Fotolia Banned me from their forum for posting this!

[cidepix]

When I joined this site I didn't expect it to become a place it has become.. After one year here, I have never seen any positive improvement for contributors..

I had accepted it the way it is at the time I signed up.. But since I signed up too many things changed..

Change 1 - Subscriptions introduced..
It would only make sense for us if the sub sales at least counted towards our ranking.. Not as 1/4 of a credit sale!

2 possible resolutions to make it look reasonable for contributors:
a- Introduce an opt-out
b- count it towards ranking as 1 dl

Change 2 - Ranking system modified..
So it helps fotolia make more money, and contributors make less money..

Change 3 - Contributors commissions cut-down
with an excuse of advertising costs.. Price increse is supposedly going to compensate the loss..

But what I see on the big picture is fotolia gets %89 of the extra credit and contributors get %11
Again, this helps fotolia make more money, and contributors make less money..

So all the changes are for one big dream: To help fotolia make more money, while helping contributors make less money..

I can't help thinking that fotolia board is right now sitting down and trying fo find more ways to get the images even cheaper from us..

Let us know If you want to get them for free so there is no hassle.. I just want to remind you that I am not a 3rd world country workforce, working for 1 dollar a day..


I have a question to my fellow contributors: Say yes or no!

Do you think fotolia will ever implement a change that benefits contributors as much as it benefits fotolia?


Some improvements have to be done in favor of contributors in my opinion..

Let us know If fotolia is ever gonna make us feel at home?

[e-person]

Not such a big issue. I deleted my photos from there anyway. I did not like them.

After two years of microstock I have developed a portfolio good enough to convince real life customers to hire me. Now I get phone calls to shoot for hundreds of Euros each time. And I mean to take photos of things over white. Much better than microstock... :-)

[cidepix]

I don't regret a bit for telling the truth. That's not a problem.. I am not here to cry. I just think contributors should be taken seriously. The guy who banned me is getting paid because of the likes of me and you contributing there.

[WarrenPrice]

When I joined this site I didn't expect it to become a place it has become.. After one year here, I have never seen any positive improvement for contributors..

I had accepted it the way it is at the time I signed up.. But since I signed up too many things changed..

Change 1 - Subscriptions introduced..
It would only make sense for us if the sub sales at least counted towards our ranking.. Not as 1/4 of a credit sale!

2 possible resolutions to make it look reasonable for contributors:
a- Introduce an opt-out
b- count it towards ranking as 1 dl

Change 2 - Ranking system modified..
So it helps fotolia make more money, and contributors make less money..

Change 3 - Contributors commissions cut-down
with an excuse of advertising costs.. Price increse is supposedly going to compensate the loss..

But what I see on the big picture is fotolia gets %89 of the extra credit and contributors get %11
Again, this helps fotolia make more money, and contributors make less money..

So all the changes are for one big dream: To help fotolia make more money, while helping contributors make less money..

I can't help thinking that fotolia board is right now sitting down and trying fo find more ways to get the images even cheaper from us..

Let us know If you want to get them for free so there is no hassle.. I just want to remind you that I am not a 3rd world country workforce, working for 1 dollar a day..


I have a question to my fellow contributors: Say yes or no!

Do you think fotolia will ever implement a change that benefits contributors as much as it benefits fotolia?


Some improvements have to be done in favor of contributors in my opinion..

Let us know If fotolia is ever gonna make us feel at home?

I responded to your post on Fotolia but didn't get banned.  I KNEW your post would get deleted but didn't expect banishment.  As the FT admins have said ... "We've gotten rid of the """Bad Apples."""" 

They're attitude is certainly   "Slave and Master." 

 

[CCK]

LOL I think you knew you would get banned for that.

I don't post on FT forum, and I don't upload anything. What I have with FT I keep. I haven't visited their site for months, but one day when I really need money I'll request a pay out - I don't know how much I have with them, so who knows, perhaps I get a surprise. Just hope they don't go bancrupt at some stage.

[null]

I don't post on FT forum

In general, I avoid site forums. They are private and they are a way of marketing. Many contributors just use to shout there "hail <enter site here>" in the hope that their ports get pimped by the Masters of the Search Engine. It works better if you do it in the thread of the Alpha Male of the site. 

Chimpanzees show deference to the alpha of the community by ritualised gestures such as bowing, allowing the alpha to walk first in a procession, or standing aside when the alpha challenges. Canines (wolves & dogs, jackals, foxes, etc) show deference to the alpha pair in their pack, by allowing them to be the first to eat and, usually, the only pair to mate. The status of the alpha is sometimes achieved by means of superior physical prowess; however, in certain highly social species such as the bonobo and humans, a contender can use more indirect methods, such as political alliances, to oust the ruling alpha and take their place. Canines use eye contact to establish and maintain alpha position. Gorillas use intimidation.

The subspecies Homo Homo Microstockiensis uses flattering posts, cybergrooming of the alphas, submission gestures, and tribal shouts like "XYZ rocks, XYZ is the best..." at the XYZ forum. 

[ichiro17]

I don't post nor contribute to Fotolia anymore.  They are just internet business *.  I have left my photos up but don't go out of my way to visit the site unless its to request a payout, which my photos get me.  I don't upload any new stuff.  Stopped 2 years ago with FT 2.0 and the ensuing fiasco.

[Phil]

I don't post on FT forum

In general, I avoid site forums. They are private and they are a way of marketing. Many contributors just use to shout there "hail <enter site here>" in the hope that their ports get pimped by the Masters of the Search Engine. It works better if you do it in the thread of the Alpha Male of the site. 

Chimpanzees show deference to the alpha of the community by ritualised gestures such as bowing, allowing the alpha to walk first in a procession, or standing aside when the alpha challenges. Canines (wolves & dogs, jackals, foxes, etc) show deference to the alpha pair in their pack, by allowing them to be the first to eat and, usually, the only pair to mate. The status of the alpha is sometimes achieved by means of superior physical prowess; however, in certain highly social species such as the bonobo and humans, a contender can use more indirect methods, such as political alliances, to oust the ruling alpha and take their place. Canines use eye contact to establish and maintain alpha position. Gorillas use intimidation.

The subspecies Homo Homo Microstockiensis uses flattering posts, cybergrooming of the alphas, submission gestures, and tribal shouts like "XYZ rocks, XYZ is the best..." at the XYZ forum. 

LOL!

[WarrenPrice]

@Phil... now, that's funny, I don't care who you are.  PLEASE post that at FT.      You seem to be another "bad apple." LOL

[RGebbiePhoto]

I agree, got tired of the crap and pulled our port when they made their last announcement about cutting our commissions while spending more money on advertising.

Next, they will ask contributors to start paying to upload.  I'm sure that's gotta be the next step...

[peep]

BTW. do you know about any other agency who has DECREASED the commission recently? It is not very usual, is it?

[Dreamframer]

I was almost banned from their forum as well, long before when I wrote that Ft search engine doesn't work well. I get mass rejections at FT lately, mostly because my images don't meet their desired level of aesthetic quality. I often think they don't have enough place for all images, because I never had this problem with other sites. I rarely submit similar images, but when I send 2 similar, I often get rejected one of them.
To be honest, I made only 30,something $ there in last year, while I had 5 payments on three other sites. On 123rf I have almost twice as much than on FT.

So, I think Fotolia doesn't like my work. I will continue uploading because I upload to more than 10 sites...but I can't say I am satisfied with their service. 

[Phil]

@Phil... now, that's funny, I don't care who you are.  PLEASE post that at FT.      You seem to be another "bad apple." LOL

I just laughing at Flemish and CCK

(I was banned from FT's forum when they brought in subs)

[null]

(I was banned from FT's forum when they brought in subs)

OMG, I just love subs! Especially the 6 footers with everything on it!

Fotolia can be very funny. I always have to  grin  checking the upload conditions.

I am the author of the file and own all artistic elements in the image.

I recently did a shoot of a terribly nice large old castle. A very artistic one indeed, and not patched together of foam and plywood like the ones in Disneyland. But I had to check that I owned it.  Is this perjury?

My file is the type of file Fotolia customers need.

This is the most hilarious one. How for hell's sake can you know what the customers of Fotolia need?  You can just upload it and see if it sells or not. But no, Fotolia wants you to be sure and to commit that your shot is what customers really desperately need.

This would be a trial grandioso, Fotolia dragging an uploader in court and charging him with the premeditated crime of uploading a file that the customers don't need. How would they prove it? Fetch an average customer and park him in front of the bench, letting him testify onder oath that he certainly doesn't need a file like that? 

[litifeta]

I deleted most of my FT portfolio. I am hooked up to get an email each sale. It seemed I got far more emails than the $ counter on the site indicated.

[Perrush]

Well there must be something wrong with me.

I DO post on the FT forum
I AM sceptical about their 'improvements' and
I DO tell this in my posts

so why do they not ban me ??

why am I being discriminated ??  It's just not fair 

[cidepix]

@ WarrenPrice, Slave and master! That is exactly what they think. And that is what needs to be changed and what will change eventually.

@ CCK, I kind of knew they would ban me for my opinion. But If I am gonna get banned it should be for a reason like this. I have never been banned from a forum btw. somehow I turn out to be the bad apple when it comes to my lord fotolia.

@ FlemishDreams, Hilarious Post!

@ RGebbiePhoto & litifeta, We should somehow find a way to get all top 3000 or 4000 contributors move together and pull about hundreds of thousands images off of fotolia overnight if we want to make a statement. I am very disappointed at how some of the big guys digest these changes. Not everybody can really be BIG. Being BIG is not about money. I don't see them as BIGS anymore.

If we digest these today, we will digest anything. I have a stomach ache and I will never digest this.

@ Phil, Congratulations! 

@ peep, no, there is no other agencies who did this. Our lord fotolia is unique. Whatever they do is unquestionably right and all for our goodness. They think about our goodness 24/7, that much, I am already impatient for their next amazing move.

@ whitechild, It is probably they don't think they should satisfy us in any way

@ perrush, I read and liked your comments. I wish there were more of us.

@ ichiro17, fiasco after fiasco. This is not the way to run a business.

@ Mat, Thank you for banning me. I am not sure If I would come here to talk to all these cool people IF I kept wasting my time on undemocratic fotolia forum.

@ leaf, I have been reading this forum for a long time. Thank you for this opportunity. It is a great job you are doing here. I saw your posts about SAA. Let's not waste time with SAA. Let's start our own microstock artists union. It won't be very difficult to get to all top 2000-3000 contributors If we put our minds to it. I am volunteering that I will make hundreds of contributors a member of it. I will reach them and tell them what needs to be done to stop this selfish behaviour of some websites.

I learned my lesson. I was to naive when I thought fotolia would be wise and considerate enough to listen to my opinion. I wish they were good. But god knows who is the real bad apple.

Let's start our own union! Let's not digest this crap!

Thank you all!

[MatHayward]

Sheesh,

I had no intent to post in this thread.  Do what you do, but I will say that the one and only, single post quoted here did not result in a forum lock out.  As it has been mentioned before, many people on a regular basis question, complain, argue, debate, discuss many different subjects at any given time.  For the most part it is respectful and well-articulated and those that actually know me and not my reputation know that I enjoy a good debate so no, you were not locked out for making one post.

In this instance, for several days there was a long string of negative, angry posts that crossed way over the line of debate into the realm of attack with the intent of riling up the troops and starting some sort of who knows what?  The Fotolia forum is not the place for that.  It's a private forum and frankly, if you hate the site so much that you feel compelled to angrily bash it day after day, hour after hour in countless threads regardless of the topic then why bother being there in the first place?  Hell, I feel like I did you a favor because now you aren't subjected to my mindless censorship and can really vent your frustration here. 

I don't plan on posting anything else in this thread so bash away and have fun.

All the best,

Mat

[RGebbiePhoto]

Mat, well, I hope you read this part, at least...

Interesting that you use that photo as your icon.  I feel that's what FT did with it's contributors, crushed them under their heel.

Wish you could comment back, would love to hear the story on why you chose that particular image...

And bash?  Not bashing, telling the truth.  Of course, if you can't swallow the truth, then it feels like bashing. 
There is another thread where someone started slamming on Dreamstime, but the only responses were positive on DT's side, the site is well run and respected.  Interesting that a thread that started the same way about FT didn't bring the same response, in fact most agreed with the original poster.

It looks like it's time for a tea party...

Gebbie

[cidepix]

Sheesh,

I had no intent to post in this thread.  Do what you do, but I will say that the one and only, single post quoted here did not result in a forum lock out.  As it has been mentioned before, many people on a regular basis question, complain, argue, debate, discuss many different subjects at any given time.  For the most part it is respectful and well-articulated and those that actually know me and not my reputation know that I enjoy a good debate so no, you were not locked out for making one post.

In this instance, for several days there was a long string of negative, angry posts that crossed way over the line of debate into the realm of attack with the intent of riling up the troops and starting some sort of who knows what?  The Fotolia forum is not the place for that.  It's a private forum and frankly, if you hate the site so much that you feel compelled to angrily bash it day after day, hour after hour in countless threads regardless of the topic then why bother being there in the first place?  Hell, I feel like I did you a favor because now you aren't subjected to my mindless censorship and can really vent your frustration here. 

I don't plan on posting anything else in this thread so bash away and have fun.

All the best,

Mat

I know my fault. I shouldn't have attempted to post anything on fotolia forum. Big mistake. We learn from our mistakes.

On the other hand, I don't hate fotolia. Why would I hate fotolia. I love microstock. I am really hoping it could become more considerate towards contributors.

I am not here to bash. I am here to share. I never insulted anyone and never will do. There is no way you can show me a single post with hatred.

Concerns? Yes!
Hatred? No!

As Ben Linus says in "Lost" : We are the good guys Mat  

I understand your concerns and if you don't want to post here, no problem.

Thanks for the input. That is right I don't know you well. In fact, I don't know you at all. If you are in the UK. I can buy you a coffee and you can see If I am a guy of hatred or not.  

Good day to you!

[MatHayward]

Thanks for the input. That is right I don't know you well. In fact, I don't know you at all. If you are in the UK. I can buy you a coffee and you can see If I am a guy of hatred or not.  

Good day to you!

Maybe I'll take you up on that Cide.  Very nice of you to say. 

As for the face stomping pic and why I chose it?  I don't know, seems appropriate sometimes.  I can tell you it was probably the most fun my wife ever had on a photoshoot.  She really got into it..maybe too much

Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to respond but I couldn't help myself.  Cide..I'm putting you back on with forum access but please just be careful about jumping over that line OK?  At least not at such regular intervals

Thanks,

Mat

[cidepix]

Maybe I'll take you up on that Cide.  Very nice of you to say. 

As for the face stomping pic and why I chose it?  I don't know, seems appropriate sometimes.  I can tell you it was probably the most fun my wife ever had on a photoshoot.  She really got into it..maybe too much

Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to respond but I couldn't help myself.  Cide..I'm putting you back on with forum access but please just be careful about jumping over that line OK?  At least not at such regular intervals

Thanks,

Mat

Mat,

I learnt my lesson, fotolia forum is not for posting. But thanks, It will be usefull for reading. I haven't given up on helping fotolia become more considerate and nicer to it's contributors.

We do need a union. Not for bashing fotolia or fighting against fotolia. We are not in a war. As I had said on fotolia forum, contributors need to be included in the decision making process.

Not single contributors. Not just me. Not just you or anyone. We need a union that will be considered when making a decision.

Thank you,
Cihan

[arquiplay77]

Well, i guess the experience is different for each one of us. I have just started in this business a couple months ago, and slowly increasing my port.
In this time, Fotolia has been gradually risen the position of my incomes, and right now is my second income generator, just after SS. I request my first pay the 1st of march and since then (in this 4 days) i have earned 38 U$ just almost the same as in SS.
I cant believe that someone can earn more in 123RF, i have made less than 3 U$ in all this time there.

As i stated at the beginning, everybody has it's own experience.

[cidepix]

Mat, well, I hope you read this part, at least...

Interesting that you use that photo as your icon.  I feel that's what FT did with it's contributors, crushed them under their heel.

Wish you could comment back, would love to hear the story on why you chose that particular image...

And bash?  Not bashing, telling the truth.  Of course, if you can't swallow the truth, then it feels like bashing. 
There is another thread where someone started slamming on Dreamstime, but the only responses were positive on DT's side, the site is well run and respected.  Interesting that a thread that started the same way about FT didn't bring the same response, in fact most agreed with the original poster.

It looks like it's time for a tea party...

Gebbie

Thank you Gebbie! 

[Dreamframer]

Are we able to make some kind of legal, and powerful enough organization to stand up for us when we need it? It could be tough in the beginning, but it would bring us many goods...