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Author Topic: BigStock e-mail about subscriptions and an RC-like payment system  (Read 59158 times)

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« Reply #75 on: February 07, 2013, 20:34 »
+8
So you're part of the Bridge to Bigstock - I'm not. However, if they're using this to migrate subscription sales from SS to BigStock, you'll be effectively getting a cut on every download that comes form BigStock vs. SS

Can you opt out of Bridge to Bigstock if you want to stay on SS but no longer have your files on BigStock?

Although there were brief signs of life in the fall, BigStock has been largely moribund since I returned in late 2011 - much lower sales than I saw before (2005-8). So their sales are crappy which leaves me with a lousy royalty rate - I think it'll be 27 cents. Unless the volume is through the roof AND SS sales stay up (at 38 cents), I'm going to leave BigStock and be thankful I was never invited to the Bridge program :)


« Reply #76 on: February 07, 2013, 20:36 »
+1
I just received a reply from BigStock:

" Hello,

We understand your concern.

One of the reasons behind this change is to provide our contributors with a higher chance to earn higher royalties. Subscriptions can allow more downloads, and higher total earnings, and you will still make the current amount from downloads made using credits.

We encourage you to stay, allowing the chance to see your earnings grow.

Please let us know how you would like to proceed. "


What a ridiculous reply. Where do they think these buyers are going to come from? Do they think we are incapable of working out the answer to that?
I will definitely pull my port from BS.
The greater the number of people who quit, the less likely they are to follow through at SS, so yes, I think it's time for D-Day 2.

« Reply #77 on: February 07, 2013, 20:57 »
+1
What about the timing of any future action?

Seems to me that it should be in a month or two - after the change is implemented. Unlike with the Google/Getty giveaway, we have no huge risk of one of our images getting caught in the giveaway where there is nothing we can later do to retrieve it.

If the subs on BigStock fail completely but credit sales continue, then we just let them bump along the bottom as before.

If the subs on BigStock take off like a rocket and SS subs sales drop by seemingly comparable amounts, then we at most loose a month or two of the difference in royalty by waiting.

How about the ides of March (March 15th)?

EmberMike

« Reply #78 on: February 07, 2013, 21:10 »
0
So you're part of the Bridge to Bigstock - I'm not...

Same here. I think we're going to get extra screwed on this. Probably make us start out at the lowest rate.

« Reply #79 on: February 07, 2013, 21:34 »
0
What about the timing of any future action?

Seems to me that it should be in a month or two - after the change is implemented. Unlike with the Google/Getty giveaway, we have no huge risk of one of our images getting caught in the giveaway where there is nothing we can later do to retrieve it.

If the subs on BigStock fail completely but credit sales continue, then we just let them bump along the bottom as before.

If the subs on BigStock take off like a rocket and SS subs sales drop by seemingly comparable amounts, then we at most loose a month or two of the difference in royalty by waiting.

How about the ides of March (March 15th)?

Sounds like a plan. I actually wrote out our quit email earlier, but decided to think before I act, so haven't yet sent it.

I like the idea of the Ides of March, very symbolic!

We have already quit Deposit and 123, adding BS to the list won't much matter.

Don't do this to us, SS!


« Reply #80 on: February 07, 2013, 21:40 »
+6
...I like the idea of the Ides of March, very symbolic!
...

And then there's the quote (with apologies to Caesar and Brutus):

Et tu Sutterstock?

RacePhoto

« Reply #81 on: February 07, 2013, 22:02 »
+1
Look at recent happenings at FT, IS, SS, and now BS. Nobody gets 50,000 downloads/year at Bigstock.

There is no future in microstock. Pulling my portfolios today.


Easy enough if Lisa doesn't make the top tier I'd doubt that many do except the agencies with 50,000 collection, bridge people. Maybe Yuri will weigh in with his value of this new development.

In case you wanted the Senior Version and missed the email for some reason. (like not being a BS member?)


Bigstock goes RC

I have to laugh. I kept BS because of hope for growth, since SS owns them. Instead I just get the feeling that "Another One Bites The Dust"

They just made it easier for many people to drop them? Very odd.

« Reply #82 on: February 07, 2013, 23:25 »
+4
I won't shoot myself in the foot to quickly. Being an optimism, I'll play the "wait and see" game like many will do. If it doesn't work to my satisfaction then I'll pull the plug.

« Reply #83 on: February 08, 2013, 03:13 »
+7
There would be a very easy way to address most concerns: Pay everybody the same rate they receive on SS (and if they want, keep the RC system for those that do not have a SS account).

« Reply #84 on: February 08, 2013, 03:57 »
+1
There would be a very easy way to address most concerns: Pay everybody the same rate they receive on SS (and if they want, keep the RC system for those that do not have a SS account).
A big plus one to that.  I have been 38c at SS since they first brought the system in but I won't quite make the 31c mark at BS. I guess once the 6 months is up with all the extra subs I will reach 31c but that is still a loss of 7 c per dl !!!!!!!  Not at all happy!!!

Microbius

« Reply #85 on: February 08, 2013, 04:16 »
0
I know I am nowhere near the 50k downloads/year needed to get the .38 at Bigstock.  As JoAnn so eloquently points out, the volumes at BigStock just don't support those kinds of numbers. 

However, given the abundant downloads most of us get at SS, I thought it was worth checking my 2012 download totals to see if I get that much at SS.  Imagine my surprise to discover that I don't even get that many DL's annually there!  Fell just short at around 47k. 

I'd be curious if there are many of us who would keep their .38 rate if this same scheme were implemented at SS.

I clear the 50000 on SS, but only just. The idea that BS will ever provide an equivalent number of downloads is unthinkable.

« Reply #86 on: February 08, 2013, 04:29 »
+2
Those milestones seem impossible to hit. 50k would be hard to do even at SS, and they're the volume leader in this business. At Bigstock? It's impossible.

If a stupid idea like this ever migrates over to SS, the milestones will be equally outrageous, probably just multiplied to compensate for the higher volume SS does. And if that happens, I'm probably out of business.

That's why you experiment with it first in your laboratory at Bigstock before you move it to your cash cow.

My fear precisely. I get 38c there for six months after which they will either be making me about twice as much money as SS or else they will cut my commission levels to sod all, at which point there is an extremely strong probability that I will close my account there. The one thing that might keep me is if their subscriptions flop entirely so that they just drift along continuing to  be useless as what they are already useless at.

« Reply #87 on: February 08, 2013, 04:32 »
+12
They had a great opportunity with Bigstock to experiment with a higher priced collection, to differentiate it from SS.  They could of tried image exclusivity, something many of us would try with a site backed by SS.

Instead of that, they've taken the easy option the other sites have.  Low commission subs.  It's hard to express how disappointing this is.  So the big 4 have now all shown that they can't make enough profit without taking more and more from us.  That's unsustainable for me.

There might still be a future for me in microstock, there's Stocksy and the two people working on a way for us to sell direct.  I'd love to see some of the sites that pay 50% commission doing well but there aren't enough buyers using them.

I don't think I'll take part in any other contributor action against the sites.  If buyers wont move to sites that pay us a decent commission, what's the point?  The site most of them have moved to is SS and now it looks like they're going to be as bad as all the other big sites.

« Reply #88 on: February 08, 2013, 04:57 »
0
Ok, given the negligible revenue I get from them, I will pull my portfolio next week.

« Reply #89 on: February 08, 2013, 06:00 »
0
Leaving Bigstock is easy they are already my worst performing site. So Good-bye Bigstock!
But it's obvious that these RC-Targets will be implemented at SS which will lead to an commission-cut for me and many others.

« Reply #90 on: February 08, 2013, 06:52 »
+6
Leaving Bigstock is easy they are already my worst performing site. So Good-bye Bigstock!
But it's obvious that these RC-Targets will be implemented at SS which will lead to an commission-cut for me and many others.

That's what I believe.  This is only phase one. What I don't get is why would Oringer try to entice exclusives to bring their port over to SS then fk them with a royalty cut when BS & SS merge? Again, I make this assumption about merging because why on earth would SS have a different sub payout plan than BigStock? There MUST be a phase two in the works.

Microbius

« Reply #91 on: February 08, 2013, 07:13 »
+1
I definitely think what we have sen at BS is just a preview of a new plan for SS. Even the targets make sense for SS but are batsh*t crazy levels for BS.

« Reply #92 on: February 08, 2013, 07:27 »
0
Leaving Bigstock is easy they are already my worst performing site. So Good-bye Bigstock!
But it's obvious that these RC-Targets will be implemented at SS which will lead to an commission-cut for me and many others.

That's what I believe.  This is only phase one. What I don't get is why would Oringer try to entice exclusives to bring their port over to SS then fk them with a royalty cut when BS & SS merge? Again, I make this assumption about merging because why on earth would SS have a different sub payout plan than BigStock? There MUST be a phase two in the works.

+1

« Reply #93 on: February 08, 2013, 07:46 »
+1
Leaving Bigstock is easy they are already my worst performing site. So Good-bye Bigstock!
But it's obvious that these RC-Targets will be implemented at SS which will lead to an commission-cut for me and many others.

That's what I believe.  This is only phase one. What I don't get is why would Oringer try to entice exclusives to bring their port over to SS then fk them with a royalty cut when BS & SS merge? Again, I make this assumption about merging because why on earth would SS have a different sub payout plan than BigStock? There MUST be a phase two in the works.

Because once they've shifted over it will cause them problems to shift back, and it all helps to destabilise the opposition. Remember when iS tried to lure people to become exclusive and then did a shafting job just as the DT six months lock-in was ending?  DT lost out at that time regardless of how it turned out and it didn't do any harm to iS.

« Reply #94 on: February 08, 2013, 07:56 »
+2
I'm guessing there won't be any more threads complaining about no raise at SS for the past 5 years.

« Reply #95 on: February 08, 2013, 08:14 »
+2
This change was to test the water as to speak. They want to cut commissions and this is just the start, SS will be next!

I still have photos to process but after that I'm out. Not producing any more as too many sites are cutting commissions.
« Last Edit: February 08, 2013, 08:16 by picture5469 »

Microbius

« Reply #96 on: February 08, 2013, 08:27 »
0
I don't mind RC targets in principle, but they need to do the sums, make the tiers more achievable and have one or more levels higher than the maximum current commission. That is the only way to keep people motivated.

« Reply #97 on: February 08, 2013, 08:36 »
+10
I still can't quite believe that they've set those crazy targets.  After years of making what seemed like well thought out decisions, they come up with this.  It shatters the illusion that they care more about their contributors than the other big sites.  This is even worse than what 123RF did and look at the reaction to that.

I'm sure doing this will lose them money.  Lots of people will leave BS and more of us will stop producing new images for microstock, as it just isn't worth it anymore.  It will make people more determined to find better ways to sell their images.

I hope they don't try the old trick of adjusting theses levels to something more reasonable.  Seen that one used far too often now.

« Reply #98 on: February 08, 2013, 08:43 »
0
I still can't quite believe that they've set those crazy targets.  After years of making what seemed like well thought out decisions, they come up with this.  It shatters the illusion that they care more about their contributors than the other big sites.  This is even worse than what 123RF did and look at the reaction to that.

I'm sure doing this will lose them money.  Lots of people will leave BS and more of us will stop producing new images for microstock, as it just isn't worth it anymore.  It will make people more determined to find better ways to sell their images.

I hope they don't try the old trick of adjusting theses levels to something more reasonable.  Seen that one used far too often now.

spot on! not to mention we are talking about a low earner, looking at my totals they represent 2.5% of SS (40 times less)

dbvirago

« Reply #99 on: February 08, 2013, 09:10 »
+9
They forgot to mention when they announced the bridge to Bigstock that as soon as you crossed it they were going to burn it down.


 

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