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Author Topic: FOTOLIA ADMIN - WE WANT TO BE PAID OUR RIGHTFUL COMMISSIONS  (Read 19796 times)

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« Reply #25 on: February 02, 2010, 23:14 »
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Great post JoAnne. Thanks very much for your observations and support even though I know you don't have a personal stake in this.


donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #26 on: February 02, 2010, 23:33 »
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Here's the latest from their forum reponse:
Hi Fotolians,

I realize you have a lot of questions about some of the strategies Fotolia has rolled out lately. Fotolia is committed to providing clear communication and individual attention to each of our Customer Service inquiries. In the last couple days, brevity has taken precedence over clarity on some individual inquiries. This is not to Fotolia standards. On behalf of the entire team, I extend a sincere apology.

We have taken this opportunity to learn from this experience and reaffirm our commitment to our community. Our contributors are extremely valued for the content they provide. We ask for your continue support and patience as the details develop over the coming days. We are adjusting the website and communication materials, so this new structure is clear to all those in the Fotolia community. In the meantime, we will be starting a new thread and encourage you to post any inquiries there or to contact Customer Service directly. Thank you for your understanding.

Chad Bridwell
Director of Operations
Fotolia LLC

.........
Well that sounds like the same ol same ol

« Reply #27 on: February 02, 2010, 23:45 »
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I know Chad's reply is nothing but crafted words, but it had an effect.
After the email Warren got, this made me feel better, as if I too, matter.

230 images online, almost no sales, no money, nothing to lose.
If more experienced photographers and people whom I trust decide to act, I will be following in their steps.
Count me in.

By the way, well done Warren for getting Fotolia to apologize! Overdue and well deserved!
« Last Edit: February 02, 2010, 23:53 by Eireann »

« Reply #28 on: February 03, 2010, 02:18 »
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Too bad I already deleted my portfolio at Fotolia a week ago. This would have made for a more dramatic exit. I'm behind you guys 100%.

« Reply #29 on: February 03, 2010, 03:32 »
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I tried to find the forum thread on their site and couldn't. The only post about it was from Chad stating that he appreciated everyone patience as the new commission and purchase incentive programs are rolled out. 


The thread is still there (well was this morning when I looked) but it has now been closed, you can still read it, think the title is "1 credit now =1"

« Reply #30 on: February 03, 2010, 03:57 »
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I just can't understand the greed of some of the agencies. I mean as if they weren't making enough money already, they continually decide to cut photographer's commission.

I know there are expenses and salaries to be paid, but the only way to run any business is to weigh in the cost and the profit. If you're making profit, then try to expand to new markets if you want to increase the revenue, do not cut down your worker's salary !!! On the other hand, and I'm sure everybody would agree on this, If they decided to cut down photographer's commission so that they could lower the prices and bring more sales, then they wouldn't face this kind of backlash from the contributors.

It makes me sad to see this happening across the industry. It's not fun any more. We are artists and we shouldn't bother about the legalities, not to this extent !!! We shouldn't re-read the contract agreement in fear every time an agency decides to change something in the way they operate their business.

Slowly but steadily time will tell the good guys from the bad, and then it should come as no surprise that no one would want to work with them.

P.S. And Chad is a joke, do not trust anything he says - I have been waiting for him to answer my emails for months now regarding a breach of contract about some of my images at Fotolia, and he stll couldn't find time.

« Reply #31 on: February 03, 2010, 04:18 »
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Contributors have themselves partly to blame here. You should play the same game that agencies do. With all the new contributors they can ignore anyone who's not happy. And they take on new contributors willy nilly. If contrilbutors supported every new site to the hilt, dropping any agency that didn't behave itself would be simple, and there'd always be a supply of new businesses to sell your images, at competitive rates (to you). The policy most people have of - upload a few and see if they sell would be similar to an agency that accepts a few and only lets you upload more if they sell.

« Reply #32 on: February 03, 2010, 04:35 »
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sorry to hear fotolia is screwing you guys ....again

its the same thing with the agency every time and they will continue to do it

its one of the main reasons i went exclusive - bc having to deal with the issues of bad companies sucks

i hope you guys sort it out soon and you get your monies

And you regard Getty as the Good Guys with our best interests at heart ? sorry do not mean to be flippant but surly is because of the their latest move driving the pricing of Subs down that other Agencies like Fotolia think they can get away with strokes like this, it all has a knock on effect

ETA In the event that you are Exclusive at Dreamstime point taken    ;)
« Last Edit: February 03, 2010, 04:39 by iclick »

« Reply #33 on: February 03, 2010, 05:14 »
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Failure to be paid the commission level stipulated in the agreement is completely unacceptable and if it isn't actually illegal that can only be because of deceitful legalise designed to cover Fotolia's **s*.

I didn't think we could do anything effective before reading Jo Ann's post, either dump them completely or accept their deceit. But if stopping uploading will hit them in some way I will do that.

In any case, if I am not being paid exactly what I have agreed to in the contract (as amended to cut percentages, but at least that was an honest insult) it is difficult to see how I can continue to assist their business.

IF WE HAVE A LEGAL AGREEMENT THAT THEY WILL PAY US 31% OF EARNINGS AND THEY ARBITRARILY DECIDE TO ADJUST THAT SO THEY ARE PAYING US 30% OR 25% OR EVEN JUST 16%, AS IS PROBABLY HAPPENING IN SOME CASES, HOW CAN WE ACCEPT THAT? WHAT IF THEY DECIDE NEXT THAT IT IS 5% OR 2%?

WE HAVE CURRENTLY AGREED 31% COMMISSION AND I WANT EXACTLY 31% ON EVERY SALE, NOT 35% AND NOT 15%.

« Reply #34 on: February 03, 2010, 07:52 »
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Quote
Frankly, all the defeatism around here is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Those who just want to blindly accept whatever crumbs are thrown their way are certainly free to do so, but to continuously pour cold water on those who are trying to get fair treatment for themselves and YOU is not only counter-productive, but downright crazy.

Throughout history, I have been amazed at how dictators and their army can keep masses of people down and poor. My question has always been, well why don't the people just overtake the dictator and the army? They outnumber them by millions!

It is pretty scary to see the same behavior happening here. The answer to my question above is that it's because there are so many people with a defeatist attitude. I agree, Lisa. And the old adage applies well here, too: you either lead, follow or get the h*ll out of the way.

I am also impressed with JoAnn's post. She has a great way of taking my thoughts and putting them so eloquently down on paper.

I pulled out of Fotolia a long time ago, after one of the first major doses of bullcrap. But I will be happy to help in any way I can. All you need to do is ask me.

« Reply #35 on: February 03, 2010, 10:31 »
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Ok, this is getting confusing.  There must be 4 threads about this and counting - the threads all sort of start out with different subjects but turn into the same one.  Therefore I will lock this topic and we can move the discussion here.

http://www.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-com/increase-in-credit-value-at-fotolia/

I will leave this topic by itself as it started out as something with a slightly different slant.


 

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