Author Topic: Who is getting 27¢ subs? Are you staying? (Read 17922 times)

Allsa · « **on:** March 14, 2013, 12:34 »

I've been with Bigstock since 2005, and if the second half of this month is similar to the first, I'll be seeing my lowest monthly BigStock earnings since 2006. Most of my downloads are 27¢ subs, so tell me, how is this any better that StinkStock? Is there an option to deactivate your portfolio on BS, or do you have to close your account altogether?
I'm burning mad about the injustice of being consigned to this 27¢ ghetto, while the 'Bridge to Bigstock' people enjoy 38¢ subs. I've been with SS and BS since 2005, and people who came along much later than I have get to enjoy much higher earnings. If that isn't injustice, I don't know what is! I know I'm not alone here, and I was wondering what others stuck in the 27¢ ghetto have already done or plan on doing.

cthoman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2013, 12:51 »

I'm leaning towards closing my account or deleting my images. I've never really earned all that much there, and I'm not really interested in more sub sales regardless of the royalty amount.

Travelling-light · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2013, 12:56 »

We have closed our account.

tickstock · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2013, 12:57 »

cthoman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2013, 13:00 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 14, 2013, 12:57

Is 38 cents per download much different? Maybe they will make up for the difference by getting more buyers.

Apparently it is because my thread about it did not go over well.

http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-big-6/$0-25-versus-$0-38/

This link doesn't works right. I think the dollar signs screw it up.

cathyslife · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2013, 13:15 »

There isn't much difference between .27 and .38, but as is true for a lot of what goes on in microstock, it's the principle. I kept my images both at SS and BS because they served two different functions. Now that it looks like they are morphing into the same type of company, I will take my images down...not because of the price difference between SS and BS, but because BS earned me more money (at least $.50 and sometimes $1.00 or more), and now won't.

SID · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2013, 13:23 »

I was in the bridge and I closed my account immediately 'cause i think this bigstock-thing is a kind of test balloon for shutter and therefore i wanted to give them a clear feedback.

asmai · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2013, 13:33 »

I just sent them a notice to close my account. Although my earning there in the last 3 months tripled, i have a feeling that it is getting from my SS earning. One thing i have observed is that my EL at SS just came to zero when BS offered EL and suddenly all EL i get are from BS (with 3$ less each). And now of course a bunch of 27c everyday just drive me mad. I feel bad , though, BS was the first agency who accepted me and made me feel sure about my work.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2013, 13:40 »

It hasn't been mostly subs, but a fair number.

The only decision I have to make is whether I formally ask if I can opt out (others have and been told no by Bigstock support) before I have them remove my portfolio. The ides of March is my day to take the files down if I don't have an opt out.

I'll then need to wait a week for my sales to vest (their one week wait is a ridiculous pain in the rear) and then request payment.

Once I'm paid I'll close the account

asmai · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2013, 14:05 »

Quote from: jsnover on March 14, 2013, 13:40

It hasn't been mostly subs, but a fair number.

The only decision I have to make is whether I formally ask if I can opt out (others have and been told no by Bigstock support) before I have them remove my portfolio. The ides of March is my day to take the files down if I don't have an opt out.

I'll then need to wait a week for my sales to vest (their one week wait is a ridiculous pain in the rear) and then request payment.

Once I'm paid I'll close the account

That's what i did, asked them about the opt out and they say no. And yes, i had to ask them to delete all my pics first, then wait for 7 days, then request payment, and only then i can close my account.

EmberMike · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2013, 14:12 »

I'm waiting to see what they do. Supposedly after 6 months or so they are going to review the program and see if the milestones are realistic.

Of course we don't need 6 months to know that there are maybe 2 people in the world who will be able to hit that 50k mark and retain their $0.38 rate, but if they need some time to figure that out, I'm willing to give it to them.

In the meantime I have to suffer at $0.27 because I don't use the bridge, but at least I don't feel like those low amounts are cannibalizing credit sales too much since sub sales are very few and far between.

palagarde · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2013, 14:49 »

If no opt. out for sub I will close my account. I'm just waiting until I reach limit payment.
Perhaps Shutterstock would like to test some options on Bigstock before applied them. They want to see at which point cash cow we are.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2013, 14:50 »

the subs (I guess) are showing up for me as "standard license", is that ok?

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2013, 15:09 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on March 14, 2013, 14:50

the subs (I guess) are showing up for me as "standard license", is that ok?

No idea if it's OK, but that's how mine are too. It's the royalty amount that's the giveaway

tickstock · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2013, 15:12 »

lisafx · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2013, 15:36 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 14, 2013, 12:57

Is 38 cents per download much different? Maybe they will make up for the difference by getting more buyers.

I keep reading this same comment over and over about how .27 vs. .38 doesn't make much difference. You're right, on one sale it doesn't. But microstock is supposed to be about volume.

I just calculated the difference for last month (Feb.) between what I earned in .38 subs on Shutterstock and what it would have been if each of those had been .27. Total difference was over $300. I think that's significant. I definitely have uses for that extra $300+ and would miss it if it was gone.

Gel-O Shooter · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2013, 15:47 »

I sent them a message from the "delete your account" page. My account was totally gone within 14 hours without even a thank-you-very-much for that free 50 cents they kept.

tickstock · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2013, 16:05 »

w7lwi · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2013, 16:32 »

For whatever reason, my sales on BS have gone up over the past several weeks. However, the bulk of this increase seems to be "normal" sales ... that is, sales for which the commission is $1.00 or $2.00. I can count on one hand the total number of sub sales over the same period. Whether or not the change in sales volume is due to more buyers being drawn in because of the availability of subs I cannot tell. For the time being, I'll continue to hang in there until and unless my own income begins to take a dump. Then all bets are off.

cthoman · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2013, 16:42 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 14, 2013, 15:36

Quote from: tickstock on March 14, 2013, 12:57
Is 38 cents per download much different? Maybe they will make up for the difference by getting more buyers.

I keep reading this same comment over and over about how .27 vs. .38 doesn't make much difference. You're right, on one sale it doesn't. But microstock is supposed to be about volume.

I just calculated the difference for last month (Feb.) between what I earned in .38 subs on Shutterstock and what it would have been if each of those had been .27. Total difference was over $300. I think that's significant. I definitely have uses for that extra $300+ and would miss it if it was gone.

That's assuming you are doing over 3000 sales a month. How many people are actually doing that at SS? 100? 500? 1000? But, like I said, I had this argument before, and most people see it as making a big difference. So, I guess I'm the odd man out.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2013, 16:47 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 14, 2013, 16:05

Quote from: lisafx on March 14, 2013, 15:36
Quote from: tickstock on March 14, 2013, 12:57
Is 38 cents per download much different? Maybe they will make up for the difference by getting more buyers.

I keep reading this same comment over and over about how .27 vs. .38 doesn't make much difference. You're right, on one sale it doesn't. But microstock is supposed to be about volume.

I just calculated the difference for last month (Feb.) between what I earned in .38 subs on Shutterstock and what it would have been if each of those had been .27. Total difference was over $300. I think that's significant. I definitely have uses for that extra $300+ and would miss it if it was gone.
I don't think microstock is supposed to be about volume, price has to play it's part too. You get a lot more volume if you give it away for free but I think you agree that is not what it's about. Bigstock lowers prices and gets sales that you think would have come from Shutterstock but Shutterstock's lower prices don't get sales that come from higher priced agencies? It's about volume and price and 25, 27, or 38 cents are way too low.

I understand what you are saying but imagine you and perhaps 99% of microstockers start as independents, you start uploading to all agencies lets say the big 8 or 10 doesn't matter, then you start growing in agencies, months/years, and then you see one agency as being a big part of your income (my case around 40%), as you know that is also the best earner for most of us that are in iStock, FT, DT, 123RF... there isn't one agency getting close to them

what is your advice if this is the pure reality, what can we do? join iStock exclusivity, FT, DT? go RM? I don't think we (most) microstockers can afford staying outside SS, it just doesn't make any sense...

loop · « **Reply #21 on:** March 14, 2013, 17:18 »

Quote from: cthoman on March 14, 2013, 16:42

Quote from: lisafx on March 14, 2013, 15:36
Quote from: tickstock on March 14, 2013, 12:57
Is 38 cents per download much different? Maybe they will make up for the difference by getting more buyers.

I keep reading this same comment over and over about how .27 vs. .38 doesn't make much difference. You're right, on one sale it doesn't. But microstock is supposed to be about volume.

I just calculated the difference for last month (Feb.) between what I earned in .38 subs on Shutterstock and what it would have been if each of those had been .27. Total difference was over $300. I think that's significant. I definitely have uses for that extra $300+ and would miss it if it was gone.

That's assuming you are doing over 3000 sales a month. How many people are actually doing that at SS? 100? 500? 1000? But, like I said, I had this argument before, and most people see it as making a big difference. So, I guess I'm the odd man out.

I can't believe Lisa does just 3000 subs sales at SS. If that is true, SS loses appeal to me.

aeonf · « **Reply #22 on:** March 14, 2013, 17:29 »

^^^ "only" ?
That's over 1,000$ in subs alone, not many people do much better.

cthoman · « **Reply #23 on:** March 14, 2013, 17:35 »

Quote from: loop on March 14, 2013, 17:18

I can't believe Lisa does just 3000 subs sales at SS. If that is true, SS loses appeal to me.

It seems insane to me. People talk about microstock being for everybody, but you really have to crank out the volume to be in that upper or mid-upper echelon. Once you get there, you aren't exactly a get rich quick story (or even a get rich at all story).

But, we have to protect this model from all the 25 cent invaders.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 14, 2013, 17:38 »

Quote from: aeonf on March 14, 2013, 17:29

^^^ "only" ?
That's over 1,000$ in subs alone, not many people do much better.

3k downloads means at least 2k $

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Author Topic: Who is getting 27¢ subs? Are you staying? (Read 17922 times)

Allsa

cthoman

Travelling-light

tickstock

cthoman

cathyslife

SID

asmai

Jo Ann Snover

asmai

EmberMike

palagarde

luissantos84

Jo Ann Snover

tickstock

lisafx

Gel-O Shooter

tickstock

w7lwi

cthoman

luissantos84

loop

aeonf

cthoman

luissantos84

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