Author Topic: [ (Read 44845 times)

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:07 »

Should be titled "iStockphoto tries to undercut all other agencies on independent content" or "iStock desperate to regain market shares, sees chance to give away independent content".

tickstock · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:11 »

cthoman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:12 »

They pretty much have no idea what they are doing.

gbalex · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:12 »

Shifting gears toward SS

EmberMike · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:16 »

I actually like the price change. I think it's a little extreme, they should have aimed to get the XL images in the $10 price point (at current credit rates they're in the $7-9 range). But the sentiment is reasonable. Other companies are charging similar prices, and the years of price increases at istock have certainly cut down on the sales volume we used to see.

But why the heck not not try something. Things aren't exactly going well at istock lately. Desperate times, desperate measures.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:18 »

Quote from: cthoman on June 27, 2013, 16:12

They pretty much have no idea what they are doing.

Well, they're copying Stocksy, for one, with their little "editor's pick" icon in the search results. Guess that's how they're plussing their favorites, like a certain Danish company whose entire portfolio of images are "picks" and now say "only from iStock", and yet, are available elsewhere:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10827673-business-colleagues-working-on-a-laptop.php?st=d6de6ba
http://business-stock-photo.com/Buy-Stock-Photo-of/Successful-Group-Of-Business-Colleagues-Working-On-A-Laptop/1220187

Ron · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:19 »

Quote

Main Collection Photo Pricing
Based on what we have learned by watching customer behavior and customer feedback the Main Collection photo pricing is changing considerably.
o   XSmall=1 Credit
o   Small=2 Credits
o   Medium=3 Credits
o   Large=4 Credits
o   XLarge=5 Credits
o   XXLarge=6 Credits
o   XXXLarge=7 Credits

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:27 »

Get ready for those refund emails for anything purchased in the last year from independents!

wds · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:29 »

I don't know, I see this as having pricing all over the place. Hard to say how it will turn out.

lisafx · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:30 »

A price readjustment was long overdue, but this is a bit drastic. Really reeks of desperation.

Unless volumes return to 2009-10 levels this will amount to a huge pay cut to indies, as their prices are now inline with cheap sites, but their royalties are about half what the other cheapo sites pay.

Honestly, I doubt they can regain good will with the buyers they lost over the past couple of years simply by slashing prices. After all, a lot of those buyers were also contributors, and yet another gut kick to contributor incomes is hardly a way to endear themselves.

I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

cobalt · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:35 »

Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2013, 16:30

I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

That was my first thought. People have just recovered, that their royalties will not be slashed, now they will see that their files will have to compete bitterly with bestselling independent content.

I like the new design of the site though. Glad those flames are gone and it all looks much cleaner.

tickstock · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:38 »

wds · « **Reply #13 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:41 »

Quote from: tickstock on June 27, 2013, 16:38

Quote from: cobalt on June 27, 2013, 16:35
Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2013, 16:30
I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

That was my first thought. People have just recovered, that their royalties will not be slashed, now they will see that their files will have to compete bitterly with bestselling independent content.

I like the new design of the site though. Glad those flames are gone and it all looks much cleaner.
They are going to raise prices on a lot of the better nonexclusive content.

Yes, but it doesn't look like that's happening any time soon.

KB · « **Reply #14 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:43 »

Quote from: cobalt on June 27, 2013, 16:35

Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2013, 16:30
I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

That was my first thought. People have just recovered, that their royalties will not be slashed, now they will see that their files will have to compete bitterly with bestselling independent content.

I like the new design of the site though. Glad those flames are gone and it all looks much cleaner.

Am I the only one who doesn't like the thin rectangles around each image? It actually looks ok for isolated files, but for most others I find it mildly annoying.

I'm thrilled with the Main price cuts, though. I was really worried that IS couldn't come up with a way to lower my sales even further, but my fears were unfounded. This should completely kill them.

ShadySue · « **Reply #15 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:44 »

Is Editor's Pick newspeak for Vetta?

I'm astonished buyers wouldn't ask for clear icons to indicate price range of each file within a search.

About to look for images to remove from Main.

So, they're getting so desperate that two employees were forced to suggest something new this week.

cobalt · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:44 »

Quote from: tickstock on June 27, 2013, 16:38

Quote from: cobalt on June 27, 2013, 16:35
Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2013, 16:30
I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

That was my first thought. People have just recovered, that their royalties will not be slashed, now they will see that their files will have to compete bitterly with bestselling independent content.

I like the new design of the site though. Glad those flames are gone and it all looks much cleaner.
They are going to raise prices on a lot of the better nonexclusive content.

Exclusive images would make more sense. Better for istock, because they are not promoting content to a higher price band that can be found cheaper elsewhere, better for the contributor because they will presumably get more royalties and they can decide to build a dedicated lightbox on a theme and shoot specifically for that.

cthoman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:46 »

Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2013, 16:30

I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

I agree. Also, was non-exclusive pricing the big problem? Weren't they priced similar to DT and SS single sales? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess I don't have to worry about it.

jm · « **Reply #18 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:49 »

Combination of lowest prices (at least M+ sizes) and lowest commissions in the industry is murderous. I expect that average RPD will be lower that commissions from subs on SS.

But Lobo "guesses we will see..."
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=354608&messageid=6906760

lisafx · « **Reply #19 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:49 »

Quote from: cthoman on June 27, 2013, 16:46

Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2013, 16:30
I don't even see how exclusives could be happy about this, since it makes exclusive content seem even more overpriced by comparison.

I agree. Also, was non-exclusive pricing the big problem? Weren't they priced similar to DT and SS single sales? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess I don't have to worry about it.

Yes, it seems that a couple of years ago Istock was heralding by contributors for leading the race to higher prices in micro. Now they are in full retreat and are leading the way to the bottom.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:52 »

its curious that iStock is so fast doing what they want but then take ages when a contributor finds a bug or other

now the 15% are even more attractive

luissantos84 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:54 »

Quote from: jm on June 27, 2013, 16:49

Combination of lowest prices (at least M+ sizes) and lowest commissions in the industry is murderous. I expect that average RPD will be lower that commissions from subs on SS.

But Lobo "guesses we will see..."
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=354608&messageid=6906760

iStock gets all the prizes when it comes to changes really, can't wait

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #22 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:56 »

If they are going to market the site on the basis of the prices in the main collection, it will kill the exclusives. They will not get back buyers they have lost because buyers who've taken the trouble to change their minds and leave would feel stupid running back there now just because of a price change, so any buyers this brings in will be new customers - and it is really that easy to find a big supply of new customers at this stage in the game?

Of course, it is going to kill the independents, too, since sales are already down by about 80% from the peak as far as I am concerned. I suspect that this will push iS below DT in the earnings chart.

Bad news for all, I would say.

If I were a conspiracy nutter I would think the "typo" threat to exclusives earlier today was a bit of psychological warfare - make them fear the worst and then in the collective sigh of relief they will not notice just how awful the next big move is going to be for them.

tickstock · « **Reply #23 on:** June 27, 2013, 16:59 »

cobalt · « **Reply #24 on:** June 27, 2013, 17:02 »

Prices have to be reliable. That is even more important than the lowest price. Customers pick files early, but realize their projects (and buy the files) often many months later. To then find that all the prices have changed - that is the real problem.

And istock has a huge price band from a few credits to over 100. And files seem to move around on an unpredictable time basis, not just once a year in January.

Customers that sign up now for the new cheap files - how will they react if in 6 months one third of those files gets moved around by their software?

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