Author Topic: Getty says "Don't buy at istock" (Read 37799 times)

KB · « **on:** March 19, 2010, 17:17 »

Have I missed the discussions on this? Or haven't there been any?

Two active IS forum topics:

1. Getty is cold-calling iStock corporate buyers to get them to switch to ThinkStock:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=189221&page=1

2. Getty is now advertising on iStock's website (subscription page), urging potential (and no doubt current) buyers to consider ThinkStock:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=190081&page=1

The end is nigh!

lisafx · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2010, 18:14 »

Holy sh*t.

donding · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2010, 18:19 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 19, 2010, 18:14

Holy sh*t.

MAKE THAT A SECOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mantonino · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2010, 18:26 »

What does it say about this move that since iSuck at iStock and don't have more than .3% of my gallery there that I'm happy with this? I think it should say they shafted you - but I think everyone already knew that. It doesn't shaft me - I have 2700 pics on ThinkStock through StockXpert. More business there helps me - but hurts true iStockers.

Allsa · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2010, 18:27 »

The best thing we as individuals can do at this point is to refuse to participate in Thinkstock. If they have a small, poor quality collection, buyers will go elsewhere. Don't feed the monster.

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2010, 18:48 »

Quote from: Allsa on March 19, 2010, 18:27

The best thing we as individuals can do at this point is to refuse to participate in Thinkstock. If they have a small, poor quality collection, buyers will go elsewhere. Don't feed the monster.

Sadly, one of the Black Diamonds has over 4000 images on Thinkstock.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:00 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 19, 2010, 18:48

Quote from: Allsa on March 19, 2010, 18:27
The best thing we as individuals can do at this point is to refuse to participate in Thinkstock. If they have a small, poor quality collection, buyers will go elsewhere. Don't feed the monster.
Sadly, one of the Black Diamonds has over 4000 images on Thinkstock.

An exclusive black diamond? I wish we had a rough idea of the percentage of exclusive content available on Thinkstock - I was hoping it was very low, and certainly there are a number of vocal opponents among the higher levels of exclusives.

sharply_done · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:00 »

Geez, people, don't be so knee-jerkish: They're not dissuading regular buyers from using iStock, they're merely pointing subscription buyers towards Thinkstock, which makes this largely irrelevant: the number of subscription sales at iStock is minimal at very best.

ShadySue · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:21 »

Quote from: jsnover on March 19, 2010, 19:00

Quote from: ShadySue on March 19, 2010, 18:48
Quote from: Allsa on March 19, 2010, 18:27
The best thing we as individuals can do at this point is to refuse to participate in Thinkstock. If they have a small, poor quality collection, buyers will go elsewhere. Don't feed the monster.
Sadly, one of the Black Diamonds has over 4000 images on Thinkstock.

An exclusive black diamond?

Oh yes.

sharply_done · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:24 »

Remember the Partner Program qualifications? I think it's sadder that someone has 4000+ images without a sale in 18 months!

loop · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:25 »

It is just one.

ShadySue · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:28 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 19, 2010, 19:21

Quote from: jsnover on March 19, 2010, 19:00
Quote from: ShadySue on March 19, 2010, 18:48
Quote from: Allsa on March 19, 2010, 18:27
The best thing we as individuals can do at this point is to refuse to participate in Thinkstock. If they have a small, poor quality collection, buyers will go elsewhere. Don't feed the monster.
Sadly, one of the Black Diamonds has over 4000 images on Thinkstock.

An exclusive black diamond?
Oh yes.
Two more EBDs have over a thousand each, and another has a few hundred. I haven't checked them all.

ShadySue · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:30 »

Quote from: sharply_done on March 19, 2010, 19:24

Remember the Partner Program qualifications? I think it's sadder that someone has 4000+ images without a sale in 18 months!

Huh? Exclusives can nominate any or all of their images over 18 months old to the PP, and any newer images to the PP rather than iStock.

KB · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:35 »

Quote from: sharply_done on March 19, 2010, 19:00

Geez, people, don't be so knee-jerkish: They're not dissuading regular buyers from using iStock, they're merely pointing subscription buyers towards Thinkstock, which makes this largely irrelevant: the number of subscription sales at iStock is minimal at very best.

Really? Did you read what I wrote? Did you read that first thread I linked to?

KB · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:37 »

Quote from: loop on March 19, 2010, 19:25

It is just one.

That we know of. But if there's one, there could be many.

ShadySue · « **Reply #15 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:40 »

Quote from: loop on March 19, 2010, 19:25

It is just one.

What is just one what?

KB · « **Reply #16 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:45 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 19, 2010, 19:40

Quote from: loop on March 19, 2010, 19:25
It is just one.
What is just one what?

Hey, you started it, if anyone should know, it's you.

One black diamond contributing to TS.

loop · « **Reply #17 on:** March 19, 2010, 19:51 »

It's easy to see that there are very few, and these ones with very few photos, in some cases deleted from istock, in others just old and so-so photos. You can search by name or alias, "xxxx", as you know.

ShadySue · « **Reply #18 on:** March 19, 2010, 20:14 »

Quote from: KB on March 19, 2010, 19:45

Quote from: ShadySue on March 19, 2010, 19:40
Quote from: loop on March 19, 2010, 19:25
It is just one.
What is just one what?
Hey, you started it, if anyone should know, it's you.

One black diamond contributing to TS.

I checked five exclusive BDs and three of them are contributing to TS.

Graffoto · « **Reply #19 on:** March 19, 2010, 20:54 »

Sounds like a desperation move.
Cold calling is rarely viewed kindly by the call-ee (is that a word?).

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #20 on:** March 19, 2010, 20:56 »

Let's see, Thinkstock is a part of Getty, why wouldn't they point this option out to clients? Would it make sense to hide it and hope it fails?

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #21 on:** March 19, 2010, 20:57 »

Quote from: nosaya on March 19, 2010, 20:54

Sounds like a desperation move.
Cold calling is rarely viewed kindly by the call-ee (is that a word?).

Huh? The reason cold calling is done is because it works.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #22 on:** March 19, 2010, 21:21 »

Quote from: nosaya on March 19, 2010, 20:54

Sounds like a desperation move.
Cold calling is rarely viewed kindly by the call-ee (is that a word?).

Cold calling in business is a core part of the sales team. They're not calling residences interupting their dinner. I get cold calls and when done properly by good sales people they usually end up being decent conversations.

I doubt it's desperation. It's probably a move that is highly profitable and the more sales volume the better.

Kone · « **Reply #23 on:** March 19, 2010, 22:09 »

My two cents:

Why do you think Getty would kill Istock, a company that is making them a hundred million dollars per year? I don't think they will! Would you stop uploading images on your best selling agency just because you think that new one which you just found will do better in future? I would not.
They might want to move the subscription program to Thinkstock to bring some new customers and then advise those new customers about Istock, as another store that is better and more expensive.

About the woman-salesman, maybe she works on commission and they don't care about what will happen in future as long as they make their commission.

Regards,
Kone

FD · « **Reply #24 on:** March 19, 2010, 22:15 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on March 19, 2010, 21:21

Cold calling in business is a core part of the sales team. They're not calling residences interupting their dinner.

When I still had a landline, they always were, at the most inconvenient moments. I registered a couple of times in an opt-out list but they kept on calling at very awkward moments. It's unavoidable since when you have a tiring day job and home at 7pm, it's the only time you are around and they want to take advantage of your weakness then.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Getty says "Don't buy at istock" (Read 37799 times)

KB

lisafx

donding

mantonino

Allsa

ShadySue

Jo Ann Snover

sharply_done

ShadySue

sharply_done

loop

ShadySue

ShadySue

KB

KB

ShadySue

KB

loop

ShadySue

Graffoto

PeterChigmaroff

PeterChigmaroff

PaulieWalnuts

Kone

FD

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors