However, I for once have not submitted anything to VectorStock because of the 8 reasons below.
1. VectorStock had denied my application as a contributor... twice. I have submitted the below two vectors in two different occasions, and their response is...
ARTIST UPLOAD NOT GRANTED.Below are the two vectors I submitted to VectorStock on different occasions and both have been denied for not suitable.
Thank you for your sample submission.
We have reviewed your sample and do not feel your work is suitable for the VectorStock library at this time.
You may re-submit a new sample for reviewing if you feel you can illustrate a different style.
Visit the FAQ for more information.
Best Regards
VectorStock Team
2. I believe my sales will be poor and unworthy. Although, this page (most download) shows us that there are indeed sales, but the performance of their new files are utterly disappointing. Take a look at their latest vectors and browse the pagination up to as many as you can. You will see that 99% of the files have 0 download. I don't mind if older files will eventually sell, but try to browse up to page 1000, and you will still be seeing 0 download for 99% of the files.
3. They sell us cheap. For a start, you earns 25% of your sales. All your files are priced at only USD1. That means that if you sell a vector, you only make USD0.25. Mind you that this is not even a subscription rate download, but a totally on-demand download. You cannot compare this rate to site like Shutterstock because Shutterstock sells at least 1000 times more than a low earners like this.
4. VectorStock uploading process is lame. They want you to reduce your artwork size to 380 x 400. Ohh, please, you are actually troubling ten thousand artists out there just because your programmer does not know how to write a script to resize a JPEG for the website preview. I reckon they rejected my application earlier was because of this reason. Yes, I didn't create my artwork in 380 x 400, and if this was really the reason you rejected me, at least you should mention properly why am I rejected instead of saying "I feel this is not suitable".
5. Because they are selling our vector so cheaply, I feel that they are luring "thieves" into buying our vectors and then putting it up for free at file hosting site. The reason why these "thieves" put our vector for free in file sharing site is because of money. However, I will not discuss this matter today as it will take one whole blog entry to explain. "Thieves" will most likely target on cheapest stock agency and buy from them so that their earning margin is higher.
6. They don't have PR (personal relationship). When is the last time you heard about them saying anything at all on the Internet? They don't even have a news column and forum in their site for us to discuss their site related matter and doesn't even bother what everyone is saying about them outside. These are some forum threads about VectorStock and I don't see VectorStock sending a representative to comment.
When you don't send someone to comment and to clear things up, you are basically losing your creditability. Take a look at Graphicleftovers, they are good at PR. I have recently wrote a review about Graphicleftovers, and they really care enough to send someone to comment and to clarify things up. I love them.
7. No marketing effort. I can't see their advertisement anywhere in the Internet.
8. No site upgrade. You never ever see the site improve or degrade before. Do they even have a team of programmers? Have they given up?
As a conclusion, I have decided that I will not upload to them. If you have anything to say about Vectorstock, please comment on the comment box below.
I will not sell my vectors on VectorStock because the $1 they ask for a vector is an insult and the uploading process is too involved for the pittance I'd get in return.
ReplyDeleteYour blogs are great info for vector artists. Your words are truth... Thank you for sharing your personal experience with us.
Very strange thay found your vectors not suitable..
ReplyDeleteI think you are mostly right - they sell cheap, and unfortunately the sales (for me at least) are really lame - about 30 downloads a month.
I do believe they have a very strong promotional pragramme for some contributors, and the rest are just lost in the flood.
As for uploading I think they have a great thing: 100 eps files via FTP, you dont need to write keywords, or description, or do anything else; just send one bactch of 100+ epses and they do everything for you - this is convinient.
And I guess I saw their adverts on some sites (like vectortuts.com)
And also they just changed their interface:)
But still to all that - sales are not good!...