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Agency Based Discussion => Sites that no longer exist => Zymmetrical.com => Topic started by: RaFaLe on May 07, 2009, 06:54

Title: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: RaFaLe on May 07, 2009, 06:54
So I registered today on Zymmetrical, to see what the hype is about...

I saw this notice, below.
I'm just wondering when we will be able to upload??

Notice -  May-05-09:

Due to the unworkable volume of uploads from members who are not reading instructions and/or submitting large batches of unedited content, we are unfortunately forced to pause uploads. Uploading is currently disabled for all members (including FTP and the web forms) until we put online a new system with stricter, defined rules and penalties for those who do not 'play fair'.

All files already in the system should be described and submitted to our reviewers as normal.

For the vast majority of members who have been uploading quality content in a practical way- sorry for this inconvenience, however we cannot let a minority of members use up business resources in an unlimited way. Thank you for your patience as we revise the system and the policies.

- Keith Tuomi
CEO Flyerstarter Services Ltd.



Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on May 07, 2009, 07:06
I registered yesterday, but no uploads..
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: Milinz on May 07, 2009, 07:16
Greetings earhlings!

Clever move Keith!

Just make them upload no more than 5-10 images and that would be it!
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: sharpshot on May 07, 2009, 07:29
They should restrict those with a high rejection rate but let those who have good quality images continue uploading.  Other sites are starting to do that.  I don't think halting uploads for all of us is a good decision.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 07, 2009, 07:42
Thanks for your patience, all I can say is it's a temporary pause, the resume date is not finalized - we are working to implement new methods for keeping things fair for everyone-  The message on the site pretty much should say it all - most people are reasonable enough to be selective about their uploads, a minority are not - and those people should not be taking away resources from you folks.       

The temporary pause also allows us to take a step back and measure site activity on the technical side - with the 'production line' shut down we can accurately do a checkup on system resources, which is also a factor (in addition to reviews/marketing/legal/etc. overhead) in how much one member can be permitted to submit.

Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: RaFaLe on May 07, 2009, 07:45
Thanks for your patience, all I can say is it's a temporary pause, the resume date is not finalized - we are working to implement new methods for keeping things fair for everyone-  The message on the site pretty much should say it all - most people are reasonable enough to be selective about their uploads, a minority are not - and those people should not be taking away resources from you folks.       

The temporary pause also allows us to take a step back and measure site activity on the technical side - with the 'production line' shut down we can accurately do a checkup on system resources, which is a factor in how much 'juice' one member can be permitted.



Thanks - I'm looking forward to submitting my work so that we can help bring Zymmetrical up.
Do you care to share what approach you might take regarding limiting uploads?



Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 07, 2009, 07:57
Rejection percentages seem to be the way to go.. although people seemed to get grumpy about another agencies stab at this recently. :)    I personally never wanted to go this route, I always imagined we could overcome these issues through purely technical and not policy means.  There comes a point though where you can optimize a business process like photo reviews as much as you want, if it's not making an ROI then you are not in a business but a liability.   

There's just no room for hazy grey areas in business these days - the logistical costs of trying to manage submissions, where sometimes the members don't even respond to polite messages like 'hey, your rejection rate is getting up there, maybe slow down a bit, here's how you can improve' etc. is a central issue in scalability.   Adding some house rules is the only way to enforce playing fair, it can only be to the benefit of the good crowd. 
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: RaFaLe on May 07, 2009, 08:06
Rejection percentages seem to be the way to go.. although people seemed to get grumpy about another agencies stab at this recently. :)    I personally never wanted to go this route, I always imagined we could overcome these issues through purely technical and not policy means.  There comes a point though where you can optimize a business process like photo reviews as much as you want, if it's not making an ROI then you are not in a business but a liability.   

There's just no room for hazy grey areas in business these days - the logistical costs of trying to manage submissions, where sometimes the members don't even respond to polite messages like 'hey, your rejection rate is getting up there, maybe slow down a bit, here's how you can improve' etc. is a central issue in scalability.   Adding some house rules is the only way to enforce playing fair, it can only be to the benefit of the good crowd. 

Indeed. This is true.
Thanks for the feedback ;)

Chris
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 07, 2009, 09:06
The upload interfaces (including FTP) are back up - we did what need to do behind the scenes.      The new rejection-based upload throttle will be put in place in the wee hours of the weekend to avoid any disruptions - the rules will be plainly posted on the submissions page.    Thanks for your patience.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: RaFaLe on May 07, 2009, 10:27
Thank you  :D

Although, it does seem that the server is down - I'm unable to access any server at zymmetrical.com domain - FTP or WEB.
Maybe all of a sudden you guys are being bombarded with traffic   :-\

I'll be patient and wait - I know these things happen  ;)
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: RaFaLe on May 07, 2009, 11:00
Ok - all seems fine and normal again.
Thanks again!
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: null on May 07, 2009, 12:24
Thanks for your patience, all I can say is it's a temporary pause, the resume date is not finalized - we are working to implement new methods for keeping things fair for everyone-  The message on the site pretty much should say it all - most people are reasonable enough to be selective about their uploads, a minority are not - and those people should not be taking away resources from you folks.

My last upload was almost 2 months ago when I stopped uploading since my submitted queue was stuck then at 42 (with FTP uploads of January-February) and it's still like that now. The weird thing is that the later non-FTP uploads all passed. I lost already about 200 FTP uploads last year, that vanished in the hayes, and I really don't understand any more what's going on at Zym.

Three months or more in the approval queue seems a bit outlandish. There have been so many glitches before with the FTP, and now again with the 42 stuck for months (not one single cevapcici poo shot in it to be specific), that I totally lost track what Zymm has and what it hasn't. Now I learn here that the upload has been stopped for a minority uploading crap. I don't understand Zym any more. Do like DT, and set an upload limit according to approval ratio. This all seems like a total waste of reviewers resources.

All I notice is that the sum of rejects and approved is about half what I have at DT. The rest, I guess, is somewhere dangling in the Nirvana. I actually gave up silently the first week of April. I'll check again somewhere in August, but in the mean time I figure I'll start with Panthermedia. Those shots will be on Zymm anyways.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 07, 2009, 13:06
I am truly sorry for trouble that may have lingered out of the beta launch, but I can assure you that there has been no funny business lately. Just files in, approved or rejected.  Your 42 were on hold because the reviewers couldn't view their releases - it's being corrected as I write this, they will move shortly. There's no excuse for not having a script that alerts us 'hey these files are stagnating', I will make sure something gets added for these oddball cases.

I know it's not enough to say 'hey, if your files aren't moving within x days then check with our support' - we know people have way better things to do then asking about stuff that should just work.  The good news is that although I think i'll croak if I see the word 'glitch' once more, they actually have been really knocked off  in the last couple months. A main focus now is preventing the few from affecting the many - because some new member thinks it's great to upload 1500 variations, FlemishDreams shouldn't have to wait around for someone to notice his files are stuck or more importantly have his share of marketing revenues used up on someone else's mass rejections. Right now the noise level is too high to deliver 100% service and that's why we're taking steps to close the floodgates.     
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: mantonino on May 07, 2009, 15:16
Rejection percentages seem to be the way to go.. although people seemed to get grumpy about another agencies stab at this recently. :) 

That would be me for one.  And I think my grumpy has almost nothing to do with limits.  I mean DT has limits, IS has limits and StockXpert has limits - and I've never ranted or raved or yelled about ANY of those limits.  Because they seem "fair."  DT counts all time but has an 80% mark to reach - that's fair.  IS has had theirs forever - that's fair.  StockXpert recently cut theirs in half and while I'm unhappy about it, it's fair.

What wasn't fair about Bigstock's move is that the % has been marked "experimental" for years.  Didn't count for, against, anything.  And it says "90 days" is the term they're judging but it's not true.  There was no warning and if you have been with BigStock for years, too bad your early stuff was rejected or you made mistakes while you learned this game because we're holding those against you for all time.

How I would approach this is simple:

1) announce the change.  "Starting May 21st..." about a week or two early.
2) make it make sense.  "Anyone with approvals under 80% are going to be subject to limitations."
3) make the limits MOVEable.  80% at 3000 images is a lot different than 80% at 30 images.  How fair is it that someone with 3000 approvals at 75% won't be able to upload at full speed for a YEAR while the guy with 80% at 30 can upload full speed tomorrow?  Who has helped your agency more?  So if your real concern is noobs uploading too much, keep the limits set for people under 1000 images, 2500 images, 5000 images - who cares - but some number that means something to you.  Sure, the people with 78% and 858 images will be mad.  They have 858/1100 though and another 150 good images puts them in range.  People at 850 images with 2000 submitted shouldn't get to complain.

That's what I'd do anyways.  It would be hard to get angry at an agency that warns you of a fair change coming that you can live with.  That's all we're asking.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 07, 2009, 15:27
Thanks for the feedback..  believe me i've personally paid hand and foot to put off this limiting stuff as long as possible. On one hand you have parties like Iofoto or Creatista who are just machines of perfectly edited, fresh, relevant material, on the other hand you have "the internet".      Striking a balance between the two extremes is a tough thing.       At least it keeps us all interested, if we all didn't get fired up about these issues we would have gone into car parts or vacuum sales or something dreary. ;)       
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: mantonino on May 07, 2009, 16:19
Thanks for the feedback.. 

yer welcome - and thanks for listening.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: Pixart on May 07, 2009, 16:30
Your 42 were on hold because the reviewers couldn't view their releases - it's being corrected as I write this, they will move shortly.

Ah, that expains it.  All my stuck stuff is people.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: dirkr on May 08, 2009, 10:06
I'll check again somewhere in August, but in the mean time I figure I'll start with Panthermedia. Those shots will be on Zymm anyways.

I just decided to go the other way round. I have all my port up on Panther already.
If it sells at Zymm for 50$ (which is the price that it is up for), than Zymm takes 40% of that for them (at least that is what the Panther site shows what they pay their partner agencies) and I'll get 30% of the remainder - in this example that means I'll get 9$ for the sale.

If I put the image up on Zymm directly it would be 35$ for the same sale.
Or I set the price at 15$, get 10,5$ and probably sell a lot more  ::)

So I registered with Zymm and will start uploading my port...
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 08, 2009, 11:03
Actually we pay 70% to all partners, just like with every other account. :)        However yes you would still theoretically earn more selling directly through us.. if  you set your prices high enough, but then again, Panther is a great team and their sales dept. are very hard-working and they are quite well established.     It's very possible you could make up any discrepancies with actual payout rates in volume sales with them.     

I would not want to get into some kind of competition with our partners so I just humbly ask 'support your favourite midstock', whoever turns out to be the best option for you. Perhaps more than one.  :)
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on May 08, 2009, 13:44
Deleted
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on May 08, 2009, 13:57
It is linked from your account page as 'Public Profile'. In your case the link is http://www.zymmetrical.com/artists/artist-profile/uid/54209/ (http://www.zymmetrical.com/artists/artist-profile/uid/54209/).     

Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on June 11, 2009, 09:58
Upload doesn't work again for me!

After  upload my files aren't in describe section (still zero), why!?
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: willie on June 11, 2009, 10:10
Keith,
to be fair to those "abusers", your upload at zymm is not exactly without problems. nor is it the most contributor friendly.
i had upload a batch a month ago, and found a couple of my images got pulled myteriously alongside the ones i wanted to submit . they were only as a i mentioned a COUPLE.
after a month, i thought i go in to check to see how many of those files were approved, only to find all of them moved back to edit. probably due to those COUPLE.
imagine my frustration. so, giving up on your tedious upload system, i left them to dry in my to be edited section.
if i am not mistaken, i am probably not the only one who decided to "abuse" the system.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on June 11, 2009, 10:43
For effective support, please supply at least your username on our system. Borg, yours was easy to figure out by looking at your portfolio link, Perseus, I wish I could help you but I don't know who you are at the moment.

So, Borg (sbotas) - there's only files pending review in your account.  In years of building this system I have never encountered an upload that does not finish, at least not without a noticeable error message on the user-side and in the error logs, they are either uploaded or not.  Was it by FTP or Flash Upload?

Perseus - if you have specific suggestions for improvements  on the submissions page, please post them on http://zymmetrical.uservoice.com (http://zymmetrical.uservoice.com).  It's just a form, we constantly change the reviewer-side interface according to their feedback, and do so for the members-side too, you just need to present a clear idea.
  I am not sure where the term "abusers" came up, did I call anyone that?  Believe me I know the limitations of our system, I have projects stacked up to make it easier for improving the submission process, it just takes time.   I am sorry you seem to have had trouble but the best thing to do if you think you've somehow submitted files you didn't mean to is to immediately contact support. It is easy to reverse, we just need to check the reviewers haven't already started tending to them.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: Maui on June 11, 2009, 11:32
Is it now possible to upload raster illustrations via FTP?
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on June 11, 2009, 14:37
Thanks for the question, actually it's always been possible to upload raster illustrations, the complication has been allowing rasters only, vectors only, or vectors + rasters.  The solution we are implementing is described here: http://www.microstockgroup.com/zymmetrical-com/automatic-ftp-at-zymmetrical-a-workflow-preview/msg98880/#msg98880 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/zymmetrical-com/automatic-ftp-at-zymmetrical-a-workflow-preview/msg98880/#msg98880)

As usual it's behind schedule, some buyer-side features coming up have been prioritized over this functionality. Soon.. :)

So in a nutshell, currently you can upload raster .JPG graphics via the Flash uploader right now.  They do sell quite nicely at the $9 - $10 range - we believe we can present a better buyer experience however so that's been holding up the show with vector/raster thing.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on June 11, 2009, 15:53
Thanks for answer Zymm!

That was by flash upload...

Maybe is problem in my wireless connection...

Sometimes my computer is on a long distance from a router...

I'll try again...

Regards
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on June 11, 2009, 16:27
If you have a touchy connection FTP would be a better choice.  Binary files were never really meant to be transferred by HTTP (Flash is just using the same method as a normal web upload, just wrapped up in a fancy interface) - it's just a long-term hack.  

If you want a good batch-upload method we recommend http://www.Isyndica.com (http://www.Isyndica.com). You can automate the FTP upload process to many sites at once. You can also do it the 'Flemishdreams way' (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/isyndica-com/25/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/isyndica-com/25/))and use Filezilla to batch upload for free, but, IMO, you will lose out because with a limited connection you will need to FTP the same file several times to all the different agencies- unless you set up your own FTP server and schedule it there.

With an aggregate 'peer-to-peer' style network like Isyndica they take care of the distribution, freeing up your local bandwidth for more important things like posting on MSG.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: bad to the bone on June 11, 2009, 17:26
well, i liked the concept of Zym but unfortunally I never ever get almost registered... how funny.
I tryed it 3times. never get a mail for confirmation. (Don't tell me i've had to have a look in my spam folder)

I don't use unusual programs (Mac OSX, Safari, tried also Explorer)...no way.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on June 12, 2009, 02:11
Hi Werkmann,

Your account seems to have been activated already when I just had a look at it, would you mind having another go?

Thanks
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: bad to the bone on June 12, 2009, 02:29
wich of the tree accounts i tried to open? and with witch password - i tried them several times, all failed.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on June 12, 2009, 03:11
I have sent an email to you with the details.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: Colette on June 12, 2009, 07:34
Isn't it a better idea to start a new topic about Zymm problems?
It's confusing seeing the message every time that all uploads are stopped, while in fact that happens more than a month ago... ;)
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on June 13, 2009, 11:14
Isn't it a better idea to start a new topic about Zymm problems?
It's confusing seeing the message every time that all uploads are stopped, while in fact that happens more than a month ago... ;)


Hi Zymm!!

Troubles again with upload...

By flash upload is still the same, after finish of upload, my files isn't in describe section (with or without refreshing).
But after uploading with FTP (Filezilla) my files are in FTP PHOTOS, but afer click on "Synch FTP" I get message "Temporary Error (code 500)"...

Also my files in FTP PHOTOS have different sizes (more or less) than same files on my computer...
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on June 13, 2009, 11:48
The issue with the Flash upload and FTP synch should be corrected now.

I sent you a PM with some specific questions, your files synched but there was an issue with a few of them. I'm thinking that your connection may be unstable with FTP too, do you have trouble uploading anywhere else?.     

Colette I agree, it would actually be simpler if specific support questions came through our normal channels (as mentioned, using our contact form or email info (at) zymmetrical.com), just because it's simpler for security reasons to verify who people are and manage communications in an organized way.  If we need to spend 10 minutes playing Sherlock Holmes to identify who a poster is, it's really time that could be better spent getting the job done. :)
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on June 13, 2009, 17:31
The issue with the Flash upload and FTP synch should be corrected now.

I sent you a PM with some specific questions, your files synched but there was an issue with a few of them. I'm thinking that your connection may be unstable with FTP too, do you have trouble uploading anywhere else?.     

Colette I agree, it would actually be simpler if specific support questions came through our normal channels (as mentioned, using our contact form or email info (at) zymmetrical.com), just because it's simpler for security reasons to verify who people are and manage communications in an organized way.  If we need to spend 10 minutes playing Sherlock Holmes to identify who a poster is, it's really time that could be better spent getting the job done. :)

Thank you Keith for this  excellent customer support ...

I'll send pics via mail tomorrow...

Regards

Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: hlth on July 13, 2009, 16:14
I couldn't agree more with you Keith  ;D

If you have a touchy connection FTP would be a better choice.  Binary files were never really meant to be transferred by HTTP (Flash is just using the same method as a normal web upload, just wrapped up in a fancy interface) - it's just a long-term hack.  

If you want a good batch-upload method we recommend [url]http://www.Isyndica.com[/url] ([url]http://www.Isyndica.com[/url]). You can automate the FTP upload process to many sites at once. You can also do it the 'Flemishdreams way' ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/isyndica-com/25/[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/isyndica-com/25/[/url]))and use Filezilla to batch upload for free, but, IMO, you will lose out because with a limited connection you will need to FTP the same file several times to all the different agencies- unless you set up your own FTP server and schedule it there.

With an aggregate 'peer-to-peer' style network like Isyndica they take care of the distribution, freeing up your local bandwidth for more important things like posting on MSG.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on July 13, 2009, 16:27
Uh oh this old thread again. :)    For first-time readers.. uploads are not stopped lol. 

Well, honestly, the only piece of the puzzle left is the ability to upload different media formats to specific sub-folders for sorting purposes (/PHOTOS, /GRAPHICS, /VIDEO etc.), and we can expand support iSyndica. Also the little complexity of JPG/Raster graphics, of which in our case has three possible upload types: JPG alone, EPS alone, or JPG+EPS together.   The latter being matched by base filename by a time-dependency.         

I know you said the folder thing was in the works, hopefully it come's soon. 

For the record, we have absolutely zero problem with the idea that people are enticed to upload cross-agency with such a system as iSyndica.  No one wins when content creators are making extra clicks, hiring extra staff, paying for extra bandwidth, etc.  With a centralized upload system, the best agent will win. There is only one button photographers should really be clicking, and it's typically manufactured in Japan.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: Stu49 on August 15, 2009, 07:48
uploads might not be stopped, but submissions seem to be !

mine have been waiting in the 'Describe' queue for weeks !!

Stu
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on August 15, 2009, 08:00
Hi Stu,

As per the on-page instructions, you must submit files in the Describe area on to the review staff in order for them to be attended to. The Describe area is a post-upload staging area where you ensure images are keyworded properly, attach model/property releases, and optionally choose price, category, and extended license.

In the the future do not hesitate to contact support directly to avoid misunderstandings like this.

Thanks
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: borg on September 02, 2009, 01:24
Hi Keith!

I don't understand what this mean "The trial period time is over. Please go to module control panel and add activation code."...???

I can't go on my contributor's page...
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: zymmetricaldotcom on September 02, 2009, 05:49
Sorry, it's back to normal now.
Title: Re: All Uploads STOPPED at Zymmetrical!
Post by: leaf on September 02, 2009, 10:08
this thread is now locked so we can try and keep one problem per thread. I think the original issue, first mentioned in spring has been resolved :)