Pond 5 always used to be my highest approval rating... 95%+.  I always thought it was a bit odd that they just accepted most everything, but ok. 

Now, the last 3 times I've submitted, I've got 90% REJECTED.  I don't expect them to just keep accepting everything, but these same ~100 images/videos got acceptance ratios ranging from 35-75% on the other stock sites.

What gives?  They have an easy upload process, and I make decent money from all my old content, but it's not wroth the time if they're rejecting everything everybody else is accepting.

Looks like the same recipe for disaster that DT followed with stills.  I'm sure google likes lots more new content, why else would SS be accepting so many new images?  I'm starting to get seriously concerned about P5, they should remember what made them so good and not destroy it.

Maybe write to them directly?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/720805501262878/?fref=ts

This seems pretty daft especially if they're rejecting new 4K content in preference for older existing HD content.

Pond5 has been around almost 10 years - maybe it's time to start deleting files which are very old (say 8+ years) with no sales to make way for better quality new clips

Maybe write to them directly?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/720805501262878/?fref=ts

Interesting... looks like they're based in Czech.

their rejections have become weird.  What they don�t take is the content that will then sell pretty fast on SS.

But the worst are the long review times.

I used to love pond5, but it looks like they are ignoring what is necessary to be done while the management plays with new toys. Reminds me of istock unfortuantely.

The main advantage was that pond5 was a real marketplace, that set them apart from all the other places where you can�t decide on prices or run your portfolio as your own webshop.

I hope they don�t kill it off with too many "exciting" projects.

That doesn�t sound good at all.

Pond5 was the only real marketplace the industry had.

They could have become the ebay or amazon of the industry.

But that means no interference in peopleś portfolios, no "micromanaging" by inexperienced reviewers.

Now I am really worried where they are going.

They were outselling compared to SS for a very long time with a much smaller budget.

Their marketplace concept was brilliant and unique.

What happened to "intelligent" capitalism...

Guess it is now all just about creating a "story" like a movie trailer and then selling out quick before it all crashes.

We will see what happens, but the long review times mean someone decided not to invest in the most basic structure.

Quote from: imagesbykenny on March 04, 2016, 02:37

I got most of my last uploads accepted, but the notice with some of the rejections was interesting.
"At this point, the clips with this topic that have a greater chance of acceptance on the site are both unusual and high-quality. The best way to tell whether or not your clip has a good chance of getting rejected would be to do a search on our site for what you're thinking of creating before you put in the time to make it, and see how many results come up. If it's something that has 100+ very similar results, then chances are we're not currently looking for more unless they're something we haven't seen before or something that will make us say "wow"."

On one hand I can see how more than 100 clips of a subject wouldn't be of much use to them. But most topics do need to be updated to stay fresh and up to date. Also this means that they wouldn't be accepting anything that isn't a niche.

What a strange rejection reason...

I didn't upload 100 files of the same subject, it was from 3 different shoots, and one was travel oriented, so very few "similar" were uploaded.

They're not talking about 100 uploaded files that are too similar to each other. They mean that they already have lots of files of a similar topic and don't want more unless they're unusual or exceptional.

Quote from: thepokergod on March 04, 2016, 07:43

This seems pretty daft especially if they're rejecting new 4K content in preference for older existing HD content.

Pond5 has been around almost 10 years - maybe it's time to start deleting files which are very old (say 8+ years) with no sales to make way for better quality new clips

Wait... is there a cap in uploading?
You saying if we delete old files, new ones will be accepted easier?
btw...I agree on 4K remark.

There's no cap that I know of - was just airing the idea that maybe the curators should start culling all the old unsold crap (of which there is plenty) instead of rejecting new 4K acceptable stuff.

There's no cap that I know of - was just airing the idea that maybe the curators should start culling all the old unsold crap (of which there is plenty) instead of rejecting new 4K acceptable stuff.

I agree a thousand percent. The trouble is agencies need to brag about how big their stock library is: "no small hands with our agency" so the idea of culling years of crap is a non-starter. Agencies, if they want to attract more buyers IMO need to start being more selective and treat clips like they do with images. Poor framing, exposure, panning, tilting, etc. should not be offered to the buyer who is always seeking professionally shot material.

Doesn't old non-selling stuff get pushed back so far in the search that it doesn't really matter if it's there or not?

Quote from: Asthebelltolls on March 07, 2016, 08:56

There's no cap that I know of - was just airing the idea that maybe the curators should start culling all the old unsold crap (of which there is plenty) instead of rejecting new 4K acceptable stuff.

I agree a thousand percent. The trouble is agencies need to brag about how big their stock library is: "no small hands with our agency" so the idea of culling years of crap is a non-starter. Agencies, if they want to attract more buyers IMO need to start being more selective and treat clips like they do with images. Poor framing, exposure, panning, tilting, etc. should not be offered to the buyer who is always seeking professionally shot material.

Doesn't old non-selling stuff get pushed back so far in the search that it doesn't really matter if it's there or not?

I think it matters with Google.  Since DT started culling old images, they slipped down the earnings poll results here.  Perhaps a coincidence but I think it could be one of the reasons for their decline.

40% rejection after 2 months wait here. I never had that happen at Pond5, usually 100% or 95% approval. Most of the clips are new 4k clips which there is no 4k equivalent on the site. Rejection reasons like :

"Thanks for the upload but we are seeking uniquely original and vibrant content, so we have decided not to include this video as part of our collection.Please let us know if you have any questions"

"Thanks for the upload but we have decided not to include this clip as part of our collection. The clip has no motion and looks like still frame. Please let us know if you have any question."   

This is ridiculous, so locked shots are out, it takes a lot longer to upload and keyword on Pond 5 than most of the other sites, it took 2 months to review or more and then the boatload of arbitrary rejections.    Sales have been ok but trending lower compared to other sites.    The other sites accepted these clips and have started selling no problem especially the 4k ones.

I am disheartened at best and now I am frankly scared of submitting content and waste valuable time in the upload process.   I really think they need to rethink this strategy.  Maybe they have reached critical mass and do not want to have tons of content as a marketplace and more as a curated collection.