MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => 123RF => Topic started by: rubyroo on December 19, 2012, 11:06
-
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!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/100mb-sale-for-$11-58-wow/msg285837/#msg285837) - they rectified them, but apparently they cant compute any better than iStock can.
-
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 ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/100mb-sale-for-[/url]$11-58-wow/msg285837/#msg285837) - 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.
-
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.
-
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 :)
-
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 :)
-
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 (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. :-[
-
I will stop uploading to them even if that means more money to the ones who will upload ;)
-
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.
-
What you want to do is not always equal to what you can afford to do. Such is life... ::)
-
Indeed... I'm sure this event will split the contributors along the lines of:
"C'est la vie" :(
and
"C'est la guerre!!" >:(
-
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.
-
- 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.
-
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
-
Tough decision ... for some. Glad I don't have to decide. Thankfully, I deleted my port 2 years ago -- over an ethics dispute. :-X
-
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...
-
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. :-\
-
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 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/2013-is-here-how-about-the-promisses/?topicseen)
-
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.
-
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:
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/2013-is-here-how-about-the-promisses/?topicseen[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/2013-is-here-how-about-the-promisses/?topicseen[/url])
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?).
-
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...
-
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!!!!! ::)
-
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.
-
Have been trying to spread my income base the last year grafix04, have been uploading to 23 sites since I started (added 3 new ones over the past 4 months and dropped about 5 over the last year). Unfortunately, could not find a good replacement or steady income equal to 123RF between one of them yet. So its not due to a lack of trying.
Well, we will just now have to see how things are going to pan out, as we both mentioned now, the chances are they are just going to dwindle down to the bottom of the list any way. Wherever their buyers are going to land, I at least have a good chance of being waiting for them there already ;).
(PS Thank you for the advice and concern - it is refreshing and appreciated)
-
I just sold my lowest EL so far for only $3. Is this normal? Only $3 for an EEL?
-
Have been trying to spread my income base the last year grafix04, have been uploading to 23 sites since I started (added 3 new ones over the past 4 months and dropped about 5 over the last year). Unfortunately, could not find a good replacement or steady income equal to 123RF between one of them yet. So its not due to a lack of trying.
Well, we will just now have to see how things are going to pan out, as we both mentioned now, the chances are they are just going to dwindle down to the bottom of the list any way. Wherever their buyers are going to land, I at least have a good chance of being waiting for them there already ;).
(PS Thank you for the advice and concern - it is refreshing and appreciated)
That's probably your problem right there. If I were you, I would focus less on uploading to as many sites as possible, choose a few of the best ones and focus on those. The time you save uploading to the other many sites, you could use to promote the few you prefer. If you Google your images, you'll find that 123rf comes up frist. I just Googled your lion (nice by the way) and got two images from 123 up the top and one from SS a little further. What I would do is pick your best sites and promote them. Get on G+ and post it there and on Twitter. Blog about it and post on FB. Everytime you sell it from one of your other sites, post about it again. Of course don't do it for 123rf. The extra traffic you get will help the other sites rank higher. Get Hootsuite or TweetDeck and set up auto posts to tweet the image once a week. You schedule the tweets so you only need to do the work once. Just work on that one image to see if you can get your preferred site to beat 123 in Google and other search engines. If you have luck with that image, do another and do your entire portfolio (the gallery page) as well. If you have your own site, do it for that instead of the others. It's a bit of work but so is uploading to a lot of sites who don't sell anything.
-
Thank you for the advise grafix04. Will definitely start focusing on the marketing part (actually never knew how to go about it in this industry, as no one I know is involved, so Facebook does not help me any). Have a lot of quiet time behind the computer due to my medical condition (actually more than capturing the images), so I can market more and keep uploading to the broad spectrum (where justified).
Guess that is enough of what I will do (thank you for the help), so conversation back to the other bereaved :'(
-
Thank you for the advise grafix04. Will definitely start focusing on the marketing part (actually never knew how to go about it in this industry, as no one I know is involved, so Facebook does not help me any). Have a lot of quiet time behind the computer due to my medical condition (actually more than capturing the images), so I can market more and keep uploading to the broad spectrum (where justified).
Guess that is enough of what I will do (thank you for the help), so conversation back to the other bereaved :'(
No worries, hope you have some luck with it.
-
Interesting figures so far. Combining the two lower answers we have almost 60% saying that they will no longer upload new content.
I wonder how many have yet to vote?
-
I just sold my lowest EL so far for only $3. Is this normal? Only $3 for an EEL?
You are not the only one - check out this thread: http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/got-$3-00-for-a-eel-sale-really/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/123royaltyfree-com/got-$3-00-for-a-eel-sale-really/)
-
Recently(last week), I've decided to deactivate more than a half of my port at the 123rf.(I'm a level 2 contributor since big cut). And when I've deactivated my images it was fine they've gone for about a week. But today I've just checked and my images become available again >:(.
I would be happy to hearing some explanation about deactivation images process from 123rf administration here on forum.
-
I love 123Rf! I enjoy the upload bumps which are rare on other sites now days. I've been with them for 6 years and have grown each year.
-
MisterElements
« on: Today at 10:14 »
I love 123Rf! I enjoy the upload bumps which are rare on other sites now days. I've been with them for 6 years and have grown each year.
I liked them too until the Big cut. But now it's become not acceptable for me
-
"I liked them too until the Big cut. But now it's become not acceptable for me"
Strictly speaking for myself once a site becomes "Unacceptable" I dump them. Panthermedia was my most recent dump. Not worth the effort...
-
I found 123 unacceptable and dumped them as soon as they dropped my royalties. I just did a check to see if my photos have reappeared as posted above and they are still gone. I find lots of photos with keywords that have been plucked right from mine though, because my user name is in them. Seriously - check out other people's keywords, but don't cut and paste without even verifying that they are appropriate!
-
tab62
« on: Today at 11:18 »
"I liked them too until the Big cut. But now it's become not acceptable for me"
Strictly speaking for myself once a site becomes "Unacceptable" I dump them. Panthermedia was my most recent dump. Not worth the effort...
Hi tab62,
I absolutely agree with you. But I've decided to do it in a 2 step process. First of all I deactivated more than a half of my portfolio. Than I'll wait for a month, and if nothing change I'll delete my port completely.
-
Just curios was the half you deactivated your best sellers there?
-
tab62
« on: Today at 12:49 »
Just curios was the half you deactivated your best sellers there?
Yes it was the best sellers.
-
tab62
« on: Today at 11:18 »
"I liked them too until the Big cut. But now it's become not acceptable for me"
Strictly speaking for myself once a site becomes "Unacceptable" I dump them. Panthermedia was my most recent dump. Not worth the effort...
Hi tab62,
I absolutely agree with you. But I've decided to do it in a 2 step process. First of all I deactivated more than a half of my portfolio. Than I'll wait for a month, and if nothing change I'll delete my port completely.
Not sure I follow your reasoning. Do you think after deleting your best sellers that there will be any chance of things changing for the positive for you?
-
Quote from: mayaartist on Today at 11:26
Quote
tab62
« on: Today at 11:18 »
"I liked them too until the Big cut. But now it's become not acceptable for me"
Strictly speaking for myself once a site becomes "Unacceptable" I dump them. Panthermedia was my most recent dump. Not worth the effort...
Hi tab62,
I absolutely agree with you. But I've decided to do it in a 2 step process. First of all I deactivated more than a half of my portfolio. Than I'll wait for a month, and if nothing change I'll delete my port completely.
CD123
« on: Today at 14:09 »
Not sure I follow your reasoning. Do you think after deleting your best sellers that there will be any chance of things changing for the positive for you?
The reason for me was if they might decide to change a bit commission for the contributors in a near future(for a bit better of course). I would reconsider my decision. I'll keep my account and some images on 123rf for a month and than if nothing changes I'll close my account.
And here is an official reply from 123rf (for my question about why my deactivated images are still available for sale):
Hi there,
Thank you for your email.
It may have been a technical glitch on our website that may have caused the image to be available again after you removed them.
However before we can conclude that, may we know how did you have them removed? Did you removed them from your upload history?
We understand that this might be troublesome for you, but if it is possible for you to have them removed again? It may actually take about
3 to 5 days for the images to be completely removed from your portfolio but they will be no longer be available for download immediately when you have them removed.
Looking forward for your reply. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Frank
Best regards, always!
Submissions & Review Team
for 123RF.com
And here is again "a technical glitch" unbelievable, I have no words.
-
Don't think you should be holding your breath. :-\
-
CD123
« on: Today at 16:01 »
Don't think you should be holding your breath.
Honestly speaking it's a difficult time for all contributors wright now I think. 123rf cut commission for the contributors, IS+Getty+Google Drive deal. I'm trying not to make a mistake which could cost me a loss of income for the future.
-
CD123
« on: Today at 16:01 »
Don't think you should be holding your breath.
Honestly speaking it's a difficult time for all contributors wright now I think. 123rf cut commission for the contributors, IS+Getty+Google Drive deal. I'm trying not to make a mistake which could cost me a loss of income for the future.
Totally with you on that, but 123RF will not back out of this move easily.
-
Quote from: mayaartist on Today at 16:27
Quote
CD123
« on: Today at 16:01 »
Don't think you should be holding your breath.
Honestly speaking it's a difficult time for all contributors wright now I think. 123rf cut commission for the contributors, IS+Getty+Google Drive deal. I'm trying not to make a mistake which could cost me a loss of income for the future.
CD123
« on: Today at 16:37 »
Totally with you on that, but 123RF will not back out of this move easily.
To be honest, I didn't expect this behavior from 123rf. WOW....
Here is they answer for my request that my images are still available in 123rf search and I even can download them, and possibly not only me.
Hi there,
Thank you for your email.
Since you mentioned that the images you removed are not in your upload history anymore, it means that the images are technically not available for download anymore.
However, if the images you removed from your upload history are still showing in your portfolio, kindly provide us with the image filenames and we will have our technical team
to have them removed from our end.
And here is my answer:
Dear Frank,
I'm sorry but I have no information in my "history uploads" now (about my deactivated images). All of my deactivated images should be deleted if they are not in my portfolio. Am I right?
But here are some examples of my images still available in search and even I can download them :( (but they are not in my portfolio)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_14220351_ptsd-symbol-design-isolated-on-white-background-anxiety-disorder-symbol-design.html (http://www.123rf.com/photo_14220351_ptsd-symbol-design-isolated-on-white-background-anxiety-disorder-symbol-design.html)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_14403909_mental-health-symbol-conceptual-design-isolated-on-white-background-psychological-trauma-symbol-desi.html (http://www.123rf.com/photo_14403909_mental-health-symbol-conceptual-design-isolated-on-white-background-psychological-trauma-symbol-desi.html)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_14459632_anxiety-disorder-symbol-message-conceptual-design.html (http://www.123rf.com/photo_14459632_anxiety-disorder-symbol-message-conceptual-design.html)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_14220382_ptsd-symbol-conceptual-design-isolated-on-white-background-anxiety-disorder-symbol-abstract-conceptu.html (http://www.123rf.com/photo_14220382_ptsd-symbol-conceptual-design-isolated-on-white-background-anxiety-disorder-symbol-abstract-conceptu.html)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_15174092_disorder-symbol-isolated-on-white.html (http://www.123rf.com/photo_15174092_disorder-symbol-isolated-on-white.html)
http://www.123rf.com/photo_14220364_ptsd-symbol-conceptual-design-isolated-on-white-background-anxiety-disorder-symbol.html (http://www.123rf.com/photo_14220364_ptsd-symbol-conceptual-design-isolated-on-white-background-anxiety-disorder-symbol.html)
and many more.
And if I understand you correctly. Should I need to provide you all of those images numbers which I deactivated recently by using 123rf built-in an official option for deactivation images?
I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon.
-
Hi CD123,
I think you are right. After all problems with royalty cuts and images deactivation issue. I've decided to close my 123rf account.
-
Hi CD123,
I think you are right. After all problems with royalty cuts and images deactivation issue. I've decided to close my 123rf account.
Bold move. Hope you find an agency where you can make up your loss fast.
-
Thank you CD123 for your support.
To be honest I'm still looking for some new agency but now it's become to difficult. And I'm just start working with the FAA(but my port there is so small).