MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: oxman on September 29, 2010, 21:03

Title: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: oxman on September 29, 2010, 21:03
Have you ever heard of anyone buying their own images (or having a friend) in order to reach, more quickly, the 250 downloads required to become exclusive? Let's say you are 60 or so DLs away from 250 and want to get the benefits of iStock exclusive and not want to wait the few months it might take to reach that magic number.

Would IS frown on this? Is it not allowed. Would they find out if you have a friend do it?

Your thoughts.
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: zzz on September 29, 2010, 21:10
That's collusion and peoples' portfolios were deleted permanently for this. There have been examples reported here at microstockgroup (some people are crazy enough to admit they have done so, believing it was their right to do so ).
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: oxman on September 29, 2010, 21:12
thanks ZZZ  :)
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: ap on September 29, 2010, 21:36
the requirement for exclusivity is now 500 downloads, not 250. the general trend is actually to drop exclusivity at is rather than reach it. did you arrive here in a time capsule, by the way?  ;)
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: oxman on September 29, 2010, 22:35
the requirement for exclusivity is now 500 downloads, not 250. the general trend is actually to drop exclusivity at is rather than reach it. did you arrive here in a time capsule, by the way?  ;)

Quote
How do I become an Exclusive contributor?
If you have 250 downloads, a minimum 50% approval rating, and have no royalty-free stock images, vector illustrations, video footage, audio clips or Flash files available at other agencies, you can join our Exclusive team. Video contributors only need 1 upload to be approved as an Exclusive contributor while sound artists only need 10 downloads.

note to self: AP=troll ;)
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: traveler1116 on September 30, 2010, 00:53
the requirement for exclusivity is now 500 downloads, not 250. the general trend is actually to drop exclusivity at is rather than reach it. did you arrive here in a time capsule, by the way?  ;)

Nope, I'm pretty sure they just said it was still 250 if you had 50% or higher acceptance.
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: RacePhoto on September 30, 2010, 01:09
the requirement for exclusivity is now 500 downloads, not 250. the general trend is actually to drop exclusivity at is rather than reach it. did you arrive here in a time capsule, by the way?  ;)


Nope, I'm pretty sure they just said it was still 250 if you had 50% or higher acceptance.


I'm pretty sure you are right. :D Cut and pasted from IS...

How do I become an Exclusive contributor?

If you have 250 downloads, a minimum 50% approval rating, and have no royalty-free stock images, vector illustrations, video footage, audio clips or Flash files available at other agencies, you can join our Exclusive team.


With a link for the skeptics out there who think I made it up.

http://www.istockphoto.com/sell-stock-photos-exclusivity.php (http://www.istockphoto.com/sell-stock-photos-exclusivity.php)
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: cthoman on September 30, 2010, 09:29
the requirement for exclusivity is now 500 downloads, not 250. the general trend is actually to drop exclusivity at is rather than reach it. did you arrive here in a time capsule, by the way?  ;)

note to self: AP=troll ;)

C'mon, I thought the time capsule remark was funny.  ;D Besides, it does throw a little caution out there about becoming exclusive now. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but you might want to wait to see how things go at the beginning of the year when these changes kick in. I think there are some advantages to being a new exclusive under the new system, but I'd definitely be worried how the independents will react come January.
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: LostOne on September 30, 2010, 15:26
Have you ever heard of anyone buying their own images (or having a friend) in order to reach, more quickly, the 250 downloads required to become exclusive? Let's say you are 60 or so DLs away from 250 and want to get the benefits of iStock exclusive and not want to wait the few months it might take to reach that magic number.

Would IS frown on this? Is it not allowed. Would they find out if you have a friend do it?

Your thoughts.

Why would you spend money to become exclusive at an agency that just f..... you in the a... (and will further do it in the upcoming months)?

Just found this image in another topic and thought it's appropriate:
(http://i56.tinypic.com/a43l07.png)
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: ap on September 30, 2010, 16:40

C'mon, I thought the time capsule remark was funny.  ;D Besides, it does throw a little caution out there about becoming exclusive now. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but you might want to wait to see how things go at the beginning of the year when these changes kick in. I think there are some advantages to being a new exclusive under the new system, but I'd definitely be worried how the independents will react come January.

thank goodness you still have a sense of humor amidst all this turmoil.  :D

@traveller 116 - i feel like rip van wrinkle in these times, step away from the pc/mac for a few minutes and everything's changed.
Title: Re: Buying remaining images in order to go Exclusive faster?
Post by: jen on September 30, 2010, 18:25
Have you ever heard of anyone buying their own images (or having a friend) in order to reach, more quickly, the 250 downloads required to become exclusive? Let's say you are 60 or so DLs away from 250 and want to get the benefits of iStock exclusive and not want to wait the few months it might take to reach that magic number.

Would IS frown on this? Is it not allowed. Would they find out if you have a friend do it?

Your thoughts.
This is a bad idea.