This is how I would do it (in Imaginationland...)

If I were iStock and I actually get individual customers that throw $20,000 at me to buy images then I should call this a celebration and reward both buyer and contributors.

Give the buyer the credits mentioned BUT put a cap on how low the commission per credit can go, say $0.75 or $0.85 something like that. Sure it it's not as profitable for IS but just the fact that a quick, single sale puts 20k in their pocket should have some effect (positive that is... for contributors...).

Maybe I'm just getting delirious.

Okay, not false advertising, but sure looks like a bait and switch when the homepage says as low as $0.95. Of course anyone who is spending $20k on credits over there is probably getting one of those super special discounts and actually getting their credits for $.0.50. 

Agreed - I have to think you'd be buying a subscription long before buying $20K worth of credits.  For 75% of the price you can get a 1 year sub plan that lets you download over 40,000 credits worth over a year.  In other words, it is kind of false advertising as hopefully no one would be foolish enough to actually buy that plan!  Nice that they expire after a year, too!  I would be very concerned, though, if they claim the cheapest credit price is $0.95 but people are seeing royalties based on half that value...

It is kind of like how on DT they give maximum numbers in their table for royalty payouts, but it is based on a $1.25 credit value (which you get when you buy the 8 credit pack).  It would be a foolish buyer indeed that would buy seven 8-credit packs to buy a 50 credit print license, rather than buy a 52 credit pack for a 20% discount...  At least on DT I have never seen a case where I received royalties that seemed to indicate an original purchase price lower than available on their 'buy credits' page - and I frequently see royalties that indicate the buyer did actually pay $1.25 a credit!

Quote from: ShadySue on April 04, 2011, 15:24

see also this current thread:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=312002&page=1

Your link takes me to the main forum page...did the thread get deleted?

I just clicked on the link in your post and it took me to the thread: Vetta Extended License.
Ah, it's been moved from the Help forum to the Vetta forum, which non-exclusives can't access. Sorry.
Someone posted that he had an Vetta Extended License / 150 credits and got $36 for it and was questioning if that was right.
I have to say, these extended license %age cuts make a surprisingly huge difference. And presumably there must be a lot more discounted credits than before. Looking at this years EL amounts compared to those sold in previous years is really depressing. :-(

Quote from: ShadySue on April 04, 2011, 17:09

Ah, it's been moved from the Help forum to the Vetta forum, which non-exclusives can't access. Sorry.

Ah yes, moved to the Vetta forum, safely away from the prying eyes of the general public.

There you go.

Being a Green Horn in this new area thus really depresses me. I guess I should keep my daytime job a the 'Golden Arches' flipping quarter pounders for a while...

I ran some numbers a while back in response to a question about newbie expectations and I think I came up with about 10 cents an hour for people just getting started. If you run your numbers you may find that flipping burgers does pay a lot more.

thesentinel: nope; its a 125credits unlimited reproduction/print run EL

Washington Minimum Wage 2011 - $8.67

April, 21 x 8 x 8.67 =  $1456,56

Got the response i expected from CR today (at least it came quick!)
Due to privacy reasons they cant go into details but the mere $10 royalty for a 125 credit EL is correct and can be the result of very old credits floating around (as if) or various discounts (more likely).
Bah (bah, bah!).

No surprise there.