January 2011 price adjustment just announced.


edited to try and fix the missing link

Really L for 15 credits, L E+ for 30 credits?  Is this right?  I can't post in the forums and the site is not working anyway, maybe someone here knows? 
I just saw LOBO said something about E+ credit "wonkyness", is that what this is.  He said it was fixed and to sitemail him if it isn't.  Can someone sitemail on my behalf if this is what he's talking about since I can't do that either.  Thanks.

Sean made a nice comparison chart on his blog
http://seanlockedigitalimagery.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/istock-pricing-changes/

Sean made a nice comparison chart on his blog
http://seanlockedigitalimagery.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/istock-pricing-changes/

On Sean's site it says E+ XXXL is 50 but the rogermexico link says they are 35, mine are at 50 now.  This is confusing, what is the real price supposed to be?
http://www.istockphoto.com/prices.php

On Sean's site it says E+ XXXL is 50 but the rogermexico link says they are 35, mine are at 50 now.  This is confusing, what is the real price supposed to be?
http://www.istockphoto.com/prices.php

Rogermexico is Istock's employee so I bet Sean's version is correct.

Quote from: traveler1116 on January 19, 2011, 09:32

On Sean's site it says E+ XXXL is 50 but the rogermexico link says they are 35, mine are at 50 now.  This is confusing, what is the real price supposed to be?
http://www.istockphoto.com/prices.php

Rogermexico is Istock's employee so I bet Sean's version is correct.

I know I feel the same way that's why it's confusing.  Looking at the thread it appears Sean was right and rogermexico was wrong...

How many times in the past have they changed pricing? They should be well skilled at this. Unbelievable that they can't even get right something that benefits them! Rudderless ship of fools.

Is the Exclusive+ collection all the exclusive files that aren't Vetta? If so, it is another huge round of price rises on exclusive stuff, while independents are basically frozen for another year.

Whether this is going to help exclusives or not is quite another question but I guess the independents are the bait to try to bring buyers in and the Vetta/exc+ are the switch.

No E+ are a % of exclusive files, chosen by the contributor to be a higher price and get better best match placement (although the better search position has not happened yet after over 6 months since we were promised).

^ Was it actually a promise?  I seem to recall a sort of weasel-word expression that implied they might give E+ a boost if it was in the best interests of iStock, without it actually being a guarantee...

They said we would get the best match boost and then recently (Sept.) they said we would still be getting it.  But nothing yet..

As anyone noticed just how loooooong that list is too, what with all the different collections. What a confusing mess at this point.

This is so wrong on so many levels.

Perhaps the biggest is that they spend even a nanosecond on implementing a price increase when search is limping along in a damaged state.

The second is that they raised one size of non-exclusive file - medium (5 to 7 credits). They raised one level of exclusive illustration from 14 to 15 credits. Why piss buyers off with price increases when the benefit to contributors can't really be all that great?

The third is that they jacked up all but XS and S of E+ files hugely and those files have a 6 month lock. So contributors who are supposed to have a choice in putting files in there find they're stuck with the new prices whether they like them or not. No warning, no get-out opportunity (although I posted that they should allow that through the end of January as a courtesy).

I added a post yesterday (promptly locked) that I now had a partner program tab (in my file_downloads.php page) where I had not had one before. I have never been in the partner program. I don't want to be forced into it. I sent a screen capture as requested by Lobo and am awaiting word as to why that's there. I'm concerned there's going to be some change in allowing an opt out for the partner program. They've just assigned someone (Echodelta) to manage all the Getty-iStock file movements, including the partner program, Agency & Vetta on Getty, etc. Perhaps there isn't another shoe waiting to drop, but given this price stuff, I think they're just trying to scrape up whatever cash they can, wherever they think they can...

E+ price changes (based on KelvinJay's post and link):
M    15 to 20 (33% increase)
L    20 to 30 (50%)
XL   25 to 35 (40%)
XXL  30 to 40 (33%)
XXXL 35 to 50 (43%)

Wow.  Bet they finally give the E+ files the Best Match boost they had promised at the start of the program.

The minimum prices for images on Dreamstime:
ES   1
S    3
M    4
L    5
XL   6
XXL+ 7

The maximum prices for very popular images on Dreamstime:
ES   9
S    11
M    14
L    15
XL   16
XXL+ 17

So the largest size of the most popular image on Dreamstime is 3 *credits* cheaper than the Medium E+ file from iStock.  The credits on Dreamstime are also significantly cheaper (10-15%?). 

I feel it is time we retired the word 'microstock' from our vocabulary, at least as it pertains to iStock.

Could iStock have finally discovered the mythical and mysterious land that they call ... "Midstock"?

'Tis said that he who greedily tramples upon the hallowed ground of Midstock shall perish most quickly.

Quote from: nosaya on January 19, 2011, 13:41

I feel it is time we retired the word 'microstock' from our vocabulary, at least as it pertains to iStock.

Could iStock have finally discovered the mythical and mysterious land that they call ... "Midstock"?

'Tis said that he who greedily tramples upon the hallowed ground of Midstock shall perish most quickly.

Remember iStockPro? Yeah. That's right. LOL

    Maybe it's just me, but my head is beginning to hurt from all these changes, failures and sneaky switches at istock. Is it okay to upload yet, or are the files still going into limbo? Is it time to try Lagereek's recommended solution- a tall glass of scotch?

did the credit prices change much ?

If they increase prices I'd prefer increased credits per image as that would increase RC total.