We don't know who the lurkers are here.  I think there are lots of full timers that probably glance at this forum occasionally but don't waste their time posting.

I am sure there are. But if people were optimistic and the number of full timers was growing, you would see a steady rise in people signing up the way it was in the good old days.

ETA: number of viewers on active threads don´t seem to be going up either. Maybe leaf could enlighten us, but wether registering or just reading here, it doesn´t feel like lots of new people coming in.

Quote from: ShadySue on February 24, 2016, 16:56

Quote from: jonbull on February 24, 2016, 15:26

Quote from: ShadySue on February 24, 2016, 14:58
When micro started, it was mostly 'amateurs' who were submitting, it's not a 'now' thing. In fact, iS started as a sharing site, with no money changing hands.

yes but after you see complex shooting, interesting images...now  i see only boring images...look for example food...then go to alma or offset and look the food images. you see what i mean. amateur.

The sites pushed up the quality for a while, but most didn't try to raise prices, so it became unsustainable, and many of the pros have moved on.
Really, what can people reasonably expect for the price?

it's what i'm saying...the quality has fallen down in the last 2 years. and will . that's why i upload garbage. just to stir things up and hoping to improve sales. i not certainly upload quality work or series.

Quote from: sharpshot on February 25, 2016, 10:52
We don't know who the lurkers are here.  I think there are lots of full timers that probably glance at this forum occasionally but don't waste their time posting.

This is true. I get site mails all the time here from contributors who do not post publicly. Some of my best information comes from those communications.

Quote from: Mantis on February 25, 2016, 12:56

Quote from: sharpshot on February 25, 2016, 10:52
We don't know who the lurkers are here.  I think there are lots of full timers that probably glance at this forum occasionally but don't waste their time posting.

This is true. I get site mails all the time here from contributors who do not post publicly. Some of my best information comes from those communications.

Since stock has become so saturated with contributors and the royalties keep going down, there isn't much to come and discuss anymore. One's time can be better spent doing more constructive things, like working on plan B, spending time with family, etc. There is only so much complaining and pontificating on what is wrong with the micros and how they can be fixed that people can do.

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on February 15, 2016, 22:45

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on February 15, 2016, 21:35

...

also, i read somewhere of how some ex-micro photographers have gone onto ebay to sell framed photos independently too.  i don't remember where i read it, but they too have gone away from microstock, and at that time, sounded like they are doing well.
at least i don't see them coming back to micro.

I searched through Ebay forms. In instructions (English only "sell as digital download") they allow to sell digital downloads, and this functionality is enabled in one of categories. I din't find this category in French interface at all. In the same time i saw some people succeeded to insert their photos with sending by e-mail delivery. Ok; But more heavy problem is return. With Paypal rules seller on Ebay is open to all types of fraud from buyer. Does somebody have seller experience to share here? Instructions on Ebay seems are outdated. I saw "refuse return" option taken out from the form.

I have old friends Putting there stuff [and mine] Onto products and selling On amazon.

Quote from: YadaYadaYada on February 16, 2016, 16:26

You need to read what I actually wrote. I said pay us, the rest are just stealing from us. All of them are screwing us. But if somebody sends their photos to anyplace and then complains after about the deal and percentages, what does that say? You walked into a brick wall and now you blame the wall for being there?

You people here signed up and send your work to these places. Then spend all day after day, complaining about them.

Didn't you know what the pay was and the contract when you signed up? Don't you know what the pay is now and the contract? Why do people keep working for the low earners and crooks when there are 4 good agencies that pay back for our work?

You're kidding, right?  The pay and the contracts were way different when a lot of us signed with these agencies.  I don't complain about the (few) agencies that stick to the contracts that I signed up for.  The complaints come when the agencies change the TOS to screw the contributors and there is no negotiations, and your only choice is to pull your portfolio and lose all your efforts and income at once, or leave it and see your income drop from the greedy new policies that we DIDN'T  sign up for. 

And BTW,  the 4 "good agencies" you mentioned are also among the biggest crooks.  Since they account for the most volume, most people put up with their carp, but don't kid yourself they're good guys or your friend.

Quote from: cobalt on February 25, 2016, 11:12
I am sure there are. But if people were optimistic and the number of full timers was growing, you would see a steady rise in people signing up the way it was in the good old days.

ETA: number of viewers on active threads don´t seem to be going up either. Maybe leaf could enlighten us, but wether registering or just reading here, it doesn´t feel like lots of new people coming in.

The trend seems to be going the other way.  Lots of people that were members for years have dropped out of site.

wrong post

Quote from: PixelBytes on February 26, 2016, 07:14

Quote from: YadaYadaYada on February 16, 2016, 16:26

You need to read what I actually wrote. I said pay us, the rest are just stealing from us. All of them are screwing us. But if somebody sends their photos to anyplace and then complains after about the deal and percentages, what does that say? You walked into a brick wall and now you blame the wall for being there?

You people here signed up and send your work to these places. Then spend all day after day, complaining about them.

Didn't you know what the pay was and the contract when you signed up? Don't you know what the pay is now and the contract? Why do people keep working for the low earners and crooks when there are 4 good agencies that pay back for our work?

You're kidding, right?  The pay and the contracts were way different when a lot of us signed with these agencies.  I don't complain about the (few) agencies that stick to the contracts that I signed up for.  The complaints come when the agencies change the TOS to screw the contributors and there is no negotiations, and your only choice is to pull your portfolio and lose all your efforts and income at once, or leave it and see your income drop from the greedy new policies that we DIDN'T  sign up for. 

And BTW,  the 4 "good agencies" you mentioned are also among the biggest crooks.  Since they account for the most volume, most people put up with their carp, but don't kid yourself they're good guys or your friend.

Well said!

Until we start The Union nothing will ever change!!!

Simple example of how contributors are passive is clearly this thread.
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/so-how-much-money-revostock-owe-you-let's-sum-up-the-total/
They should at least call media to expose the scam, if not fight for almost 60K+.
But WHO is going to do that?

Just wanted to drop by and say that there are many who read these forums and don't post regularly including myself.  Thank you for the interesting and important discussions.

As a video only contributor to SS I can say that the trend at least for now is slightly up in sales for 2 years in a row.  It may be that there is still some growth left in video compared to photo.