Your Pet Peeves

[pookie]

I've noticed that buyers have been complaining about the quality of glitters and layouts in the Market. i myself havent gotten any direct complaints from previous buyers.

As a buyer, what are your top pet peeves? I haven't bought anything from anybody yet but I know that if someone says their stuff is high quality, it should be high quality, not crap. i guess its in the eye of the beholder... or designer.

[Connections]

I think some peopel are asking way too much for certain layout packs and certain glitter packs, like come on poeple if its FWL quality then ask $.50-2 a layout if your gonna sell them to a bunch of people, if its exclusive ask for more, and if its just junk ask for a few cents a layout.

I dont get how people come on her asking for 2.50+ a layout if their going to sell it to a mass amount of people, its not exclusive????

[Jordan]

I think some peopel are asking way too much for certain layout packs and certain glitter packs, like come on poeple if its FWL quality then ask $.50-2 a layout if your gonna sell them to a bunch of people, if its exclusive ask for more, and if its just junk ask for a few cents a layout.

I dont get how people come on her asking for 2.50+ a layout if their going to sell it to a mass amount of people, its not exclusive????
Sometimes sellers do that so that they have a safety net to fall back on if they don't get many buyers - that way, if they only get 2-3 buyers then they have made as much money as they would for a custom layout for an individual site.

I just hate it when people come on expecting to get like 3 bucks a glitter when their glitters aren't high quality. I think my layouts and glitters are of a decent quality, and when I do custom work I earn more because I put more work into it. I've seen many people come with expectations of earning stacks of money and when those expectations aren't fulfilled they don't give the buyer a good experience.

[Elvis.]

What I hate is when people charge you a lot for a layout, but it looks like crap, you're just not comfortable telling them that. UGH!

[Connections]

just compare their layouts with FWL

go FWL pays $10 a layout for this high quality they are ONLY going to be used on one site hence EXCLUSIVE,

you are selling a layout to 10 sites and the quality is same as FWL ask $1/layout.

the more sites you sell a layout to the less its value, if it just gets spammed to massive amount of sites its not exclusive any more.

[DavidR]

go FWL pays $10 a layout for this high quality they are ONLY going to be used on one site hence EXCLUSIVE


I heard they pay up to $16?

[pookie]

I heard they pay up to $16?

wow. $16... those layouts must be awesome...

[WhosThatGirl]

Pookie, I think your glitters are great btw :)

In reply to the post, some recent pet peeves I've discovered are:

1. Sellers who advertise their glitters and show examples with clipart, then you get the package and the images shown for an example are about the ONLY Images in the pack that had clipart.

2. Sellers who sell images with DINGBATS and call it "clipart"

3. Sellers who say their stuff is high quality and then when you get the images, they are pretty much junk. Ive recieved some stuff that I would never put on my site, and the sellers call "extremely high quality"

4. When you pre pay for glitters that end up taking forever to come... like weeks of waiting.

I know that quality is all in the designers eye. I mean one person could think their stuff is great, and the next person might think its gaudy and tacky. I have definatly learned not to get excited at a deal and jump in head first... you gotta see lots of examples, because I've been really dissapointed a few times latley when I get over excited, buy a pack without seeing much of it, and find out it wasn't nearly what was expected.

[Connections]

I heard they pay up to $16?

who knows how much they paylol , from the looks of my other thread do do have money to burn.

[DavidR]

who knows how much they paylol , from the looks of my other thread do do have money to burn.

Well you said they paid $10, did you just make that up? Selena used to make layouts for them, I'm sure she mentioned $16 in a topic somewhere.

[Connections]

Well you said they paid $10, did you just make that up? Selena used to make layouts for them, I'm sure she mentioned $16 in a topic somewhere.


I've seen some one else saying they got paid $10 a layout from them.
dont know if it was a legit source but.

[YabbaDoo]

I'm sick and tired of everyone on this Forum comparing every little thing to FWL.
"Hello, you are NOT FREEWEBLAYOUTS!"
Guys, if you ever want to get as big as your leading competitors you're going the wrong way about it.
Be unique, be new, be stylish.
People don't want stuff that looks like freeweblayouts, bcoz if they did - guess what, they would just go to freeweblayouts.
LOL, just think up your own ideas, get high quality designers on board.
In all honesty, FWL layouts aren't just High Quality, they are THE highest quality...Some of there stuff looks like it really cannot possibly get any better if they tried. It's amazing, looks like it's designed by the actual celebrities graphics teams who design their album covers etc.
I expect they use a pro for that stuff and pay a LOT of money for some of the real good stuff, and in and all honesty, there aren't that many designers around on the web these days who can come close to that.
As most of them have already got degrees, years of experience and qualifications, and now have been snapped up by the big companies and have huge, well paid jobs already!
In ALL honesty, I don't think I've seen any layouts that come even close to FWL's for sale on this forum, but hey, you could always prove me wrong.
Some people think they are better than they actually are though, I can't tell you how many threads I have seen in the marketplace this month claiming AMAZING HQ etc...And looked at them and thought "eww" lol
Don't say HQ if you aren't HQ :P

[DavidR]

You're making a dumb point or two I think YabbaDoo...

People simply mention them and MySpace Stop when they are speaking quality wise. What on earth is wrong with saying you'd like some layouts made to the same quality? They're not saying copy their style or copying their site. They simply are using FWL as a marker, to express the quality of the work they want or are making.

I'm not sure FWL does hire designers with degrees and pros... more like teenagers from the internet...

And lastly there are plently of sites that equal FWL quality now, they're not as perfect as you are saying. Also Panic! on this forum is selling layouts matching their quality ...if not better. I find many FWL designs are messy and over designed - better than many, but still not perfect.

[YabbaDoo]

It depends,
they have loads of different qualitys on the site.
Some of them just look normal and average...Then others look absolutely amazing.
It's just that everyone always uses FWL as an example, and everyone does copy them, look at all the big sites taking ideas from them and stuff.
I just don't get it when people are all like IMing my friends asking them "Can you do one like this: "link to a FWL layout" for $5"
It's like the best layout on their entire site and they think they can get people to be inspired and basically copy that level of quality for slave labour prices.
Some of them on that site are certainly not made by average teenages, some of them look like top qualified designer level (as I described above) and I have't seen lays that good on any sites other than theres and a few others lol.
They have a good design team, teens cant be expected to match that for cheaper prices than what the FWL boys pay out.

[nsmchris]

Back to pet peeves. Here are few. Not big but pet peeves non the less ;)


uncompressed images used for layout backgrounds
tons of thumb.db files in a zip
uncategorized images named 1.gif to 1000.gif


I've actually gotten layouts with backgrounds larger than 1MB in size. No need for that.
If you create a large zip file of layouts. Edit the zip in winzip. sort by filename and just delete all the thumb.db files.
I don't mind categorized files being named 1.gif-20.gif. I bulk rename them all anyway. But when you get 200 random glitters in folder it takes forever to categorize them if they are named 1.gif. I actually prefer all the glitters to be categorized in a folder with a descriptive name.

Love your stuff Pookie! :)

chris...

[DavidR]

When you buy glitters and unpack them, but they're not packed all in one folder and they all unpack as about 60 different files, loose and everywhere.

[Jazzylee77]

I appreciate the winzip tip chris.

pet peeve? Velcro on pants back pockets. Gotta set my purchase down, pull the flap up with the other hand, then return my wallet to the pocket. Totally screws up my retail moves.

[pookie]

Back to pet peeves. Here are few. Not big but pet peeves non the less ;)


uncompressed images used for layout backgrounds
tons of thumb.db files in a zip
uncategorized images named 1.gif to 1000.gif


I've actually gotten layouts with backgrounds larger than 1MB in size. No need for that.
If you create a large zip file of layouts. Edit the zip in winzip. sort by filename and just delete all the thumb.db files.
I don't mind categorized files being named 1.gif-20.gif. I bulk rename them all anyway. But when you get 200 random glitters in folder it takes forever to categorize them if they are named 1.gif. I actually prefer all the glitters to be categorized in a folder with a descriptive name.

Love your stuff Pookie! :)

chris...

thanks for the winzip tip ( i didn't know that and I have winzip pro :eek: ) and the compliment. my last package of glitters were all numbers 1-200 lol but they were categorized i think. i dont think any of my layout bg files are over 1MB i hope not anyway :whistling:

as for high quality, I've learned from my own personal experience not to say high quality anymore because what i may think is hq, may not be hq to the buyers. i still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to designing glitters and layouts. this first layout package was me testing the waters. it's been very hectic trying to get everyone's packages out to them. i've gotten paid several times each day and some have wanted me to tag up to 4 sites :eek: now i know why most designers here don't offer free tagging for large layout packages. it takes me an hour to tag a package for 1 site.

i would love it if i can just sell the packages without tagging them. but most people want theirs tagged and ive been told that some of my glitters were sold by someone else on another forum. how i don't know as i tag everything.
.

[pookie]

Pookie, I think your glitters are great btw :)

In reply to the post, some recent pet peeves I've discovered are:

1. Sellers who advertise their glitters and show examples with clipart, then you get the package and the images shown for an example are about the ONLY Images in the pack that had clipart.

2. Sellers who sell images with DINGBATS and call it "clipart"

3. Sellers who say their stuff is high quality and then when you get the images, they are pretty much junk. Ive recieved some stuff that I would never put on my site, and the sellers call "extremely high quality"

4. When you pre pay for glitters that end up taking forever to come... like weeks of waiting.

I know that quality is all in the designers eye. I mean one person could think their stuff is great, and the next person might think its gaudy and tacky. I have definatly learned not to get excited at a deal and jump in head first... you gotta see lots of examples, because I've been really dissapointed a few times latley when I get over excited, buy a pack without seeing much of it, and find out it wasn't nearly what was expected.

LOL @ dingbats. ok some dingbats are cute though. but I don't use them. as for examples, i try to make all graphics that are going to be in a package available for live previewing so that the potential buyers know exactly what they're getting into. at least thats what I would expect from other sellers..

well i hope that by starting this thread, other designers might learn a tip or two... think of it as constructive criticism?

[lyzyrdgyzyrd]

- words that are spelled wrong
- packages that are bloated with too many corny or otherwise tired out or useless phrases
- sellers with an approach of "no i cant tag them" - this is especially annoying if the stuff is really nice and I know people are going to hotlink them and I won't get any branding exposure in return for my bandwidth costs.
- I bought Pookie's stuff before I bought anything else. So now I am spoiled and reluctant to buy elsewhere :P

[lyzyrdgyzyrd]

File naming/categorization is a matter of personal taste. I prefer to have them sequentially numbered and uncategorized because I enter them into a database. A lot more work for me at first, but better organization in the end. That's just a personal thing though.

[pookie]

so then my next question is...

what are the most important qualities that you are looking for in a seller and their packages/services?

i'm asking you these questions because i want to improve the experience between seller and buyer. this isn't just for me to learn and grow, this is for all sellers who are willing to put their pride aside and improve

[lyzyrdgyzyrd]

In assorted packages, it's nice to see some "unique" stuff, at least in terms of phrases included. Of course there will always be a universal need for general "Happy Birthday" and "Merry Christmas" stuff, but having a selection of more unique phrases that every other site under the sun doesn't already have adds a lot of value to a package IMO.

[DavidR]

- words that are spelled wrong

SPELT. Spelt wrong.

[Kasami2k4]

Well to be honest as a (wouldbe)seller, sometimes I look at the layouts and go WTF because they look like they were thrown together in less than 5 minutes, and I KNOW people are gonna be disappointed with them after they see them..

I mean if I were to actually buy layouts I'd at LEAST expect this quality

Http://myspace.com/elusivemoon

I made that for the myspacehives guy and for 7$ :\

I mean wtf :l They say high quality and a lot of them are crap >< No heart

[Andria]

It is annoying when ppl say "HQ Layouts or graphics" and they aren't even Ok quality, but everyone has a different opinion on high quality I guess.

I don't like those buyers who say "I want quality like FWL or myspace stop but won't pay $10+" or whatever. Why would someone waste their time doing high quality layouts for say $5 per layout when they can make $15-$20? Just annoying how some people can be when it comes to that.

[nsmchris]

SPELT. Spelt wrong.

"spelled" wrong is correct in the US. "Spelt" is typically a British past tense of spell :)

chris...

[pookie]

SPELT. Spelt wrong.

spelled and spelt are correct actually :smartass:

hey kasami, that layout is awesome. just thought i'd let you know that, but you probably already know :balloon:

i can't say that my stuff is high quality. i may in my first couple of sales threads because I didn't know any better. i'm realizing that i have a lot to learn before I can say that my stuff is HQ

[DavidR]

When I saw two people quote me I thought somehow I'd made a mistake, I was ready to end it all. Thankfully I'm happy to read it's just the US/UK versions.

[Kasami2k4]

spelled and spelt are correct actually :smartass:

hey kasami, that layout is awesome. just thought i'd let you know that, but you probably already know :balloon:

i can't say that my stuff is high quality. i may in my first couple of sales threads because I didn't know any better. i'm realizing that i have a lot to learn before I can say that my stuff is HQ


Why thank ya, pook. I was guided. He was specific :l Very nice man, hes looking for another designer as well =) Someone as good as me for 2 layouts a day at 7$ apiece, not resellable. PM me if youre interested? With work examples so I can show him =p

[Connections]

I'm sick and tired of everyone on this Forum comparing every little thing to FWL.
"Hello, you are NOT FREEWEBLAYOUTS!"


Ok firstly you are talking junk do you know any thing about business at all, obviosuly not its smart to compare business and compare things to a industry benchmark and the market leaders.

What shoudl we compare things to yabbada's site?

no I compare it to FWL becuase I like the site and becuase its the market leader.

kthxbi

[Kasami2k4]

I dunno, I like whateverlifes simple cute qualities and hot-lyts put.. Hot layouts MUCH more than FWL >.>

And geez that was a really rude post, connections 'kthxbi'? What are we, 12?

And uh.. Please get my cousins layouts off your site :)

http://www.qvb.mobi/Custom/custom2.gif

http://www.qvb.mobi/Custom/custom3.gif

those are just from a quick glance. You can even see her picture in the second one..

Not to mention you stole ALOT of hot lyts

http://www.qvb.mobi/Custom%20Girls%20Layouts.htm

Take them off please :| these are my friends and family and we work hard on those

[Jordan]

I spend a LOT of time on my myspace layouts and glitters, I never throw stuff together in just a few minutes because it's careless and ends up looking tacky. I take my time and the outcome is usually good, so clients are satisfied and you get a good reputation.

As 'kasami' said, it's quite irritating to see people claim their work is 'high quality' when it looks messy and rushed. If you're making a statement about your work at least make it accurate.

And uh.. Please get my cousins layouts off your site
those links aren't working - did he remove them?

[Connections]

I dunno, I like whateverlifes simple cute qualities and hot-lyts put.. Hot layouts MUCH more than FWL >.>

And geez that was a really rude post, connections 'kthxbi'? What are we, 12?

And uh.. Please get my cousins layouts off your site :)

http://www.qvb.mobi/Custom/custom2.gif

http://www.qvb.mobi/Custom/custom3.gif

those are just from a quick glance. You can even see her picture in the second one..

Not to mention you stole ALOT of hot lyts

http://www.qvb.mobi/Custom%20Girls%20Layouts.htm

Take them off please :| these are my friends and family and we work hard on those


hmm weird I purchased these of some one ages ago like 6 months + ago, no worries I will just delete them all.

[Kasami2k4]

Thanks :\ Careful who you buy from, just look at the screenshots ><

Yep he removed them

[pookie]

its just sad that someone would take layouts and turn around and sell them like that to unsuspecting buyers

[Connections]

Thanks :\ Careful who you buy from, just look at the screenshots ><

Yep he removed them

yeah ok I took them down but I think your "cousin" is breaching adsense TOS on her site,

http://www.whateverlife.com

"AshBo"

"Female 16 years old"

READ the TOS you must be 18 to use ADSENSE,
tos violation's are not good at all...

[DavidR]

yeah ok I took them down but I think your "cousin" is breaching adsense TOS on her site,

http://www.whateverlife.com

"AshBo"

"Female 16 years old"

READ the TOS you must be 18 to use ADSENSE,
tos violation's are not good at all...

It's in her Mum's name or a member of her family, it's legit. I'm sure she has already mentioned that quite freely on this very forum.

Don't steal content.

[Connections]

It's in her Mum's name or a member of her family, it's legit. I'm sure she has already mentioned that quite freely on this very forum.

Don't steal content.

ok I didn't know that, just didnt seem too legit when I saw her site.

I purchased these layouts read the posts above your's....

Like I said I removed the stuff I dotn care its a few girly layouts I got of some guy liek half a year ago....

[Ajay]

Jeeze, everyone gets so riled up about stealing, but uhh... this entire myspace layouts industry is based on theft for the most part... I'm sure most of the people that make layouts/glitters don't have licenses for the pictures they take.. so the "content policing" is really hypocritical... i mean come on, just grabbing an image, slapping a few ps brushes on it (mind you, which aren't normally made by the person creating the layout) and claiming 100% ownership is dumb...

I think people need to look the other way on these things... if you are really that concerned about "your" content being stolen, just find a creative way to watermark them really nicely.