DT has always been a bit of an on/off site. It really seems to go in surges. This seems to apply to subs/credit sales too, although it could just be my mind trying to find order in chaos.

In August I had more sales than ever before there, but the RPD was pretty miserable. Lots and lots of sub and low level small sales. In Sept. I had a very bimodal set of sales. Plenty of double digit higher level larger size sales and lots of subs and low level little sales. My RPD was nearly twice August and it was my BME there. At least with lots of sub sales the images move up levels. I do wish all my subs were level 0 though.

My RPD this September was $0.73, but only 15 sales! On SS i have similar portfolio, ONLY sub sales, but 100 sales/month and 5 times higher earnings. DT is my second earner, but it have not enough buyers...

Quote from: toots on October 01, 2011, 17:04
My RPD for September was only 33 cents 

How bad was that then 

Yeah - it's not so much the subs as the single credit level 0 downloads    On the bright side these knock subs into the shade when tjhey climb a level or 2

It's been cyclic for me ever since I joined.  Waves of subs then a smaller wave of $2-$10 dl's.

This month was cleary low ( 0,35 ), but nothing compared with FT...

By other side, if i look back ( 1 Year ), DT showing some progress, and i'm puting some faith on them.

Quote from: Megastock on August 05, 2011, 17:26

Quote from: somethingpretentious on August 05, 2011, 08:15
With their new weekly subscriptions there will only be more and more subs on DT as buyers old credits run out  - smart move from DT to intransparent cut contributors commission and keep a larger cut to them selves...

When I used to calculate the value of credits from the royalties, I was surprised to find that most of my sales come from the 100 or 200 credit pack size.  That still holds true for most of my credit sales.  There has always been a monthly sub that is cheaper than a 200 pack, yet people were still buying those credit packs.  All the evidence we have is anecdotal (since we have no idea if overall sales are up or down, how many of our sales are actually weekly subs, etc.), but one could just as easily argue that the availability of weekly subs will mean fewer monthly subs, and that sub use will go down overall.  There will always be credit sales as people need them for extended licenses, and then they need to use up the rest.

We can be cynical about DT's motives, but if the weekly sub is more attractive than the monthly, they may well be paying out MORE royalties - I have to think someone can make better use of the subscription over a shorter time frame.  Much harder to log in every day for a month and use the whole sub than for a week.  I still think the jury is out on whether a weekly sub is more attractive to a monthly sub buyer, or a credit buyer.  I can see people in both groups who would be attracted by the option, and people in both groups who wouldn't.  The question is how many and in which group.

The proof in the pudding is what happens with RPD and sales.  Since credit packs expire in a year, and subs could expire monthly or yearly, it may be a while before we really know the impact of this change.  Since they brought in the weekly subs, I still haven't had a month that was lower than the previous year for both revenue and RPD - but I can also see that if one is non-exclusive with a lot of level 0 images that would likely be a much different story....

The point being made was not about what will actually happen but what the intent was.

If a buyer is doing a project that requires a certain number of extra large images and the cost of a subscription is less than the cost of buying the shots with credits then the buyer gets a subscription. If they don't use the entire subscription (and they rarely do) then they win and the agency wins because they're still only paying 25 to 35 cents per shot to contributors.

Weekly subscriptions work the same way but on a smaller scale. It allows the agency to make more money without cutting commissions. If it also resulted in more sales then everyone wins but so far, it hasn't.

I hate it that we have become skeptical about a good thing, but I've had so many huge credit sales today (16-20 credits each) that I wonder if the mad thief is at it again.  Usually subs equal sales and these ones are all max size.  Anyone else?

Quote from: Pixart on October 07, 2011, 16:23
I hate it that we have become skeptical about a good thing, but I've had so many huge credit sales today (16-20 credits each) that I wonder if the mad thief is at it again.  Usually subs equal sales and these ones are all max size.  Anyone else?

No, but I did manage to clock up a W-EL a few days ago. Hope that doesn't disappear then. 

16 from the last 20 sales are subs and my RPD this month is a whooping 0.36  - the lowest from all the agencies I submit to . Just for comparison my RPD at SS last month was 0.62 . Talking about a sub agency ...

Subs and their nonsense rule about "similars" aren't compatible: subs buyers want to download many pictures and then choose. I think this is one of the (many) reason why sales are good at the major subs site, and actual return is higher than calculated RPD: they give buyers what they want.

just got another refund, 3 subs, just insane, 3 pictures from the exact same subject, same buyer

I thought all subs at DT were 35 cents or higher (I have one level 3 image that nets me 70 cents each; can't wait for a few more images to cross that threshhold). This morning I saw a sub at 28 cents commission to me. Is that some new price tier or a discounted subs package or?

From their FAQs -

I received unusual royalties for images sold. What could the explanation be?

Royalties different from the ones you see displayed on the Sell Your Images page are due to various factors.
The most common explanation is the actual credit value per each package a buyer purchases. The more credits the package has, the lower the price/credit. Each credit's value and hence royalties are now calculated at the real value paid by the buyer.
For example, 8 credits purchased with the $9.99 package, will bring the contributor a reference of $1.25/credit: the royalties for a 8 credits image will vary between $3 (non exclusives, level 1) or $6 for exclusives. A $99.99 credit-package will bring the buyer 108 credits, which translates into $0.93/credit. Royalties for a 8 credits image are $2.23 (non exclusives, level 1) and $4.46 for exclusives. Add to the above the possibility of having third party downloads through our alliances program (if you're opt-in), that can also affect the percentages as well as value of withholding taxes for non-US contributors and you will understand why royalties values are so diverse.

I get the credit variation spiel - but in all the subscription sales  I've received from DT since June, it's been 35 cents per for images at levels 0-1-2.

Credit sales are often less than subs (for small sizes), but are below 35 cent subscription sales common for other people and I've just been lucky so far?

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 12, 2011, 13:47
just got another refund, 3 subs, just insane, 3 pictures from the exact same subject, same buyer

3 for me just this week.

Quote from: jsnover on October 25, 2011, 18:38
I get the credit variation spiel - but in all the subscription sales  I've received from DT since June, it's been 35 cents per for images at levels 0-1-2.

Credit sales are often less than subs (for small sizes), but are below 35 cent subscription sales common for other people and I've just been lucky so far?

I think the original subs payout was .30 (back in 2008 or so). I haven't gotten a sub that wasn't .35 (or .70 or 1.05) in years. I can't think of anything good about it. Either they aren't reporting things right or else there is the possibility of under .35 subs, neither is a good thing.

The credit variation spiel is their canned response to any question about why was I paid X for a sale (I've gotten as low as .17 for a credit I think, although I could be wrong about that. - whatever it was it was pretty low).

Quote from: jsnover on October 25, 2011, 18:05
I thought all subs at DT were 35 cents or higher (I have one level 3 image that nets me 70 cents each; can't wait for a few more images to cross that threshhold). This morning I saw a sub at 28 cents commission to me. Is that some new price tier or a discounted subs package or?

Yeah, that is odd. Perhaps it should have been listed as a credit sale instead of a subscription. I guess you should ask.

When I get a response back from support I'll post here.

I've had the opposite experience this month at DT - almost all credit sales with an average RPD this month of $1.45.  I'm non-exclusive and most photos are still at the lowest level so while it's small potatoes for those with more experience, it's been a nice jump for me this month. 

FT on the other hand has been dismal.  I've had better credit sales there in the past, but this month it's almost all sub sales paying a whopping $0.18 each.  My one credit sale brought me a very nice $0.14 for the image.  11 sales this month and I haven't even topped $2.00 

I just had subscription sale for $0.32 (level 1 - additional format).
Some third party sale? Special price for someone who bought millions of credits? Or just another ordinary commission cutting?
I've never seen such an amount for sub sale at DT.

I had a 59 cent level 4 and they are usually 70 cents.

Quote from: jsnover on October 25, 2011, 18:38
I get the credit variation spiel - but in all the subscription sales  I've received from DT since June, it's been 35 cents per for images at levels 0-1-2.

Credit sales are often less than subs (for small sizes), but are below 35 cent subscription sales common for other people and I've just been lucky so far?

I have had thousands of sub sales and only recently have I had a few of the sub 35 cent variety - maybe five or so.  Support told me they were partner sales...  Apparently they don't sell a lot of subscriptions through partners!

On a semi-related note I find it 'interesting' that despite the sites having very different royalty rates and so on, Shutterstock is the only one where I feel I actually know what to expect to get from a sale.  I don't know why DT bothers to list maximums - it is very misleading and just plain wrong when you consider the likelihood of a buyer purchasing credits at the 8-pack rate to buy a level 5 image for 19 credits   Wouldn't be so bad if they listed minimums as well...  All that said they are still providing my highest RPD...I'm getting $0.60 per subscription sale on my last 50.

I just sold my largest image, at maximum size.  Subscription, 35 cents.   How can I properly express my enthusiasm for this marketing plan?

Quote from: stockastic on October 26, 2011, 17:22
I just sold my largest image, at maximum size.  Subscription, 35 cents.   How can I properly express my enthusiasm for this marketing plan?

thats microstock and it happens on the top5 agencies

SS - 25 to 38
IS - 28 (thinkstock non-exclusive)
DT - 35 to 70, dont know if more never had
RF - 36
FT - 25 to 40

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 26, 2011, 18:00
thats microstock and it happens on the top5 agencies

SS - 25 to 38
IS - 28 (thinkstock non-exclusive)
DT - 35 to 70, dont know if more never had
RF - 36
FT - 25 to 40

FT at 0.25? last subs i'm getting 0.20.