GCU Forum - 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??

Paul_133086

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #60 - Dec 8^th, 2011, 4:29pm

[quote author=Mindy link=1323087268/45#52 date=1323321575]Quote from Paul_133086 on Dec 6^th, 2011, 5:25pm:

Paul,
After reviewing the sales of your top selling card and one other card of similar design & concept I found both of them to have significant frequency AND recency of sales and have asked the review team to bring them both back online. Your clever and appropriate verse seems to really resonate with buyers. Thanks for affording me the time to dig deeper into the sales history.

Thank you, Mindy. That gives some some consolation and a little more faith in GCU.
Cheers.

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Rebecca_140932

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #61 - Dec 8^th, 2011, 8:57pm

Mindy, this is not about me or my cards, or how long I have been here. I have not had that many problems getting my cards approved. It is about all the other artists here who seem to be having such a hard time that they are ready to quit. I myself have seen approvals, and sold some cards as well. Not enough to make a living off of, but enough to enjoy my work. I may not deserve the extra help (according to you) because I have been here so long. But, I think others here do. None of us are demanding more pay, just more patience. I really don't think that is that much to ask for. undecided

As far as you doing away with the reviewers helping us artists out, that is up to you and GCU. It is your business. But, do you really think that is going to help? If so, then I wish you lots of luck with your decision.

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Donna_137698

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #62 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 3:54am

I do my very best to make sure I don't have grammar mistakes and I try to make my images the best I can for what I see and what I'd hope some buyer might be inspired with. But admittedly, a few might slip through as I continue to learn and hone these new skills - although I think in my time here, and having to relearn some grammar no thanks to my current real job, doesn't deserve to downplay what I think I have learned to accomplish here. Am I perfect? Far from it.

And really Mindy - considering some of the complaints made by PROFESSIONAL artists - are your reviewers perfect in their decisions? Obviously not considering that you have had to hop on and reinstate selling cards. You keep saying the review process is subjective, and mistakes will be made, then I find that rather ironic that you can make that statement but expect US to be perfect when we are trying our very BEST. If you want professional artists, which you keep replying to me is NOT the case, then I think you really are not telling the whole truth because you ARE expecting it when all is said and done.

Truly, I really think this all boils down to EVERYONE working together to make the best of this - that partnership I THOUGHT we all had here. Yeah, I've asked about a pay raise - but considering the fact that you do in essence want perfection, then what do you expect from us for our hard work?

That's why I say for me right now, I am stopping submitting here and I am enjoying being "elsewhere" at the moment because I'm still learning, honing skills, and developing my own style so to speak - I don't wish to waste anyone's time if I don't have enough confidence in what I am putting forth FOR YOU.

Although even then, deep down inside I don't really think this is the case Wink

I've had enough folks tell me my cards are just as "marketable" as the next guy and that I need to work on "marketing skills" to get them out there and seen. However, right now it's just too much to sit back, work hard, and wait for some other artist to understand my work - to see "my vision" in the piece - and either cast it down or push it forward when I have NO idea what that person is really doing, if they simply don't like my work so they find fault with it, or if there are truly issues I need to address.

OK I've sounded off yet again, but considering the conversations I've had off forum, this seems to be the general tone many of us frustrated artists are experiencing - and I apologize to those artists who think I'm trying to speak for you - this is the general tone I have obtained from those I've chatted with and interpreted via the conversations here.

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Doreen_137017

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #63 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 7:52am

Quote from Rebecca_140932 on Dec 8^th, 2011, 8:57pm:

Mindy, this is not about me or my cards, or how long I have been here. I have not had that many problems getting my cards approved. It is about all the other artists here who seem to be having such a hard time that they are ready to quit. I myself have seen approvals, and sold some cards as well. Not enough to make a living off of, but enough to enjoy my work. I may not deserve the extra help (according to you) because I have been here so long. But, I think others here do. None of us are demanding more pay, just more patience. I really don't think that is that much to ask for. undecided

As far as you doing away with the reviewers helping us artists out, that is up to you and GCU. It is your business. But, do you really think that is going to help? If so, then I wish you lots of luck with your decision.

Rebecca,

Just to be sure you read Mindy's post that you refer to correctly. Those 'guidelines' she speaks of and you quote were posted on the thread she linked to in March 2010. This is nothing new and certainly has nothing to do with any issues of today.

Sounded like you thought this was something new, so I wanted to clear up a misinterpretation if there was one

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Mindy

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #64 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 3:53pm

Quote from Donna_137698 on Dec 9^th, 2011, 3:54am:

I do my very best to make sure I don't have grammar mistakes and I try to make my images the best I can for what I see and what I'd hope some buyer might be inspired with. But admittedly, a few might slip through as I continue to learn and hone these new skills - although I think in my time here, and having to relearn some grammar no thanks to my current real job, doesn't deserve to downplay what I think I have learned to accomplish here. Am I perfect? Far from it.

And really Mindy - considering some of the complaints made by PROFESSIONAL artists - are your reviewers perfect in their decisions? Obviously not considering that you have had to hop on and reinstate selling cards. You keep saying the review process is subjective, and mistakes will be made, then I find that rather ironic that you can make that statement but expect US to be perfect when we are trying our very BEST. If you want professional artists, which you keep replying to me is NOT the case, then I think you really are not telling the whole truth because you ARE expecting it when all is said and done.

Truly, I really think this all boils down to EVERYONE working together to make the best of this - that partnership I THOUGHT we all had here. Yeah, I've asked about a pay raise - but considering the fact that you do in essence want perfection, then what do you expect from us for our hard work?

That's why I say for me right now, I am stopping submitting here and I am enjoying being "elsewhere" at the moment because I'm still learning, honing skills, and developing my own style so to speak - I don't wish to waste anyone's time if I don't have enough confidence in what I am putting forth FOR YOU.

Although even then, deep down inside I don't really think this is the case Wink

I've had enough folks tell me my cards are just as "marketable" as the next guy and that I need to work on "marketing skills" to get them out there and seen. However, right now it's just too much to sit back, work hard, and wait for some other artist to understand my work - to see "my vision" in the piece - and either cast it down or push it forward when I have NO idea what that person is really doing, if they simply don't like my work so they find fault with it, or if there are truly issues I need to address.

OK I've sounded off yet again, but considering the conversations I've had off forum, this seems to be the general tone many of us frustrated artists are experiencing - and I apologize to those artists who think I'm trying to speak for you - this is the general tone I have obtained from those I've chatted with and interpreted via the conversations here.

Think we're beating a dead horse rehashing the same issues and concerns. We are all in this together and it will take the team of us to move forward. One thing is for sure, we must move forward.

We don't expect perfection but over time (I used an arbitrary 6 months) an artist should be pretty familiar w/ the ins and outs of the site to submit cards with no to few errors, near perfect. Things like titles, keywords, categories, margins, etc. This has to do with the mechanics of creating and submitting a card, not in the artistic process of creating art.

A mom's analogy if I may: If I keep picking up my kids' dirty laundry off the floor, washing it for them and returning it to their dresser & closet will they ever learn to put it in the hamper? Probably not.

At some point the artist must roll up their sleeves and learn. It is the most efficient for all parties involved. We will continue to provide advice on how to improve card submissions (add details to card title, care with margin allowance, etc.) but we cannot continue to make the corrections for them.

The professional aspect I've shared is that an artist doesn't need to be professionally trained but their work should look professional. Professional enough that someone is willing pay for it and it stands strong among the competition.

Lastly the point I made about me personally reinstating cards has nothing to do with a reviewer's error. We do not give the review team members access to sales data. The review team is not empowered to retain cards that have been identified to be below the bar because of sales. They do not have that information, I do.

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Donna_137698

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #65 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 4:19pm

sorry if I continue to "beat the dead horse" - just trying to get a toehold on how best to continue here if at all... glad we are "in this together" - that sets my mind at ease - a little bit.

I would NEVER expect anyone to be lazy enough to submit garbage cards after 6 months. As I said, I know I've grown from my first day on GCU and I have to continue to thank those artists who were and continue to be helpful in teaching what they can and I have been doing a truckload of research and always taking all the posts to helpful tips/tricks and suggestions all VERY seriously. I'm certainly not one to waste anyone's time as I've said numerous times before - and I really don't think any of the more serious people here would either. BUT, my statements were in regards to the "occasional" mishaps in error that might occur - or with a creation that perhaps the reviewer rejects as error when it was done deliberately to convey a certain visual message if that makes sense.

But as stated in another thread, I gather that such photographic or illustrating creative tools can be explained in the artist notes - so I learned something here by the example stated there.

I'm not sure if you understood what I was stating/asking with the rejected/reinstated card/s. What made you change your mind to reinstate if the reviewer found issues with it to the point that it needed to be declined/removed? I'm confused... yup, I know it's not my card, but I am trying to understand why this happened to begin with and to make a point of the issues at hand and to learn something so I don't make such mistakes or if I didn't feel a card I made deserved rejection.

If such issues happen again with something created that doesn't really warrant the rejection, how do you suggest one go about having a "second opinion" made - especially that you have stated in the past and even now that we cannot argue the decline? Obviously Paul got his point across to get his cards put back into his store.

Sorry to pick on you, Paul... just trying to make a point about this new review process and how we all are not going to see eye to eye and if we can in fact argue our points for reinstating.

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Rebecca_140932

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Posts: 624

Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #66 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 5:34pm

Quote from Doreen_137017 on Dec 9^th, 2011, 7:52am:

Quote from Rebecca_140932 on Dec 8^th, 2011, 8:57pm:

Mindy, this is not about me or my cards, or how long I have been here. I have not had that many problems getting my cards approved. It is about all the other artists here who seem to be having such a hard time that they are ready to quit. I myself have seen approvals, and sold some cards as well. Not enough to make a living off of, but enough to enjoy my work. I may not deserve the extra help (according to you) because I have been here so long. But, I think others here do. None of us are demanding more pay, just more patience. I really don't think that is that much to ask for. undecided

As far as you doing away with the reviewers helping us artists out, that is up to you and GCU. It is your business. But, do you really think that is going to help? If so, then I wish you lots of luck with your decision.

Rebecca,

Just to be sure you read Mindy's post that you refer to correctly. Those 'guidelines' she speaks of and you quote were posted on the thread she linked to in March 2010. This is nothing new and certainly has nothing to do with any issues of today.

Sounded like you thought this was something new, so I wanted to clear up a misinterpretation if there was one

I know it wasn't new, Doreen. Thanks for trying to keep me up-to-date though. Wink

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Mindy

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #67 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 5:35pm

Quote from Donna_137698 on Dec 9^th, 2011, 4:19pm:

I'm not sure if you understood what I was stating/asking with the rejected/reinstated card/s. What made you change your mind to reinstate if the reviewer found issues with it to the point that it needed to be declined/removed? I'm confused... yup, I know it's not my card, but I am trying to understand why this happened to begin with and to make a point of the issues at hand and to learn something so I don't make such mistakes or if I didn't feel a card I made deserved rejection.

If such issues happen again with something created that doesn't really warrant the rejection, how do you suggest one go about having a "second opinion" made - especially that you have stated in the past and even now that we cannot argue the decline? Obviously Paul got his point across to get his cards put back into his store.

Sorry to pick on you, Paul... just trying to make a point about this new review process and how we all are not going to see eye to eye and if we can in fact argue our points for reinstating.

We only reinstated 2 of perhaps 30 of Paul's cards. These two are near identical.

His request for reconsideration was on the grounds of the card being his best seller.

Do I feel the image was justly declined on marketability? Yes. Is it an offensively unprofessional image? Absolutely not.

The sales data showed recency, frequency and relevance as I noted before. It sold a long time ago, it sold days ago, it has sold often and to many different buyers.

That tells me he's on to something despite the snapshot nature of his photo. I believe his clever and appropriate verse made up for any shortcomings of his image.

to Paul.

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/animals-pets-birthday-cards/cats/stay-in-bed -birthday-187720

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Catherine_136771

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #68 - Dec 9^th, 2011, 6:27pm

I'm glad you're taking into account the sales data that show recency, frequency and relevance. "It sold a long time ago, it sold days ago, it has sold often and to many different buyers."

As designers do, I love to see what cards people buy among my family and friends, and I've noticed many of the cards have clever text but snapshot images -- these are mostly from younger buyers, who seem to think it's not too cool to look polished. They grew up with photoshop, so they like to be retro. That said, it's a very hard combination to pull off.

If the reviewers aren't privy to sales data, what is the recourse for someone whose best-selling and recent-selling card is pulled?

I love Paul's cat between the sheets!

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Judy_139270

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #69 - Dec 12^th, 2011, 4:33am

Hi Mindy

I've been trying to wait patiently for an answer to my question about why my suggestion (above) wouldn't have worked.

As no reply has been forthcoming, can I assume that you agree that it would have worked?

If not, please can you tell me where it would have fallen short of achieving GCU's objectives.

I still feel in the dark as to what GCU are expecting of us, apart from the fact that 'blurriness' makes for a 'decline' or a 'delete'. However that is surely something that should rightly only be applied to photography in most cases, and as someone who has relatively few photographic images, this doesn't really apply much to me.

Since you mentioned 'relevancy', I'm even more in a muddle as I have no idea what you would classify as 'relevant'. Relevant to what? Can you give us an example, please?

I want to continue to offer my designs and to work on updating my older ones but as long as I am unclear as to the criteria for approval, it is simply too stressful, as well as probably wasting my time.

There appears to be some factor involved which you don't seem to be able to put into easily understood words. That is why I hoped that, by suggesting a means of eliminating cards that are no longer marketable in a way that seems to me to be fair, objective, transparent and more cost-effective, your reply would have shed some light on this elusive factor.

I am still hoping that you will find time to respond.

Judy

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Mindy

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #70 - Dec 13^th, 2011, 5:51pm

Quote from Catherine_136771 on Dec 9^th, 2011, 6:27pm:

I'm glad you're taking into account the sales data that show recency, frequency and relevance. "It sold a long time ago, it sold days ago, it has sold often and to many different buyers."

As designers do, I love to see what cards people buy among my family and friends, and I've noticed many of the cards have clever text but snapshot images -- these are mostly from younger buyers, who seem to think it's not too cool to look polished. They grew up with photoshop, so they like to be retro. That said, it's a very hard combination to pull off.

If the reviewers aren't privy to sales data, what is the recourse for someone whose best-selling and recent-selling card is pulled?

I love Paul's cat between the sheets!

You can send an email to the card review team with the pertinent info and it will make its way to me.

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Mindy

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #71 - Dec 13^th, 2011, 5:57pm

Quote from Judy_139270 on Dec 12^th, 2011, 4:33am:

Hi Mindy

I've been trying to wait patiently for an answer to my question about why my suggestion (above) wouldn't have worked.

As no reply has been forthcoming, can I assume that you agree that it would have worked?

If not, please can you tell me where it would have fallen short of achieving GCU's objectives.

I still feel in the dark as to what GCU are expecting of us, apart from the fact that 'blurriness' makes for a 'decline' or a 'delete'. However that is surely something that should rightly only be applied to photography in most cases, and as someone who has relatively few photographic images, this doesn't really apply much to me.

Since you mentioned 'relevancy', I'm even more in a muddle as I have no idea what you would classify as 'relevant'. Relevant to what? Can you give us an example, please?

I want to continue to offer my designs and to work on updating my older ones but as long as I am unclear as to the criteria for approval, it is simply too stressful, as well as probably wasting my time.

There appears to be some factor involved which you don't seem to be able to put into easily understood words. That is why I hoped that, by suggesting a means of eliminating cards that are no longer marketable in a way that seems to me to be fair, objective, transparent and more cost-effective, your reply would have shed some light on this elusive factor.

I am still hoping that you will find time to respond.

Judy

Hi Judy,
Sorry for my delayed reply. Time is the issue here as I juggle other tasks during our busiest time of year. I am in the process of establishing a clearer overview of our guidelines and process however I suspect they will not be as detailed as you desire. It is easier for us to specify the works we will not accept vs the ones we will and most, although not all, of those specifications are related to photographic works. Please be on the look out for this hopefully by the end of this week.

As for the relevancy of sales this has to do with for example seeing sales to more than 1 shopper and sales to more than just the artist. We don't consider buying your own cards relevant.

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Norma_133903 Senior Member artist Posts: 485	Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ?? Reply #72 - Dec 13^th, 2011, 10:25pm Quote from Mindy on Dec 13^th, 2011, 5:57pm: As for the relevancy of sales this has to do with for example seeing sales to more than 1 shopper and sales to more than just the artist. We don't consider buying your own cards relevant. I know this is a serious thread, but that really made me laugh!
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Mindy

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Re: 300 : .txt No such file or directory ??
Reply #73 - Dec 14^th, 2011, 1:06pm

Quote from Norma_133903 on Dec 13^th, 2011, 10:25pm:

Quote from Mindy on Dec 13^th, 2011, 5:57pm:

As for the relevancy of sales this has to do with for example seeing sales to more than 1 shopper and sales to more than just the artist. We don't consider buying your own cards relevant.

I know this is a serious thread, but that really made me laugh!

Glad there is some humor to be had. We could all use some right about now

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