Author Topic: Istock sales since price changes (Read 38345 times)

lisafx · « **Reply #100 on:** July 15, 2013, 14:39 »

Quote from: SC on July 15, 2013, 13:52

This link just got posted in the iStock forum:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=1560?esource=50407_iStock_ABC_Wave_2_RNB_EN_em&sp_rid=&sp_mid=5577078

Well that's pretty illuminating. No wonder they can't get their accounting right when apparently nobody there even knows how to divide by two.

Since when is 1 one half of 1, or 7 one half of 18

dingles · « **Reply #101 on:** July 15, 2013, 14:42 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 15, 2013, 14:37

Quote from: dingles on July 15, 2013, 13:47

Okay, this is true...I'm talking past performance on IS. smarty pants ;p

Fair enough

Guess I'm just not in the mood to cut Istock any slack today. If I see some serious money start to roll in from the PP it should improve my state of mind.

It's cool, they don't deserve any slack.

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #102 on:** July 15, 2013, 15:23 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 15, 2013, 10:55

Quote from: gostwyck on July 15, 2013, 07:25

No independent contributor now has any incentive to upload new content to IS unless royalties are increased substantially ... but IS won't be able to do that without also increasing exclusive rates ... which Getty would never allow.

I'm really not sure how IS can drag themselves out of they hole they have dug. I can see them becoming a boutique 'exclusive only' agency at sometime in the future but more by the accident of independent contributors leaving (or starving them of new content) than by design.

I had thought that the PP would provide enough incentive to keep some indies uploading to IS, but with the PP payouts being so unreliable (or nonexistent), that's the last incentive gone.

An inability to pay is only 1/2 the problem. The other 1/2 is the fact that they can't manage to get files transferred to the partner sites in the first place.
I'm not much of a fan of the partner program so I can't say I'm too worried about that part of the ongoing iStock fiasco. What is a real insult is the slashing of prices on our files which combined with a 15% royalty means peanuts from here on out. Supposedly they will be moving some of the better selling non-exclusive files into the higher priced collections but at the rate things happen over there it will probably be months from now....assuming they are even able to pull it off.
Too bad. Several months ago iStock looked like the place to be; how things have changed.
I'm done uploading new material there but I'm a small fish so it's no concern of theirs. Hopefully enough indies will be doing the same and, collectively, we can make a small dent in iStock's bottom line.

lisafx · « **Reply #103 on:** July 15, 2013, 15:34 »

I quit uploading there in January, but the failure to pay PP royalties worries me a great deal. If May and June were average months then I am waiting on a considerable amount of money.

MichaelJayFoto · « **Reply #104 on:** July 15, 2013, 23:55 »

Quote from: gostwyck on July 15, 2013, 07:25

No independent contributor now has any incentive to upload new content to IS unless royalties are increased substantially ...

Yes, you would think so. Then again, I have heard this argument for half a decade now with almost any change that has been made. Still many independents are uploading images (though I do know quite a lot who don't).

Maybe this is part of the illusion: While there seems to be more or less agreement between people posting at MSG, there is a huge amount of people who
A) continue uploading but won't mention it because you just don't mention "business as usual"
B) continue uploading but won't mention it because anyone stating they will continue is prone to be bashed here
C) continue uploading but does not read or write on MSG

So I don't believe that iStock is weakening their position and should be afraid not to get any new uploads from independents. Actually right now with the upload limits raised I am watching quite a few huge portfolios being added to iStock these days. Some of them existing contributors with a huge backlog, some of them more or less completely new portfolios with thousands of images each.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #105 on:** July 16, 2013, 00:51 »

Quote from: MichaelJayFoto on July 15, 2013, 23:55

Quote from: gostwyck on July 15, 2013, 07:25
No independent contributor now has any incentive to upload new content to IS unless royalties are increased substantially ...

Yes, you would think so. Then again, I have heard this argument for half a decade now with almost any change that has been made. Still many independents are uploading images (though I do know quite a lot who don't).

Maybe this is part of the illusion: While there seems to be more or less agreement between people posting at MSG, there is a huge amount of people who
A) continue uploading but won't mention it because you just don't mention "business as usual"
B) continue uploading but won't mention it because anyone stating they will continue is prone to be bashed here
C) continue uploading but does not read or write on MSG

So I don't believe that iStock is weakening their position and should be afraid not to get any new uploads from independents. Actually right now with the upload limits raised I am watching quite a few huge portfolios being added to iStock these days. Some of them existing contributors with a huge backlog, some of them more or less completely new portfolios with thousands of images each.

Since most new images neither get sold nor even seen, it seems to be pretty irrelevant to istock (or contributors) whether anyone uploads or not. It's almost as if the main function of the contributor part of the site is not to receive stock any more but to keep contributors talking about the brand to their friends and colleagues and the file storage is merely an advertising cost.

ShadySue · « **Reply #106 on:** July 16, 2013, 02:01 »

Despite new files going immediately into the abyss, there are 171040 files in the queue at this moment. So they're not all cynics like us, yet; remembering that a cynic is a disappointed optimist.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #107 on:** July 16, 2013, 02:33 »

It's bizarre, but for the first time ever I have a gut feeling that not uploading there will not make the slightest difference to my earnings.
I just checked - I've uploaded 60 files there since Dec 12, twenty-two of them up to early Jan, the other half during May, and I've got six sales out of that for a total of about $3.50.
BUT then I went to the PP and found I had made $5.20 there from the 22 Dec-Jan uploads, even though we still haven't got the figures for May and June. I guess once (if) that comes in, I will discover that I'm making seven or eight times as much from PP (which really means TS) with my recent uploads as I am from iS.
So it seems that TS - even before the price change - had become a more important agency for new uploads than iS.
And that, in turn, makes me wonder what percentage of the monthly payout from iS is now for the partner prog... It might be far more significant than I've been thinking.

MichaelJayFoto · « **Reply #108 on:** July 16, 2013, 03:11 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 16, 2013, 00:51

Since most new images neither get sold nor even seen, it seems to be pretty irrelevant to istock (or contributors) whether anyone uploads or not

Well, you shouldn't forget that one of the main parts for non-exclusives is the partner program. I do sell new files quite well through the partner program. So there still is a certain incentive to upload new image to iStock. I do sell new files on iStock itself occasionally as well, though certainly not as many as a few years ago. However, these changes are happening during the usual summer slowdown and there are other changes announced for the near future. I am not sure how all of this is going to look at the end but I think we need to wait at least until September to see how customers and contributors are reacting to the changes during the next sales season.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #109 on:** July 16, 2013, 03:15 »

Yup, I just worked that out - to my surprise - in the post above yours, Michael. It looks as though resuming uploading might be worth $400 a year to me.

a2ndLook · « **Reply #110 on:** July 16, 2013, 10:37 »

My sales are way down even for this time of year.

The reason...
My best selling, former E+, now moved up to Vetta, no sales.

My steady but not unique or artistic images that have been moved up to S+ few or no sales.

As for files moved down to the main collection I believe I have only made 3 sales in these areas.

Mellimage · « **Reply #111 on:** July 16, 2013, 11:18 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 16, 2013, 03:15

Yup, I just worked that out - to my surprise - in the post above yours, Michael. It looks as though resuming uploading might be worth $400 a year to me.

Well - only if you eventually get that money... .

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #112 on:** July 16, 2013, 12:36 »

Quote from: Mellimage on July 16, 2013, 11:18

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 16, 2013, 03:15
Yup, I just worked that out - to my surprise - in the post above yours, Michael. It looks as though resuming uploading might be worth $400 a year to me.

Well - only if you eventually get that money... .

Quite, it's purely theoretical. I'm not planning on doing it.

stockastic · « **Reply #113 on:** July 16, 2013, 13:00 »

I deactivated all but one of my files back on D-Day. I left one, just to keep the account active and monitor changes, and it sells every few days. Since the price cuts, it continues to sell, but the average price is less than half of what it was.

I'd say that the effect of the price cuts is that the prices have been cut.

gclk · « **Reply #114 on:** July 16, 2013, 17:29 »

They were up and down in the weeks leading up to 4th July, but since then my sales have nosedived like I've never seen before. Currently flatlining on less than a third of normal July sales.

gostwyck · « **Reply #115 on:** July 18, 2013, 08:37 »

Now that we're more than half way through the month it would appear that my sales volume is noticeably up since the price reductions. As things stand my downloads are likely to be 25-30% higher than in June ... but obviously for a lot less money.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #116 on:** July 18, 2013, 10:11 »

Quote from: gostwyck on July 18, 2013, 08:37

Now that we're more than half way through the month it would appear that my sales volume is noticeably up since the price reductions. As things stand my downloads are likely to be 25-30% higher than in June ... but obviously for a lot less money.

I'm still well up - in fact I've now sold more files this month than I sold in March and I'm about on par with April and May, so I seem to be about 50% up. But, of course, for less money. The vote also still seems to be consistent with a pattern of some shifting of sales away from exclusives towards independents.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #117 on:** July 18, 2013, 10:15 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2013, 10:11

Quote from: gostwyck on July 18, 2013, 08:37
Now that we're more than half way through the month it would appear that my sales volume is noticeably up since the price reductions. As things stand my downloads are likely to be 25-30% higher than in June ... but obviously for a lot less money.

I'm still well up - in fact I've now sold more files this month than I sold in March and I'm about on par with April and May, so I seem to be about 50% up. But, of course, for less money. The vote also still seems to be consistent with a pattern of some shifting of sales away from exclusives towards independents.

Plus, iS is running a major ad campaign.

lisafx · « **Reply #118 on:** July 18, 2013, 11:45 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2013, 10:11

Quote from: gostwyck on July 18, 2013, 08:37
Now that we're more than half way through the month it would appear that my sales volume is noticeably up since the price reductions. As things stand my downloads are likely to be 25-30% higher than in June ... but obviously for a lot less money.

I'm still well up - in fact I've now sold more files this month than I sold in March and I'm about on par with April and May, so I seem to be about 50% up. But, of course, for less money. The vote also still seems to be consistent with a pattern of some shifting of sales away from exclusives towards independents.

Add me to the group. Sales are running around 30% up for July, but money is roughly 50% down.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #119 on:** July 18, 2013, 11:47 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 18, 2013, 11:45

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2013, 10:11
Quote from: gostwyck on July 18, 2013, 08:37
Now that we're more than half way through the month it would appear that my sales volume is noticeably up since the price reductions. As things stand my downloads are likely to be 25-30% higher than in June ... but obviously for a lot less money.

I'm still well up - in fact I've now sold more files this month than I sold in March and I'm about on par with April and May, so I seem to be about 50% up. But, of course, for less money. The vote also still seems to be consistent with a pattern of some shifting of sales away from exclusives towards independents.

Add me to the group. Sales are running around 30% up for July, but money is roughly 50% down.

I wonder if the fact we are all old-timers is in some way significant, since many others are saying their sales are down.

lisafx · « **Reply #120 on:** July 18, 2013, 11:52 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 18, 2013, 11:47

I wonder if the fact we are all old-timers is in some way significant, since many others are saying their sales are down.

It's possible. Seems like newer stuff isn't selling, so by being indie (cheap!) and having a lot of older stuff, maybe we are at some slight advantage?

Either way, any advantage in best match is worthless if it doesn't translate into more money.

Dollarwise I am in schedule to be down by roughly half. I had hoped PP earnings would mitigate that, but looks like that's not going to happen.

I have joked before about Istock being in its death throes, but now I am seriously starting to worry that may be the case.

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #121 on:** July 18, 2013, 22:40 »

I am waaaaaay down in the number of sales and, of course, in $. Unless there is a miraculous turnaround this will be my worst month since joining iStock 5 years ago. That combined with the fact that they seem incapable of getting my files into the PP my iS related income will become insignificant. If nothing else it will make it an easy decision to terminate my account, which may be the only way I get my remaining balance....$7 shy of payout.

THP Creative · « **Reply #122 on:** July 19, 2013, 00:41 »

I have currently sold as many files so far this month as the whole of last month. But I have earned less than HALF of what I earned last month. Suffice to say, this new change is NOT for the better.

Add to that STILL waiting for PP sales and iStock are certainly not looking good at the moment.

devon · « **Reply #123 on:** July 19, 2013, 00:56 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 18, 2013, 11:45

Add me to the group. Sales are running around 30% up for July, but money is roughly 50% down.

Same here. Worst month I've had in a long time!

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #124 on:** July 19, 2013, 09:58 »

I know this isn't a complete survey of what has happened since the price changes - and perhaps there's someone happy that their income (not just sales) is through the roof since the changes, but I haven't heard anyone say that so far - but the amount that iStock loses when an indie contributor's income is cut in half is huge. I know everyone knows that, but I think I'm slow on the uptake

So if an indie contributor (let's say at 16% to pick one of the royalty levels) earned $160 last month and that is cut in half to $80 this month, that means iStock's revenue of $840 las month is halved to $420, if I have this right? How can this not be a huge revenue hit for them, and how many months will they keep doing this in the hope that enough additional sales will materialize to make them better off (I know they don't care about contributors being better off)

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Author Topic: Istock sales since price changes (Read 38345 times)

lisafx

dingles

mlwinphoto

lisafx

MichaelJayFoto

BaldricksTrousers

ShadySue

BaldricksTrousers

MichaelJayFoto

BaldricksTrousers

a2ndLook

Mellimage

BaldricksTrousers

stockastic

gclk

gostwyck

BaldricksTrousers

WarrenPrice

lisafx

BaldricksTrousers

lisafx

mlwinphoto

THP Creative

devon

Jo Ann Snover

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