Author Topic: Royalties, subscriptions and SR-EL update on dreamstime (Read 39703 times)

py · « **on:** August 12, 2009, 10:16 »

Changes to Royalties, subscriptions and SR-EL are coming on DT. More details can be found in the following thread:

http://www.dreamstime.com/thread_18104

Pixart · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:24 »

This is a big deal for subs. Maybe the others will follow soon.

Are we not getting screwed once again with a drop in commissions though?

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:29 »

Of course we are getting screwed. When was the last time a CHANGE benefited a contributor?

One odd thing I noticed ... on the SR-EL, the more times it has sold the more expensive it becomes. Does that make sense? You pay more for an image that has sold 25 times ... with God only knows how many reproductions ... and it costs you more to have "all rights?"

madelaide · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:54 »

In DT particularly, except for the forced opt-in in subs, there have not been any change that was detrimental to us, am I wrong?

I'm happy to see improvements in subs, but very upset about the reduction in credit comissions - up to 60%! I think not even FT was so aggressive, although it is true DT started in a higher level. And the disappointing thing is that this (FT's 30-40% commission, IS's 20%) will be used as a justification for the reduction.

Freedom · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:36 »

They are really pushing people to become IS exclusives.

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:38 »

Wow, very disappointing. Thanks for posting this py.

News just seems to keep getting worse in micro. It's not surprising that once Fotolia managed to lower commissions the other sites would follow suit.

I have always been one of the biggest cheerleaders for Dreamstime, but there is very little here to feel positive about. The high royalties for PPD sales has been the only thing compensating for the rising number of sub sales. Now with those royalties slashed on the majority of files I don't see how my income from DT can possibly sustain itself.

They have been a consistent 2nd tier earner for me (behind istock) along with FOT and SS. Now it is likely they will join BigStock, StockXpert, and 123 on my third tier.

So sad

I wonder if IS will get any new exclusives as a result of this deal?

(freedom, I notice you posted the same thought while I was typing

)

ichiro17 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:57 »

I'm not complaining...because I'm exclusive

sorry to hear another agency is trying to cut into that already nicely cut up pie

sharpshot · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2009, 12:29 »

I have stopped uploading because they suddenly started rejecting more of my photos. It isn't the quickest site to upload to. How will this motivate me to upload more? I am going to spend more time building my portfolio on alamy, they pay a decent commission and higher prices than most of the microstock sites.

So are DT now going to spend more on marketing or are they going to keep the extra money? I haven't seen an increase in sales since FT lowered our commissions. Unfortunately I need my microstock earnings or I would leave the sites that cut commissions.

We should all get behind zymmetrical, as they are paying 70% commissions. If they can do it with fairly low sales, the big 6 sites should all pay at least 50% and more to exclusives.

ichiro17 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2009, 13:00 »

this happens over and over

high commissions up front to attact those with lots of time to waste to upload there, cut down later to increase the bottom line. that never changes. not much fun in the end

epantha · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2009, 13:13 »

More rejections here too,

photos that I was sure would be accepted like objects isolated on white.

Also got a rejection notice for a "too many in same series" when it was the only photo in the series. The rejections don't even make sense.

borg · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2009, 13:22 »

From DT forum:

Achilles said:

Don't rush to say it's a big disappointment just because you check the difference for level 1 files. We think that this system rewards older members who provide quality. Check the Excel archives and see how many level 2-5 files you had one year ago and how many you have today. Then see how many downloads you have from those files. You shouldn't count files but downloads.

Second, remember how many downloads were required several years ago for a file to become level 2: 100! Only 5 downloads are required today and there will be less in the future (oops). Remember my previous statements where I was explaining how subscriptions play an active role within our pricing system. Your patience paid off and these count as extra downloads now, while helping them achieve the next level.

Of course that your feedback will be taken into account. We think the system is fair already and we correlate it with our future credits 2009 launch (oops again). Dreamstime is still growing and there are many more things to come. Don't expect to earn a fortune over night and don't think you will lose either. As you can see above, we continue to provide the highest royalties and we'll continue to take care of our contributors.

lisafx · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2009, 14:08 »

Yeah, those too "oops" statements may be the actual silver lining. Let's keep our fingers crossed this turns out okay.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2009, 15:20 »

Quote from: madelaide on August 12, 2009, 10:54

In DT particularly, except for the forced opt-in in subs, there have not been any change that was detrimental to us, am I wrong?

I'm happy to see improvements in subs, but very upset about the reduction in credit comissions - up to 60%! I think not even FT was so aggressive, although it is true DT started in a higher level. And the disappointing thing is that this (FT's 30-40% commission, IS's 20%) will be used as a justification for the reduction.

Pardon the cynacism, Adalaide. I am old, cranky and very disillusioned with the microstock business. Perhaps you are right but, I've seen no changes in my first year that actually improved conditions for me as a photographer.

Don't give up on me. I will always remember that you used your credits to encourage me.

cthoman · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2009, 15:35 »

Wow! That is really crap-tacular. Hopefully, their credit increase will offset that a little. I ran some rough numbers based on July and it looks like a decrease of 30% for me. Who knows how it will actually work out, but it doesn't look good.

Xalanx · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2009, 15:56 »

Didn't you all learned during the last years that ANYTHING can happen in microstock? Every single agency made a move that looked (and many times was) outrageous to the contributors. WHAT difference made the unpleased choir from MSG or anywhere else? None, zero. It's gonna be the same this time too. Either you agree or not, this is how the things are, it's not your agency, you can't change rules, you either accept them or not - and then leave. It's as simple as that. Nobody would give a *, no matter how big you are in stock business (see Bobby Deal / Fotolia case).

We can only adapt, people. That's all. Getting emotional will lead you nowhere. The agencies (with 1-2 exceptions) don't care what you'll do or think.

madelaide · « **Reply #15 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:02 »

Quote from: ichiro17 on August 12, 2009, 13:00

high commissions up front to attact those with lots of time to waste to upload there, cut down later to increase the bottom line. that never changes.

Well, their 50% commission had been on for years, so it is not like they had just done it to attract us...

madelaide · « **Reply #16 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:04 »

Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 15:56

Either you agree or not, this is how the things are, it's not your agency, you can't change rules, you either accept them or not - and then leave.

There have been some mild changes in the past - FT itself had to change back part of the level changes they had first imposed and the subs commission increased. Maybe insignificantly, but it changed. Maybe they had counted on this from the start, we can not tell.

Xalanx · « **Reply #17 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:09 »

Quote from: madelaide on August 12, 2009, 16:04

Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 15:56
Either you agree or not, this is how the things are, it's not your agency, you can't change rules, you either accept them or not - and then leave.
There have been some mild changes in the past - FT itself had to change back part of the level changes they had first imposed and the subs commission increased. Maybe insignificantly, but it changed. Maybe they had counted on this from the start, we can not tell.

Yes, insignificantly. I didn't counted those. When I say fotolia I can only think of the latest comission drop.

madelaide · « **Reply #18 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:20 »

Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 16:09

When I say fotolia I can only think of the latest comission drop.

About which I was very skeptic at first, but indeed proved positive in earnings and RPD. Not that I liked the reduction...

Xalanx · « **Reply #19 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:27 »

Quote from: madelaide on August 12, 2009, 16:20

Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 16:09
When I say fotolia I can only think of the latest comission drop.
About which I was very skeptic at first, but indeed proved positive in earnings and RPD. Not that I liked the reduction...

I'm happy for you. For the vast majority, the reduction wasn't that positive. Me included.

I am not commenting directly the math behind DT's latest move, however I am having a wild guess that it's not gonna be good for us, just the same as their change in search engine affected a lot of us quite badly, not so long ago.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #20 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:30 »

Quote from: madelaide on August 12, 2009, 16:20

Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 16:09
When I say fotolia I can only think of the latest comission drop.
About which I was very skeptic at first, but indeed proved positive in earnings and RPD. Not that I liked the reduction...

I left! But it was more about their heavy-handed attitude than the change itself.

goldenangel · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2009, 16:39 »

Quote from: madelaide on August 12, 2009, 16:20

Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 16:09
When I say fotolia I can only think of the latest comission drop.
About which I was very skeptic at first, but indeed proved positive in earnings and RPD. Not that I liked the reduction...

I didn't like the reduction either, but it seems like earnings have gone up lately for me too.

Freedom · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2009, 18:02 »

Quote from: goldenangel on August 12, 2009, 16:39

Quote from: madelaide on August 12, 2009, 16:20
Quote from: Xalanx on August 12, 2009, 16:09
When I say fotolia I can only think of the latest comission drop.
About which I was very skeptic at first, but indeed proved positive in earnings and RPD. Not that I liked the reduction...
I didn't like the reduction either, but it seems like earnings have gone up lately for me too.

It's true that the sales are picking up. However, the increase will soon be offset by the price and percentage deceases. Although my port is growing, my income has not, comparing to 2007 and 2008

lisafx · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2009, 18:28 »

Xalanx has a point that the trend definitely seems to be against contributors interests.

But I still think it is worth discussing here. Members of this group have managed to band together to get some positive changes or at least make improvements in the worst changes the sites have tried to put over on us.

Until/unless we really get serious about forming a trade group to represent our interests we can probably expect more unappealing changes in the future.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2009, 19:06 »

It is the cut in "exclusive images" that annoys me most. Is there some retardent to removing images from exclusivity?

If they are not of any special value to DT, I am thinking it might be time to make Cutcaster the recipient of my Exclusive images. At least there you get paid for them as an exclusives ... if you can only get Cutcaster started selling.

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Author Topic: Royalties, subscriptions and SR-EL update on dreamstime (Read 39703 times)

py

Pixart

WarrenPrice

madelaide

Freedom

lisafx

ichiro17

sharpshot

ichiro17

epantha

borg

lisafx

WarrenPrice

cthoman

Xalanx

madelaide

madelaide

Xalanx

madelaide

Xalanx

WarrenPrice

goldenangel

Freedom

lisafx

WarrenPrice

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