Where does Alamy get the idea of the typical 2% by PayPal

YOUR MONTHLY
SALES   YOUR FEE PER
TRANSACTION   EXAMPLES
$0 to $3,000   2.9% + $0.30   $3.20 fee on a $100 sale
$3,000+ to $10,000   2.5% + $0.30   $2.80 fee on a $100 sale
$10,000+   2.2% + $0.30   $2.50 fee on a $100 sale

and its 3.4% in Europe. Its not typical at all, the lowest fee doesnt even come down to 2%. For most of us it will be 2.9% and in EU 3.4%

I have asked 6 times why 175 dollar was free and now they pass on the fees at 100. And why dont they absorb the fee as all other agencies do? Why dont they use mass pay?

Quote from: bhr on October 15, 2013, 19:04

Quote from: Maui on October 15, 2013, 18:58
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/banking/faq/index_en.htm

It's the currency exchange transaction you will be charged for not the wire.

Where does it say that? Alamy mentions 'payment charges' for 'bank transfer', not currency exchange fees.

Quote from: bhr on October 15, 2013, 19:18

Quote from: lisafx on October 15, 2013, 19:05
Yes, this is definitely the case.  Not only have sales volumes diminished, but ....

I don't believe we definitely know that sales volumes have diminished ? They might have increased. There are many more contributors now and some huge and varied portfolios. People with fewer or less varied pictures may be getting a smaller share of exactly the same sales volume.

I'm sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear.  When I said "sales volumes diminished" I was referring to my own sales volumes. 

Cutting their commissions to 50% and lowering the payout threshold could be interpreted as signs of trouble, but obviously none of us has any way of knowing for certain what's going on with Alamy's sales volume. 

Quote from: Maui on October 15, 2013, 19:19
Where does it say that?

I don't think it does. Not specifically. It's an assumption based on the diagram - and based on my own experience of transferring money between my current GBP account and my € account in France and vice versa. Never a fee but I get charged on the conversion.

Perhaps I am wrong.

@Lisafx - understood. Yep that's the number which matters.

Quote from: bhr on October 15, 2013, 20:21
@Lisafx - understood. Yep that's the number which matters.

Amen to that! 

Quote from: lisafx on October 15, 2013, 19:40

Quote from: bhr on October 15, 2013, 19:18

Quote from: lisafx on October 15, 2013, 19:05
Yes, this is definitely the case.  Not only have sales volumes diminished, but ....

I don't believe we definitely know that sales volumes have diminished ? They might have increased. There are many more contributors now and some huge and varied portfolios. People with fewer or less varied pictures may be getting a smaller share of exactly the same sales volume.

I'm sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear.  When I said "sales volumes diminished" I was referring to my own sales volumes. 

Cutting their commissions to 50% and lowering the payout threshold could be interpreted as signs of trouble, but obviously none of us has any way of knowing for certain what's going on with Alamy's sales volume.

James said that last year they had about 360,000 sales, (out of about 30M files) which sounds pretty shocking, TBH. I have no idea how this year compares.

Interesting that they creamed off 5% some time ago (just before I joined) which at the time they said was to fund the establishment of a US office. Now James says that the US office is doing very well, so why can't they bump up the 5%?

I'd much rather the chance to choose a higher threshold or a fee. Really the fee should come out of their 50%. I could put up with more before they started lowering the percents.

I agree that if the US office is doing well, then they should be able to return the 5% or even bump it up since the US office is doing so well. Somehow that doesn't seem to be the trend though.

Guess I'll have to switch to direct deposit.

They probably have more sales than ever, but at a lower price and spread out over many more contributors. I certainly did a lot better there last year (I am at about 50% of the total but with 3/4 of the time).

Forget it, Alamy is not going to change their mind ever.

Didnt you see what James said. We asked for it. There you have it. We asked for it, its our fault.

I am going to get my 180 dollar paid 1 november and then I am gone. Screw them. Nobody will miss my 488 images, but I sure will be able to shed a few more frustrations with an agency.

I can offer RM on my site as well.

Symbiostock is on the rise anyway, someday we will be able to stuff it to all agencies. The power is back in our hands.

Payoneer's US payment service could be a good free solution (ex. virtual account)! Alamy is on their payment list!

http://share.payoneer-affiliates.com/a/clk/xfwsn

As you can see you will get 25$ also if you sign up! It will cover up many of your future fees!

And with this I probably won't be uploading vectors after the first of the year either.

And just when I thought my year wasn't screwed up enough...

I doubt we will ever see an announcement from a microstock agency that contains actual good news for contributors. 

It's always some sort of a cut in payments, wrapped in a fog of weasel words and corporate-speak.

Quote from: bhr on October 15, 2013, 19:18

Quote from: lisafx on October 15, 2013, 19:05
Yes, this is definitely the case.  Not only have sales volumes diminished, but ....

I don't believe we definitely know that sales volumes have diminished ? They might have increased. There are many more contributors now and some huge and varied portfolios. People with fewer or less varied pictures may be getting a smaller share of exactly the same sales volume.

Despite the volume issue, as many people have mentioned and I can attest myself, the average sale (after the commission cut) dropped 70 to 80% in the last five years.

The best sale you get today and months apart to other similar ones, were in the past an average to weak sale. Many sales don't distinguish from microstock.

Quote from: AlamyWe know our payment threshold has been a frustrating subject for you guys so we've decided to lower this from $175 to $100.

For who? I don't remember asking for that. I'm happy with $175, and it can be $200, I'll be fine.

Dear Alamy, tell me please, where do I have option to choose if I want $100 with charge or $175 (or more) without charge? I want to cancel (the fee for) a lower payment...
You must understand that each charge is my loss: first % for Alamy - ok, then some % for Paypal, then some % the currency conversion to my PLN money...

Just to re-iterate:

- There is a free payment option for everyone by using Skrill. Alamy will absorb any fees associated with this, as stated in our email to you.

- If you are paid USD or GBP via funds transfer into the US or UK this is also free.

- If your paypal account is set to USD and you are in the US, the maximum fee you will be charged by paypal is $1.

- If your paypal account is set to GBP and you are in the UK, the maximum fee you will be charged by paypal is $7.

- If your paypal account is set to EUR and you are in Europe, the maximum fee you will be charged by paypal is $8.

What is the maximum fee for direct bank transfer to an Euro country?
(Sorry if I missed that info somewhere.)

All fee info is here: http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/sales-payment.asp

Euros bank transfer into Euro zone is priced at $3.10.

Thanks,

On a 100 dollar payment you can expect to pay another 8%, so your royalties at Alamy have effectively been reduced to 42%-32%. They are getting close to paying less royalties (if not already) then many microstock agency. And also selling my images for 3 dollar but at an incredibly slow rate. Slower than DP, PD and a few others. Easy decision.

very sad measure and as Ron said it will cut our royalties drastically, mass pay is the ideal solution and I wonder why it is not being used already, we aren't even asking for a luxury, its what all agencies are doing!

Quote from: Ron on October 16, 2013, 11:20
On a 100 dollar payment you can expect to pay another 8%

I'm sorry Ron, but that is just incorrect information. The $8 fee rate for Euros into a European Paypal account is the maximum amount - there is a cap for Alamy payments that we have negotiated with Paypal. You will be charged 2% of the net amount up to $400 where the max fee is $8. If there are payments higher than that it won't make a difference to the fee because the 2% stops there. For a $100 payment paypal will charge you $2. For a $400 payment paypal will charge you $8. For a $1000 payment paypal will still charge a maximum of $8.

If you do not want any fees, you can use Skrill which will be free.

Fair enough.

Skrill isnt free though, it cost money to withdraw money. And I wont let an agency force me to use another payment processor. You are absorbing the fees for skrill because hardly anyone uses it.

You still havent answered any of the questions, why does it cost us money now, when it was free at 175 dollar. You can see by the backlash that people dont appreciate this move. And then you tell us we asked for it.

I dont care James, MS will receive my request to close my account right after I have received my money in November. In fact, I will tell them to close my account now.

Done. My Alamy days are over.

Started July 2012 - Ended October 2013
Total sales 10

/flounce

Quote from: bhr on October 16, 2013, 12:43
/flounce

I see a lot of bitchin and moaning on this forum but little action. Istock is the next account I am going to close. I know its easier for me because its  not my main income.

Its not flounce either. There are more factors in play to come to my decision.

At I would expect contributors to stick together, at least in the forums. I am getting voted down for taking a stand and taking action. Yes I am upset, but the decision is rational.

I for one dont like to be ridden by agencies.

agreed Ron

Quote from: Ron on October 16, 2013, 13:16

Quote from: bhr on October 16, 2013, 12:43
/flounce

I see a lot of bitchin and moaning on this forum but little action. Istock is the next account I am going to close. I know its easier for me because its  not my main income.

Its not flounce either. There are more factors in play to come to my decision.

At I would expect contributors to stick together, at least in the forums. I am getting voted down for taking a stand and taking action. Yes I am upset, but the decision is rational.

I for one dont like to be ridden by agencies.

good for you ! power to the people!

I dont think people should get voted down for expressing their personal discontent - we are free to make those choices and express them
This was your choice and you didnt coerce anyone else to follow