Quote from: Lizard on April 02, 2013, 13:54

Quote from: cthoman on April 02, 2013, 13:40

Quote from: RacePhoto on April 02, 2013, 13:22

Not always on everything, but fine, add them to the next poll and only include sites that pay 50% or more (most of the time?). That would solve the questions of who we should or shouldn't vote for. If it was only for places that are 50% and up (most of the time?), why are all the Microstock sites that don't pay that, included as an option.

See where it's confusing? And it said "The best contributor friendly agency"

I like Alamy even at 40% Distributor makes 40% I make 40%

40% Distributor Commission    30.90    
40% Distributor Commission    27.80

It's not necessarily all about %. It's about what you get paid per sale. I think many of us were surprised (as was I) at the number of votes SS got because it is pretty much known as the lowest per sale agency out there.

I actually think this poll was pretty interesting because it shows most contributors don't really care about RPD at all. They'd rather promote SS because... Actually, I'm not really sure why. I guess that would be a good follow up question.

Shortly

-most people joined there in same  model as they have now

-they never played tricky moves trying to grab in the part they promised to contributors

-when they were dominant in their part of market they showed intention to push prices up...and
share that with us

- their forum is most democratic and never banned people for nothing , at least I feel that way

-never throw limits

- never rejected for we have enough of those

-never set upload limits

- i like their transparency

- never experienced sale returns there

I can put more reasons if u want

That's fine if you are a hobbyist but not if you are in this to make  a living.  I'll take 4$ or more a dl over less than a dollar any day.

I made over $800 with SS last month and $60 with DT, so the higher RPD with DT is meaningless to me.  My highest RPD site is alamy but I average less monthly earnings with them than with DT lately.  So I'm not that concerned about RPD.  It would be nice if it was higher with SS but I'm much more interested in how much each site makes each month.

It would be nice if buyers went to higher RPD sites and downloaded the same amount of images but that doesn't happen.  I think they buy more than they need with SS but with the higher priced sites, they download less.  So RPD isn't as important as some people think it is.  For the best RPD, why bother with microstock at all?

Royalty per download (RPD) is not quite good measure! For more money on SS the reason could be that they have excellent selling-price management which attract customers more than others agencies, where customers will spend more than usual! That is certainly the truth in case of Shutterstock!
So crucial thing have to be how much from that they are ready to give to their contributors and nothing else, no RPD or RPI etc.
Just royalty rate!

Everyone who want to change the opinion in this poll, can remove his voting with click on "REMOVE VOTE" button under the poll, and can do it again!

We have the winner! Shutterstock!

I don't think.

As SS has not obtained the absolute majority (50% +1) what do you think about to do a second round with the first 2 (or 3)?

Haha, this is exactly what was predicted to happen.

I wouldn't even back the 2nd place company, GL, honestly. I just don't see them being able to grow in any significant way. My earnings there have been steadily slipping for over a year now. I still think Stockfresh is the real up-and-comer. I'm seeing $120-180 a month at SF, and $30-40 and GL. There's just no comparing them.

I know it defeats the purpose of this if we don't back the winning company, but I just can't see any value in backing SS and I'm not convinced that GL has the ability to do much more than what they are currently doing. 

.... I still think Stockfresh is the real up-and-comer....

I am waiting for the poll on the right to settle down and then I think I am going to submit to them as I see more and more people report good sales. They are between CanStockPhoto and 123

38 cent is the full cut not 19 cent

Quote from: Mantis on April 03, 2013, 19:52

...I think the real up and comer is still up for grabs and I would not vote for SF over P5...

I'm probably just out of the loop on this one, but what's the deal with Pond5? I thought they were a partner with 123RF and our work went to them via 123?

Are you uploading direct to P5?

I upload to 123rf and my images aren't at pond5 so I am uploading directly there.

Why not make this promotion for all the sites that have been around for a few years and pay 50% commission or more?  I think we should give them a contributors fair trade award and inform buyers that they pay a commission that makes this sustainable for us.  If we end up getting 15% commission or virtually giving away our images for $12, this is going to turn in to a hobby.  The only way I can stay motivated to produce new microstock images is if buyers move to sites that pay us a fair share.

It's not just about the commission percentage, if sites guaranteed that we weren't going to have any more commission cuts, I'd be able to see a future in microstock.  Until they do that, there's little point in working harder for less money each year until it becomes completely unsustainable.

Quote from: fotografer on April 04, 2013, 03:14

I upload to 123rf and my images aren't at pond5 so I am uploading directly there.

Quote from: sharpshot on April 04, 2013, 04:14

You can ask P5 to remove your images from 123 and upload your portfolio direct...

Thanks, guys. I haven't been able to find any of my images at Pond5, so I'm assuming they aren't being sent over from 123RF. Looks like I'm missing out by not having my stuff there. Guess I'll start uploading direct.

They don't have their vector uploads set up yet, so you may have to wait a month or 2. Unless you go through Pixmac, but they don't have the price setting features set up there. So, I'm waiting until it all gets settled.

I'm interested to know why somebody has given minuses to the last 4 or 5 posts.  Not complaining that I got one but just genuinely interested.

Haters gonna hate.

What we should do now!?
Suggestions please!

Let it go, you'll never get an agreement. Its not going to work like a democracy where the most votes is the winner. Its all individuals with their own agenda. Nothing wrong with that. It was a good attempt, and now everybody moves on, just as always.