Author Topic: An important message regarding 500px Marketplace (Read 6607 times)

Copidosoma · « **on:** March 21, 2016, 11:37 »

For those who have put alot of your work on 500px in the hopes of selling as "stock"...

Royalty rate changes are happening. Why am I not surprised?

"We recognize this is a lot of change, and that it may affect your decision to license your photos through 500px. You may not be happy about these changes, but please know that we weighed all of the options very carefully before making this decision."

Blah blah blah.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2016, 11:38 »

Not sure why it didn't include that money isn't what would make us happy

From the e-mail "We are changing the photographer royalty rate to ensure the sustained growth of 500px."

There isn't anything specific about how they're going to bring in buyers - beyond cutting prices. But somehow in advance of getting buyers in larger numbers, they need to cut royalty rates to their suppliers?

They also conveniently forgot to note they started out offering a 30% royalty rate and there was an outcry, so they changed it to 70%...

I'm not surprised, but I'm really disappointed that a new entrant with limited track record of selling starts out by scr*wing photographers. I know we typically get to that in the end, but so early?

Copidosoma · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2016, 11:52 »

I know. They should have at least mentioned how much less of a burden we would now have not having to worry about yet another income stream.

It blows me away how these things are written as if we are supposed to give a big "thank you" to these companies when they tell us that the terms are changing and it is not going to benefit us.

I'm not totally disappointed. I've always thought of 500px as a place for exceptional imagery, not stock. I was actually a bit disappointed when they started to go that direction.

Mantis · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2016, 12:08 »

I just closed my account. Fk KT.

MarcvsTvllivs · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2016, 12:11 »

Well well we sure have come a long way very quickly, haven't we?

I hereby formally apologize for repeatedly recommending 500px to others here and elsewhere. Won't happen again, rest assured.

trek · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2016, 12:22 »

Maybe they can afford a watermark now...

Ariene · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2016, 12:39 »

Quote from: trek on March 21, 2016, 12:22

Maybe they can afford a watermark now...

Thank you for making my day! LOL

Removed my images from there some time ago in response to lack of watermark and lots of stealing. There were moments if I should reconsider coming back. Silly me

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2016, 12:45 »

http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/500px-kelly-thompson-strikes-again

tyler can you merge both threads ? thanks

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2016, 12:49 »

disgrace, alex who announced the 70% left 500px by the way

andy_arden · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2016, 14:35 »

deleted my photos and canceled the subscription to awsome account

Lana · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2016, 14:59 »

They need to rename that "Awesome" account plan, it just doesn't sound right anymore! "Rip off" plan would do

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2016, 15:16 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 11:38

Not sure why it didn't include that money isn't what would make us happy

From the e-mail "We are changing the photographer royalty rate to ensure the sustained growth of 500px."

There isn't anything specific about how they're going to bring in buyers - beyond cutting prices. But somehow in advance of getting buyers in larger numbers, they need to cut royalty rates to their suppliers?

They also conveniently forgot to note they started out offering a 30% royalty rate and there was an outcry, so they changed it to 70%...

I'm not surprised, but I'm really disappointed that a new entrant with limited track record of selling starts out by scr*wing photographers. I know we typically get to that in the end, but so early?

red ---
it all really depends on what backing they get . .. if they get the backing early, they show their true colours sooner.
this turncoat is not a strategy mainly with stock photography, of course.

many years ago, in the 90s, mp3 the music company started "giving indie musicians a level playing field"... and for a couple of years, only indie musicians were allowed.
but as soon as they got named people who were already recording artists,
they suddenly informed all the indie artists who made them, that from that day on,
"if you want to stay, you must pay".

one would be safe to say, musicians got the first lube
and now, some one and half decades later, microstock get the next.

i am sure the people behind these companies are the same ones...
same strategy, different market.

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2016, 11:29 »

Quote from: Microstockphoto on March 21, 2016, 12:49

disgrace, alex who announced the 70% left 500px by the way

He left long ago Oct 2014? Probably saw the writing on the wall and got out of there. Seemed like a nice helpful guy.

Hongover · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2016, 13:00 »

Quote from: YadaYadaYada on March 22, 2016, 11:29

Quote from: Microstockphoto on March 21, 2016, 12:49
disgrace, alex who announced the 70% left 500px by the way

He left long ago Oct 2014? Probably saw the writing on the wall and got out of there. Seemed like a nice helpful guy.

The original CEO, Gutsol was ousted in September 2014. The timing was no coincidence. He was probably loyal to Gutsol and when they pushed Gutsol out, he saw no reason to be there anymore.

AlessandraRC · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2016, 09:22 »

Uploading there is a pain in the @ss because I need to make a very small version of the image to upload to avoid a large file being stolen. Then I have to upload it again to the marketplace.

As I said in a few other threads about this, I am downsizing there and leaving a few exclusive photos just in case things turn around. But I am not one of those who have sales there so it won't make a difference to them, or to me.

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Author Topic: An important message regarding 500px Marketplace (Read 6607 times)

Copidosoma

Jo Ann Snover

Copidosoma

Mantis

MarcvsTvllivs

trek

Ariene

Microstockphoto

Microstockphoto

andy_arden

Lana

etudiante_rapide

YadaYadaYada

Hongover

AlessandraRC

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