Author Topic: Microstock as customer loyalty program. (Read 4305 times)

OM · « **on:** January 14, 2011, 17:09 »

For a number of years I've been lucky to work for a client that requires an A4 sized, full color product brochure twice every year. Until recently this brochure consisted primarily of product photo's ( made by us) with some graphics provided by the printer. Occasionally, we were also asked to provide some extra shots from stock archives and we have been small, occasional buyers of both iStock and FT images (by download).........helps cash in some of my FT credits too!

In July 2010, the client requested us to search stock agencies to find images specifically including people which were to be used as background shots to give the rather stuffy brochure a more modern appeal. The client told us that for the right shots he was prepared to pay up to €60/download..........no doubt brought up in the RM days! Unnecessary of course, I don't think we paid more than €15/shot and we never charged on top of what it cost us to buy. The new approach was successful and this time around (Easter brochure), at client's request, we viewed around 6,000 images to arrive at our selection for him of ~100 shots. Toady he phoned to thank us for our selection which he could show the printers. However, for those extra shots, the printer had made him an offer he could hardly refuse. The printers told him that they had access to a 'royalty free' archive and that they would provide him with all the shots he needed for free.

I have no doubt that though our use of microstock, the printer has now discovered the joys of microstock + subscription. For $200 he takes out a one month FT sub which allows him to download 750 images which he can store for future use of his clients at 30 cents/image. Must be the cheapest form of customer loyalty ever invented.
Wish I had thought of it earlier..........but maybe my contributor mind-set prevented me.

cthoman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2011, 17:42 »

I'd think that would be against the terms of service at most agencies.

loop · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2011, 17:44 »

These are the joys of cheap subscriptions.

elvinstar · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2011, 17:47 »

You should chat up the printer to find out where (s)he get images and then blow the whistle!

ShadySue · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2011, 18:14 »

Quote from: cthoman on January 14, 2011, 17:42

I'd think that would be against the terms of service at most agencies.

It certainly is at TS, but as I asked at the time and never got a reply, how could it ever be policed?
It's but one of the reasons I don't allow my images to go to TS or photos.com, but not the first or only reason!

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2011, 18:17 »

Quote from: elvinstar on January 14, 2011, 17:47

You should chat up the printer to find out where (s)he get images and then blow the whistle!

Yes indeed. I sounds like he is violating both the rules against stockpiling the images for use beyond the subscription period, and possibly the redistribution ones too. And as a pro in the printing business I doubt he can plead ignorance.

cthoman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2011, 18:23 »

Also, since when do printers give things away for free? My printers always wanted to charge for even thinking about making a change.

gostwyck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2011, 18:38 »

Quote from: cthoman on January 14, 2011, 18:23

Also, since when do printers give things away for free? My printers always wanted to charge for even thinking about making a change.

That's true, especially when they already have the job. It's not necessarily happening from a subscription either. I've a buddy who's a printer. He buys all his images, for his clients' needs, from FT and then stores them on his HD for future use in other projects (for other clients) should the need arise. That's perfectly allowable within the RF license isn't it?

I wonder if this is more of a Heroturk-type operation, especially the use of the word 'access'? It would certainly be worth making some discreet enquiries to try and find out.

madelaide · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2011, 18:41 »

Quote from: ShadySue on January 14, 2011, 18:14

(...) how could it ever be policed?

Exactly what I thought when I read this thread. It is impossible to enforce such a rule.

OM · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2011, 18:44 »

Quote from: cthoman on January 14, 2011, 18:23

Also, since when do printers give things away for free? My printers always wanted to charge for even thinking about making a change.

Even if he plays by the rules and only downloads the images he directly uses for that brochure, I'm sure that the $200 can be partially or completely recouped by slight increases in other parts of the job. I've never seen a subscription agreement and don't know in which ways it deviates from a simple download agreement. But if the printer is in breach of the contract, how is this policed?

Edit: had a quick look at a FT subs agreement and the conditions for use of the downloaded images do not appear to deviate from the standard download use agreement. Whether downloaded via the subs program or the conventional download, I couldn't see any time-limiting usage terms in either.