Well, they offer an opt out, that is fair.

So everyone can decide what to do.

With the kind of content I have there, I am opted in. Haven�t seen a sale there, but then I removed most of the interesting images when they dropped the royalty.

I don�t really upload or check on them anymore, the incentive is gone, unfortunately.

After a rather long dry period, with sporadic sales here and there, I noticed an uptake in September, placing 500px above low income sites like DT, 123 or Alamy.

A "distribution partner" is just a contract sales person who works entirely on commission - and the commission comes entirely out of the photographer's payment.  It's a way for an agency to add marketing staff without having to pay a salary or benefits.   Basically, by supporting this, you're making a donation to the agency, and I'm sure they appreciate it.  Too bad it's not tax deductible.

Do you know that for sure? Is this how 500px operates?
Because Alamy gives 40% to the distributors, splitting the remainder half/half with the contributors.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 27, 2016, 16:56

Quote from: stockastic on September 27, 2016, 16:45

A "distribution partner" is just a contract sales person who works entirely on commission - and the commission comes entirely out of the photographer's payment.  It's a way for an agency to add marketing staff without having to pay a salary or benefits.   Basically, by supporting this, you're making a donation to the agency, and I'm sure they appreciate it.  Too bad it's not tax deductible.

Do you know that for sure? Is this how 500px operates?
Because Alamy gives 40% to the distributors, splitting the remainder half/half with the contributors.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

No, I don't know the actual numbers here.  I thought the email was pretty vague.  I know this is how it works at FAA, for example - they always get their full piece, they just cut yours to pay "partners" like brick-and-mortar shops in malls that are allowed to sell the FAA catalog.   Maybe some agencies do take a cut on so-called "partner" sales - in that case they're not getting new marketing people for nothing, just at a nice discount, subsidized by the photographers.   Bottom line - if none of us bought into these deals, agencies would have to actually hire more marketing people, or create new web sites, at their own expense - like any other business.

Fyi, distributors are not unique to microstock but widely present in other businesses contrary to what you claim.

Mobile operators have their own stores, but you can buy their services through Best Buy, Costco, etc.
Apple sells through Apple stores, but also through Amazon, mobile operators, etc.
McDonalds makes money through franchising, basically a network of distributors.
Moreover, supermarkets are distributors for farmers or other  producers.
So to be consistent, if you want to get rid of distributors,  encourage the world to stop buying from the supermarket across the street and ask everyone to travel a few hours to the nearest village only to buy eggs and tomatoes directly from the farmer. Or ecourage the farmers to do the reverse trip, to sell directly to consumers, instead of focusing in doing what they do best: farming.
I doubt you'll get many followers.

Even your regular microstock agencies are your distributors because you could also sell your work directly, but you don't really do it, if you are on this forum, do you?

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 28, 2016, 06:04

Quote from: stockastic on September 27, 2016, 17:14

Quote from: Zero Talent on September 27, 2016, 16:56

Quote from: stockastic on September 27, 2016, 16:45

A "distribution partner" is just a contract sales person who works entirely on commission - and the commission comes entirely out of the photographer's payment.  It's a way for an agency to add marketing staff without having to pay a salary or benefits.   Basically, by supporting this, you're making a donation to the agency, and I'm sure they appreciate it.  Too bad it's not tax deductible.

Do you know that for sure? Is this how 500px operates?
Because Alamy gives 40% to the distributors, splitting the remainder half/half with the contributors.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

No, I don't know the actual numbers here.  I thought the email was pretty vague.  I know this is how it works at FAA, for example - they always get their full piece, they just cut yours to pay "partners" like brick-and-mortar shops in malls that are allowed to sell the FAA catalog.   Maybe some agencies do take a cut on so-called "partner" sales - in that case they're not getting new marketing people for nothing, just at a nice discount, subsidized by the photographers.   Bottom line - if none of us bought into these deals, agencies would have to actually hire more marketing people, or create new web sites, at their own expense - like any other business.

Fyi, distributors are not unique to microstock but widely present in other businesses contrary to what you claim.

Mobile operators have their own stores, but you can buy their services through Best Buy, Costco, etc.
Apple sells through Apple stores, but also through Amazon, mobile operators, etc.
McDonalds makes money through franchising, basically a network of distributors.
Moreover, supermarkets are distributors for farmers or other  producers.
So to be consistent, if you want to get rid of distributors,  encourage the world to stop buying from the supermarket across the street and ask everyone to travel a few hours to the nearest village only to buy eggs and tomatoes directly from the farmer. Or ecourage the farmers to do the reverse trip, to sell directly to consumers, instead of focusing in doing what they do best: farming.
I doubt you'll get many followers.

Even your regular microstock agencies are your distributors because you could also sell your work directly, but you don't really do it, if you are on this forum, do you?

Let's say they told you that instead of signing up a "partner" they were paying some outsiders to develop a new web site for the Asian market.  It will sell 500px images through an API, under different licensing rules.  But 500px couldn't feel they could quite afford to do this themselves - even after bringing in new investment and cutting commissions by 50% - so contributors would pay for some of it - by taking another big cut on any sales made through the new web site.   Sorry about that, but it's a "distributor", that's how it works.   Still on board?

You described exactly how "distribution" works in the real world, in virtually any business.
Re-using some of your own words, you can also say this:

Let's say they that instead of selling your work yourself,  you pay some outsiders (SS, FT, etc) to sell it on their web sites.  They will sell your images images under various licensing rules.  You couldn't feel you could quite afford to do this yourself - so you will pay for some of it - by taking a big cut on any sales made through their web sites.   Sorry about that, but it's a "distributor", that's how it works.   Still on board?

I got one for 52 Cent today... 

Glad to see they are not all priced that low.

I got one for 52 Cent today... 

Glad to see they are not all priced that low.

My Chromecast flips through some nice 500px photos, when idle. Maybe these lower numbers are for this type of temporary, brief display. It will be interresting to find-out.

Question - Are these sales typical photos you would see on micro or are they the more artsy/creative type?