Holy Mother!!!! look at that thread!

[bunhill]

I've just done a search on 'Chinese Cuisine' (Photos only) and of the 6158 results there were actually TWO non-exclusive images in the first 100 results, another THREE in the next 100 results and a very generous SIX in the next 100 results.

The results look really good for that search - food photography is a skilled niche and the images look really well styled etc. On the whole.

There are over 6000 images in that search. If you compare the first page with the last page it does seem to indicate that the best match is producing very good results from a buyer perspective. And at a variety of prices. The first page of that search certainly isn't overly thick with Vetta and Agency --- although, undeniably, Vetta and Agency images are some of the best.

[BaldricksTrousers]

According to another member at IS, its a glossy pro photo journal forum or something in the UK,  whatever?  I have no reason for distrusting him since he has been an exclusive member of IS for over 5 years.

What has exclusivity got to do with trusting what someone says? I thought the qualification was selling 500 pictures, not having reputation for veracity.

I'm afraid the idea of hundreds and hundreds of istockers posting end of month stats on an obscure UK forum and 100% having the same trend, not just bad but "down and out" stretches the credulity more than a bit. That makes the unknown forum far more popular than iStock's own thread.

[lagereek]

Just to clarify things a bit for those who haven't read the whole thread then:

ever seen anything like it?  every single one, I mean everyone, diamonds, golds, exclusives, independants, are just down, down, down, down [except all the ones that aren't]

and

in the UK, theres another forum or conglomerate  [I don't know which one and haven't seen it but am reliably informed by sources which will remain nameless]and there every single one, hundereds are just down and out.[except all the ones that aren't?]

Think we could have done without wasting the time reading this thread

well you ARE reading it, if you dont like it then dont waste your time.

[lagereek]

DONT GET YOUR KNICKERS IN A TWIST!!  instead concentrate on the IS forum thread and if you want to find out about other differant forums then why not just scout around the internet,  Im sure there are plenty there.

As the OP here, the importance is the fact that relativly new and small ports are the ones reporting BMEs, etc, almost all high-cannister contributors are complaining bitterly,  so what does that indicate? 
Try and adjust the brain-cells to that instead of the tail-end of something I havent even read myself, basically from lack of interest.

Me personally:  dont give a flying * about it, just happend to mention it thats all.

As it happens I can tell that not many of the posters here have even bothered to read the IS thread but just posting off the cuff.

[Microbius]

.....  every single one, I mean everyone..... are just down, down, down, down,, begging on their bare knees to do something, change the best match, blaming Vettas for everything.

hmmmmm

[loop]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well. 

[lagereek]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well. 

Actually  May has begun well,  oddly enough, lets hope it stays that way.

[ProArtwork]

I used to see many admins and inspectors post their woo yay results. I only see one admin and one inspector posts and is negative. 

[gostwyck]

I used to see many admins and inspectors post their woo yay results. I only see one admin and one inspector posts and is negative. 

I noticed that too. Mind you aren't most of them currently living it up on a contributor company expensed vacation at a posh hotel in London? Thinkstock needs more images after all.

[ShadySue]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well. 

Conversely, in the Good Old Days, I remember some people saying they were embarrassed to post poor results when everyone else seemed to be donig well.

[jamirae]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well. 

Conversely, in the Good Old Days, I remember some people saying they were embarrassed to post poor results when everyone else seemed to be donig well.

I guess these days it's "misery loves company" posts

[Jo Ann Snover]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well. 

That's one way of looking at it. OTOH, if you're interested in painting an accurate picture of how things are at IS, you might help everyone out by posting about it.

I noted one diamond exclusive who reported a good month (2nd BME) and one gold exclusive who had a great month. Otherwise it was bronze and silvers - and it's not that these folks don't count, but when the numbers are much smaller or there aren't the multi-year comparisons, it really isn't saying the same thing as someone with a bigger portfolio, more sales and a longer time over which to compare.

[lagereek]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well.  

That's one way of looking at it. OTOH, if you're interested in painting an accurate picture of how things are at IS, you might help everyone out by posting about it.

I noted one diamond exclusive who reported a good month (2nd BME) and one gold exclusive who had a great month. Otherwise it was bronze and silvers - and it's not that these folks don't count, but when the numbers are much smaller or there aren't the multi-year comparisons, it really isn't saying the same thing as someone with a bigger portfolio, more sales and a longer time over which to compare.

Exactly the important issue here!  Im glad!  you were in fact the only one that grasped that,  smaller bronze and silver contributors reporting BME, etc and ofcourse it counts but it doesnt in any way alter the overall picture.

It might be something somebody said last year, maybe they are investing heavlily in new faces, etc, since the old ones and high cannister members are pretty wise to all the moves and cant really be bullied anymore. we shall see.

[PaulieWalnuts]

I would never report a good month while others report a bad one. Don't seem tasteful to me. And, btw, May has begun very well.  

That's one way of looking at it. OTOH, if you're interested in painting an accurate picture of how things are at IS, you might help everyone out by posting about it.

I noted one diamond exclusive who reported a good month (2nd BME) and one gold exclusive who had a great month. Otherwise it was bronze and silvers - and it's not that these folks don't count, but when the numbers are much smaller or there aren't the multi-year comparisons, it really isn't saying the same thing as someone with a bigger portfolio, more sales and a longer time over which to compare.

Exactly the important issue here!  Im glad!  you were in fact the only one that grasped that,  smaller bronze and silver contributors reporting BME, etc and ofcourse it counts but it doesnt in any way alter the overall picture.

It might be something somebody said last year, maybe they are investing heavlily in new faces, etc, since the old ones and high cannister members are pretty wise to all the moves and cant really be bullied anymore. we shall see.

Bullying/leverage may be one part. I'd say profitability is more likely.

[lisafx]

That's one way of looking at it. OTOH, if you're interested in painting an accurate picture of how things are at IS, you might help everyone out by posting about it.

I noted one diamond exclusive who reported a good month (2nd BME) and one gold exclusive who had a great month. Otherwise it was bronze and silvers - and it's not that these folks don't count, but when the numbers are much smaller or there aren't the multi-year comparisons, it really isn't saying the same thing as someone with a bigger portfolio, more sales and a longer time over which to compare.

Agreed on all counts.  Nobody's saying lower canisters don't count.  Just that they are less of an indication of overall site trends. 

And some of us post every month in the stats threads - good or bad - to help contribute to the overall picture of what sales are doing. 

[caspixel]

If things continue to look so dismal, I wonder if iStock will eliminate the monthly sales threads. Certainly doesn't look good for the company.

[gostwyck]

If things continue to look so dismal, I wonder if iStock will eliminate the monthly sales threads. Certainly doesn't look good for the company.

Maybe __ but then it would just turn up here or somewhere else where Istock would have absolutely no control of it whatsoever.

[sweetgirll]

I don't count, because I'm a silver...I  have a tiny portfolio, close to 300 images but I haven't uploaded for years, so if I don't upload I take it will decline anyway, but nothing like this year.
This month of april I made exactly 2.5 times less than what I made in january.  In january my return per vector was around 0.9

[lisafx]

If things continue to look so dismal, I wonder if iStock will eliminate the monthly sales threads. Certainly doesn't look good for the company.

I've been expecting them to get rid of the monthly sales threads for several months now.

This month's thread, in addition to being very depressing, is much shorter than in the past.  Maybe it won't be necessary to eliminate the monthly stats threads after all.  If enough people become dispirited and stop posting, the "problem" of unfavorable threads will take care of itself. 

[bunhill]

I've been expecting them to get rid of the monthly sales threads for several months now.

It maybe needs to be re scheduled given that for many people the GI and PP sales are an increasingly important part of the total picture and those results always come in later.

ETA: although most contributors never post in the sales thread from what I can gather. I doubt many read it either but I might be wrong.

[lisafx]

It maybe needs to be re scheduled given that for many people the GI and PP sales are an increasingly important part of the total picture and those results always come in later.

Can't they post those results to the existing sales threads when they come in? 

[gostwyck]

It maybe needs to be re scheduled given that for many people the GI and PP sales are an increasingly important part of the total picture and those results always come in later.

Can't they post those results to the existing sales threads when they come in? 

Don't you have to wait up to 3 months for the PP sales to dribble in?

[Phadrea]

May so far is even worse. What idiots have messed up the site ? It's disgraceful. I will be turning in my exclusivity as I will make more money on lots of cheaper sites. Eggs and baskets spring to mind.

[Mantis]

Scratching my head here but what kind of company treats their suppliers AND buyers like crap and expects to be successful? In my opinion there is DEFIANTLY an ulterior motive...should I say strategy..behind the behavior of the IS principles.  To me they are obviously (intentionally) not communicating whatever it is they are concocting behind the scenes and are surely trying to manipulate a different desired business outcome.  This is simple to infer due solely to their silence in the forums...all while their "valued" human capital (suppliers) are losing a huge chunk of their livelihood $$ and their equally valued revenue machines (buyers) are being shut out by high prices, poor system functionality and what amounts to ISTOCK trickery by placing Agency and Vetta at the top of best match searches.

They are a disgraceful business.

[cathyslife]

Scratching my head here but what kind of company treats their suppliers AND buyers like crap and expects to be successful? In my opinion there is DEFIANTLY an ulterior motive...should I say strategy..behind the behavior of the IS principles.  To me they are obviously (intentionally) not communicating whatever it is they are concocting behind the scenes and are surely trying to manipulate a different desired business outcome.  This is simple to infer due solely to their silence in the forums...all while their "valued" human capital (suppliers) are losing a huge chunk of their livelihood $$ and their equally valued revenue machines (buyers) are being shut out by high prices, poor system functionality and what amounts to ISTOCK trickery by placing Agency and Vetta at the top of best match searches.

They are a disgraceful business.

Word.