Quote from: beketoff on January 22, 2016, 23:21
And since then did they introduce an On Demand Image (small/medium) price? I always thought it's one price on all sizes at SS (like the one currently also on payment schedule, at 1.88 USD for lower tier).

Since about 2009, IIRC.

Just got my e-mail and checked the forum to see if there were any post. Yup. And, looks like we're pretty much in agreement. We can wait and see how it works out...but it does not look good for us.
At least on SS.

However. I want to add to Beketoff's comment. I've been seeing FT increase and then match SS this year. As of today (2/3 through the month) my sales on FT are 75% higher than SS.
Yes, 75%.
And every month it has been increasing regularly.
The new SS schedule doesn't worry me too much, because I now hardly ever, ever see an EL from SS anymore.
We should watch FT. The worm may have turned.

Quote from: beketoff on January 22, 2016, 23:21
what is even more amazing is that FT has earned me so far this month more than SS, what has never happened to me before.

That's exactly what I'm seeing too. Very happy with FT the last few months. Not so sure about SS.

Let's wait for the numbers. It will most likely affect the lower tier contributors, but it could also increase EL downloads. It may even offer a small increase for upper tier contributors at the expense of the lower tier contributors.

It could be good news for some, bad news for some and meh news for others.

I honestly don't see the point of announcing such a big change, and then not giving the details immediately. Like it's some no-name company with two and a half employees.

Unless they want to see how the community reacts to adjust the percentages depending on the reaction. Shutterstock does a lot of A/B testing, trying out different things, so it's unlikely, but also I wouldn't be surprised.

In any case, if the change is negative for me (top tier), I will deactivate enhanced licences (it's very easy to do - account settings - Enhanced License -> Opt Out)

Quote from: Minscer on January 23, 2016, 00:15
It will most likely affect the lower tier contributors, but it could also increase EL downloads. It may even offer a small increase for upper tier contributors at the expense of the lower tier contributors.

Taking away money from contributors will not increase EL downloads.  And yes, if they don't discount the price, it is a tiny increase for the top in one case and less in all other cases.

Quote from: Minscer on January 23, 2016, 00:15
... but it could also increase EL downloads. ...

How does cutting royalties induce buyers to purchase more?

I think the likely next step is to cut the prices of ELs which potentially might increase the volume. They already added rights to the basic license (500K print run versus 250K, removing the cap on e-mail and e-book uses), which cut ELs (or certainly seemed to; SS would know but probably won't say).

Rookies got to pay their dues so that OGs get paid better, just like in any business.

Now there's a hypothesis as to why SS needs the extra money - they've agreed to take on the 36th floor of the Empire State Building (25,000 sq feet) in 2016!

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/160113/sstk8-k.html

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 23, 2016, 01:25
Now there's a hypothesis as to why SS needs the extra money - they've agreed to take on the 36th floor of the Empire State Building (25,000 sq feet) in 2016!

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/160113/sstk8-k.html

Good more room for massage tables, pingpong tables, and a slide for the pool

Quote from: spike on January 23, 2016, 00:55
I honestly don't see the point of announcing such a big change, and then not giving the details immediately. Like it's some no-name company with two and a half employees.

Unless they want to see how the community reacts to adjust the percentages depending on the reaction. Shutterstock does a lot of A/B testing, trying out different things, so it's unlikely, but also I wouldn't be surprised.

In any case, if the change is negative for me (top tier), I will deactivate enhanced licences (it's very easy to do - account settings - Enhanced License -> Opt Out)

This is the most appropriate and logical response, for those dissaproving the deal.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Quote from: jamiehooper on January 22, 2016, 23:37
However. I want to add to Beketoff's comment. I've been seeing FT increase and then match SS this year. As of today (2/3 through the month) my sales on FT are 75% higher than SS.
Yes, 75%.

Wow! Do you have the same port in both agencies? I'm reporting much better sales on FT, but it is still only 20-25% of my SS income and I have the same portfolio of 5000 on both. How come there is such huge difference? 

i did not see a decline in ELs after the license adjustment to 500k.   us 38centers might see the same earnings for EL after 25 jan but this change will make them more money for ELs purchased from lower level contribs. which kind of relates to lowering acceptance rules. increasing images at a lower payout level etc.  benefits them

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 23, 2016, 01:25
Now there's a hypothesis as to why SS needs the extra money - they've agreed to take on the 36th floor of the Empire State Building (25,000 sq feet) in 2016!

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/160113/sstk8-k.html

Jon posted this and a link to a youtube vid not long ago on FB

"Jon Oringer
January 11 at 10:27am · New York, NY ·

Financial incentives only work well for mechanical non-cognitive tasks....?"

Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

That's a very interesting presentation. I was sort of joking about funding expansion by swiping royalties, but how does the video tie in with that? I'm missing the connection

^ Making stock is a straightforward repetitive task, so we need more money to be more productive!    Great video btw.

I'm afraid the next SS step will be to push low tier contributors up in the search!

The problem with Fotolia is that they don't accept Editorial images. And their review team is a mess!!!

Quote from: Elenathewise on January 22, 2016, 22:02
This probably means that they will be offering discounts on ELs to high-volume customers, and will pay a percentage of what they receive, not fixed $28. Which means we'll most likely see a lot of ELs for less than that. Hopefully, the volume will make up for the difference...

Agree. The message is f**cked though - better to release the pay scale for contributors AND the details of the package for buyers within the communication so we can make informed decisions.

Anyway, If ELs pick up I'll be placated - otherwise this is bean counters moving numbers from one column to another - One for you, two for me. Two for you, three for me.

Quote from: Fairplay on January 23, 2016, 10:53
I'm afraid the next SS step will be to push low tier contributors up in the search!

I think they already have...though I guess it could get worse!

Happy days......!!!!

Quote from: spike on January 23, 2016, 00:55
I honestly don't see the point of announcing such a big change, and then not giving the details immediately. Like it's some no-name company with two and a half employees.

Unless they want to see how the community reacts to adjust the percentages depending on the reaction. Shutterstock does a lot of A/B testing, trying out different things, so it's unlikely, but also I wouldn't be surprised.

In any case, if the change is negative for me (top tier), I will deactivate enhanced licences (it's very easy to do - account settings - Enhanced License -> Opt Out)

Maybe give the bad news on Friday and give us something more positive on Monday to make it seem better than it really is?  An old trick and one I hoped SS wouldn't use on us but I can't think of any other reason not to give us the full details in one go.

Quote from: Fairplay on January 23, 2016, 10:53
I'm afraid the next SS step will be to push low tier contributors up in the search!

Yep.

Are we waiting for more info? I thought the announcement covered it. We will be getting the percentages outlined in the pay-scale http://submit.shutterstock.com/payouts under "custom image" resulting in an across the board pay cut for everyone.

Even top tier you only get slightly more in the best possible scenario and much less for the vast majority of EL sales.

It's a shame they can't call it what it is, a massive pay cut.

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on January 23, 2016, 14:15
Are we waiting for more info? I thought the announcement covered it. We will be getting the percentages outlined in the pay-scale http://submit.shutterstock.com/payouts under "custom image" resulting in an across the board pay cut for everyone.

Even top tier you only get slightly more in the best possible scenario and much less for the vast majority of EL sales.

It's a shame they can't call it what it is, a massive pay cut.

I don't think they've posted the rates yet. That link is the "current"or old rates. That's the missing link.

Quote from: Mantis on January 23, 2016, 14:30

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on January 23, 2016, 14:15
Are we waiting for more info? I thought the announcement covered it. We will be getting the percentages outlined in the pay-scale http://submit.shutterstock.com/payouts under "custom image" resulting in an across the board pay cut for everyone.

Even top tier you only get slightly more in the best possible scenario and much less for the vast majority of EL sales.

It's a shame they can't call it what it is, a massive pay cut.

I don't think they've posted the rates yet. That link is the "current"or old rates. That's the missing link.

Thanks, I misread it, it said similar to rather than the same as the custom license tiers