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Author Topic: iStock ELs not paying properly?  (Read 41575 times)

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ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« on: October 31, 2010, 06:52 »
0
It seems that some iStock contributers aren't being compensated enough for extended licence sales.
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=269152&page=1
Better check your recent ELs.
I've sent a Support Ticket.


« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2010, 07:15 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2010, 07:21 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

Any scope for another of your fancy Greasemonkey scripts perhaps?

 ;)

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2010, 07:31 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

The consipiracy theorists would say that's the whole point

It's easier when you've got very few ELs, but still time-consuming (I was only checking two ELs and it still took ages): certainly not 'easy'.

« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2010, 07:36 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

The consipiracy theorists would say that's the whole point

It's easier when you've got very few ELs, but still time-consuming (I was only checking two ELs and it still took ages): certainly not 'easy'.

Yep, that's exactly what I was going to say! Can you give me any reasonable explanation why a multi-million dollar company can't hire a company to build a website that works correctly? Why it takes months to fix something?

Those istockalypses need to be sustainable somehow!  ;)

« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2010, 07:40 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

Any scope for another of your fancy Greasemonkey scripts perhaps?

 ;)

This week I'll add a button to show last EL downloads next to the other columns I added before.  It will at least help spot if one sold if you check at the right time.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2010, 07:47 »
0
Can you give me any reasonable explanation why a multi-million dollar company can't hire a company to build a website that works correctly? Why it takes months to fix something?
The conspiracy theorists would say if they can't get enough profit by reneging on their promises to contributors, they need to make up the shortfall by stealing. Why fix what works in their favour?

« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2010, 08:09 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

Any scope for another of your fancy Greasemonkey scripts perhaps?

 ;)

This week I'll add a button to show last EL downloads next to the other columns I added before.  It will at least help spot if one sold if you check at the right time.

What a guy!  Thanks Sean!  :)

« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2010, 08:15 »
0
Unfortunately, there's no way to find 'em.

Any scope for another of your fancy Greasemonkey scripts perhaps?

 ;)

This week I'll add a button to show last EL downloads next to the other columns I added before.  It will at least help spot if one sold if you check at the right time.

---------------------------------------
 Much appreciated, but its such a shame that it takes contributors building stuff like this on their own to get the data.  

Back in the day, Istock's ongoing technical issues were annoying but (maybe just a little) charming.  Today, given the lack of trust, it is frightening to me.  We depend on them to honestly report our sales data to us and pay us accurately.  I don't believe the accounting folks at Istock would seek to screw us, but do we know how the back end works?  Can we request an audit?  Probably tin foil hat talk.

« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2010, 10:33 »
0
You can get an audit at Getty.
"4.7 Audit Rights. You may employ a certified accountant or licensed financial advisor to audit payments made to you during the previous 36 months, at your expense unless the audit reveals that Getty Images has underpaid you by more than 7.5%, in which case Getty Images will reimburse you for the actual and reasonable auditors fees. Getty Images will honor one audit request per calendar year, upon 60 days notice. If an underpayment is discovered in an audit, Getty Images will pay Contributor interest based on the average one month LIBOR rate for the period under audit on the amount due from the date payment was due, correct the books and records, and will pay any amounts due (subject to any applicable Royalty Deductions) within 30 days after the amount due is finally determined. In the event that an audit reveals any overpayment to Contributor, Contributor agrees that Getty Images may deduct the overpayment from Contributors earnings."

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2010, 11:31 »
0
Just checked some of mine. A few seem alright like a 70 credit EL and I got $38.

But quite a few seem a little off to way off.

Unlimited Reproduction / Print Runs (100.00 credits) and I got a $15 and change. That's way off even at XS size.

One from this past week

Multi-Seat (unlimited) (75.00 credits) / Unlimited Reproduction / Print Runs (125.00 credits) and I got a little over $70. Shouldn't that be around $100?

Plus, isn't it supposed to be based on the credit value which is around $1 to $1.50 per credit?  Most of these seem to be at $1 or way less.

donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2010, 11:50 »
0
Help me out here. I got a couple of EL's a couple of weeks ago. Both were 125 credits. One payed 31.51 and one payed 32.40. Are independents earnings amounts different than exclusives on EL licenses? I assume they are but do those amounts sound right? Also how can you find out the date the EL license was sold?

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2010, 11:58 »
0
Help me out here. I got a couple of EL's a couple of weeks ago. Both were 125 credits. One payed 31.51 and one payed 32.40. Are independents earnings amounts different than exclusives on EL licenses? I assume they are but do those amounts sound right? Also how can you find out the date the EL license was sold?

Good question. I thought it was 50% for everybody but I'm not seeing the details anywhere on IS. Anybody have a link to this?

Only way I know to find the date is on the "downloads" area for the individual image.

donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2010, 12:16 »
0
I was also looking at another I had back in September of 09 that sold for 200 credits and I only got $44.52 for it. I have no idea if that is the correct amount. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I've always assumed iStock knew what they were doing so why check??

« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2010, 12:41 »
0
Help me out here. I got a couple of EL's a couple of weeks ago. Both were 125 credits. One payed 31.51 and one payed 32.40. Are independents earnings amounts different than exclusives on EL licenses? I assume they are but do those amounts sound right? Also how can you find out the date the EL license was sold?
Independents earn 20%
$1.26 per credit  x 125 credits= $157.5     Your royalties 20% = $31.50
« Last Edit: October 31, 2010, 12:45 by Digital66 »

donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2010, 12:44 »
0
Help me out here. I got a couple of EL's a couple of weeks ago. Both were 125 credits. One payed 31.51 and one payed 32.40. Are independents earnings amounts different than exclusives on EL licenses? I assume they are but do those amounts sound right? Also how can you find out the date the EL license was sold?
Independents earn 20%

Thanks...the numbers sound right for me then.

« Reply #16 on: November 01, 2010, 13:27 »
0
There's a recent reply to the Help forum thread on IS about this, and the person who called to speak to IS support was told that the 10% bonus exclusives have typically received on EL sales went away last month - we knew it was going in January, but apparently it got taken away sooner.

There clearly is no end to the lengths IS will go to to vacuum up income from what was once the contributor portion. I guess they must be desperate to make their year end numbers to collect their bonuses or keep their jobs.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #17 on: November 01, 2010, 14:13 »
0

There clearly is no end to the lengths IS will go to to vacuum up income from what was once the contributor portion. I guess they must be desperate to make their year end numbers to collect their bonuses or keep their jobs.
Even when that includes lying, cheating and stealing. This is just ridiculous. And my October sales were dire, when previous Octobers have been good for me.

« Reply #18 on: November 01, 2010, 17:30 »
0
Wow, this is really incredible.

« Reply #19 on: November 01, 2010, 17:48 »
0
Every time I think I can't get any more disgusted with that place.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #20 on: November 01, 2010, 18:06 »
0
"So, after some digging, we realized that this code was pushed early. We are going to roll the code back but I need to work with the dev team to determine when this will happen. To fix the error of our ways, we will be adding the 10% royalties on these Extended Licensing purchases into your account from the date the code went live until the date we get it fixed. This is for exclusive contributors only as they are only eligible for the additional 10% royalties on Extended licensing. We apologize for the inconvenience and if you have any further questions, please let us know."

« Reply #21 on: November 01, 2010, 18:13 »
0
Whew.

« Reply #22 on: November 01, 2010, 19:15 »
0
Hmmm. The old "We Realized That This Code Was Pushed Early" ploy. A classic manoeuvre by an insatiably greedy business.

Funny how these 'errors' always seem to be in Istockphoto's favour and they only own up to them after they've been caught with their hand in the till.

Strange coincidence too that they managed to push the commission-grab code early but haven't actually gotten around to the fix that enables contributors to actually see which EL's have sold and when. Who'd have thought such a thing could happen?

« Reply #23 on: November 01, 2010, 19:23 »
0
.... Who'd have thought such a thing could happen?

Um... me :)

Sort of makes a nice pair with the "technical glitch" that got us the toilet stall door in the initial group of Agency images.

I posted earlier about the problem of not knowing about the full details of credits for each sale (for an EL, we don't know size of image purchased, for example) here.

Lots of people have posted about the problems. But contributor tools are a cost and they just won't spend the money.

donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #24 on: November 01, 2010, 19:30 »
0
It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for them to fix it. Maybe they think everyone will forget or they will come out with some other lame statement. That excuse is unbelievable. They gotta hold on to the money as long as they can before this "fix" will become reality. Something is up.


 

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