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Author Topic: Buyers Bailing on Istock  (Read 387933 times)

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« Reply #475 on: November 24, 2010, 13:45 »
0
I'm sure that there are people at istock who will get a big bonus if they hit their profit targets.  They have worked out that the best way to do that is to increase prices and cut commissions.  It will work in the short term, people will put up with almost anything for a while but I don't see this as a long term winner.  These are still difficult economic times and I think buyers will want to spend less money in the next few years.  Contributors will need more than 20% commission to make it sustainable, the amateurs are already being shut out with higher standards.  I think their plan could be to sell istock before it suffers the same problems Getty has had.  Then we will have to see what the long term plans of the new owners are.  I feel much more comfortable as a non-exclusive but I wish less of my eggs were in microstock.


« Reply #476 on: November 24, 2010, 16:08 »
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A lot of buyers are fed up, but many of them still have credits left they have to use up, so I wouldn't be surprised to see iStock's earnings begin to drop sharply after the first of the year. Plus, many contributors are planning on leaving the site at the end of 2010 - which will decrease the size of the selection and make the competing micros that much more appealing. iStock's biggest advantage has been their huge library of exclusive content, which gave them a much better selection than the competition. They will lose that advantage over time, now that so many contributors are dropping exclusivity, and many independents are planning to stop uploading, or have stopped already. Eventually, the only unique thing about the site will be the fact that the prices are higher there than they are on any other micro. And somehow I doubt that distinction will keep the buyers coming. Eventually it has to reach the point where Getty will be undone by their own arrogance, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.

« Reply #477 on: November 24, 2010, 16:30 »
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A lot of buyers are fed up, but many of them still have credits left they have to use up, so I wouldn't be surprised to see iStock's earnings begin to drop sharply after the first of the year. Plus, many contributors are planning on leaving the site at the end of 2010 - which will decrease the size of the selection and make the competing micros that much more appealing. iStock's biggest advantage has been their huge library of exclusive content, which gave them a much better selection than the competition. They will lose that advantage over time, now that so many contributors are dropping exclusivity, and many independents are planning to stop uploading, or have stopped already. Eventually, the only unique thing about the site will be the fact that the prices are higher there than they are on any other micro. And somehow I doubt that distinction will keep the buyers coming. Eventually it has to reach the point where Getty will be undone by their own arrogance, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.

Wishfull thinking again.
quite common here I might add.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #478 on: November 24, 2010, 16:59 »
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Kudos to the exclusives in that thread who are trying to help the buyer find workarounds to get his project done.  But buyers shouldn't have to go to the forums and get workarounds or pep talks from contributors (much less snotty retorts).  
Absolutely. But I think the second-last straw to my banning was stating that if someone had to be told how to use a site, the design was a usability failure, and suggesting that the web developers should all have to read Don't Make Me Think, the usability Bible. I actually thought that was helpful and constructive criticism, but it wasn't taken that way!
It scares me that Roger Mexico posted earlier today that there was going to be a new iteration of the site design and there would be screenshots to show how it all worked. That's what happened the last time. We shouldn't need it. F5 introduced a lot of problems without any preceptible benefit - at least I can't think of any, and I asked what the F5 improvements actually were (I think that was probably the third-last straw!).

« Reply #479 on: November 24, 2010, 17:08 »
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Probably been said before . . . but if a website has to instruct, show, direct users to "How-to" screenshots, etc . . . that's an epic fail.

[ x ]  all websites should be easy to use

« Reply #480 on: November 24, 2010, 17:09 »
0
A lot of buyers are fed up, but many of them still have credits left they have to use up, so I wouldn't be surprised to see iStock's earnings begin to drop sharply after the first of the year. Plus, many contributors are planning on leaving the site at the end of 2010 - which will decrease the size of the selection and make the competing micros that much more appealing. iStock's biggest advantage has been their huge library of exclusive content, which gave them a much better selection than the competition. They will lose that advantage over time, now that so many contributors are dropping exclusivity, and many independents are planning to stop uploading, or have stopped already. Eventually, the only unique thing about the site will be the fact that the prices are higher there than they are on any other micro. And somehow I doubt that distinction will keep the buyers coming. Eventually it has to reach the point where Getty will be undone by their own arrogance, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.

Wishfull thinking again.
quite common here I might add.
wishful indeed and I'm doing everything within my power to see to it that it happens...also "quite common here"  ;)

« Reply #481 on: November 24, 2010, 17:13 »
0
A lot of buyers are fed up, but many of them still have credits left they have to use up, so I wouldn't be surprised to see iStock's earnings begin to drop sharply after the first of the year. Plus, many contributors are planning on leaving the site at the end of 2010 - which will decrease the size of the selection and make the competing micros that much more appealing. iStock's biggest advantage has been their huge library of exclusive content, which gave them a much better selection than the competition. They will lose that advantage over time, now that so many contributors are dropping exclusivity, and many independents are planning to stop uploading, or have stopped already. Eventually, the only unique thing about the site will be the fact that the prices are higher there than they are on any other micro. And somehow I doubt that distinction will keep the buyers coming. Eventually it has to reach the point where Getty will be undone by their own arrogance, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.

Wishfull thinking again.
quite common here I might add.
wishful indeed and I'm doing everything within my power to see to it that it happens...also "quite common here"  ;)
Good luck...

« Reply #482 on: November 24, 2010, 17:23 »
0
A lot of buyers are fed up, but many of them still have credits left they have to use up, so I wouldn't be surprised to see iStock's earnings begin to drop sharply after the first of the year. Plus, many contributors are planning on leaving the site at the end of 2010 - which will decrease the size of the selection and make the competing micros that much more appealing. iStock's biggest advantage has been their huge library of exclusive content, which gave them a much better selection than the competition. They will lose that advantage over time, now that so many contributors are dropping exclusivity, and many independents are planning to stop uploading, or have stopped already. Eventually, the only unique thing about the site will be the fact that the prices are higher there than they are on any other micro. And somehow I doubt that distinction will keep the buyers coming. Eventually it has to reach the point where Getty will be undone by their own arrogance, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.
Wishfull thinking again.
quite common here I might add.
wishful indeed and I'm doing everything within my power to see to it that it happens...also "quite common here"  ;)
Good luck...
appreciated  ;)

« Reply #483 on: November 24, 2010, 23:55 »
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I can't for the life of me understand why more exclusives aren't bothered by this.  I would be freaking out if all my eggs were in that basket.  


As I told you in another thread, at least for me, the DLs are not dropping significantly and revenue is improving.

lagereek

« Reply #484 on: November 25, 2010, 02:14 »
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They probably are freakin out but theres little they can do, isnt it?
Speaking as an independant ofcourse, I must say I havent noticed any differance what so ever, not yet anyway, amount of DLs are pretty much the same, at least for the last week. Revenues are only a fraction down but ofcourse this could be the rush before X-mas?

Well, only time will tell, interesting to see what happens after new-year.

vlad_the_imp

« Reply #485 on: November 25, 2010, 02:25 »
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Quote
I'm doing everything within my power to see to it that it happens.

Ha!

« Reply #486 on: December 02, 2010, 05:52 »
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Another one...

"I'm ready for you to delete this because I know you don't like criticism, but this site is a complete mess. The search doesn't work properly - every file seems to cost 200 credits.

The front page says credits as low as 0.7 which is gibberish, that isn't how we write 70p in England, it's offensive that you don't do some research and display it correctly.

Let me tell you straight. This site used to be the best bar none, for quality, price and performance. You only have quality left. I've wasted too much time and money hoping it will get better but I can't stand this clunky site any more.

I have 400 credits left. When they have gone, so have I."

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #487 on: December 02, 2010, 05:59 »
0
Another one...

"I'm ready for you to delete this because I know you don't like criticism, but this site is a complete mess. The search doesn't work properly - every file seems to cost 200 credits.

The front page says credits as low as 0.7 which is gibberish, that isn't how we write 70p in England, it's offensive that you don't do some research and display it correctly.

Let me tell you straight. This site used to be the best bar none, for quality, price and performance. You only have quality left. I've wasted too much time and money hoping it will get better but I can't stand this clunky site any more.

I have 400 credits left. When they have gone, so have I."
Ha, when I read his post, I thought, "Ah, it was 0.68 the other day" - and when I went to check, it now says $0.95 - without me changing any preferences etc. Ten minutes ago, I went into my one of own lightboxes, and all my file details disappeared and 'files per page' reset at 50 - again. How often have people been asking about this bug in the forums and it's not sorted out yet.
I just can't believe they don't make programmers work on this 24/7 - they introduced the problems, after all. (On the other hand, they were required to make changes, so whose fault really?)
Or just go back preF5. There were 'fewer' problems then.

« Reply #488 on: December 02, 2010, 06:02 »
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You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such and effort and dedication.

« Reply #489 on: December 02, 2010, 06:12 »
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You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such and effort and dedication.
Maybe people want to let others in the community read the post, knowing that somebody at Istock will likely delete the original?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #490 on: December 02, 2010, 06:12 »
0
You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such and effort and dedication.
Pity IS doesn't have as much effort and dedication to their buyers.

« Reply #491 on: December 02, 2010, 07:24 »
0
You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such and effort and dedication.

Where? Other topic? Original post was created 2 hours ago at IS.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #492 on: December 02, 2010, 07:29 »
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You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such and effort and dedication.


Where? Other topic? Original post was created 2 hours ago at IS.

Vlad the imp started a new topic here: http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/another-happy-buyer-at-istock/msg172996/?topicseen#new, maybe not knowing about this thread.

« Reply #493 on: December 02, 2010, 07:38 »
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Since I don't read the IS forums that much anymore, I am glad they are getting posted here.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2010, 07:42 by cclapper »

« Reply #494 on: December 02, 2010, 07:48 »
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You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such an effort and dedication.

Where? Other topic? Original post was created 2 hours ago at IS.

Yes, and it was re-posted here twice within minutes (if not seconds).

« Reply #495 on: December 02, 2010, 07:49 »
0
You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such and effort and dedication.


Where? Other topic? Original post was created 2 hours ago at IS.

Vlad the imp started a new topic here: http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/another-happy-buyer-at-istock/msg172996/?topicseen#new, maybe not knowing about this thread.


Hum, thanks. I use to read only istock section of Microstockgroup forums.

« Reply #496 on: December 02, 2010, 07:52 »
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You are really on the watch to past an copy any customer complain at istock. This one have been already posted at least two times. Such an effort and dedication.

Where? Other topic? Original post was created 2 hours ago at IS.

Yes, and it was re-posted here twice within minutes (if not seconds).

Understandable, since the moderator deletes this kind of thing in nanoseconds.

« Reply #497 on: December 02, 2010, 13:44 »
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Here's a contributor saying they are considering shopping elsewhere.

Of course the thread was locked immediately, with a link to the other thread (which also got locked). LOL

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=278702&page=1

lisafx

« Reply #498 on: December 02, 2010, 18:34 »
0
I really appreciate people being willing to post comments here at MSG.  

Istock's forums are deadly dull now that so many posts are deleted and so many people banned.  Most of the enthusiastic posts that remain just ring hollow for me now.  

Thanks for posting Chico :)

Here's another one that JoAnn mentioned.  For the sake of clarity and keeping everything accessible in one thread, I'm quoting it here:

From Louddoor:

In September 2009, my biggest gripe about iStock was that there were too many awesome photos. Sensory overload! Life was good.

In November 2010, I am so frustrated with the lolly-gagging and excuse-making regarding the current site "improvements" and changes, that I am honestly considering signing up for an account at another microstock site for THE. FIRST. TIME. EVER.

Fix the search! No more excuses! No one cares about empty statements like "We are getting really close." If you couldn't make the new site work *at least as good* as the old site, then you didn't have any business launching a new site. Waste of time, resources, and your money (which iStock seems to be in dire need of right now.)
« Last Edit: December 02, 2010, 18:51 by lisafx »

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #499 on: December 02, 2010, 19:04 »
0

I can't for the life of me understand why more exclusives aren't bothered by this.  I would be freaking out if all my eggs were in that basket.  


As I told you in another thread, at least for me, the DLs are not dropping significantly and revenue is improving.

same for me, things are good in general...but I suspect that won't be cut and paste across the threads here


 

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