Author Topic: Losing my enthusiasm for Veer (Read 22098 times)

epixx · « **Reply #25 on:** August 13, 2009, 09:34 »

It seems to me that they haven't grasped the idea about microstock. The four most successful agencies, SS, IS, DT and FT have one thing in common: huge diversity and as many themes as possible covered, and that also goes for marginal sellers. Buyers don't want to browse through several agencies to find what they're looking for. But even worse is that very many of the available photos aren't very impressive at all. As a buyer, it's a total no-go for me.

I was btw. rejected as a contributor a couple of weeks ago, with photos that are selling very well at other agencies (some of them hundreds of times). They may of course try to establish a "different" style, but unfortunately for them, the old rule still applies: "Nothing succeeds like success."

With the current development in microstock, which seems to be "bigger is better", I can't see why anybody would bother with yet another agency that seems destined to become a minor player, particularly when there are so many obstacles involved.

cathyslife · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2009, 10:45 »

What really bugs me is how long it is taking them to get their website working right. I am a php programmer and I know that adding a link to our portfolio is a simple, simple matter, and adding the ability to search our ports by views, downloads, etc is not rocket science either.

I thought this was the case, glad you have confirmed. I don't understand simple functionality taking so long to add.
I hope we see some progress (and sales) soon.

cascoly · « **Reply #27 on:** August 13, 2009, 14:08 »

Quote from: cclapper on August 13, 2009, 10:45

What really bugs me is how long it is taking them to get their website working right. I am a php programmer and I know that adding a link to our portfolio is a simple, simple matter, and adding the ability to search our ports by views, downloads, etc is not rocket science either.

I thought this was the case, glad you have confirmed. I don't understand simple functionality taking so long to add.
I hope we see some progress (and sales) soon.

of course, that assumes the db was designed properly in the first place so that data could be collected easily

s

melastmohican · « **Reply #28 on:** August 13, 2009, 14:38 »

I could say "I told you". Everybody got so excited cause there is Corbis behind them and they used to be big players in old stock arena. Corbis proved with SV that they have no idea about microstock. They should snap something which is already up and running instead of reinventing a wheel again.

bittersweet · « **Reply #29 on:** August 13, 2009, 16:18 »

Quote from: melastmohican on August 13, 2009, 14:38

I could say "I told you". Everybody got so excited cause there is Corbis behind them and they used to be big players in old stock arena. Corbis proved with SV that they have no idea about microstock. They should snap something which is already up and running instead of reinventing a wheel again.

I think you need to go back and read those threads again. People weren't excited about Corbis, they were excited about Veer. I think it is waaaaay too soon for you to be told-u-soing.

sharpshot · « **Reply #30 on:** August 13, 2009, 16:23 »

I agree, way too early to make a judgment. My first payout was OK and I don't regret uploading to SV. The worst case scenario is that I make more money and I can live with that.

epixx · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2009, 19:48 »

Quote from: sharpshot on August 13, 2009, 16:23

I agree, way too early to make a judgment. My first payout was OK and I don't regret uploading to SV. The worst case scenario is that I make more money and I can live with that.

I don't regret submitting to SV either, and I do indeed submit to a number of low performers, but I do so because it's easy. It's "Money for Nothing" so to say. When an agency creates obstacles to the contributors and there are lots of rejects, the least we should expect is some kind of plan, something that makes them unique and make them stand out from the rest. As it looks now, the only unique feature of Veer is that they have a smaller selection of the same old photos as all the other agencies.

In theory, that makes it easier for the buyers to find what they are looking for, but if that particular photo has been rejected, it's all in vain anyway. After the buyers have realised that, they will soon learn that it's more useful to search among the larger collections of the agencies with larger portfolios, or even a smaller agency who has a higher acceptance rate but fewer contributors. I sometimes buy from Scanstockphoto for that reason, because I can find images there that have apparently been rejected elsewhere.

"Cream of the crop" as a competitive edge doesn't work in microstock (with a possible exception for iStock), since the contributors are basically the same everywhere, and it has been proven again and again. This business is not about selling Rolls Royce (which would have been rejected for copyright infringement anyway

), but Toyota. And if if you sell Toyotas, the only way to stand out is to have a lot of different models. Toyota has that, and so has iStock. Veer doesn't, and it doesn't look as if they are going to.

It's like they are saying "Yes, we have Corolla, but we've decided that you only need the 1600 GL. You have to go elsewhere to order one of the 17 other models."

lisafx · « **Reply #32 on:** August 14, 2009, 17:21 »

Quote from: epixx on August 13, 2009, 19:48

"Cream of the crop" as a competitive edge doesn't work in microstock (with a possible exception for iStock), since the contributors are basically the same everywhere, and it has been proven again and again. This business is not about selling Rolls Royce (which would have been rejected for copyright infringement anyway ), but Toyota. And if if you sell Toyotas, the only way to stand out is to have a lot of different models. Toyota has that, and so has iStock. Veer doesn't, and it doesn't look as if they are going to.

It's like they are saying "Yes, we have Corolla, but we've decided that you only need the 1600 GL. You have to go elsewhere to order one of the 17 other models."

^^ Great analogy Epixx. You are absolutely right. It is becoming apparent that the people running VM really don't understand the microstock market at all.

disorderly · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2009, 19:56 »

Okay, I'm done with Veer, at least for now. Just looking over the last batch of reviews. Lots of rejections, which is never pleasant. But it's the tone of the rejections that leaves me cold:

Quote

"The subject matter is outside of Veer Marketplace's current needs. We're not against having scantily clad models on VMP but this set doesn't meet our standards. There is a bit of a soft core porn vibe rather than being about fashion, or body image, or beauty."

and

Quote

"The subject matter is outside of Veer Marketplace's current needs. awkward poses, bad clothing/style, the backgrounds don't help. for this kind of shoot a white background is generally more useful for designers."

and

Quote

"Other concerns. looks a bit unnatural and some of the poses are a bit off."

and the ever useful

Quote

"Other concerns"

I'll leave what I have and see if I can improve on the sixty cents they've made me so far, but no more uploads. No more model shots, anyway; obviously they have a clear idea of what they want, and I'm not delivering it.

cthoman · « **Reply #34 on:** August 19, 2009, 23:54 »

Wow! That is pretty cold blooded. If those are the rejection comments, I'd rather have the ambiguous, "Not Suitable". I guess Veer is a "bad break upper".

It's not you. It's me, but you do smell really bad and your ugly.

bittersweet · « **Reply #35 on:** August 20, 2009, 00:13 »

Everyone was complaining that their notices were too vague and ambiguous. I guess they are trying to accommodate your need for detail.

leaf · « **Reply #36 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:27 »

well I am still fairly positive. I actually do like their rejection reasons, they seems to take the time to write the real reason instead of just picking one rejected for all shots.

Quote

Other concerns. Snowmobile brand needs to be removed and based on the remote location and situation, a model release may be necessary

It seems like someone wrote that out by hand instead of just clicking on a button

I have my share of canned rejections too but I like the site, the upload process, and like that there seems to be the odd sale despite being new.

Gizeh · « **Reply #37 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:31 »

Quote

Other concerns. Snowmobile brand needs to be removed and based on the remote location and situation, a model release may be necessary

Would be glad to receive detailed comments like that.

With my last submissions I only got 'other concerns' without further comment or 'underexposure'/'overexposure' for pictures with histograms that looked perfectly ok to me.

Not really helpful for understanding what Veer wants.

sharpshot · « **Reply #38 on:** August 20, 2009, 03:47 »

My last batch of 17 were all accepted but that is unusual. I still don't find them too critical.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #39 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:54 »

Very mixed feelings about Veer so far.

Frustrated with the randomness of reviews. (Batch of 30 will sail through with no problem, next batch all rejected for not being suitable for their needs -- though same subject matter and style as previous batch!)

But encouraged by sales so far... $27 in sales, 21 downloads, from 418 images online. Better than Crestock for me by far. Hoping it gets even better as they start promoting it more and their buyers realize the Marketplace exists.

leaf · « **Reply #40 on:** August 20, 2009, 06:59 »

Quote from: PowerDroid on August 20, 2009, 06:54

Very mixed feelings about Veer so far.

Frustrated with the randomness of reviews. (Batch of 30 will sail through with no problem, next batch all rejected for not being suitable for their needs -- though same subject matter and style as previous batch!)

But encouraged by sales so far... $27 in sales, 21 downloads, from 418 images online. Better than Crestock for me by far. Hoping it gets even better as they start promoting it more and their buyers realize the Marketplace exists.

how do you know how many $$ you have? did you look at each and every image and add them up?

borg · « **Reply #41 on:** August 20, 2009, 07:48 »

I haven't problem with approvals but with sales, yes!

Sandralise · « **Reply #42 on:** August 20, 2009, 07:54 »

Well, I'm encouraged by sales so far. I've had about $20 in sales, 7 downloads, with 245 images online and 10 rejections.
They are new and I remain quite positive by what I see so far.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #43 on:** August 20, 2009, 09:14 »

Quote from: leaf on August 20, 2009, 06:59

how do you know how many $$ you have? did you look at each and every image and add them up?

I was waiting for the sales stat page to go live, but lost patience. It took about ten minutes to go through each page and jot down the sales... I have 21 pages total. Annoying, but since I was pleased with the results, I guess it was worth it. But I certainly won't be doing it again anytime soon.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #44 on:** August 20, 2009, 09:16 »

Quote from: PowerDroid on August 20, 2009, 09:14

Quote from: leaf on August 20, 2009, 06:59
how do you know how many $$ you have? did you look at each and every image and add them up?

I was waiting for the sales stat page to go live, but lost patience. It took about ten minutes to go through each page and jot down the sales... I have 21 pages total. Annoying, but since I was pleased with the results, I guess it was worth it. But I certainly won't be doing it again anytime soon.

Just to clarify... it took about 10 minutes total to do all 21 pages, not 10 minutes per page. That would be nuts.

disorderly · « **Reply #45 on:** August 20, 2009, 09:30 »

I've been checking my (lack of) sales every morning. Bringing up the Approved pages, I do a search for "$0.00". Safari gives me a match count, so I go through each page and note any page with fewer than 20 matches. Takes less than a minute.

Artemis · « **Reply #46 on:** August 20, 2009, 10:36 »

I must have been lucky with the reviewers there; 48 approved, 2 rejected.
About 70% of my tiny port have views, and 2 sales so far for $4,55.
Not sooo bad for a 'new' site imho

KB · « **Reply #47 on:** August 20, 2009, 12:47 »

My 400+ images from SV have been online for only about a week or so. 0 sales so far, but I'm still hopeful.

Somewhat troubling is that SV butchered many of my keywords. For example, I have an image of the Swiss Alps that includes none of these keywords: Alps, Swiss, Switzerland, mountain(s). So until we have the ability to edit our keywords, I'm afraid at least some of my images (I haven't checked many) won't be easily findable.

massman · « **Reply #48 on:** August 20, 2009, 15:04 »

Quote from: KB on August 20, 2009, 12:47

My 400+ images from SV have been online for only about a week or so. 0 sales so far, but I'm still hopeful.

Somewhat troubling is that SV butchered many of my keywords. For example, I have an image of the Swiss Alps that includes none of these keywords: Alps, Swiss, Switzerland, mountain(s). So until we have the ability to edit our keywords, I'm afraid at least some of my images (I haven't checked many) won't be easily findable.

You should contact support about the keywords. Loads of contributors keywords were discomboobulated in the transfer from SV and was apparently fixed http://www.microstockgroup.com/veer-marketplace/update-on-keywording-issues-on-transferred-content/.

KB · « **Reply #49 on:** August 20, 2009, 16:07 »

Quote from: massman on August 20, 2009, 15:04

You should contact support about the keywords. Loads of contributors keywords were discomboobulated in the transfer from SV and was apparently fixed http://www.microstockgroup.com/veer-marketplace/update-on-keywording-issues-on-transferred-content/.

Thank you for that. It led me to read more about VMP's keywording, and that allowed me to figure out that my image can be found by doing a search on Swiss Alps, despite not having either word as a keyword!

It seems VMP's CV is more powerful than I imagined. I'm not sure how it manages to do that, but I shan't complain.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Losing my enthusiasm for Veer (Read 22098 times)

epixx

cathyslife

cascoly

melastmohican

bittersweet

sharpshot

epixx

lisafx

disorderly

cthoman

bittersweet

leaf

Gizeh

sharpshot

PowerDroid

leaf

borg

Sandralise

PowerDroid

PowerDroid

disorderly

Artemis

KB

massman

KB

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors