MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Adobe Stock => Topic started by: targoszstock on December 10, 2012, 09:49

Title: Fotolia actually pays up to 105% for pictures
Post by: targoszstock on December 10, 2012, 09:49
Fotolia response to my question on how they calculate their payout “for Contributors cashing out: 1 credit = $1.00„ Current best offer is $0.74 a credit.

Let's do the math.

A picture cost, lets say, 30 credits. They say the highest possible photo royalty rate is 63%. Royalty may get as high as $18.90. Lowest possible price is $22,20. In such scenario you royalty is actually 85% of what the customer paid.

A video file cost, lets say, 75 credits. They say the highest possible video royalty rate is 49%. Royalty may get as high as $36.75. Lowest possible price is $55.5. In such scenario your royalty is actually 66%

Why not advertize it?

Other thoughts on targoszstock.blogspot.com

105% came with this reply

http://www.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-com/fotolia-is-actually-paying-up-to-85-for-pictures-and-66-for-footage-without-ad/msg284508/#msg284508 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-com/fotolia-is-actually-paying-up-to-85-for-pictures-and-66-for-footage-without-ad/msg284508/#msg284508)
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on December 10, 2012, 10:01
I think you will find that it is a lot more complicated than that and a lot less favourable to the videographer than you think.

Last time I worked it out, they were paying as little as 12% but the answer you get depends on whether you want to use best possible outcome, worst possible outcome or something in between.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 10:13
make sure you join them on an european url (e.g. http://en.fotolia.com/ (http://en.fotolia.com/)) or you might end up getting paid in $ instead in EUR and yes they won't change it and yes that means another cut :(
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Poncke on December 10, 2012, 10:22
A sale for 1 credit gives me 23 cent so thats a 23% royality in my balance book.

@ luis, I didnt know that. I get paid in $ so the loss is a few buck in the Paypal conversion. Do you know what the payout per credit is in euros? 1 credit = 1$ but I dont know the euros
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: targoszstock on December 10, 2012, 10:36
You are exactly right, it works both ways. If your file is purchased with cheap credits, you get a higher percentage of the sales price. If the credits were expensive you are getting ripped off, and you are made believe it is always 30% or more.

With currency conversions, there is always someone else in line for profit. I think it is like this with every agency, isn't it?
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 10:50
With currency conversions, there is always someone else in line for profit. I think it is like this with every agency, isn't it?

no because FT is paying to many contributors in Pound or Euro or maybe other, pretty much they will think you live in the US if you register your account using a US url even if you live in Europe (and there is no way back, its written in their terms) which makes another cut, its a silent cut of more 18% ;D

I am not sure but I think:

EUR - 1 credit - 1 EUR (I am sure)

the pound was discussed here a while ago but I don't seem to find it, I believe it was around 1.20 EUR
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Newsfocus1 on December 10, 2012, 11:55
I registered via Fotolia.co.uk and (last time I looked) one credit was equal to £0.75 GBP, which strikes me as being a better rate than those getting US$ (though things can obviously fluctuate all the time). Regards, David.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 12:07
I registered via Fotolia.co.uk and (last time I looked) one credit was equal to £0.75 GBP, which strikes me as being a better rate than those getting US$ (though things can obviously fluctuate all the time). Regards, David.

a lot better rate :)

we (europeans) should have 1000 EUR not 1000$ which are 773 EUR turning into a 227 EUR lose or a 22.7% cut

only 9.1% of my sales come from the US
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: targoszstock on December 10, 2012, 14:49
What you guys are saying is, regardless of the purchase currency, if you registered an account in UK than for your checkout 1credit = 0.75GBP?
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 14:59
What you guys are saying is, regardless of the purchase currency, if you registered an account in UK than for your checkout 1credit = 0.75GBP?

register where you have more to gain, I would go for pound if I knew this more than 3 years ago >:(
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Poncke on December 10, 2012, 15:03
And this cant be changed? Feck. I wish I had known/.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 15:09
And this cant be changed? Feck. I wish I had known/.

there are many in the same situation, FT is pretty smart
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Elenathewise on December 10, 2012, 15:16
What you guys are saying is, regardless of the purchase currency, if you registered an account in UK than for your checkout 1credit = 0.75GBP?

register where you have more to gain, I would go for pound if I knew this more than 3 years ago >:(

Wouldn't work. I joined the uk site ( I am in Canada), and they quickly moved my account to us site. So they can and will move your account and the way you're paid if it benefits them.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 15:23
What you guys are saying is, regardless of the purchase currency, if you registered an account in UK than for your checkout 1credit = 0.75GBP?

register where you have more to gain, I would go for pound if I knew this more than 3 years ago >:(

Wouldn't work. I joined the uk site ( I am in Canada), and they quickly moved my account to us site. So they can and will move your account and the way you're paid if it benefits them.

hmmm thats interesting! the opposite doesn't seem to work, how curious ;D
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: leaf on December 10, 2012, 15:29
I did a longish blog post on the subject a couple years ago.  A few of the numbers have changed but the concept and how things work is still the same.
http://blog.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-credits-and-commissions-whats-all-the-fuss-about/ (http://blog.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-credits-and-commissions-whats-all-the-fuss-about/)
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Poncke on December 10, 2012, 15:39
I did a longish blog post on the subject a couple years ago.  A few of the numbers have changed but the concept and how things work is still the same.
[url]http://blog.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-credits-and-commissions-whats-all-the-fuss-about/[/url] ([url]http://blog.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-credits-and-commissions-whats-all-the-fuss-about/[/url])
Crap !!!!! Man I wish I could change this.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 15:43
I did a longish blog post on the subject a couple years ago.  A few of the numbers have changed but the concept and how things work is still the same.
[url]http://blog.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-credits-and-commissions-whats-all-the-fuss-about/[/url] ([url]http://blog.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-credits-and-commissions-whats-all-the-fuss-about/[/url])

curious I have joined this forum 4 days before that post and don't remember it but we have discussed this matter a few times here already, its sad they keep on doing this...
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: John W. on December 10, 2012, 15:47
I made the same mistake years ago. They told me to close my USD account after payout and open a new one in EUR. Which I did right after my first payout.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 15:51
its not a mistake...
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: John W. on December 10, 2012, 15:58
its not a mistake...

You're right. I wonder why they have all these different currency websites. You'd think they only need the USD one.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Poncke on December 10, 2012, 16:09
I made the same mistake years ago. They told me to close my USD account after payout and open a new one in EUR. Which I did right after my first payout.
Did it pay off?
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 10, 2012, 16:10
its not a mistake...

You're right. I wonder why they have all these different currency websites. You'd think they only need the USD one.

honestly I don't even understand how they can get away with this (something in their terms yes) but why can they do the opposite, turning euro accounts into $

how fair is that? why not the other way around? ain't this judge able morally? I would love to hear a lawyer's opinion in this matter
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: targoszstock on December 11, 2012, 05:19
Think of this as getting a better deal for cable TV than others. With this example you get a different rate than your neighbor. With fotolia the credit value is different for different country, you probably accept this on signup, which in my humble opinion makes this totally fine.

As for them changing your account from euro to usd, which is more profitable from them, well it all depends on the law that would apply. I can only speak of polish law which, if it could apply at all, seem to have regulation or two that may justify going to court.

My advice is, If you lost a lot this way, go to a lawyer that specializes in private international law. He will then identify the applicable law system and try to figure out if this system protects against such practice.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: nicku on December 11, 2012, 06:02
I live in Europe... i am paid in Euro ( on Fotolia).... so my credits percentage from every sale is in euro.... considering that 1 euro = $1.22 that means the commission is higher than others contributors from US or US dollars dominant regions ??

Must admit,, i pay 10% tax for the images bought from US.. the US source sales are rare in my case.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: Perry on December 11, 2012, 06:08
And this cant be changed? Feck. I wish I had known/.

there are many in the same situation, FT is pretty smart

Smart and evil/greedy isn't the same thing
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 11, 2012, 09:03
I live in Europe... i am paid in Euro ( on Fotolia).... so my credits percentage from every sale is in euro.... considering that 1 euro = $1.22 that means the commission is higher than others contributors from US or US dollars dominant regions ??

yes! check leaf's link on this post for more info, its not only contributors from the US but also the europeans that registered on FT on a US link, we are getting $ instead of EUR ::)
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: John W. on December 11, 2012, 17:47
I made the same mistake years ago. They told me to close my USD account after payout and open a new one in EUR. Which I did right after my first payout.
Did it pay off?

Yes, because I was a new contributor with still a small port. Wouldn't change a big port with some good sellers.
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: OM on December 11, 2012, 20:09
At current rates of exchange, an FT credit on payout is worth:

$1.00 for US$ accounts
$1.21 for GBP accounts (£0.75)
$1.30 for Euro accounts (€1 = $1.30)

Not forgetting the Paypal take on currency conversion, around 4%.

(I'm in NL but have a FT £UK account and convert my 50 credit payout (£37.50) into Euros. Based on the exchange rate I should get €46-€47 but actually receive a credit for around €44 after Paypal deducts its currency conversion commission).
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: luissantos84 on December 11, 2012, 21:11
$ 50 credits x 1 $ = 50$ = 31 £
£ 50 credits x 0.75 £ = 37.5 £
€ 50 credits x 1.3 $ = 65$ = 40.3 £

not much we can talk about this beside dishonesty, I am losing 14.98$ in every 50 credits (-30%), thank you FT ;)

(again only 9% of my sales come from the US)
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: targoszstock on December 12, 2012, 02:51
I did the math again, this time taking into account that 1credit may equal 1euro on checkout.

I was quite surprised!

Someone gets a 1 credit picture, in dollars for the cheapest $0.74 credit
Europe registered contributor gets 1euro for 1credit on checkout
Diamond photo exclusive contributor gets 63% of credits
With today's PayPal exchange rate 1euro is $1.23

In such scenario the picture cost $0.74 while the artist got $0.78 which means 105% of the actual picture price goes to the contributor.

+1 for the guy who created this royalty structure
Title: Re: Fotolia is actually paying up to 85% for pictures and 66% for footage
Post by: nicku on December 12, 2012, 03:05
I did the math again, this time taking into account that 1credit may equal 1euro on checkout.

I was quite surprised!

Someone gets a 1 credit picture, in dollars for the cheapest $0.74 credit
Europe registered contributor gets 1euro for 1credit on checkout
Diamond photo exclusive contributor gets 63% of credits
With today's PayPal exchange rate 1euro is $1.23

In such scenario the picture cost $0.74 while the artist got $0.78 which means 105% of the actual picture price goes to the contributor.

+1 for the guy who created this royalty structure

yes, hypothetical... but how many diamonds exclusive are on FT??? exactly 0. Not even Yuri has reached diamond.
Title: Re: Fotolia actually pays up to 105% for pictures
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on December 12, 2012, 03:08
No, I think they probably pay at least 230% in commissions on each download and have made it sustainable because of the magic Fotolia money fairy which means that nobody who sends their images there every gets insulted, tricked or cheated over their money.

It almost makes me regret having pulled my entire portfolio out of that scummy site.
Title: Re: Fotolia actually pays up to 105% for pictures
Post by: sharpshot on December 12, 2012, 03:40
The title is misleading, shouldn't it be "Fotolia actually pays up to 105% for pictures to zero contributors"?  The commission percentage I get is appalling and my earnings have been decimated.  I should of been gold and had a nice commission raise but they doubled the credits I have to earn to get there and now I'm still a long way off.  If I ever do get there, and that depends on them not moving the goalposts again, I'll just get back a tiny bit of the commission they've taken from me.

Is it any wonder that I'm not motivated to work hard with them?  They have lost a lot of money from me because I was focused on increasing my earnings and now I couldn't care less.  Well done FT, following the istock plan was a great idea :)
Title: Re: Fotolia actually pays up to 105% for pictures
Post by: gillian vann on December 12, 2012, 06:47
ow, my brain hurts.