gone, so buyers will not be able to purchase any new images.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2010, 22:03 »

Looks pretty straight forward as far as the direction they are taking:

"Thank you for visiting StockXpert. As of February 11, 2010 we are no longer offering files for sale. For all your single image needs please visit iStockphoto and for subscription plans please visit Thinkstock."

Not that anyone really needs a link, but since it opens in a new window.

http://www.stockxpert.com/

gostwyck · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2010, 22:14 »

Very sad indeed. Strange how an agency that was so successful that it was snapped up by one of the big boys, presumably for several $M's, ends up being killed off less than two years later. It's not even as if it were 'asset stripped' or something as essentially our images were the only thing of value it had __ and it didn't even own those.

FT and and IS ought to consider how much 'value' they really have without us and our images.

click_click · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2010, 22:23 »

I'm sad.

I've joined them when my first upload ID was in the one hundreds - so pretty much a day or two after it was opened to the public.

It was a great performer and it's a big loss for me in monthly royalties.

I do hope iStock can compensate for this loss...

RIP StockXpert.

Norebbo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2010, 23:09 »

Yeah, I'm bummed too. StockXpert was good to me, and I hate to see it go.

Unfortunately, I think BigStockPhoto is next.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2010, 08:56 »

Quote from: gostwyck on February 11, 2010, 22:14

It's not even as if it were 'asset stripped' or something as essentially our images were the only thing of value it had __ and it didn't even own those.

FT and and IS ought to consider how much 'value' they really have without us and our images.

Of course it was asset stripped. Its asset was its customers who are being redirected elsewhere.

Allsa · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2010, 13:16 »

Quote from: Norebbo on February 11, 2010, 23:09

Yeah, I'm bummed too. StockXpert was good to me, and I hate to see it go.

Unfortunately, I think BigStockPhoto is next.

I've been having the same thoughts, my sales at Big Stock have tanked since they were purchased by Shutterstock. The loss of an excellent agency like StockXpert, and now things are looking bad for BigStock, it's getting really depressing

RacePhoto · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2010, 13:25 »

Getting interesting?

click_click · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2010, 13:31 »

It certainly would help if StockXpert's loss in royalties would be compensated by having the buyers go to other agencies and actually keep buying our stuff from there.

That didn't happen - for me and I'm wondering where those buyers are going...

gostwyck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2010, 13:49 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on February 12, 2010, 08:56

Of course it was asset stripped. Its asset was its customers who are being redirected elsewhere.

I think you'd struggle to find an accountant willing to accept 'the customers' as an asset on a balance sheet audit.

FD · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2010, 09:11 »

Quote from: gostwyck on February 12, 2010, 13:49

I think you'd struggle to find an accountant willing to accept 'the customers' as an asset on a balance sheet audit.

They all do, certainly for something immaterial enterprise as a web store that sells digital assets. What would the other assets be? No cars, production halls, offices, shelves, closets, patents. Even the servers are leased.

The value of a domain name is determined by its clicks, and in case of an agency, by its customers and images it represents. Every image online for an agent represent the cost gone into QC and reviewing it. I would say both customer base and QCed portfolio of an image agency are its only assets. As for portfolio, they've thrown that asset away since it's not moved to IS, but its has to pass by IS QC again. Even the stuff they moved to TS is "selected" which means re-review. As for customers, less than 100% will go to IS, so yes, they destroyed assets.

lisafx · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2010, 10:48 »

Quote from: click_click on February 12, 2010, 13:31

It certainly would help if StockXpert's loss in royalties would be compensated by having the buyers go to other agencies and actually keep buying our stuff from there.

That didn't happen - for me and I'm wondering where those buyers are going...

Hasn't happened for me either. I think many of them are going to istock, as directed.

As non-exclusives our images don't have advantageous search positions on IS, so most likely a lot of those former StockXpert sales are going to IS exclusive images.

Which would explain why many of us have not noticed any jumps in sales at other sites.

madelaide · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2010, 15:07 »

I don't know, Lisa, prices in IS are much higher than in StockXpert, so I believe many will check other sites, and perhaps start using those.

Albert Martin · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2010, 21:53 »

Quote from: madelaide on February 13, 2010, 15:07

I don't know, Lisa, prices in IS are much higher than in StockXpert, so I believe many will check other sites, and perhaps start using those.

At least 50% of them Adelaide!

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Author Topic: StockXpert: Rest in Peace (Read 11111 times)

StockManiac

RacePhoto

gostwyck

click_click

Norebbo

BaldricksTrousers

Allsa

RacePhoto

click_click

gostwyck

FD

lisafx

madelaide

Albert Martin

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