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Author Topic: StockXpert Images on Photos.com  (Read 109908 times)

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« Reply #100 on: July 29, 2008, 11:11 »
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lisafx, I find that your messages are very helpful.


lisafx

« Reply #101 on: July 29, 2008, 11:20 »
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lisafx, I find that your messages are very helpful.

:)

« Reply #102 on: July 29, 2008, 11:42 »
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It would be nice if we could set up some sort of union to protect the contributers interests. If you could get the top 5000? shooters to buy into it maybe their collective voice could make a difference. I'm sure this has been mentioned before.

I bet there are many contributers that would be more than happy to pay a monthly or annual fee just to have a little piece of mind. All of us want to make money owners/contributers, we just need a little represention from our side.  :)

« Reply #103 on: July 29, 2008, 11:44 »
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it's a pity Steve isn't answering for several days - perhaps vacation? I would be very interested to see what StockXpert can say about ELs at $0.30 at photos.com

It would be nice if we could set up some sort of union to protect the contributers interests. If you could get the top 5000? shooters to buy into it maybe their collective voice could make a difference.
It isn't that bad - something like top 10-20 will actually be enough; and there are success stories in the past about agencies making adjustments after joint call from forums even without top photographers being involved.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2008, 11:48 by MikLav »

jsnover

« Reply #104 on: July 29, 2008, 11:47 »
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@ cdwheatley There was some talk about this when FT introduced their subscription plan, but the varied reactions to that - and almost complete lack of unanimity among the big contributors (no one was happy, but there was no agreement about what, if anything, anyone was willing to do about that) - suggests to me that organizing a union for microstock contributors would be extraordinarily hard.

@MikLav Check the StockXpert forums. Steve posted there this morning that it'll be mid August before they actually put anything on Photos.com and that it won't be 250 images a day for the StockXpert content, but he wouldn't say how many or an actual start date or...

« Reply #105 on: July 29, 2008, 11:49 »
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@MikLav Check the StockXpert forums. Steve posted there this morning that it'll be mid August before they actually put anything on Photos.com and that it won't be 250 images a day for the StockXpert content, but he wouldn't say how many or an actual start date or...
I just checked StockXpert forum today morning (my time) and saw nothing from Steve for several days, just like here. Good he is back commenting again.

« Reply #106 on: July 29, 2008, 11:57 »
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Truth be known, theres not a thing any of you can say or do to stop this train wreck happening. The writing woz on the wall ages a ago and all the hollerin an protesting is not going to make a dizzy of a difference. 10mp cams are so cheep now theres a queue behind y'all waiting to submit and they don't even care if they get paid or not. They just get a buzz from the whole community thing. Watch!

And people have been saying this for the past 2 years but I haven't seen it happen.  It is a bit like saying because people can buy paint, artists wont be able to sell their paintings in the future.  It doesn't work like that.

« Reply #107 on: July 29, 2008, 14:02 »
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Everyone seems to worry about ELs but what is about selling L sized images for 30cent?

In the not so far future every regular image buyer will have access to one or more subscriptions.  At that point our pay per download income from larger file sizes will have evaporated if we don't act now.

I started submitting small files to SS long ago and from now on I will only submit 800x600 files to StockXpert.

« Reply #108 on: July 29, 2008, 15:32 »
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Hi guys,

We're inviting you to participate in a conference call on Thursday 7/31 at 2pm Easter to discuss these changes further. We want to be as open as we can about this.

Please see details at http://www.stockxpert.com/forum.phtml?f=showtopic&n=15651.

Thanks!
-Steve
« Last Edit: July 29, 2008, 15:34 by steve-oh »

cphoto

  • CreativeShot.com
« Reply #109 on: July 29, 2008, 16:15 »
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Thanks Steve!

I think we all really appreciate that you guys open a communication channel with us.  I sent you a pm to get the number.

Questions I'd like to be addressed during the call:

1. Like everyone else I find unacceptable to sell sub image at $0.30 and give to the buyer the equivalent of Extended License which gets us on other site a minimum of $22 (IS) or $28(SS)

2. Will photos.com give credit to the photographer? Right now in the license it says the buyer must credit (c) 2008 Jupiter Images Corporation

3. $0.30 commission is now among the lowest rate in the industry. I get $0.32 with FT, $0.38 with SS, $0.36 with 123. Why StockXpert/JI don't follow market trend and help raise the price to a more reasonable level for photographers?

4. When looking at the web traffic on alexa for photos.com, it looks very low (at least half of the StockXpert traffic). Do you guys REALLY expect a significant increase in sales for us?

Thanks again,
-Christophe

jsnover

« Reply #110 on: July 29, 2008, 16:26 »
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I sent site mail to you via StockXpert with my concerns:

Extended license usages for 30 cent commission.

Removal of opt out for subs, partner & ELs

Long term viability of Photos.com subs pricing given commission to StockXpert contributors

@cphoto I guess I share the concern about the 30 cent commission being an industry low water mark, but it is only relevant (to me) once I can be shown how this Photos.com business model might actually last for more than a few months

cphoto

  • CreativeShot.com
« Reply #111 on: July 29, 2008, 16:38 »
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I sent site mail to you via StockXpert with my concerns:

Extended license usages for 30 cent commission.

Removal of opt out for subs, partner & ELs

Long term viability of Photos.com subs pricing given commission to StockXpert contributors

@cphoto I guess I share the concern about the 30 cent commission being an industry low water mark, but it is only relevant (to me) once I can be shown how this Photos.com business model might actually last for more than a few months


I agree with you.

« Reply #112 on: July 29, 2008, 17:43 »
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Hi guys,

We're inviting you to participate in a conference call on Thursday 7/31 at 2pm Easter to discuss these changes further. We want to be as open as we can about this.

Please see details at http://www.stockxpert.com/forum.phtml?f=showtopic&n=15651.

Thanks!
-Steve


This is by far the best effort from a stock company showing their willingness to listen to its contributors and I hope it will not be listening without actions.

« Reply #113 on: July 29, 2008, 19:17 »
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We're inviting you to participate in a conference call on Thursday 7/31 at 2pm Easter to discuss these changes further. We want to be as open as we can about this.

That doesn't sound like anything is going to change...

jsnover

« Reply #114 on: July 29, 2008, 19:25 »
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We're inviting you to participate in a conference call on Thursday 7/31 at 2pm Easter to discuss these changes further. We want to be as open as we can about this.

That doesn't sound like anything is going to change...

No it doesn't, but I've got the info about the call and can give them the benefit of the doubt for a day beyond the July 30th deadline.

If they just try to persuade us that it's fine versus actually taking contributors concerns into account, then I'll spend that afternoon deleting my portfolio. They make their choices, but I then make mine.

The only risk I take is that they'll change the rules on July 30th so that I can no longer delete my portfolio, and they'd get such a PR black eye if they tried to pull that stunt, that I doubt they'd do it.

When signing those T&Cs with each upload we knew that they could change anything at will, any time, but there was always the assumption that they were decent folks and would be reasonable about the changes they implemented. Recent shenanigans at several sites suggests you have to be very careful which companies you put your trust in...

« Reply #115 on: July 29, 2008, 20:06 »
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Steve,

Unfortunately I won't be able to participate (and I wonder if you would pay an international call anyway...), but I think the main concerns have already been addressed here.  If they are clarified, we can all make a better decision about this new route.

Thanks for listening.

Regards,
Adelaide

grp_photo

« Reply #116 on: July 30, 2008, 02:15 »
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Steve,

Unfortunately I won't be able to participate (and I wonder if you would pay an international call anyway...), but I think the main concerns have already been addressed here.  If they are clarified, we can all make a better decision about this new route.

Thanks for listening.

Regards,
Adelaide

Same here and i agree! I can't see a reason why things can't be cleared in a thread either here or at StockXpert. Contributors are from all over the world with different obligations so to fix them on one time is not a good idea. As English is also not my mother-tongue it's much easier for me to read and write as speak and listen-i feel segregated.  :(

« Reply #117 on: July 30, 2008, 02:50 »
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I am in the UK, so probably wont participate but it looks like there are people who are going to represent us well.

It is good that they have listened and are doing something positive.  Next time, they should consult us before telling us about big changes.

« Reply #118 on: July 30, 2008, 03:38 »
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<...> beyond the July 30th deadline.<...>

30th doesn't seem to be the deadline anymore - or did I misunderstood Steve's post #71 in StockXpert forum? He said the the program is not expected to launch before end-Aug...

(it's on that page --> http://stockxpert.com/forum.phtml?f=showtopic&n=15291&p=4)


« Reply #119 on: July 30, 2008, 05:31 »
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I've just deleted all my ...rejected images :D. It's quite easy. If nothing change the other part will follow.

« Reply #120 on: July 30, 2008, 06:40 »
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I have deleted a big part of my StockXpert portfolio... my best sellers elsewhere + my favorite images + all images with model releases...  I have deleted all images I was not ready to sale EL for $0.30... 

This done, I am now ready to take some time to think about it without pressure...  and it seems that I seriously thinking about deleting everything there. 

Also, it is very bad to do this while there is so many people on vacations. Really unfair, unrespectfully. This is bad, bad, bad.


graficallyminded

« Reply #121 on: July 30, 2008, 07:11 »
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I just happened upon a stock photo website that sells, among other things, content from Jupiter's Photos.com. They don't offer subscriptions, just per image prices. The same images are offered there as on Photos.com and for the price of a Medium Image ($149.95) you could buy a one month subscription ($99.95) and get 7500 images at that size versus one

http://www.pixelmill.com/products/59242.htm

http://www.photos.com/en/search/close-up?oid=3168022&hoid=2b3555cc91b5fa0a58d9a8651f5182c7

Would StockXpert content (after August 4th) end up on the PixelMill web site for sale too? There are other Jupiter partners....

That same suitcase image shows up twice on a search on Inmagine:

http://www.inmagine.com/kss017/ks5457-photo

http://www.inmagine.com/itrb015/itrb015078-photo

In the first it's identified as a Comstock image and in the second as "Photoscom". Better still, the prices aren't the same!

As a buyer, this sort of stuff must make one's head spin. It's like you've jumped into some demented sales arena where you could pay wildly differing prices for the same content.

Perhaps some will look at this and see the possibility of a windfall and be thrilled. To me it seems like a very, very muddled situation with channels overlapping and competing with each other.

As part of the hoped for clarification from StockXpert, can they elaborate on where StockXpert images will end up other than Photos.com?


Let me explain a little about photos.com to you guys that might not be aware - it is the "bargain bin" of comstock, inmagine, jupiterimages, etc.  A lot of images from a lot of different photo agencies, all compiled into one website.  We once needed some specific images of a spinal column, back at a job I was working at about 3 years ago.  I searched high and low to find the image either on a $500 image cd, or the same images on photos.com (only for a lot cheaper) so we got a monthly subscription and downloaded our daily allotment.  A lot of agencies and designers use photos.com.  If they are still going to be allowed their daily 250 images per day, we are going to make a lot of money off of .30 cent image sales guys. 

When I read the email from StockXpert about the merger/conglomeration I was jumping with joy!  I'm predicting a lot more sales starting early next month.

« Reply #122 on: July 30, 2008, 10:18 »
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Although I am totally against subs (no matter the volume) and I certainly do not share graphicallyminded's joy, I think people are being a bit fast in pulling out their portfolios before we know what the final terms will be. 

Keep cool, guys!  ;D

Regards,
Adelaide

« Reply #123 on: July 30, 2008, 10:23 »
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I agree. Occasional XL sales may well compensate the subs servitude :)

« Last Edit: July 30, 2008, 17:28 by vphoto »

lisafx

« Reply #124 on: July 30, 2008, 11:01 »
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When I read the email from StockXpert about the merger/conglomeration I was jumping with joy!  I'm predicting a lot more sales starting early next month.

I agree your description of the volume on Photos.com is encouraging.  I am all for the extra exposure and downloads and will even put up with the .30 subscriptions royalty for now.

But honestly, you are excited about gutting your EL sales on other sites by offering them for .30??!!

That's one pill I am just NOT willing to swallow. 


 

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