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Author Topic: My BIG gripe with Bigstockphoto ..  (Read 5672 times)

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« on: January 29, 2014, 04:09 »
+1
.. is the ridiculous RPD that makes it worthless for me to upload to them anymore!

I honestly preferred the older days when you got fewer downloads but at rates that held a modicum of respectability. 

With the change I gained nothing.  My overall revenues did not go up year on year, and, to add insult to injury, the RPD has fallen flat on its face.  Cant understand, what kind of a strategy is that!!?!  >:(


« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2014, 04:46 »
+2
My earnings there have collapsed.

« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2014, 06:25 »
0
My earnings there have collapsed.

Just being curious: Are you in the Bridge-to-Bigstock program (and therefore in the $0.38 bracket)? Because for me Bigstock is the only place where the whole "Subscriptions-are-a-different-business-modell-that-will-attract-new-buyers"-BS actually worked.

In my Bigstock earnings over the years I can see two hikes upwards: One when they were bought by Shutterstock and the second time when the introduced subscriptions...
« Last Edit: January 29, 2014, 07:17 by Ploink »

Carl

  • Carl Stewart, CS Productions
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2014, 06:46 »
0
I'm getting 25 cents per download, and very few downloads at that.  I don't bother to upload there any more.

« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2014, 06:51 »
0
stopped uploading there back in November 2012, the main reason was the 27 cents versus the 38 at SS

that said 2013 was the best year in terms of income

« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2014, 07:07 »
0
Yes ploink, I'm on the "bridge".  And despite thousands of images that have gone across the bridge, my earnings level is approximately what it was in my second month on BS, back in early 2005.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2014, 07:11 by BaldricksTrousers »

« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2014, 07:20 »
0
Yes ploink, I'm on the "bridge".  And despite thousands of images that have gone across the bridge, my earnings level is approximately what it was in my second month on BS, back in early 2005.
Interesting, I started at the end of 2006, and I'm now making between three or four time what I did then - also with loads of photos added, obviously... ???

« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2014, 10:46 »
0
.. is the ridiculous RPD that makes it worthless for me to upload to them anymore!... My overall revenues did not go up year on year, and, to add insult to injury, the RPD has fallen flat on its face.  Cant understand, what kind of a strategy is that!!?!  >:(

I argued a bit via e-mail when they introduced subscriptions last year, but as they wouldn't offer an opt-out (and I was not part of the bridge) I voted with my feet and left BigStock last March.

When SS was a new agency, they were very careful as the collection grew and they increased prices. After a price increase they watched what happened for a month or two and then set the new contributor rates. They needed to be sure that they could still make money given buyer behavior and a large part of what makes subscription pricing/royalty payments work for agencies is that buyers don't use their full download allowance.

I think they wanted to experiment with BigStock but didn't want to take any risks with being out of pocket in case buyers used a ton more of their allowance when buying at the lower BigStock prices. So they produced this insane royalty schedule - some wit contacted them to ask if BigStock had had 50,000 downloads a year total, let alone from any one contributor!

The only think I'm tentatively hopeful about is that this toxic rate schedule has not yet migrated to Shutterstock proper.

I think Paul's experience speaks volumes - BS was brand new in 2005 and to reduce earnings to those levels isn't what I'd call a win :)

« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2014, 12:47 »
+1
I'm not on the bridge program.

And thats yet another thing I dont find understandable!  Why would one company (related under the same ownership) cannibalize the other by a major difference in rate? And not extend rate parity to ALL contributors to both the companies?

One may argue based upon individual experience ... but I have had the greatest respect for Shutterstock in the way they have done business - both by their success of the sub model (the only company to generate acceptable/ good volume sales) - and in their contributor-friendly approach to the business.

But THIS - the mind-boggling Bigstock strategy - I just dont get it!!   ???

« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2014, 13:11 »
+15
I stopped uploading after they introduced the subs system. I was earning .38 a download at SS, and only .27 at BigStock, although it recently went up to .29. My monthly earnings dropped around 40% since they introduced subscriptions. It's a shame because BS was a good agency to deal with until SS took over and proceeded to ruin them. This is why I no longer trust SS, and why I believe no agency deserves our undivided support. If they become too successful and powerful, they will screw us. We would be much better off with several smaller agencies, if one slashes royalties, it's not too painful to leave them.

« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2014, 13:15 »
0
.. and why I believe no agency deserves our undivided support. If they become too successful and powerful, they will screw us. We would be much better off with several smaller agencies, if one slashes royalties, it's not too painful to leave them.

I just added a heart on that one!

« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2014, 22:29 »
0
There are a few things there that annoy me - undercutting SS subs is one, paying non bridge people less than bridge people, not answering e-mails about rates, or answering them I assume wrongly (when I asked about where it said never getting less than .50 for a download) - maybe that was SS's lie though. They are owned by the same people though.

Sales numbers are going up, but earnings only barely.

« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2014, 09:29 »
0
There are a few things there that annoy me - undercutting SS subs is one, paying non bridge people less than bridge people, not answering e-mails about rates, or answering them I assume wrongly (when I asked about where it said never getting less than .50 for a download) - maybe that was SS's lie though. They are owned by the same people though.

Sales numbers are going up, but earnings only barely.

Those same things annoy me despite my earnings going up there dramatically. The way the tiers are arranged make little sense, but everyone should have to live with it instead of a privileged few who have bridge and get to opt out.

lisafx

« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2014, 16:29 »
0

Those same things annoy me despite my earnings going up there dramatically. The way the tiers are arranged make little sense, but everyone should have to live with it instead of a privileged few who have bridge and get to opt out.

Well, as one of the "privileged few" on Bridge, sounds like you are doing better than I am if your sales are going up.  My sales have eroded the last few months on BigStock.   

« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2014, 17:03 »
+1
I've wondered if the system somehow thinks I'm inactive because all my uploads go via bridge instead of by active uploading. It seems odd that ever since bridge came in things seem to have drifted downwards (not that they were great before then).

« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2014, 22:46 »
0
I used to have my art on BS recently had them reopen my acc to get my tax papers, and thought hmm maybe I'll reactivate my vectors till I saw they price them at $3.00 "vector format" and I would get 30% ouch,

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #16 on: February 01, 2014, 05:19 »
0
i haven't looked at it in ages, think it might be time to cut them too.
simplify in 2014!


 

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