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Author Topic: Alamy sale for 7 cents  (Read 67656 times)

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marthamarks

« Reply #100 on: January 04, 2022, 23:10 »
+2
Unfortunately we can't prevent them from handing our entire portfolios to these "distributors" in the days before the accounts actually close.  Or even after that...

That's really the smelliest of the many stink bombs here, isn't it?

Seems to me that an ethical company, or at least a semi-ethical company, would respond immediately when you say "I'm out."  It just can't take 45 days for somebody to flip the switch.

In hindsight I suppose we should have left when Alamy was sold in 2020.  But who knew?

Years ago, probably around 2010, I established a contributor's account at Alamy, but for some reason that I don't remember I never submitted anything to them. Now I'm glad of that.

After having contributed along the way to iS, SS, Envato, Corbis (Veer), and a few others I've forgotten about, I'm completely out of them all at this point. I don't regret leaving any of them.

Only the three remaining "honorable agencies"  Adobe, Pond5, and Dreamstime still represent my work. I realize that I couldn't be so picky if I had to earn a living, as opposed to "spending money." Guess that's one of the (very few) advantages of getting older.
« Last Edit: January 04, 2022, 23:13 by marthamarks »


thijsdegraaf

« Reply #101 on: January 05, 2022, 06:45 »
+6
An Admin has answered on the Alamy forum: https://discussion.alamy.com/topic/15213-selling-for-pennies/page/5/?tab=comments#comment-307654&ct=1641383040

Thank you for all of the information you have provided here, our CR team are just getting back into the swing of things after the Christmas break and this will be useful to help us look into what's happened in this case to give a clear answer. If you've got a specific question about your sales, please email [email protected] but be mindful that there may be a delayed response as we get back up to speed and work through the backlog from the festive period.

Reminds me of the bland, impersonal responses we got on the Shutterforum after the Shutterstock issues.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2022, 07:14 by thijsdegraaf »

« Reply #102 on: January 05, 2022, 06:53 »
+6
I like the way they combined all threads about it, then locked it and finally moved it to a quieter spot of the forum  ;D

« Reply #103 on: January 05, 2022, 07:50 »
+3
I like the way they combined all threads about it, then locked it and finally moved it to a quieter spot of the forum  ;D

next step: Closing Forums altogether.  all the same

« Reply #104 on: January 05, 2022, 08:28 »
+3
Don't worry.... another thread has appeared in the quiet section

https://discussion.alamy.com/topic/15214-not-selling-for-pennies/

Maybe we should all post there so it gains Google search attention  ;D


It's actually under a section called "Suggestions and Ideas". They changed the original thread name to, "Selling for Pennies". Are they trying o make it look like someone created a thread too suggest they should "Sell for Pennies"?!? Amazing
« Last Edit: January 05, 2022, 08:31 by HalfFull »

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #105 on: January 05, 2022, 11:53 »
+1
I like the way they combined all threads about it, then locked it and finally moved it to a quieter spot of the forum  ;D

next step: Closing Forums altogether.  all the same

Yeah, I think you have something there. It was obvious that SS had to go through their usual meetings and groups and managers committees studies, because from the day they announced the 10 plan and the reset, the forum was mostly bad publicity. It just took that long because of the decision making paralysis in many corporate environments. Everyone is afraid to make a decision on their own and needs some group or research to back their butts.

Lets see, new owners at Alamy. Forum is bad press and exposes the absurd sales amounts, the even worse commissions and how that's going to get even worse in the future. (or maybe how the forum has exposed no future for contributors?) Answer kill the forum, silence the truth.

If anyone missed it, and has been reading the Alamy threads, this is in the TOS and why someone has already said, they have started the 45 day clock.

Termination
    You may terminate this Contract:
        on 45 days prior written notice to Alamy at any time;


https://www.alamy.com/terms/contributor.aspx

In addition to your rights to terminate the Contract, you may delete any item of Content after ninety (90) days notice to Alamy.

While licenses that are active and those that are in process will continue and remain, you can close your account with 45 day notice, you don't have to wait 90 days.

I haven't been hit yet, worst last year was $3 for $1.20 but I know after reading here that no one is safe and immune from the Microstock income pandemic that's eating away at all of us. Alamy = Another one bites the dust. And when this goes to 20% of almost nothing, things will be even worse?



« Reply #106 on: January 05, 2022, 11:58 »
+2
I sent the "close account" request yesterday - how long till they even respond with the hoops I'll have to jump through?


I'd love to lock up my best photos somehow. What if I just deleted the keywords and titles?  Would that at least waste their time?

« Last Edit: January 05, 2022, 12:03 by stockastic »

« Reply #107 on: January 05, 2022, 12:07 »
+4
I sent the "close account" request yesterday - how long till they even respond with the hoops I'll have to jump through?

I received a reply from support this morning. Other than asking if there was anything they could do to persuade me to stay, there were no hoops to jump through :)

Level6

« Reply #108 on: January 05, 2022, 13:57 »
+2
I like the way they combined all threads about it, then locked it and finally moved it to a quieter spot of the forum  ;D

next step: Closing Forums altogether.  all the same

Yeah, I think you have something there. It was obvious that SS had to go through their usual meetings and groups and managers committees studies, because from the day they announced the 10 plan and the reset, the forum was mostly bad publicity. It just took that long because of the decision making paralysis in many corporate environments. Everyone is afraid to make a decision on their own and needs some group or research to back their butts.

Lets see, new owners at Alamy. Forum is bad press and exposes the absurd sales amounts, the even worse commissions and how that's going to get even worse in the future. (or maybe how the forum has exposed no future for contributors?) Answer kill the forum, silence the truth.

If anyone missed it, and has been reading the Alamy threads, this is in the TOS and why someone has already said, they have started the 45 day clock.

Termination
    You may terminate this Contract:
        on 45 days prior written notice to Alamy at any time;


https://www.alamy.com/terms/contributor.aspx

In addition to your rights to terminate the Contract, you may delete any item of Content after ninety (90) days notice to Alamy.

While licenses that are active and those that are in process will continue and remain, you can close your account with 45 day notice, you don't have to wait 90 days.

I haven't been hit yet, worst last year was $3 for $1.20 but I know after reading here that no one is safe and immune from the Microstock income pandemic that's eating away at all of us. Alamy = Another one bites the dust. And when this goes to 20% of almost nothing, things will be even worse?

Speaking of bad press, they can close forums but they can't close Twitter, Reddit and TikTok, don't even have to use your real name, just make up random usernames, get the message out and take the tech media outlets and others.

« Reply #109 on: January 05, 2022, 14:06 »
+5
No response to my "close account" email.

I just went to my Image Manager page, selected all my photos, deleted all the tags, added the single tag "UNKNOWN" to satisfy the editor, and hit Save. 

Hopefully that at least makes them less likely to be snagged by China Intellectual Property Inc.   If I'm really lucky, someone will get angry and close my account on the spot.

Level6

« Reply #110 on: January 05, 2022, 14:30 »
+2
No response to my "close account" email.

I just went to my Image Manager page, selected all my photos, deleted all the tags, added the single tag "UNKNOWN" to satisfy the editor, and hit Save. 

Hopefully that at least makes them less likely to be snagged by China Intellectual Property Inc.   If I'm really lucky, someone will get angry and close my account on the spot.

Good idea, it might preserve your ranking for a bit in case they reverse course but if penny sales to china still happen then it's no doubt their trusted partner in China is using a bot to scrape the site.

H2O

    This user is banned.
« Reply #111 on: January 05, 2022, 19:26 »
+4
Another Agency that has taken the corporate shareholder greed route, now owned by PA Media, better known as the Daily Mail, wholly owned by Viscount Rothermere, a notorious family of tax avoiders, they have never paid tax in the UK, his father was a supporter of Adolf Hitler, I write this so you know the type of people who are sharfting you.

Alamy used to give it's profits to charity, they used to be a honourable agency.

« Reply #112 on: January 05, 2022, 20:02 »
+5
I sent the "close account" request yesterday - how long till they even respond with the hoops I'll have to jump through?

I received a reply from support this morning. Other than asking if there was anything they could do to persuade me to stay, there were no hoops to jump through :)

I hope you told them 50/50 split and no sales under X amount, where X >$1

Level6

« Reply #113 on: January 05, 2022, 22:09 »
+1
Another Agency that has taken the corporate shareholder greed route, now owned by PA Media, better known as the Daily Mail, wholly owned by Viscount Rothermere, a notorious family of tax avoiders, they have never paid tax in the UK, his father was a supporter of Adolf Hitler, I write this so you know the type of people who are sharfting you.

Alamy used to give it's profits to charity, they used to be a honourable agency.

So that's who PAmedia is, they just did that big deal with Pond5, Reuters and Newsflare for editorial video.  brb.  going to throw up

« Reply #114 on: January 07, 2022, 19:13 »
+9
I got the email acknowledging my request to close my account; so the die is cast.  I'm out of microstock for good.

Here's my exit interview:

These agencies went along in the belief that we had no selling price resistance; we'd complain, but in the end we'd take anything, even a few pennies, on any number of sales. And especially if there was always the possibility of a bigger sale tomorrow.  It was always "a sale we'd have otherwise not gotten".  Any sale is better than nothing.

What I think they never understood is how angering it can be to see your photo "sold" for a ridiculous token amount to someone who's obviously going to make quite a bit more money on it than you just did.   It may not be rational, but it's a fact - these fake "sales" made many of us feel like chumps.   

I'm glad I won't have that feeling again.



« Last Edit: January 07, 2022, 20:00 by stockastic »

Level6

« Reply #115 on: January 08, 2022, 01:19 »
0
I got the email acknowledging my request to close my account; so the die is cast.  I'm out of microstock for good.

Here's my exit interview:

These agencies went along in the belief that we had no selling price resistance; we'd complain, but in the end we'd take anything, even a few pennies, on any number of sales. And especially if there was always the possibility of a bigger sale tomorrow.  It was always "a sale we'd have otherwise not gotten".  Any sale is better than nothing.

What I think they never understood is how angering it can be to see your photo "sold" for a ridiculous token amount to someone who's obviously going to make quite a bit more money on it than you just did.   It may not be rational, but it's a fact - these fake "sales" made many of us feel like chumps.   

I'm glad I won't have that feeling again.

I see you registered here in 2009, for me it was 2008 when I got into this business.   Not sure what part in the world you're in but hopefully you're able to find job now that this has ended as way to make a living.

In my case I am still leaving my video and photo content up on Pond5, if a sale or two happens then great.

Going forward it's job searching and learning day, swing and options trading as best I can before I end up like others in the film and video industry in Toronto. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/12/29/she-lost-her-job-his-building-sold-these-are-some-of-thousands-of-people-who-became-homeless-in-toronto-this-year.html

thijsdegraaf

« Reply #116 on: January 10, 2022, 09:54 »
+1
I regularly check whether there is any news on the Alamy forum. but except for a comment from an admin, that they are happy with the experiences sent and then close the topic  ;D, I still don't read anything. There are also few new messages from the forum members.
After less good experiences on the Alamyforum, I don't post there. But is there any news about those mini sales?

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #117 on: January 10, 2022, 10:06 »
+5
I regularly check whether there is any news on the Alamy forum. but except for a comment from an admin, that they are happy with the experiences sent and then close the topic  ;D, I still don't read anything. There are also few new messages from the forum members.
After less good experiences on the Alamyforum, I don't post there. But is there any news about those mini sales?

Well Well, look at that?   This topic is now closed to further replies. I'll tell you what. You keep waling into the arena and poking the lions, dodging the forum gladiators, and I'll stay here and watch from the cheap seats?

Seriously does any one else think we're getting stonewalled and shut down?

Quote
Thank you for all of the information you have provided here, our CR team are just getting back into the swing of things after the Christmas break and this will be useful to help us look into what's happened in this case to give a clear answer. If you've got a specific question about your sales, please email [email protected] but be mindful that there may be a delayed response as we get back up to speed and work through the backlog from the festive period. 

Must have been some "festive period" that they are still getting over it, no answers ten days later?

Just sitting here waiting for my lovely partner sales to come in. I haven't been victimized yet like so many others.

« Reply #118 on: January 10, 2022, 11:21 »
+1
I got a usual pap response from my e-mail asking about them and if there was a way to avoid sales that low...

"These sales were made through one of our Distributors and theyll charge what they think to be a competitive price in their market. Its in everyones interest to get the highest price for each sale as the money is split three ways, but sometimes these prices look small when compared with similar licenses in the UK & US.

 

Remember these are customers we wouldnt normally reach as its a sale through our Distribution scheme and an Additional Revenue Option.

 

You can only opt out or remove countries in April of every year; this is so we can give our distributors a consistent collection."


But in the interest of fairness, I must point out that so far this year Alamy is far ahead with 3 sales for which I will get $86.11 if I did my math right (it was so much easier when it was 50/50)
« Last Edit: January 10, 2022, 11:25 by pancaketom »

thijsdegraaf

« Reply #119 on: January 10, 2022, 11:35 »
0
I got a usual pap response from my e-mail asking about them and if there was a way to avoid sales that low...

"These sales were made through one of our Distributors and theyll charge what they think to be a competitive price in their market. Its in everyones interest to get the highest price for each sale as the money is split three ways, but sometimes these prices look small when compared with similar licenses in the UK & US.

Remember these are customers we wouldnt normally reach as its a sale through our Distribution scheme and an Additional Revenue Option.
 
You can only opt out or remove countries in April of every year; this is so we can give our distributors a consistent collection."

But in the interest of fairness, I must point out that so far this year Alamy is far ahead with 3 sales for which I will get $86.11 if I did my math right (it was so much easier when it was 50/50)

Thanks.
So it was, if I understand correctly, no mistake and they don't answer on the forum, where the questions were asked.
To avoid unrest? End of forum?
The high prices of course compensate a lot. But for the people who don't sell much, that compensation will also be lower if they get 20%.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2022, 11:37 by thijsdegraaf »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #120 on: January 10, 2022, 12:46 »
+1
But in the interest of fairness, I must point out that so far this year Alamy is far ahead with 3 sales for which I will get $86.11 if I did my math right (it was so much easier when it was 50/50)
Well done, I've just had my second sale of the year, taking my total net to $2.49.

BTW, (in case you don't know, and if you do know, it might help someone else) you can see what you've netted for each sale on the 'Net Revenue Sales Report', which is downloadable from your homepage via the 'Download Sales Report' button.

« Reply #121 on: January 10, 2022, 14:23 »
0
But in the interest of fairness, I must point out that so far this year Alamy is far ahead with 3 sales for which I will get $86.11 if I did my math right (it was so much easier when it was 50/50)
Well done, I've just had my second sale of the year, taking my total net to $2.49.

BTW, (in case you don't know, and if you do know, it might help someone else) you can see what you've netted for each sale on the 'Net Revenue Sales Report', which is downloadable from your homepage via the 'Download Sales Report' button.


Thanks, that is helpful once you check the right boxes. I actually didn't get that much from my 3 sales, there was $26.70 in ASCRL Nov 2021 payment included too. Still better than the sales at the end of December 2021.

I suspect that the official answer is that is what you get ($.04 per sale). Hopefully behind the scenes they are annoyed they are so low and do something to put a floor on sales. The way the market is going I wouldn't put any money on it though up to a hundred sales for an individual is only $4 but 10,000 for Alamy is $600. I also think that taking 80% from the sales for the ports that they are unable to sell well is lame. Another reason why I wouldn't recommend getting into this business anymore. The percentage of low sales is much less than SS, but the overall number of sales is much much less and I went years without a sale over $30 (for me) at SS. It is up to everyone to decide how much they are willing to put up with before they stop uploading or pull their ports entirely. For a long while I made much much more at SS than Alamy, I think it wasn't far off by 2019 - more because SS came down so much and Alamy didn't fall as much.

« Reply #122 on: January 10, 2022, 15:07 »
+1
I had my account closed with Alamy in February  last year after not one sale in 12 months and the last commission of about $3.00. When I started in 2019, my first sale paid me $30.00. Following sales were lower but enough to make what would be my first and only payout from them. I wasn't going to chase sales with Alamy given its poor performance with my port in the last year I had there and reading comments here, looks like it's even worse now.

thijsdegraaf

« Reply #123 on: January 11, 2022, 04:05 »
+1
A new thread on Alamy: https://discussion.alamy.com/topic/15224-why-did-three-of-my-images-sell-for-15/?ct=1641891684  Let's see if there is an answer from an admin or if it is hidden again with a lock on it.  :)

Curious how cozy it will be there in July when many of us get 20%.  :(
« Last Edit: January 11, 2022, 04:15 by thijsdegraaf »

« Reply #124 on: January 11, 2022, 07:38 »
+1
I got a usual pap response from my e-mail asking about them and if there was a way to avoid sales that low...

"These sales were made through one of our Distributors and theyll charge what they think to be a competitive price in their market. Its in everyones interest to get the highest price for each sale as the money is split three ways, but sometimes these prices look small when compared with similar licenses in the UK & US.

 

Remember these are customers we wouldnt normally reach as its a sale through our Distribution scheme and an Additional Revenue Option.

 

You can only opt out or remove countries in April of every year; this is so we can give our distributors a consistent collection."


But in the interest of fairness, I must point out that so far this year Alamy is far ahead with 3 sales for which I will get $86.11 if I did my math right (it was so much easier when it was 50/50)

Agree with you.  I am doing fairly well on Alamy, in micro stock terms, anyway.  But I will be opting out of distributor sales in April as the slue of 2 cent royalties does not appeal to me. it's a test, really.  Will my overall revenue be significantly affected by opting out? Don't think so as most of my sales have been regular Alamy sales.  It's unfortunate that Alamy has gone down this path.  I just had about 15 sales from China. I made a couple of pennies.  I'm outtie!!


 

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