MicrostockGroup

January 2011 price adjustment just announced.


edited to try and fix the missing link

Really L for 15 credits, L E+ for 30 credits?  Is this right?  I can't post in the forums and the site is not working anyway, maybe someone here knows? 
I just saw LOBO said something about E+ credit "wonkyness", is that what this is.  He said it was fixed and to sitemail him if it isn't.  Can someone sitemail on my behalf if this is what he's talking about since I can't do that either.  Thanks.

Sean made a nice comparison chart on his blog
http://seanlockedigitalimagery.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/istock-pricing-changes/

On Sean's site it says E+ XXXL is 50 but the rogermexico link says they are 35, mine are at 50 now.  This is confusing, what is the real price supposed to be?
http://www.istockphoto.com/prices.php

Rogermexico is Istock's employee so I bet Sean's version is correct.

I know I feel the same way that's why it's confusing.  Looking at the thread it appears Sean was right and rogermexico was wrong...

How many times in the past have they changed pricing? They should be well skilled at this. Unbelievable that they can't even get right something that benefits them! Rudderless ship of fools.

No E+ are a % of exclusive files, chosen by the contributor to be a higher price and get better best match placement (although the better search position has not happened yet after over 6 months since we were promised).

They said we would get the best match boost and then recently (Sept.) they said we would still be getting it.  But nothing yet..

As anyone noticed just how loooooong that list is too, what with all the different collections. What a confusing mess at this point.

This is so wrong on so many levels.

Perhaps the biggest is that they spend even a nanosecond on implementing a price increase when search is limping along in a damaged state.

The second is that they raised one size of non-exclusive file - medium (5 to 7 credits). They raised one level of exclusive illustration from 14 to 15 credits. Why piss buyers off with price increases when the benefit to contributors can't really be all that great?

The third is that they jacked up all but XS and S of E+ files hugely and those files have a 6 month lock. So contributors who are supposed to have a choice in putting files in there find they're stuck with the new prices whether they like them or not. No warning, no get-out opportunity (although I posted that they should allow that through the end of January as a courtesy).

I added a post yesterday (promptly locked) that I now had a partner program tab (in my file_downloads.php page) where I had not had one before. I have never been in the partner program. I don't want to be forced into it. I sent a screen capture as requested by Lobo and am awaiting word as to why that's there. I'm concerned there's going to be some change in allowing an opt out for the partner program. They've just assigned someone (Echodelta) to manage all the Getty-iStock file movements, including the partner program, Agency & Vetta on Getty, etc. Perhaps there isn't another shoe waiting to drop, but given this price stuff, I think they're just trying to scrape up whatever cash they can, wherever they think they can...

E+ price changes (based on KelvinJay's post and link):

Wow.  Bet they finally give the E+ files the Best Match boost they had promised at the start of the program.

The minimum prices for images on Dreamstime:

The maximum prices for very popular images on Dreamstime:

So the largest size of the most popular image on Dreamstime is 3 *credits* cheaper than the Medium E+ file from iStock.  The credits on Dreamstime are also significantly cheaper (10-15%?).