pancakes

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Poll

Please choose from the following options:

Continue uploading as before
47 (48.5%)
Stop uploading but leave current images there
29 (29.9%)
Delete portfolio entirely
21 (21.6%)

Total Members Voted: 87

Author Topic: 123RF Royalty Cuts - What Will You Do?  (Read 14815 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

rubyroo

« on: December 19, 2012, 11:06 »
0
I haven't started a poll before, so forgive me if I've done anything wrong here.

I thought it would be interesting to see how people will respond to this particular royalty cut.  Vote away!


« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2012, 11:12 »
+3
I quit there a year back but I must say this. I dont know how you guys can stand for this sort of IS trick a second time around and especially not with an outfit like 123. I mean at least IS produced, but this? ::)

Oh and I deleted my entire port then. No point in letting them just hang in there for pittens.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2012, 11:23 by ClaridgeJ »

rubyroo

« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2012, 11:16 »
0
Ah!  If anyone already made a decision way back when the threat was announced, could you vote according to the action you took at that time?

As long it's as a result of the cuts it's still valid.

I agree with you.  iStock somewhat had us over a barrel at the time, but the same isn't true of 123RF.  Much easier to let them go.

« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2012, 11:33 »
0
I stopped uploading early this year when the cuts were announced and won't resume for a while. If they don't change things, I will give them content, but not new stuff - other sites will get the new work and they might get it when it's a year old or so.

Sales this year have been good - but nothing like the big increases they talked about - but if they drop off or quadruple, I might reconsider.

I'll also be watching the royalties like a hawk given the two recent "minor glitches" I caught - they rectified them, but apparently they cant compute any better than iStock can.

« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2012, 11:43 »
+1
I stopped uploading early this year when the cuts were announced and won't resume for a while. If they don't change things, I will give them content, but not new stuff - other sites will get the new work and they might get it when it's a year old or so.

Sales this year have been good - but nothing like the big increases they talked about - but if they drop off or quadruple, I might reconsider.

I'll also be watching the royalties like a hawk given the two recent "minor glitches" I caught - they rectified them, but apparently they cant compute any better than iStock can.


Jo!  thats exactly what they want you to do! to leave the content there. I mean you dont really think they care wether you stay or not?  as long as they have your content.

I am currently deleteing more and more files from both FT and DP, simply dont have the time for agencies with cuts, sort-changes, etc,  them days are over.

At least IS cut! yes but at the same time they are capable of producing.

grafix04

« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2012, 11:48 »
0
I'll be out.  I had stopped uploading when they made the announcement.  If it was just the one level short of the 50% I could probably swallow it, but that along with the discounting and the mistakes they're making paying our royalties as Jo Ann pointed out (mistakes in their favor of course), there is no way I want to continue to deal with such an agent.  Even if they change their mind, I'm still leaving.  The damage is done and the trust is completely gone. 

rubyroo

« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2012, 12:18 »
0
Joanne, do you want me to add another option that would fit your scenario?

I'm not sure if I can edit it without resetting the votes, but if I can I will.  Let me know if you want another question added.

Thanks for all the votes and replies so far... keep voting peeps  :)
« Last Edit: December 19, 2012, 12:26 by rubyroo »

« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2012, 12:36 »
0
Don't both adding options on my account. It's more likely (given Alex's announcement of 123rf's "big" improvement in counting credits) I'll not be uploading at all anyway :)

CD123

« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2012, 12:59 »
0
This relates closely to (and was actually the reason for) the poll I am running here:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/sites-gt-10-of-your-income/msg285891/?boardseen#new

123RF is 1 of my 3 >10% sites. I would be harming myself more than them to stop uploading or pulling my port. I am not only a hobbyist and need the income, so being able to only stick to principles comes at a higher price to me.

If history repeats itself, 123RF will probably start to play a decreasingly important role to whomever stays' income throughout 2013 (that is to say if the reduction in commission does not speed up the process for one in any event). I will probably end up as one of the last rats fleeing the ship, unless "the cut" does not kill me before then.  :-[ 
« Last Edit: December 19, 2012, 13:03 by CD123 »

« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2012, 13:00 »
0
I will stop uploading to them even if that means more money to the ones who will upload ;)

rubyroo

« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2012, 13:06 »
0
Thanks Joanne  ;D

@ CD123 - no problem, we all have to make our own decisions from our own perspective.  If their intake of fresh images diminishes then buyers may well move to other agencies and you'll see your sales increase elsewhere as a result. As Luis says, in the short-term you might see an increase there if the competition for your sales is reduced.




CD123

« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2012, 13:11 »
+2
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)

rubyroo

« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2012, 13:14 »
+1
Indeed... I'm sure this event will split the contributors along the lines of:

"C'est la vie"    :(

and 

"C'est la guerre!!"  >:(


« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2012, 13:20 »
-1
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)


That might be very short term thinking. If you accept this from 123rf now without a protest - then that not only gives them the green light to screw you again further down the line - it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.

« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2012, 13:45 »
0
- it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.

Agreed. If 123RF is successful, you can bet other agencies will soon follow. Unfortunately, without Unions or strong, well-represented organizations, we are collectively on our own. As an individual contributor I factor in the amount of time and effort I dedicate to an agency versus the amount I'm paid. 123RF was, before the reductions, borderline at best.

« Reply #15 on: December 19, 2012, 13:46 »
+4
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)


That might be very short term thinking. If you accept this from 123rf now without a protest - then that not only gives them the green light to screw you again further down the line - it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.
Some of us as sole breadwinners of a family can't afford to do anything but think short term as far as stock is concerned while at the same time increasing other forms of revenue.
I can't afford to give up any agency that gives me a reasonable payout a month. It's easy to stop uploading when you aren't making anything there anyway as I have done with other agencies

WarrenPrice

« Reply #16 on: December 19, 2012, 13:57 »
0
Tough decision ... for some.  Glad I don't have to decide.  Thankfully, I deleted my port 2 years ago -- over an ethics dispute.   :-X

« Reply #17 on: December 19, 2012, 14:09 »
0
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)


That might be very short term thinking. If you accept this from 123rf now without a protest - then that not only gives them the green light to screw you again further down the line - it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.
Some of us as sole breadwinners of a family can't afford to do anything but think short term as far as stock is concerned while at the same time increasing other forms of revenue.
I can't afford to give up any agency that gives me a reasonable payout a month. It's easy to stop uploading when you aren't making anything there anyway as I have done with other agencies

we will be here to see what happens to 123RF, don't forget we are talking about an agency doing 6.31 times less than SS, incredible how can such a small agency pull this to contributors, it will be faster than iStock...

« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2012, 14:30 »
0
A difficult decision for me as 123 are one of my better performing agencies, however even now I am starting to wonder if their poor rates are worth the trouble. I will have to think hard on my decision but if I decide to stop uploading I will also pull my port as don't see why they should benefit from my work whilst I don't.  :-\

CD123

« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2012, 14:41 »
+2
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)



That might be very short term thinking. If you accept this from 123rf now without a protest - then that not only gives them the green light to screw you again further down the line - it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.


Is 123RF one of your biggest income generators?
Good idea though, show them my discontent and then perhaps be unable to pay my son's tuition fees for the year. Very, very smart and responsible!  That will show them a thing or two, right? 

Without protest? Please note who was the OP in this thread:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/2013-is-here-how-about-the-promisses/?topicseen
« Last Edit: December 19, 2012, 14:47 by CD123 »

Poncke

« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2012, 14:43 »
0
I cant answer the poll as I am on the fence. I have stopped uploading, but I havent decided on pulling my port. I will have to wait for reaching payout anyway and then I'll know.

CD123

« Reply #21 on: December 19, 2012, 14:51 »
+1
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)

That might be very short term thinking. If you accept this from 123rf now without a protest - then that not only gives them the green light to screw you again further down the line - it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.


Is 123RF one of your biggest income generators?
Good idea though, show them my discontent and then perhaps be unable to pay my son's tuition fees for the year. Very, very smart and responsible!  That will show them a thing or two, right? 

Without protest? Please note who was the OP in this thread:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/2013-is-here-how-about-the-promisses/?topicseen

Note further, I am not protected by a different alias. This is also my username at 123RF. So whenever I addressed Alex or 123RF, he knew exactly who he was talking to (and you?).
« Last Edit: December 19, 2012, 14:54 by CD123 »

tab62

« Reply #22 on: December 19, 2012, 14:54 »
0
sad to say but 123RF is one of my top 3 each month thus I will take my pay cut and continue to upload. I am close to making payout each month now...

CD123

« Reply #23 on: December 19, 2012, 18:05 »
+2
sad to say but 123RF is one of my top 3 each month thus I will take my pay cut and continue to upload. I am close to making payout each month now...
But now from 1 Jan. they moved the goalposts Tom. We will now have to work even harder and make more for them, just to earn what we did the previous month. With things like rent and other increases coming into effect on the same date...... let us get out the bubbly!!!!!   ::)

grafix04

« Reply #24 on: December 19, 2012, 21:58 »
+2
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life...  ::)


That might be very short term thinking. If you accept this from 123rf now without a protest - then that not only gives them the green light to screw you again further down the line - it also gives other agencies a good indication that they can follow suit.
Some of us as sole breadwinners of a family can't afford to do anything but think short term as far as stock is concerned while at the same time increasing other forms of revenue.
I can't afford to give up any agency that gives me a reasonable payout a month. It's easy to stop uploading when you aren't making anything there anyway as I have done with other agencies

This is what I've been working on for a little over a year.  I've slowly been increasing my RM income, promoting my own site heavily and branched out into other things.  As the money has gone up, I've left the smaller agencies leaving the bigger ones till last.  I don't know whether I'll keep them but my top earnings (that were in microstock) are no longer my top earners in general anymore.  It's a relief because if the industry crumbles (from our perspective not theirs), I feel a little safer. People who depend on stock, can't just leave without some long term planning.  It would be silly to punish your family, just to punish the agent.  IF your income is reduced, then think of a way of leaving but only if you replace or top that income. 

Charl, if 123rf is in your top 3, try and slowly replace their spot with another agent or even on your own.  I suspect within a year, without you doing anything, they're not going to be in your top 3 anyway, making any decision you need to make a bit easier.  But in the meantime, that effort that you put into 123, you can put elsewhere.  You've been their top supporter on these forums for years and you still got shafted.  That's the thanks you get.  Of course it's your decision but if I were you, I would stop uploading.  I wouldn't leave just yet but I'd be working towards it once I replaced that income - which is what I've done and more.


 

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