Because they can.

I also just noticed a post in the istockphoto thread mentioning that buyers had been promised Vetta prices would not be raised this year. (maybe you are the same Jen that posted that? ) 

I hadn't remembered that.  Guess I didn't pay much attention because as a non-exclusive I don't qualify for Vetta.

Does anyone have a link to that promise?  

Seems like a way to lose faith with even more buyers.  

Thanks a lot for posting the link and quote Jen, and good for you for bringing it up in the first place

Does this seem familiar?

Dawn (pink_cotton_candy) just made an angry post about the complete lack of communication with buyers about the  Vetta price increases. Given the enormous fuss over the price changes in existing files when Vetta was introduced, you'd think the basics of communicating with your customers would have been digested by now. But no.

Even if you hadn't stated that prices wouldn't go up (which is bad enough), failing to give buyers notice about what you're doing is just poor business practice.

I've sent a ticket to contributor relations to get my Vetta files back into the main collection - I was going to do it before they got shipped off to Greedy Getty anyway, but I just couldn't stomach doubling the prices for no (defensible) reason. I want to make money, but I want to have buyers of my work feel that they have been treated fairly. Don't know how long it'll take to get that accomplished - it's pretty obnoxious that you can no longer do this yourself.

And any exclusives should look at the new text that says you're committing to Vetta for 6 months (like exclusive plus) - that used not to be there.

Snip

Even if you hadn't stated that prices wouldn't go up (which is bad enough), failing to give buyers notice about what you're doing is just poor business practice.

Snip

And any exclusives should look at the new text that says you're committing to Vetta for 6 months (like exclusive plus) - that used not to be there.

It would seem fair to have given buyers advanced notice so they could buy any Vetta images they had lightboxed.   Between that and raising the prices after stating they wouldn't, it seems like they no longer care about alienating Istockphoto buyers.  Perhaps they are hoping to make it up with Getty buyers?  Seems very short term thinking.

On this 6 month hold on Vetta and E+ images, would that prevent exclusives from dropping the crown for 6 months, instead of the current 30 day wait? 

Quote from: jsnover on September 27, 2010, 17:16

And any exclusives should look at the new text that says you're committing to Vetta for 6 months (like exclusive plus) - that used not to be there.

...On this 6 month hold on Vetta and E+ images, would that prevent exclusives from dropping the crown for 6 months, instead of the current 30 day wait? 

No, I don't think either have any effect on dropping exclusivity.

What it does mean is that you can't move it out of Vetta into the main collection for that period of time. If it didn't sell at the new stratospheric prices, for example, and you'd rather try and sell it at a lower price point.  There had been many complaints from exclusives for whom E+ wasn't working well that they were stuck with their files in the new collection for months and they weren't happy (for some, they put best sellers in there and they slowed down or stopped). I'd expect something similar if the new higher prices slow down Vetta sales.

Jawdroppingly bad management. The saga never seems to end over there. And for PCC to be pissed, well, that says something.

OT - Loved your guest starring gig on The Medium, Paulie

Jentakespictures asked a question over at iStock: "IMO Vetta needs to be explained more clearly in general. Does the average buyer even know what Vetta is?" and since I can't post there to answer it, I'll answer it here. And that answer would be "no". In fact, I was just talking to someone who I had recommended the site to pre-Vetta and she was commenting on how the prices were so expensive. "A small for 20 credits?!" I explained to her about Vetta and then told her about some of the other sites.

Just sent a request in to have mine removed too, Didn't have too many in there, but it's time for them to be put back into the main collection.

those are a lot better than the rejected images uploads. I have found my E+ files sell well, and I put bestsellers in E+ too. Vetta sales have increased too, so probably more visibility. I have done a bazillion searches throughout the day because the posts today have made it sound like the best match returns are Vetta saturated...not so at all. all I can say is thank goodness the 'statisticians' here are not scientists. every search I've returned using random keywords, including big ones like 'business', 'family' and so many others I can't remember them all. the returns are a balanced mix of Vettas, flames, newer uploads and files that seem to be newer well-selling files etc.

nothing much different from the search returns before the new Vetta pricing took effect today.