MicrostockGroup

I hope this doesn't reduce PPD sales too much.  I don't like selling video clips that cheaply, so they wont be getting more of mine.

can say about vectors or video as I dont do either, and I'd rather subs didnt exist at all, but I it is good to see higher amounts for subs, means I get $0.37 there and $0.38 at SS, thats 2 sites now that pay me about 50% more than $0.25 that some offer

Very sad news. Just got FT newsletter.
No more size limit for subscription. We will only get 0.05 more for XXXXL subs sale.
We will get 3.60$ for HD video sale!
Fotolia was a good earner for me. But it's too much. I don't want be exclusive with IS but probably there's no other choice.
I have not finished uploading of all my videos here (After weeks) and now I can start to delete them.
It's so stupid.

goings on FT, StockXpert and SS in the last few month have heavily steered me towards IS exclusivity. just waiting to ramp up enough dls and do my 6 months time on DT.... these agencies (with two exceptions) are so busy advertising sales at any prices (the lower the better) to buyers and whoring their contributors' work away in the mean time. Give 'em everything for free. Make us pay for hosting our accepted files. IS is a rare exception, with DT being close. This is the the moment to protect video pricing. If it goes through, noone will pay 75$ for HD resolution video in a years time. 3.5$-4.2$ is insulting and the market is nowhere near as saturated as photo market.

Fotolia monitors independent forums closely and some high-profile contributors have been deleted their port because they spitted out (justified) critique on them. They censor their own forums and they can't stand any critique outside of them. So better don't make a scene unless you're anonymous. Personally I don't have much to say against them. They sell OK but I would never upload video to them after this move.

I thought with the addition of some well-known administrators that Fotolia would get better but their decisions are getting worse every month. Giving away hi-res in subs will probably drop the PPD revenues. And they still count only for 0.25 download for the ranks (which sucks). Like some people said here, Exclusivity is more and more tempting. Let's hope Veer will save the day.

I think dirkr is right. Fotolia is not some two bit stock agency with over-zealous moderators who will get furiously over-reactive simply because you voiced your opinion that may be not so agreeable to your own ideas. Constructive criticism is healthy. I would not want to associate with an agency which expects me to agree with everything they say. So long as we refrain from calling each other some filthy names, I think there is always a place for free speech and opinionated contributors. Oh, correction, I should say, there SHOULD be a place for ...   That's why we call it a forum. If not, you may as well change the word and replace it with something like, " Woo Hoo, I like everything you do !
 But if I only had a brain, I could surely give you my honest opinion" 
... or perchance, one word like ZOMBIE-ZONE 

New here?    

The main reason I remain anonymous is because FT (and to a lesser extent, DT) is exactly like that. I've read enough of the horror stories to know.

But speaking of horror stories ... ! FT was the last major agency with a decent sub policy other than IS. Now they've ruined it. I'm glad I decided not to UL any video clips to them until I heard more about sales there. I certainly won't be doing so now.

Maybe those ex-IS execs are really double agents, trying to get contributors disgusted enough that we all decide to become IS exclusives? As others have said, this certainly makes FT less attractive as a contributor. About $0.35 - $0.40 for an XXL sub sale? Correct me if I'm wrong (I don't have my chart available), but weren't they already one of the lowest payouts already for this size at just about $2.25 commission for a PPD? THIS SUCKS BIG TIME!        

These guys have no business plan, other than to continue mindlessly cutting prices to match the competition, until they hit a point at which new contributions drop off. And even if there is such a point, they'll probably just keep selling what they already have.  Eventually, 'microstock' will mean free, with the revenue coming from ads.

I have heard these horror stories too - but always only one side, since there rarely has been any official communication by FT.

But I have my own experience: I always used to post criticism on the FT forum (and on independent forums), and never anything happened to me. Needless to say that I try to stay objective and stay away from insulting anyone (though I sometimes feel like that... ).

That's why I decide to continue that way. And if I'm wrong and they kick me out, so be it. I am in the lucky situation that I do not depend on my income from stock sites, I wouldn't like it, but it wouldn't hurt me enough to make me shut up.

What can I say...?  Can they make things more outrageous?  I think subs already meant 50% of my dlds in June.

Thanks for posting the newsletter.  I personally wont be selling my HD or NTSC videos for $3.60.  What a pain...I just got them all uploaded, now I have to delete them - ugh.

Snaprender