Author Topic: Fotolia: New Subscription Commissions (Read 60217 times)

dirkr · « **Reply #51 on:** August 16, 2011, 14:24 »

Quote from: sharpshot on August 16, 2011, 12:53

So are people going to stop uploading to FT, remove their portfolios or just carry on like nothing happened?

I'm stopping uploads but that's not much of a change because I haven't uploaded much this year.

It was the same question with IS after their announcement last September. And their cut was a lot worse. All I have seen is everybody moaning and complaining in forums, but just very few people really stopping uploads or removing their port. So I would expect the same will happen here - a lot of moaning and screaming, but no action. FT knows they can easily pull this through - we have proven it for them by our (non-)reaction to Istock's move.

I haven't decided what I will do personally yet. But FT will certainly not be first in line for new uploads...

stockmarketer · « **Reply #52 on:** August 16, 2011, 14:27 »

Seems to me there are three reactions people are having to this change (or any change any agency makes for that matter)... the first two are perfectly respectable, adult reactions... and the third, not so much...

1. You don't like the change, you estimate that it is bad for you either today or in the long run, and you are taking action in protest. You're deleting your port, you're gradually removing images, you're putting your money where your mouth is. Respectable response.

2. You accept the change after looking at your own personal situation, determining that you respect the agency's right to make the change and it's in your interest to continue the relationship. You keep your images there and keep uploading more. Respectable response.

3. You don't like the change and whine about how mean the agency is being to you, wishing the government or a union would step in to protect you, all the while preparing your newest uploads. You are the person that they are mocking with the below image... if you can't respect yourself enough to take a stand, you can't expect them to respect you... drink in your mockery...

jamirae · « **Reply #53 on:** August 16, 2011, 15:45 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 16, 2011, 14:27

Seems to me there are three reactions people are having to this change (or any change any agency makes for that matter)... the first two are perfectly respectable, adult reactions... and the third, not so much...

1. You don't like the change, you estimate that it is bad for you either today or in the long run, and you are taking action in protest. You're deleting your port, you're gradually removing images, you're putting your money where your mouth is. Respectable response.

2. You accept the change after looking at your own personal situation, determining that you respect the agency's right to make the change and it's in your interest to continue the relationship. You keep your images there and keep uploading more. Respectable response.

3. You don't like the change and whine about how mean the agency is being to you, wishing the government or a union would step in to protect you, all the while preparing your newest uploads. You are the person that they are mocking with the below image... if you can't respect yourself enough to take a stand, you can't expect them to respect you... drink in your mockery...

personally I find this ad in completely poor taste and unprofessional. I have only been on FT since last November and I have been debating whether to stick with them or not since I am doing well on DT, SS and IS. this new drop in commissions pretty much has me ready to stop uploading. no, make that it definitely has me ready. I will probably even delete my port all together there so I don't have to hassle with it. Then I can concentrate more on other ventures with my photography.

qwerty · « **Reply #54 on:** August 16, 2011, 16:08 »

Quote from: MatHayward on August 16, 2011, 14:20

Quote from: Anyka on August 16, 2011, 13:42

Thanks for the congrats! Yes I know about the option of doubling my prices, and I already doubled them for 10 or 15 images. I think in the end I'll only do it for unique photos, and not for the ones where a customer gets 100.000 hits after typing his keyword(s)

I really think you should re-consider this approach. Doubling your prices will nearly double your revenue. You may lose a few sales but the dollar amount increase will more than make up for it. If you write to support they can do a mass price change for you so you don't have to do the tedious process of changing each individual shot.

Mat

Can I email support and get them to do a mass price change for my subscription prices ?

did they change the price they charge to the customers for subscription plans ?

ingwio · « **Reply #55 on:** August 16, 2011, 16:20 »

In their mail FT told me about the highlights of V3. And it seems they think, reducing the revenue/download will help them to become no. 1 microstock agency worldwide.

I don't agree that reducing the revenue/downlod for the submitters is a highlight for me.
And let me laugh about FT's idea, that lowered revenue/download would encourage me to help them getting no. 1 - good joke .

What I have done in the past, when the payment/download was lowered:

In 2010 I changed most of my images from "Partial Exclusivity" to "Non Exclusivity" and started uploading them to other agencies.
In 2011 I reduced uploading images to FT.

What's to do now?

I will look at my payment at FT in relation to other agencies.
If the payment at FT goes down, I'll stop uploading to FT and perhaps I will delete my images at FT.
If the payment at FT remains the same, I'll decide later.
If the payment at FT grows, I'll upload more images at FT.

What will you do?

Please, don't tell me, that they will not notice my decision. I know, that I only have a small portfolio at FT. But I want to sell it - it's not to give away.

robynmac · « **Reply #56 on:** August 16, 2011, 16:25 »

Quote

Can I email support and get them to do a mass price change for my subscription prices ?

Yes, you can. From my own experience (Emerald since March, 2010) it's worth doing. But given how sales are falling month by month this year, it's all a bit of a lottery, it seems.

madelaide · « **Reply #57 on:** August 16, 2011, 16:38 »

Ok, when do we start saying "Way to go, Fotolia!" and "Yiipiie!!"

We know they can always make things worse. This is one thing they do well.

qwerty · « **Reply #58 on:** August 16, 2011, 16:43 »

Quote from: robynmac on August 16, 2011, 16:25

Quote

Can I email support and get them to do a mass price change for my subscription prices ?

Yes, you can. From my own experience (Emerald since March, 2010) it's worth doing. But given how sales are falling month by month this year, it's all a bit of a lottery, it seems.

Looks like you didn't see my sarcasim in that one.

Smithore · « **Reply #59 on:** August 16, 2011, 17:40 »

Quote

And let me laugh about FT's idea, that lowered revenue/download would encourage me to help them getting no. 1 - good joke

Ah ah ah, for sure!!! One another thing is sure: they are very respectful with us!!!

robynmac · « **Reply #60 on:** August 16, 2011, 18:18 »

Quote from: qwerty on August 16, 2011, 16:43

Quote from: robynmac on August 16, 2011, 16:25

Quote

Can I email support and get them to do a mass price change for my subscription prices ?

Yes, you can. From my own experience (Emerald since March, 2010) it's worth doing. But given how sales are falling month by month this year, it's all a bit of a lottery, it seems.

Looks like you didn't see my sarcasim in that one.

It was early morning here, and I hadn't had a coffee...

TheSmilingAssassin · « **Reply #61 on:** August 16, 2011, 19:24 »

velocicarpo · « **Reply #62 on:** August 16, 2011, 20:13 »

Quote from: pseudonymous on August 16, 2011, 19:24

What pisses me off even more than FT doing this is that people take it. I blame these people for ruining the entire industry because they don't have the balls to stand up to the agents. Why wouldn't an agent lower commissions if they can? Why would anyone believe that a corporate company have us in their best interest and not themselves?

Whoever stays is as much an arse as FT because they're not only ruining it for themselves in the future, they're ruining it for everybody else! Their decision to stay and do nothing effects me just as much as it effects them. These people seriously annoy me. They're gutless! There are lots of things we can do but it's useless if the majority choose to do nothing.

+1

searagen · « **Reply #63 on:** August 16, 2011, 21:18 »

I haven't seen the stats. As others have noted, they most recently "aligned" their non-subscription prices to maximize their position in the market early in 2011. The results have been underwhelming for my portfolio, at least. Your mileage on the stats, of course, may vary as my portfolio is long on nature and travel and light on people.

Images In Portfolio. I compared the number of images I had available in July 2010 to July 2011: Increased by 25%.

# Downloads. I compared the number of downloads YTD (Jan-July) from 2010 to 2011: Decreased by 8%.

Revenue. I compared the total YTD revenue (Jan-July) from 2010 to 2011: Decreased by 40%.

As I seem to remember that FT chopped around 25% off my non-subscription royalties in the last cuts, even if they added that to their bottom line, if the decrease in revenue is shared, then these guys are bleeding share to someone.

leaf · « **Reply #64 on:** August 16, 2011, 21:31 »

2 posts were removed for sexual connotation. Feel free to post negatively but keep the sexual innuendoes at bay.

Suljo · « **Reply #65 on:** August 16, 2011, 21:55 »

Fotolia is just not place for complex vectors at all.

TheSmilingAssassin · « **Reply #66 on:** August 16, 2011, 21:58 »

qwerty · « **Reply #67 on:** August 16, 2011, 22:27 »

Quote from: pseudonymous on August 16, 2011, 21:58

Quote from: searagen on August 16, 2011, 21:18
I haven't seen the stats. As others have noted, they most recently "aligned" their non-subscription prices to maximize their position in the market early in 2011. The results have been underwhelming for my portfolio, at least. Your mileage on the stats, of course, may vary as my portfolio is long on nature and travel and light on people.

Images In Portfolio. I compared the number of images I had available in July 2010 to July 2011: Increased by 25%.

# Downloads. I compared the number of downloads YTD (Jan-July) from 2010 to 2011: Decreased by 8%.

Revenue. I compared the total YTD revenue (Jan-July) from 2010 to 2011: Decreased by 40%.

As I seem to remember that FT chopped around 25% off my non-subscription royalties in the last cuts, even if they added that to their bottom line, if the decrease in revenue is shared, then these guys are bleeding share to someone.

That's just wonderful! So six months ago when they reduced your commission, your response was to reward them by increasing your portfolio by 25%. Good move! So you and others just like you are responsible for this commission cut.

Now, six months later you've found out that uploading still won't make up the difference you're losing in revenue so how are you going to respond this time around? Are you going to keep uploading to these greedy pigs? I'd like to know now because your decision at FT will affect my sales at DT, CS etc. in the future. Am I fighting a losing battle because of people like you? Tell me please. Am I wasting my time? Should I quick microstock now? My future with microstock rests in your hands.

did you stop uploading to DT or delete your portfolio when they cut commissions ?

Did you know that CS subscription royalties are lower than fotolia's ?

TheSmilingAssassin · « **Reply #68 on:** August 16, 2011, 22:56 »

qwerty · « **Reply #69 on:** August 17, 2011, 00:01 »

you said that it would effect your sales at DT, looks like it would effect the sales on one image.

I agree that CS is better than fotolia (in terms of % and extended licences etc.)
I have bagged FT numerous times here
Please don't think I'm sticking up for Fotolia I was sticking up for other poster who you were blaming for the demise of microstock. One person out of 100,000

Is there a RPD target that is acceptable to you ? or % matters more.
If canstock % subscription sales increased what then ?

kuriouskat · « **Reply #70 on:** August 17, 2011, 01:07 »

I'm out of there. They are a pain to upload to and have no respect for their contributors. You can't opt out from their 'partner sites' and, if I understand another thread correctly, they are allowing POD without the correct licence purchase. Oh, and if you were unlucky and registered to the US site from Europe, you can't change your payment currency and take a hit by being paid to convert the $$$ to euros so you earn less than your fellow countrymen who just happened to register though a different webpage. What else are they up to that we don't even know about?

If contributors bail then so will buyers. I figure lost revenue at FT will be made up for by increased sales elsewhere and, if I'm wrong, at least I can sleep at night.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #71 on:** August 17, 2011, 01:09 »

Quote from: jm73 on August 16, 2011, 09:57

Ok, let's stop crying and let's give to Fotolia our continued support in our collective quest to become the #1 stock photo agency in the world! $:-\$

You mean help FT win the Race To The Bottom with the lowest commissions and worst treatment for contributors. Yeah Baby, they are racing for #1 in that category.

Yes qwerty I dropped DT and FT because of commissions but also because of other problems, partner programs, LCV, and "These Don't Sell Well" rejections for things that continue to sell on IS and SS regularly. I think they have lost touch with the contributors.

dirkr · « **Reply #72 on:** August 17, 2011, 02:12 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on August 17, 2011, 01:09

Yes qwerty I dropped DT and FT because of commissions but also because of other problems, partner programs, LCV, and "These Don't Sell Well" rejections for things that continue to sell on IS and SS regularly. I think they have lost touch with the contributors.

You should have dropped IS. Although FT has slashed commissions before, IS's last move showed all others (including FT) that they can do it again (and again and again...) - because most people just carry on.
If there had be a mass exodus from IS following last September, I'm sure the decision to cut commissions for FT would have been a lot harder.

mortenkjerulff · « **Reply #73 on:** August 17, 2011, 02:33 »

I just deleted my portfolio at Fotolia.

I know I am just a small fish, but I still makes me feel good though...

TheSmilingAssassin · « **Reply #74 on:** August 17, 2011, 02:39 »

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Author Topic: Fotolia: New Subscription Commissions (Read 60217 times)

MatHayward

dirkr

stockmarketer

jamirae

qwerty

ingwio

robynmac

madelaide

qwerty

Smithore

robynmac

TheSmilingAssassin

velocicarpo

searagen

leaf

Suljo

TheSmilingAssassin

qwerty

TheSmilingAssassin

qwerty

kuriouskat

RacePhoto

dirkr

mortenkjerulff

TheSmilingAssassin

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