The subject pretty much covers it - 2 sales for the month, both distributor, both for 0.46 of which I get 0.14 - in the details they say RF and "China"

Maybe it is time to finally kill distributor sales - in the past they have mostly been low (< $20), but I don't think I have ever had one under $1 net before. I guess now that we only get 40% of regular sales the distributor sales aren't so much lower, but they have moved from good microstock levels to poor microstock levels.

Overall for the year they are doing about as well as any other site, but that isn't saying much anymore.

There have been a few reports over on their forum of lower than usual sales, not only distributor.
If it's any consolation, you have 14c more than I have this month ("so far", she added, hopefully!)

Quote from: pancaketom on April 11, 2021, 22:56
...Maybe it is time to finally kill distributor sales - in the past they have mostly been low (< $20), but I don't think I have ever had one under $1 net before. I guess now that we only get 40% of regular sales the distributor sales aren't so much lower, but they have moved from good microstock levels to poor microstock levels....

The volume of sales at Alamy (for me) is low, but funnily enough, last October I decided to opt in to distributor sales after being opted out for many years. I thought I'd see how, if at all, that improved sales volume (I'd opted out on principle because I consider it outrageous that the distributor makes more than I do).

Since October 2020 there have been only 2 distributor sales, the two smallest sales I've had in that time period. Gross numbers, one sale was $3.51 and the other $2.28. I am glad that the higher value sales (top 3, gross, $250, $119, $95) were direct through Alamy.

A few months isn't long enough to make any decisions, but based on what I've seen to date, opting in to distributor sales was pointless

Here works the same - "partners", "distributors" etc - all types of intermediates as in any business. Exist a business and exist a parasite.

You are lucky because I got two sales for $0.07 each.

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on April 12, 2021, 01:26

Quote from: pancaketom on April 11, 2021, 22:56
...Maybe it is time to finally kill distributor sales - in the past they have mostly been low (< $20), but I don't think I have ever had one under $1 net before. I guess now that we only get 40% of regular sales the distributor sales aren't so much lower, but they have moved from good microstock levels to poor microstock levels....

The volume of sales at Alamy (for me) is low, but funnily enough, last October I decided to opt in to distributor sales after being opted out for many years. I thought I'd see how, if at all, that improved sales volume (I'd opted out on principle because I consider it outrageous that the distributor makes more than I do).

Since October 2020 there have been only 2 distributor sales, the two smallest sales I've had in that time period. Gross numbers, one sale was $3.51 and the other $2.28. I am glad that the higher value sales (top 3, gross, $250, $119, $95) were direct through Alamy.

A few months isn't long enough to make any decisions, but based on what I've seen to date, opting in to distributor sales was pointless

While true, opting out is also pointless, because then I'd get 100% of nothing? I really can't be concerned about some distribution sale in China or Romania as harming my other sales from some other distribution agency? Maybe mine are different, but they are news use.
Worst:
679 x 452 pixels
China, Web, One month, Bulk Discount, Flat Rate

Quote from: changingsky on April 12, 2021, 06:51
Here works the same - "partners", "distributors" etc - all types of intermediates as in any business. Exist a business and exist a parasite.

So true and the state of Microstock right now. After the race to the bottom, now we have the race to sell through distribution for the lowest fees. In the end, the artists are always the last in the chain and get less of what's left.

Quote from: pancaketom on April 11, 2021, 22:56
The subject pretty much covers it - 2 sales for the month, both distributor, both for 0.46 of which I get 0.14 - in the details they say RF and "China"

14 cents would make me angry too.
How large and what use? Or does it just say RF?

Quote from: ShadySue on April 11, 2021, 23:19
...
If it's any consolation, you have 14c more than I have this month ("so far", she added, hopefully!)

Optimism paid off. Just had a distributor sale in, $26.06 gross, $10.42: which is still a better net than quite a few 'regular' sales.

Alamy, please don't venture down this path...

Well a macrostock became a microstock site. That's it!

I also noticed those recent China-based "sub-like" sales, but I also get bigger ones.
So "sub-like" sales can be OK, as long the big sales are not cannibalized.

I don't know if anyone mentioned, but during the month of April (and only April) you can opt out of distributor sales.

I was twice refused by Alamy because I was using a compact camera.

Nowdays I look at their site to pick-up ideas for photos to load to their rivals who are not so pedantic about which camera you use.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on April 12, 2021, 13:57
.....

Quote from: pancaketom on April 11, 2021, 22:56
The subject pretty much covers it - 2 sales for the month, both distributor, both for 0.46 of which I get 0.14 - in the details they say RF and "China"

14 cents would make me angry too.
How large and what use? Or does it just say RF?

1848 x 1224 pixels
and
1692 x 1125 pixels

so not full resolution.

I'm not as annoyed about this as what some of the other sites did (SS and Getty), but it is sad to see sales this low, especially if they get more rights.

Quote from: WD3 Photography on April 12, 2021, 19:33
I was twice refused by Alamy because I was using a compact camera.

Nowdays I look at their site to pick-up ideas for photos to load to their rivals who are not so pedantic about which camera you use.

Alamy have always had a list of unacceptable cameras such as compact cameras and phone cameras

Quote from: MicroVet on April 12, 2021, 07:06
You are lucky because I got two sales for $0.07 each.

Me too. Also I got two sub sales, both for 0,07 USD 

# 1848 x 1224 pixels
and
1692 x 1125 pixels

so not full resolution.#

Well, then it seems to be really something like side business:
If we further see bought in China..., well, I guess, they would not buy it for usual price - except very few one as mentioned above.
So, opt in might NOT competiting with ourselves or giving away for cheaper?
But who says, that only customer from China want to use it?

A clearify from Alamy would help. Then it might be easier to decide t opt in or opt out.

Quote from: kall3bu on April 13, 2021, 11:30
# 1848 x 1224 pixels
and
1692 x 1125 pixels

so not full resolution.#

Well, then it seems to be really something like side business:
If we further see bought in China..., well, I guess, they would not buy it for usual price - except very few one as mentioned above.
So, opt in might NOT competiting with ourselves or giving away for cheaper?
But who says, that only customer from China want to use it?

Distributers are not only in China.
I've netted <20c via distributers in Eastern Europe. These were specifically tagged as bulk discounts. The interesting thing was that there was a rash of comments about these on the Alamy forum, but after these first sales (3, presumably to different buyers, in a very short period), I haven't had any more, nor have I read about them on the forum. This month, there have been several comments about super-low sales to China.

We can apparently still choose to opt out of distribution to specific countries.

Quote

A clearify from Alamy would help. Then it might be easier to decide to opt in or opt out.

How much clearer could Alamy be?
https://www.alamy.com/contactus/local-distributors.aspx

Quote from: WD3 Photography on April 12, 2021, 19:33
I was twice refused by Alamy because I was using a compact camera.

It was the specific camera you had that was rejected, not the fact that it was a compact camera.
A Sony 100Mk3 is my current 'walkabout' camera, and I've had lots of pics from it accepted, and I believe they accept pics from the earlier models also.

Quote from: hamik on April 13, 2021, 08:59

Quote from: MicroVet on April 12, 2021, 07:06
You are lucky because I got two sales for $0.07 each.

Me too. Also I got two sub sales, both for 0,07 USD 

I mark myself lucky not to be getting these. Yes I would be discouraged and disappointed. I agree.

Quote from: ShadySue on April 13, 2021, 11:57

Quote from: kall3bu on April 13, 2021, 11:30
# 1848 x 1224 pixels
and
1692 x 1125 pixels

so not full resolution.#

Well, then it seems to be really something like side business:
If we further see bought in China..., well, I guess, they would not buy it for usual price - except very few one as mentioned above.
So, opt in might NOT competiting with ourselves or giving away for cheaper?
But who says, that only customer from China want to use it?

Distributers are not only in China.
I've netted <20c via distributers in Eastern Europe. These were specifically tagged as bulk discounts. The interesting thing was that there was a rash of comments about these on the Alamy forum, but after these first sales (3, presumably to different buyers, in a very short period), I haven't had any more, nor have I read about them on the forum. This month, there have been several comments about super-low sales to China.

We can apparently still choose to opt out of distribution to specific countries.

Quote

A clearify from Alamy would help. Then it might be easier to decide to opt in or opt out.

How much clearer could Alamy be?
https://www.alamy.com/contactus/local-distributors.aspx

I didn't know the country thing, but as someone else just added, you can opt out, during the one month period and have none of these.

True, one of my lowest distributor sales for news was Romania. 

Quote from: ShadySue on April 13, 2021, 15:59

Quote from: WD3 Photography on April 12, 2021, 19:33
I was twice refused by Alamy because I was using a compact camera.

It was the specific camera you had that was rejected, not the fact that it was a compact camera.
A Sony 100Mk3 is my current 'walkabout' camera, and I've had lots of pics from it accepted, and I believe they accept pics from the earlier models also.

Most people in Alamy use as compact camera Sony RX100, i can't afford to buy that camera, i have a Canon XT (Alamy) for street and some cheap compact cameras such as Nikon Coolpix L18  (not accepted on Alamy but they accepted in microstock ). This's the tread on Alamy forum talking about it.

https://discussion.alamy.com/topic/12088-dslr-camera-recommendation/?tab=comments#comment-223263

The cameras I had rejected by Alamy were the Lumiz FZ330 and FujiFilm XF10. The latter rejection was particularly ridiculous as the XF10 has a 24MP APS-C sensor.

I assume this barrier to entry has resulted in Alamy losing ground to it's competitors.

Quote from: WD3 Photography on April 15, 2021, 08:35
The cameras I had rejected by Alamy were the Lumiz FZ330 and FujiFilm XF10. The latter rejection was particularly ridiculous as the XF10 has a 24MP APS-C sensor.

I assume this barrier to entry has resulted in Alamy losing ground to it's competitors.

You assume incorrectly they are doing fine in their niche

This might help

"Almost all compact cameras, fixed lens cameras – SLR-like Bridge Cameras and all mobile phones cannot produce images that meet our guidelines"

https://www.alamy.com/blog/alamys-rough-guide-to-digital-cameras

"Almost all compact cameras, fixed lens cameras – SLR-like Bridge Cameras and all mobile phones cannot produce images that meet our guidelines."

Alamy's harakiri 

Quote from: WD3 Photography on April 15, 2021, 10:23
"Almost all compact cameras, fixed lens cameras – SLR-like Bridge Cameras and all mobile phones cannot produce images that meet our guidelines."

Alamy's harakiri 

Alamy have always had this policy doesn't seem to cause them any problems nor does it cause a problem for the other contributors.

Quote from: alexandersr on April 12, 2021, 16:30
Well a macrostock became a microstock site. That's it!

Yes indeed but I guess they really have no options left but to turn Micro-stock or else they bite the dust. Like so many others!...besides Alamy have touted micro-stock photographers for ages they did it here at the MSG a few years back!