Author Topic: Commission cut (Read 9324 times)

lucagavagna · « **Reply #125 on:** July 26, 2018, 02:23 »

Quote from: izzikiorage on July 25, 2018, 21:19

https://www.change.org/p/tj-leonard-videoblocks-don-t-cut-people-s-pay-in-half

Incase you want to share with friends/family

Remember to drop a mail, instagram note, tweet to them as well.

Points
- no new uploads till we get a price increase/custom pricing/commission increase
- don't download from SB, Head to P5 or others
- tell us what you'll be doing to push up sales

Now we are 99 who signed. We can do a bit better. Come on!

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #126 on:** July 26, 2018, 04:27 »

Quote from: KevinM on July 25, 2018, 09:28

People have signed the petition, people have deleted their portfolios, people have sent emails to TJ and the support staff telling them why their pay cut is a terrible idea. Is it a tidal wave of action? No, but it is something and it does show them they're losing contributors.

It's not something... it's nothing. What have I done to help fix this issue? Nothing... because nothing can be done. How many instances can you remember when a stock agency made a change that wasn't popular and then they reversed that decision? I'm sure there will be one or two examples out there, but I can bet that they didn't reverse the decision due to concern for contributor satisfaction... it will have been because it had a negative effect on the bottom line.

And I'm pretty sure stopping uploading or deleting portfolios will have considerably less effect than you seem to think it will. How many will delete their portfolios? Based on the petition numbers it might be 1%. Even if it's 10% or 50% it just means that somebody has 50 to 90 clips to choose from in their search rather than 100. Unless your clips are really unique and in demand, it's unlikely to affect Storyblocks one bit. In fact, if 50% of people leave then (all things being equal) it's 100% more likely a buyer will buy my content over somebody elses... so that cancels out the 50% cut in commission. Happy days! So yes, everybody removing their portfolios is the best course of action and I strongly advise it.

If you feel like you need to do something about this to feel like you're doing your bit, or making a difference, then fair enough. I'm not doing anything as I'm sure there's nothing that can be done. I read the email and sure it was news I'd rather not hear, but I basically thought... "S**t, that's a bit of a ball-ache. Ah well... life goes on."

jjneff · « **Reply #127 on:** July 26, 2018, 06:26 »

There are 3 types of people in this world.

1. Those who make things happen
2. Those who let things happen
3. Those who say what the heck just happened!

I am in group #1 so I just ignore the other two groups!

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #128 on:** July 26, 2018, 06:42 »

Quote from: jjneff on July 26, 2018, 06:26

There are 3 types of people in this world.

1. Those who make things happen
2. Those who let things happen
3. Those who say what the heck just happened!

I am in group #1 so I just ignore the other two groups!

Well, unless our commission rate increases to over 50% then you're the type of person that wants to make things happen and/or thinks they make things happen and/or thinks they have the ability to make things happen. If the commission rate does increase then I shall agree that you are the kind of person that does actually make things happen... and I shall admit I was wrong and thank you for your efforts.

stvagna · « **Reply #129 on:** July 26, 2018, 07:20 »

Quote from: lucagavagna on July 26, 2018, 02:23

Now we are 99 who signed. We can do a bit better. Come on!

+1

StanRohrer · « **Reply #130 on:** July 26, 2018, 07:43 »

100 have signed.

jjneff · « **Reply #131 on:** July 26, 2018, 08:23 »

LOL, It does not matter what happens I continue to make things happen at many places, it is a mindset. Keep in mind 8 years ago I was told I could never make a living on stock video.....Well here I am 8 years later and doing great so I will continue to make things happen no matter what! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwoU327B927MD49NNf16gxw?view_as=subscriber

KevinM · « **Reply #132 on:** July 26, 2018, 10:21 »

Let's not be short-sighted. Stronger sales at VideoBlocks is not a good thing, because that means sales taken away from sites that charge higher prices and/or pay us more in commissions. It means an overall devaluation in the market. This pushback against SB is not only about a massive commission cut, it is equally or even more about a race to the bottom in stock footage like we saw happen in stock photography. Anyone who cares about continually getting paid less and less for their stock footage work should be concerned about what SB is doing.

Secondly, it's incorrect to view our response in terms of meeting or not meeting a certain goal. It would be great if losing contributors and trust made SB decide that a smaller commission cut is a better idea long term, but even if they don't, it's still important for us to make their choice as costly and damaging for them as possible. The next time they - and any other stock company - considers such a move (and they will), they will absolutely think back to what the costs were for them the last time. What was the response? How many contributors were lost? How much content deleted from portfolios? What was the quality of content lost and were the new contributors as good? What was the damage to our reputation among contributors and how did that affect business? These are questions about "how much." Which means every email counts, every petition signer counts, every deleted portfolio counts.

Some people here are stuck in a mentality of "You won't get them to change their mind on this decision, so it's pointless to say anything." If that's your perspective, it's easy to see why you'd feel defeated. However, it's a flat-out incorrect perspective because this is not an "all or nothing" scenario, it's a matter or "how much." SB has acted against your best interest, and there is no escaping that you have a binary choice in how to respond. Silence is an invitation for them and their competitors to take more of your money in the future. Any action you take against them is a small dollar amount in their loss column and notice that future actions will bring more losses.

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #133 on:** July 26, 2018, 10:40 »

Quote from: KevinM on July 26, 2018, 10:21

Let's not be short-sighted. Stronger sales at VideoBlocks is not a good thing, because that means sales taken away from sites that charge higher prices and/or pay us more in commissions. It means an overall devaluation in the market. This pushback against SB is not only about a massive commission cut, it is equally or even more about a race to the bottom in stock footage like we saw happen in stock photography. Anyone who cares about continually getting paid less and less for their stock footage work should be concerned about what SB is doing.

This is a matter I'm trying to kick in many heads on this forum, but no one understands what I'm saying. Many newbies that never worked in the real video production industry, where low budget productions lowers the industry standard. The same is happening to stock industry... it is just a matter of time (well, not exactly, $1.5 sales for video clip already kicking in)

izzikiorage · « **Reply #134 on:** July 26, 2018, 10:45 »

One more thing, they've started asking for feedback, I've been filling it at 0 and pasting the same details as the mails, insta messages, etc. Feel free to do the same

flywing · « **Reply #135 on:** July 26, 2018, 12:14 »

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on July 26, 2018, 10:40

This is a matter I'm trying to kick in many heads on this forum, but no one understands what I'm saying. Many newbies that never worked in the real video production industry, where low budget productions lowers the industry standard. The same is happening to stock industry... it is just a matter of time (well, not exactly, $1.5 sales for video clip already kicking in)

Disagreed. In this case, it's the result of competition among agencies.

Too many contributors = dropping sales

Too many agencies = dropping price

izzikiorage · « **Reply #136 on:** July 27, 2018, 02:13 »

We'll have to build some barrier for these kind of changes. It hurts the agency in the long term as well and absolutely kills our ability to make money. For them I'm assuming that a short term spike in sales for which the contributor pays is seen as a bigger benefit than a long term sustainable business.

Keep dropping the mails, tweets, insta posts (they've gotten some of mine delinked, can't see them). Lets point them to the petition and to this thread.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #137 on:** July 27, 2018, 03:56 »

Quote from: izzikiorage on July 27, 2018, 02:13

For them I'm assuming that a short term spike in sales for which the contributor pays is seen as a bigger benefit than a long term sustainable business.

Would you class an agency that takes 0% from sales... a long term sustainable business?

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #138 on:** July 27, 2018, 04:16 »

If some people put half as much effort into creating new content as creating fake forum profiles and spamming companies, they might actually see a difference in sales.

And all of a sudden $49 is a terrible price that will steal business from every other agency, when it's been at that level for years.

It seems like everyone agrees that VB sales have tanked this year (I do, too), so I very much welcome a big marketing effort toward marketplace clips.

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #139 on:** July 27, 2018, 05:01 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on July 27, 2018, 03:56

Quote from: izzikiorage on July 27, 2018, 02:13
For them I'm assuming that a short term spike in sales for which the contributor pays is seen as a bigger benefit than a long term sustainable business.

Would you class an agency that takes 0% from sales... a long term sustainable business?

No.
Why? Do you buy every product you own directly from the factory at production price? No you don't, because there will be always added price margin of merchants. It could be 80% that the merchant will earn, or it can be only 30%. But always there will be some margin to the production price. Because the merchant has also many expenses to market the product and give a salary to people working around the product. What VB/SB did was amateurishly skip that "margin". And naive people believe that this will work in the long term business. And even now support it... dumbest idea ever.
Simple argument what I'm talking about: How many things did you buy from Aliexpress or any relative Chinese websites? Why? You know that your local shop is selling the same things at few times bigger price? You are actually killing his business when buying from the (almost-production-price) Chinese dealers. I've seen many tech shops died because of lower priced internet shops. And interestingly, I'm noticing even the Chinese dealers now rising the prices up because more people are buying from them. Why wouldn't they, it is a shorter chain with less added margins which will slowly kill all other business on their field.

And same will (is already) happen to stock industry. Many are just to blind and short-term-minded that won't admit it. And I might screenshot what I just stated, so I can poke people in the future when everything goes to hell.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #140 on:** July 27, 2018, 05:56 »

It sounds like you're agreeing with what I'm saying... but also not, if that's possible? But on this point...

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on July 27, 2018, 05:01

Simple argument what I'm talking about: How many things did you buy from Aliexpress or any relative Chinese websites? Why? You know that your local shop is selling the same things at few times bigger price? You are actually killing his business when buying from the (almost-production-price) Chinese dealers. I've seen many tech shops died because of lower priced internet shops.

Absolutely! And you're killing the Chinese dealers business if everyone buys from the local shop. Let the best shop win I say!

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #141 on:** July 27, 2018, 06:00 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on July 27, 2018, 05:56

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on July 27, 2018, 05:01
Simple argument what I'm talking about: How many things did you buy from Aliexpress or any relative Chinese websites? Why? You know that your local shop is selling the same things at few times bigger price? You are actually killing his business when buying from the (almost-production-price) Chinese dealers. I've seen many tech shops died because of lower priced internet shops.

Absolutely! And you're killing the Chinese dealers business if everyone buys from the local shop. Let the best shop win I say!

This made me laugh.

izzikiorage · « **Reply #142 on:** July 28, 2018, 12:07 »

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on July 27, 2018, 06:00

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on July 27, 2018, 05:56

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on July 27, 2018, 05:01
Simple argument what I'm talking about: How many things did you buy from Aliexpress or any relative Chinese websites? Why? You know that your local shop is selling the same things at few times bigger price? You are actually killing his business when buying from the (almost-production-price) Chinese dealers. I've seen many tech shops died because of lower priced internet shops.

Absolutely! And you're killing the Chinese dealers business if everyone buys from the local shop. Let the best shop win I say!

This made me laugh.

Our entire plight makes me laugh.

Lets hope we can do something about it

izzikiorage · « **Reply #143 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:17 »

And we have a new curve ball to this, just got this mail

In the weeks since announcing our new commission structure, we’ve had the opportunity to speak with a number of contributors in the community. You have given us valuable feedback about how we can serve you better, and we have been working hard to put your ideas into action.

In particular, many of you have expressed concern with our member price for HD footage remaining at $49 with a 50% commission structure in place. We understand how important pricing is—not only to your earnings with Storyblocks—but to your overall participation in the stock media market. We have decided to address your concerns and will be raising the price of HD footage.

By October 15, 2018, we will raise the publicized price of HD footage to $79. This is the price that guests will pay to purchase an HD clip. Members will also be charged $79 per clip, but they will receive a 10% instant rebate at the end of their checkout, the cost of which we will share 50/50 between us and you. In other words, when we sell an HD clip to a Storyblocks member, you will earn $35.55 per asset. For sales to guests, you will earn $39.50 per asset. This also means Storyblocks will no longer collect a “guest fee” from nonmember purchases. These changes will be reflected in your contributor agreement as well. The new 50% commission share will begin as planned on August 15.

We will never stop working to create a sustainable, thriving community for you, our contributors. Our relationship with you is what sets Storyblocks apart, and we do not take that for granted. As always, please reach out to contributor@storyblocks.com with any questions you have.

KevinM · « **Reply #144 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:20 »

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE SPEAK UP! This is why we email with complaints, delete portfolios, refuse to upload, and yes, write petitions! Their prices are now comparable to Shutterstock and they're paying a higher commission. So the next time some pathetic loser tells you that you have no power and can't influence your industry, remember this event.

jjneff · « **Reply #145 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:22 »

To all the nay sayers who said it won't matter, please send me your extra commissions! I spent a good amount of time on the phone with VB! I
accept PayPal :-)

izzikiorage · « **Reply #146 on:** August 09, 2018, 22:47 »

Well lets just hope they put their money where their mouth is and spend well on marketing to get new buyers in. Hope a pricing system is also in the works

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #147 on:** August 09, 2018, 23:21 »

Quote from: izzikiorage on August 09, 2018, 22:47

Well lets just hope they put their money where their mouth is and spend well on marketing to get new buyers in. Hope a pricing system is also in the works

There is a pricing system in place. You upload your stuff and there's a system that prices your items at the current rates they've set for HD and 4K. Unless you're referring to a pricing system that's different than the current one... in which case, you're usually best to explain the type of pricing system you want.

izzikiorage · « **Reply #148 on:** August 10, 2018, 06:42 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on August 09, 2018, 23:21

Quote from: izzikiorage on August 09, 2018, 22:47
Well lets just hope they put their money where their mouth is and spend well on marketing to get new buyers in. Hope a pricing system is also in the works

There is a pricing system in place. You upload your stuff and there's a system that prices your items at the current rates they've set for HD and 4K. Unless you're referring to a pricing system that's different than the current one... in which case, you're usually best to explain the type of pricing system you want.

So much sarcasm. One where the contributor defines the prices.

dragonblade · « **Reply #149 on:** August 16, 2018, 04:09 »

Quote from: KevinM on August 09, 2018, 10:20

Their prices are now comparable to Shutterstock and they're paying a higher commission.

Comparable to Shutterstock? I'd say a heck of a lot better than SS. On average, my HD sales at SS have been around $17 - $22. And these days, people are getting a lot of $1.50 sales for HD and 4k clips through SS. I think VB blows SS out of the water when it comes to stock footage earnings.

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Author Topic: Commission cut (Read 9324 times)

lucagavagna

SpaceStockFootage

jjneff

SpaceStockFootage

stvagna

StanRohrer

jjneff

KevinM

Video-StockOrg

izzikiorage

flywing

izzikiorage

SpaceStockFootage

increasingdifficulty

Video-StockOrg

SpaceStockFootage

Video-StockOrg

izzikiorage

izzikiorage

KevinM

jjneff

izzikiorage

SpaceStockFootage

izzikiorage

dragonblade

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