Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

You don't mind paying Getty's loans when you have plenty to pay them with, not a moral or ethical choice then.

Quote from: obj owl on April 21, 2019, 17:03
You don't mind paying Getty's loans when you have plenty to pay them with, not a moral or ethical choice then.

What makes you think that.

Your comment is pathetic, I always minded, the problem is that the site has got worse over the years, when it was iStock it was fair.

Again you are pathetic, come up with a decent comment or not at all.

Quote from: obj owl on April 21, 2019, 17:03
You don't mind paying Getty's loans when you have plenty to pay them with, not a moral or ethical choice then.

I think his comment is spot on. And istock was never fair...they paid pennies in 2004 when I started, and have continued paying pennies. Everybody jumped in because it was a way to sell to the masses. The only reason it might have been "fair" was because of sales volume. But yes, they have gotten worse over the years.

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

I stopped uploading, I'm just taking the small change they throw at me now and then. I suppose I could just shut down and leave, but I've decided that doing nothing and getting paid, isn't as bad as getting nothing at all. On the other hand, in a way, I'm supporting Getty? What I do for them is hardly enough to matter for either of us.

They have stock holders? Getty owns Getty Images as far as I know. The company was acquired by the Getty family in 2018.

Like others, I don't think Getty has turned anything, or different. iStock played at pretending they cared and has all kinds of friendly messages and events, in fact they were always low paying and low commission. The difference is IS had a bit of good public relations working, but anyone who used the forums, tried to get to support or had anything critical was locked or moderated.

Still I admire the Getty plan and what they are doing. Beyond the investment rape of the company, bleeding it and throwing the carcass back to the Getty Family, the plan and their concept is exceptional and will eventually be whole again. I'm not speaking of the iStock portion or our stock images, just the Getty Images as a business and company. If they had stock, I'd buy some.

And istock was never fair...they paid pennies in 2004 when I started, and have continued paying pennies.
[/quote]

Why would you support an agency that was not fair??? And the founder fooled you all and walked with a ton of cash.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on April 21, 2019, 17:59

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

I stopped uploading, I'm just taking the small change they throw at me now and then. I suppose I could just shut down and leave, but I've decided that doing nothing and getting paid, isn't as bad as getting nothing at all. On the other hand, in a way, I'm supporting Getty? What I do for them is hardly enough to matter for either of us.

They have stock holders? Getty owns Getty Images as far as I know. The company was acquired by the Getty family in 2018.

Like others, I don't think Getty has turned anything, or different. iStock played at pretending they cared and has all kinds of friendly messages and events, in fact they were always low paying and low commission. The difference is IS had a bit of good public relations working, but anyone who used the forums, tried to get to support or had anything critical was locked or moderated.

Still I admire the Getty plan and what they are doing. Beyond the investment rape of the company, bleeding it and throwing the carcass back to the Getty Family, the plan and their concept is exceptional and will eventually be whole again. I'm not speaking of the iStock portion or our stock images, just the Getty Images as a business and company. If they had stock, I'd buy some.

Played at pretending... Love it. The whole "community" thing was a joke. I could give you 50 million reasons why it was a joke. IS never cared about anyone, but so many got duped.

For me the time to stop uploading was when they introduced the RC system. Time to start deleting was a few years later.

Sure, you will make more than 0 money there, but you are contributing to the market paying less and less percent to the artists. We all have lines where we won't take it any more. Getty/Istock crossed that line for me. I strongly suspect that I would have made more $ if I left my stuff up and added more, but I also would have had to live with myself, and it wasn't enough money for that.

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 17:14

Quote from: obj owl on April 21, 2019, 17:03
You don't mind paying Getty's loans when you have plenty to pay them with, not a moral or ethical choice then.

What makes you think that.

Your comment is pathetic, I always minded, the problem is that the site has got worse over the years, when it was iStock it was fair.

Again you are pathetic, come up with a decent comment or not at all.

Yes, it was a pathetic unneeded comment on my part, but you do need to take a long look in the mirror when you say that.

Quote from: Clair Voyant on April 21, 2019, 18:03

Quote from: Uncle Pete on April 21, 2019, 17:59

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

I stopped uploading, I'm just taking the small change they throw at me now and then. I suppose I could just shut down and leave, but I've decided that doing nothing and getting paid, isn't as bad as getting nothing at all. On the other hand, in a way, I'm supporting Getty? What I do for them is hardly enough to matter for either of us.

They have stock holders? Getty owns Getty Images as far as I know. The company was acquired by the Getty family in 2018.

Like others, I don't think Getty has turned anything, or different. iStock played at pretending they cared and has all kinds of friendly messages and events, in fact they were always low paying and low commission. The difference is IS had a bit of good public relations working, but anyone who used the forums, tried to get to support or had anything critical was locked or moderated.

Still I admire the Getty plan and what they are doing. Beyond the investment rape of the company, bleeding it and throwing the carcass back to the Getty Family, the plan and their concept is exceptional and will eventually be whole again. I'm not speaking of the iStock portion or our stock images, just the Getty Images as a business and company. If they had stock, I'd buy some.

Played at pretending... Love it. The whole "community" thing was a joke. I could give you 50 million reasons why it was a joke. IS never cared about anyone, but so many got duped.

I hope that's what I wrote also? The community was a well played con job.

When I say the Getty plan, the archives, the digitizing old photos, the buying agencies, buying collections, and the way they get exclusive media access, or at the least, preferred media access, that has nothing at all to do with iStock, or Microstock. That's not the same as anything iStock. Getty will eventually get out from under the debt that was created by investment groups.

There isn't much left. The dregs of UPI and AP are still around. Imagine the day in the future when Getty owns UP and eventually AP old photo archives. That isn't impossible in the digital media market, where the old analog files are a treasure. But stored away in the photo morgues, as nothing but old prints. The conversion to digital is where Getty is not only preserving and rescuing old images, but creating an archive that is far greater than any other.

The only way to stop companies like Getty from getting away with what they do is to not only stop uploading but to delete your images/video.

They are abusive and always have been.

Shrugging a shoulder or ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

Yes, I totally agree with you: it is time for you, and many others, to stop with Getty... but not for me

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 08:01

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

Yes, I totally agree with you: it is time for you, and many others, to stop with Getty... but not for me

You obviously don't care much about your product or the state of the industry

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 08:01

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

Yes, I totally agree with you: it is time for you, and many others, to stop with Getty... but not for me

Future you: Why is income plummeting?! I don't get any sales elsewhere than Getty, but here there is more sales but less income!!  What is wrong?!?!

Quote from: Clair Voyant on April 21, 2019, 17:59

And istock was never fair...they paid pennies in 2004 when I started, and have continued paying pennies.

Why would you support an agency that was not fair??? And the founder fooled you all and walked with a ton of cash.

I supported istock in 2004 because I was a newbie in photography. I was learning HOW to take the stock images I had been buying for years. I made good money in the beginning, before everybody and their brother became a photographer. And as soon as they weren't supportive, I dumped them. Long before Bruce made a fool of me.  How about you? Or maybe you are one of those "I will just stop uploading to punish them" people?

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 22, 2019, 08:15

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 08:01

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

Yes, I totally agree with you: it is time for you, and many others, to stop with Getty... but not for me

You obviously don't care much about your product or the state of the industry

I am always so much surprised to see how many people on this forum are unable to read between the lines and to understand irony...

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 12:46

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 22, 2019, 08:15

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 08:01

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

Yes, I totally agree with you: it is time for you, and many others, to stop with Getty... but not for me

You obviously don't care much about your product or the state of the industry

I am always so much surprised to see how many people on this forum are unable to read between the lines and to understand irony...

Irony  I get it but your statement didn't seem ironic best to add a  to reinforce the irony 

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 22, 2019, 12:58

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 12:46

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 22, 2019, 08:15

Quote from: Chichikov on April 22, 2019, 08:01

Quote from: H2O on April 21, 2019, 16:49
Just looked through my sales for last month and again down to under a quarter what they used to be a couple of years ago, commission rates are abysmal at 15 and 20%.

Essentially I believe it is time too stop paying Getty's loans and the wealthy shareholders with their dividend payments, who with their greed have moved into the MicroStock market.

Microstock was about a Stock imagery sites selling there contributor's photo's for a reasonable commission, it should be for both sides, a win, win, not as it is now, with Getty's turning it into a slave factory.

Yes, I totally agree with you: it is time for you, and many others, to stop with Getty... but not for me

You obviously don't care much about your product or the state of the industry

I am always so much surprised to see how many people on this forum are unable to read between the lines and to understand irony...

Irony  I get it but your statement didn't seem ironic best to add a  to reinforce the irony 

Well, maybe it is because I am a little tired of this perpetual whining... (yes, mine too sometime - mea culpa )...
We all know how things are, we all know how it works. So, knowing that or we accept it and we are in, or we don't accept it and we are out.
In the end the choice is ours and nobody obliges us to do it ...

They would deserve the worst. They suck in almost any aspect: the shares we get are shameful, their interface is one of the worst, the rejections policies don't follow any real legal nor technical sense, their reporting is, at best deficient, and they are able to generate more  bugs and technical errors than Alamy, SS and AS together.

There's one problem: they represent around 25% of my revenue. So, like many people around here, I'm dependent on them, as I have some financial goals with microstock. The situation is deeply frustrating, but, well, I do stock for money, so I don't have a lot of options, even though I know that this attitude may make me lose on long term...

How do you go about deleting your portfolio from istock getty. I have been looking around their site most the morning and can't find how to go about it.

Quote from: trjiii1 on May 24, 2019, 22:24
How do you go about deleting your portfolio from istock getty. I have been looking around their site most the morning and can't find how to go about it.

You need to take out a support ticket and ask them to close your account.

Quote from: BalkanskiMacak on April 22, 2019, 15:21
....
There's one problem: they represent around 25% of my revenue. So, like many people around here, I'm dependent on them, as I have some financial goals with microstock. The situation is deeply frustrating, but, well, I do stock for money, so I don't have a lot of options, even though I know that this attitude may make me lose on long term...

Many others are in this quandary. It's much like the abused wife who cannot leave her husband, for whatever reasons. It's a hard situation, and it's easy enough to advise the wife "leave him." Easy enough to say if you are not the abused one.

Quote from: HughStoneIan on May 25, 2019, 20:25

Quote from: BalkanskiMacak on April 22, 2019, 15:21
....
There's one problem: they represent around 25% of my revenue. So, like many people around here, I'm dependent on them, as I have some financial goals with microstock. The situation is deeply frustrating, but, well, I do stock for money, so I don't have a lot of options, even though I know that this attitude may make me lose on long term...

Many others are in this quandary. It's much like the abused wife who cannot leave her husband, for whatever reasons. It's a hard situation, and it's easy enough to advise the wife "leave him." Easy enough to say if you are not the abused one.

Aren't all microstock/stock sites abusive? They pay pennies for royalties and profit hugely. It's pretty sad when one agency increases royalties to $0.33 per download and the whole community thinks this is great. I have been in the game of stock since before GI was even a stock agency and all I have seen is royalty rates slowly but surely decreased from the then industry standard of 50% to what it is today... back flips for $0.33

On one hand yes, it is much like your analogy above, but in the case of all the stock agencies of today we are the wife knowingly and willingly walking into an abusive relationship, and then complaining that we are in an abusive relationship.

Quote from: pancaketom on April 21, 2019, 18:04
For me the time to stop uploading was when they introduced the RC system. Time to start deleting was a few years later.

I pulled out if iStock when they went that route. Never regretted it.