MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Adobe Stock => Topic started by: AnS on February 23, 2019, 08:22
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First of all, I am glad to be one of their contributors, I have been with Fotolia/Adobestock since I began doing microstock, it is nice to see some of their initiatives lately and that they are trying to value their contributors more, but it is hard to overcome the flaws and problems that their unjust credit conversion system causes.
„Adobestock/Fotolia calculates the royalties in ‘credits’ for which the following conversion is used: 1 credit = 1 USD = 1 EUR = 0.75 GBP (= 4 PLN = 7,10 SEK = 150 JPY = 1,100 KRW).”
This was established years ago and at that time it could mean that it was fair in comparison, it reflected reality, but due to different exchange rates since, it is certainly not the case now.
Your currency is determined by the domain where you have registered and you find this out only when it comes to payment, without a way to change it. (For me it was the .uk, instead of the .eu, which should be.) They say that they cannot change it due to tax reasons (?), which can be plausible, but the root of the problem lies actually in the equation – an arbitrary one, which means the equation could be changed easily. How about considering the new exchange rates and establishing a new one?
Just for example here is my own case: in 2018 I earned around 3000+ credits; this would mean 3000+ EUR, but instead it meant 2250 GBP to me and after changing it back: roughly 2600 EUR. For the same sales I basically got ~400 euros less = ~14% less = basically the worth of 1-2 months of my earnings that year! :-\ (I am already scared to imagine what will happen after a problematic Brexit and if the GBP falls even more. )
The loss would be almost the same even if the currency involved would be USD – something that can apply to many others.
For the same sales and work put into it everyone should be compensated the same way, the same amount!
1 credit should be around something like = 1 EUR = 1,10 USD = 0.85 GBP to be more balanced.
I know it is in their favour to keep this the way it is, but what do you all think, is not the time for refreshing their equation?
Mat, what is the stance of Adobe on this matter? When can we expect a new equation that is FAIRER to every contributor?
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If large numbers of buyers start using £s to buy credits, because it's cheaper they will change it, but it's all about the buyers not us. It's swings and roundabouts anyway, payments in dollars are well up on a few years ago, because of the drop in the pound.
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It would be nice if they allowed you to 1) change the payout currency and 2) used the current exchange rate rather than one fixed years ago. Both should be very easy to implement - after all computers are very good at that sort of thing - but I have asked several times and they always say it is not possible. I don't understand why but maybe Matt can clarify.