I really don't want to be mean but am looking for some insight. Why are images like this accepted? Do all sites accept (almost) anything from new contributors just to get them hooked then hope they get a sale or two but never enough sales to ever get a payout? No disrespect meant to the image maker (I hope the artist won't see it and be offended) but I believe acceptance of images like this does not encourage them to get better before submitting other images. It also fills up the image database with stuff that doesn't reflect well on the company and clogs up searches.

(I tried to embed the image but obviously didn't. I hit the image icon and entered the url but nothing showed up, not sure why. But, I'm new here.)

Update: I hid the link which is what I wanted to do at first but couldn't figure out how. Thank you FD-amateur for your help. I didn't intend my question to be unfair or to hurt anyone's feelings. I'm just learning my way around this forum.

Hi Red,
I might be wrong, but if you are the same 'Red' - Exclusive DT artist, hello and welcome to this forum
In any case I think I know what's the answer to your question.
The image is an illustration, possibly a vector.
She doesn't seem to mention it in the description and there is no additional EPS AI file, but at DT these things take time (original vector files are reviewed at a later date).
There is a big difference between submitting photos and submitting illustrations.
Vectors are reviewed much, much faster and accepted a lot easier than photos. This is true for all the agencies I submit to, not only DT.
I think the sites are trying to enlarge their vector collections.
Vectors might not be selling better but they are certainly fewer in numbers.
And if you think the image in question is somewhat lacking, you should see the vectors Fotolia accepts, day in, day out.
A green square with a yellow circle is all you need to get you in. By comparision our image in question is quite complex.  
I don't think it will ever sell, but when it comes to vectors I think the agencies' focus, right now, is probably on raw numbers.
It's not a fair deal to photographers who spend a lot of time (and money) to create their images, but this is the game we all have to play.
What if you give Illustrator a try? A square, a circle, you've got yourself a flag and you're in  
Don't feel bad about it, nothing to do with your images
Best of luck,

What if you give Illustrator a try? A square, a circle, you've got yourself a flag and you're in  

Try submitting those to IS!
I agree on the subject tho, guess some reviewer just won the lottery or something. And I don't think it's even a vector(complex pattern on gifts, if he/she could draw that she could have drawn the whole stuff better). I agree that some agencies should raise their standards when it comes to vector illustrations because stuff like this degrades the image of real vector artists(that actually know how to draw).

You're right, all of you.
No point in arguing.
What I'm trying to say is that the only reason that image is accepted is because it is an illustration of some sorts.
I've seen it happening at other sites too - poor vectors get accepted while photos a great deal more difficult to create, don't.
This is how it is and it's not only happening at DT.

@Klaus, you're right about IS. I haven't tried them yet, (time permitting, next on my list), but their vector collection is probably the best I've seen so far.
They're doing a great job and I'm hoping DT will get there too; one day.

@Red,
I don't really want you to start submitting silly squares
That was a joke, trying to cheer you up a bit
You're doing fine, just as you are. No need to mess with your portfolio. It's beautiful

Generally speaking, being complex or detailed does not make a great images by itself.

Do all sites accept (almost) anything from new contributors just to get them hooked then hope they get a sale or two but never enough sales to ever get a payout?

well , as i recall my very first seminar attended on Marketing a loooongggggg time ago, the speaker said a memorable thing which even after 30 years I still remember this, "THE FIRST PUFF OF OPIUM IS ALWAYS FREE"

Thanks FD-amateur, I made the change. I wanted to do it that way in my original post but when I hit Preview nothing at all appeared so knew my code was off. You've cleared it up and I appreciate it. I never wanted to be disrespectful.

And, Perseus, it seems there are problems with all the sites according to many members here so I guess if one would stop adding images it would be hard to pick a site that was perfect to upload to.

There's definitely a problem with lax vector acceptance policies lately. Stuff gets through that just should not be accepted. Browse any of the "Post your latest image you think will sell" forum thread over at SS and you'll see some amazingly bad stuff. And that's the stuff people think is particularly good and they're proud of. No offense meant to anyone in those threads, by the way, and I'm not talking about everyone who posts in them. There are always a few on each page that just make you wonder what the reviewer was drinking that day.

I know this probably comes across as harsh and elitist, but I think the review policies need to be tighter and sites need to stop letting any old crap into the collections. There's no shortage of images in microstock these days. If anything, there are too many. So it's high time the standards were raised and a new bar is set for all of us. We're only hurting ourselves if we keep the industry standards so low.

EDITED IN JEST
There are always a few on each page that just make you wonder what the reviewer was drinking that day.

helix7, maybe they weren't drinking...
maybe smoked some bad weed  ...

i recall at woodstock and isle of wight , even jimi and mick saw bees the size of flying saucers. maybe that's how the reviewers found noise the size of golf balls,
and fringes and banding that made jimi composed his album "rainbow bridge".

weed + cheap glue can be bad most times 

I think Shutterstock should start a bargain bin similar to iStock. There is so much drek on SS; why not send some of the deadwood to a bargain bin for a short period of time, and then dump them later on?

Isn't 25 cents bargain basement enough?

My thoughts exactly