MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: New Collections launching this afternoon (iStock time)  (Read 29881 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Ron

« Reply #50 on: June 14, 2013, 17:02 »
+6
Whatever IS does, people stick by them. Its the Stockholm Syndrome. But at some point the love affair has to end, no?


« Reply #51 on: June 14, 2013, 17:06 »
+4
That's just peachy, these guys really have the winning friends and influencing people thing down pat, don't they?  I don't suppose it occurred to them to just move P+ into the new collection while they make up their minds instead of handing out another pay cut.  My 15% of a small number sold just as well, if not better, at the higher point as they did at the lower.  The irony is that folks all would have picked their P+ on a similar basis and, given IS take the lions share of sales revenue, who is going to lose the most?

What's truly bizarre is that they are giving themselves a pay cut, too. That's a first!

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #52 on: June 14, 2013, 18:18 »
0
If you look in My Uploads at the dropdown for Collections, there are 5 choices, one being Value Bin. All my old VB files seem currently to be in the main collection, from the two which flamed there, to those that never sold even in the VC; as usual, I can't find any link to the value collection  :o, but others can usually help me with this.
Hmmmm.
Looking at the ValueBin dropdown in My Uploads still says, "There are no items to display", as it did last night, but looking again at my two files which flamed in the DB, I see they are priced at 1Cr up, so are apparently in the Value Collection. I wouldn't have minded if these to had gone up to the Main, and the rest can stay in the new VB.
Anyone found out how a potential buyer can access the VB?

Reef

  • website ready 2026 :)
« Reply #53 on: June 14, 2013, 19:25 »
+1
I'm confused!

I seem to have no files in the main collection. I never used + or uploaded to Vetta but all my files are now in Sig or Sig+

Also, I compared the pricing with getty and.... well, see screen grab showing the same file price on both sites.  How does that make sense?

I was on the verge of going independent and setting up a Symbo site, but now I suppose I should wait until the dust settles.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2013, 19:28 by Reef »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #54 on: June 14, 2013, 19:29 »
0
Nope I was right the first time. The Main collection is priced at 1Cr up.

So how much are files in the Value Bin? Does the VB actually exist, or is that a placeholder in the dropdown?

« Reply #55 on: June 14, 2013, 20:46 »
0
,
« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 12:52 by Audi 5000 »

mlwinphoto

« Reply #56 on: June 14, 2013, 21:37 »
0
Aren't they getting rid of the value bin

Pretty sure I read that they were going to decide later what to do with the VB.

« Reply #57 on: June 14, 2013, 22:04 »
0
All my files were P+, now they are all main. I guess that means that my miniscule IS income will be cut in 1/2, thus making the site formerly known as Istock really just a front for the partner program. Luckily the content I still have there is mostly just to keep an eye on what they are doing and not really part of my income stream anymore.

mlwinphoto

« Reply #58 on: June 14, 2013, 23:08 »
0
All my files were P+, now they are all main. I guess that means that my miniscule IS income will be cut in 1/2, thus making the site formerly known as Istock really just a front for the partner program. Luckily the content I still have there is mostly just to keep an eye on what they are doing and not really part of my income stream anymore.

All of P+ are Main also but supposedly further adjustments are coming.

« Reply #59 on: June 14, 2013, 23:16 »
0
All my files were P+, now they are all main. I guess that means that my miniscule IS income will be cut in 1/2, thus making the site formerly known as Istock really just a front for the partner program. Luckily the content I still have there is mostly just to keep an eye on what they are doing and not really part of my income stream anymore.

All of P+ are Main also but supposedly further adjustments are coming.

...coming, but when?  Sounded like it was in the distant future after they adjusted all the exclusive content.  In the meaning, we all lose income and take a hit on the RC's making it harder to maintain or grow in levels. 

JFP

« Reply #60 on: June 14, 2013, 23:18 »
0
So, not that I m very surprised, they screwed up again. Some files are being removed from Getty....

« Reply #61 on: June 15, 2013, 02:16 »
0
I've also lost 30 images from Getty overnight. Who knows what's going on.

« Reply #62 on: June 15, 2013, 08:00 »
+1
... thus making the site formerly known as Istock really just a front for the partner program.

You nailed it there - I suspect this has been the goal of GI from the beginning.  It's too bad to have images with flames that sold just fine at P+ prices now available for a buck and only 16 cents to me.  Lost revenue for iS too and they lose even more since they are taking more.  If they really are lowering review standards as mentioned in the other thread then it seems that their strategy now may be to offer images at lower prices rather than higher quality.  Too bad.  Last month was the first time for me to make more through PP rather than regular iS sales and unfortunately it looks like that will now be the norm as so far this month regular iS sales are even lower.

People keep supporting them regardless of commission cuts, etc., because they have continued to deliver revenue-wise relative to every other agency besides SS.  For independents that may change with the current pricing structure.

« Reply #63 on: June 15, 2013, 08:23 »
0
Whatever IS does, people stick by them. Its the Stockholm Syndrome. But at some point the love affair has to end, no?

Maybe not,  many companies are terrible.  Microsoft acts like your lucky to buy from them, Coke is 6 times the cost of copies.   Both are bigger than ever.   

Yuri going exclusive with getty is not a good sign for those thinking getty is going down! He is no dummy.

« Reply #64 on: June 15, 2013, 17:04 »
+8
Yuri can get a special deal, the rest of us can't.  So it really shouldn't matter what Yuri does and it doesn't mean that Getty/istock is a good option for the rest of us.

wds

« Reply #65 on: June 15, 2013, 21:04 »
0
All my files were P+, now they are all main. I guess that means that my miniscule IS income will be cut in 1/2, thus making the site formerly known as Istock really just a front for the partner program. Luckily the content I still have there is mostly just to keep an eye on what they are doing and not really part of my income stream anymore.

All of P+ are Main also but supposedly further adjustments are coming.

...coming, but when?  Sounded like it was in the distant future after they adjusted all the exclusive content.  In the meaning, we all lose income and take a hit on the RC's making it harder to maintain or grow in levels.

It's kind of shocking to look at where the independent price points went to. I looked at some top independent contributors and looks like the bulk (all?) of their images are priced in the bottom tier.

« Reply #66 on: June 16, 2013, 00:23 »
+6
All my files were P+, now they are all main. I guess that means that my miniscule IS income will be cut in 1/2, thus making the site formerly known as Istock really just a front for the partner program. Luckily the content I still have there is mostly just to keep an eye on what they are doing and not really part of my income stream anymore.

All of P+ are Main also but supposedly further adjustments are coming.

...coming, but when?  Sounded like it was in the distant future after they adjusted all the exclusive content.  In the meaning, we all lose income and take a hit on the RC's making it harder to maintain or grow in levels.

It's kind of shocking to look at where the independent price points went to. I looked at some top independent contributors and looks like the bulk (all?) of their images are priced in the bottom tier.

Yes, they put us back where we were before the P+ deal came along. I'd put all my best-selling files into P+ so about 80% of my sales were at that level.  I don't know what the percentage drop in earnings will be, but it is sure to be painful.  The only consolation is that it is a hefty drop in earnings for Getty, too, as for every $ I lose they lose more than $4, so maybe they will do something about it. They stand to lose hundreds of dollars a month on my account alone so I guess that overall their loss would run into a good number of millions over a year.

« Reply #67 on: June 16, 2013, 03:49 »
+3
....They stand to lose hundreds of dollars a month on my account alone so I guess that overall their loss would run into a good number of millions over a year.
They must be expecting buyers to buy more images and for some buyers that have left to come back.  I don't think it will work, it's too late now.  Can anyone trust them to keep prices as they are for more than a few months without changing everything again?  Now the upload limits have gone and the QC seems to of gone, the site will be swamped with low quality images.  Buyers will avoid the lower tier collections as that's were all  the low quality stuff will end up.  Hopefully more non-exclusives will see that istock is a complete waste of time now.  I can't believe so many non-exclusives haven't worked that out yet.

« Reply #68 on: June 16, 2013, 04:19 »
+1
just a question..do you find fair that the contributor urilux

have http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12107875-young-man-presenting-ideas-to-his-business-team.php in vetta
and http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12479981-business-people-discussing-work-on-laptop-at-a-meeting.php in main

how is possible that a file that collects >2700 in 3 years is moved to the main collection ?

the same for http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12181084-business-development-hands-holding-seedling-in-a-group.php

or  http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-11860951-view-of-a-couple-sitting-on-deck-chairs-enjoying-vacation.php

how can people that have business images compete with these kind of difference of price being at the same time exclusive ... ?
« Last Edit: June 16, 2013, 04:21 by kelby »

Ron

« Reply #69 on: June 16, 2013, 06:16 »
0
I have never seen a meeting where people are sitting that close together at such a small table. And I have been to plenty of meetings. Sure those images sell well, but I had to laugh at how cramped that all looks. Off topic, sorry. Carry on.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #70 on: June 16, 2013, 06:27 »
+3
It's kind of shocking to look at where the independent price points went to. I looked at some top independent contributors and looks like the bulk (all?) of their images are priced in the bottom tier.

If you read the thread over there, according to Lobo it's an ongoing process and all indie files have been put in the bottom tier and will be adjusted over the next few days.
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=354349&messageid=6900327

Mind you, he also said: "Exclusive content will always have preferential treatment in search. Period."
maybe in a planet where 'always' and 'preferential treatment' have been redefined in the iStock dictionary like 'exclusive' (and 'trust' before that). In my current best match search for 'elephant', 7 of the top 13 are indie. For 'finch' the top 8 are exclusive, and the next 8 are indie. True, the top 36 searches on 'busiessman' are exclusive or faux-exclusive, but he said 'always'.
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=354349&messageid=6900801
I have no idea whether he just makes things up or just feeds us the lies TPTB feed him. Quite probably the latter, but if it were me, I'd be sick of being constantly made to look idiotic or a liar by my bosses.

NB, I make NO comment about the relative merits of the exclusive and indie files in these searches.

And in looking at these and other searches, I see that new files are nowhere in the top 200, as the best match still has a huge weighting to sales. Still no incentive to upload, which is lucky, as I have a huge garden project ongoing.  ;D

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #71 on: June 16, 2013, 06:29 »
+2
just a question..do you find fair that the contributor urilux

have http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12107875-young-man-presenting-ideas-to-his-business-team.php in vetta
and http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12479981-business-people-discussing-work-on-laptop-at-a-meeting.php in main

how is possible that a file that collects >2700 in 3 years is moved to the main collection ?

the same for http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12181084-business-development-hands-holding-seedling-in-a-group.php

or  http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-11860951-view-of-a-couple-sitting-on-deck-chairs-enjoying-vacation.php

how can people that have business images compete with these kind of difference of price being at the same time exclusive ... ?


Wow, that must also be part of his 'special deal' - his old good sellers shifting collections.
I need his business adviser LOL  ;)
I know that putting my old slide scans which historically sold well onto S+ will kill them stone dead. I'd have been far less upset if they had been demoted to Main rather than some of my more 'unique' subjects which will never sell more than a couple of times. Putting them in a cheap collection won't change that.
« Last Edit: June 16, 2013, 08:49 by ShadySue »

« Reply #72 on: June 16, 2013, 08:31 »
+2
True, the top 36 searches on 'busiessman' are exclusive or faux-exclusive, but he said 'always'.

Being given "preference" is not the same as a guarantee that every exclusive file will be above every non-exclusive file. It means they will get an undeserved few extra brownie points added to the search which may not (or may) be enough to put them ahead of a more deserving independent file.

« Reply #73 on: June 16, 2013, 10:28 »
0
What's truly bizarre is that they are giving themselves a pay cut, too. That's a first!
It's funny, I made this point in the relevant thread over there (which was ignored obviously).  As I was there I looked at a few ports of a few diamonds who are bleating about the wonderfullness of the exclusive content and who, without exception, have less downloads per image than even I have (who could hardly get anything accepted there up to now - dunno about in their new accept any old cr@p approach)
As a small amateur I haven't bothered with anything below top 5 but, of these, there is only one that is actually focused on the commercials of this business via their pricing, acceptance policy, contributor cut etc etc and we all know who that is.
.

« Reply #74 on: June 16, 2013, 11:51 »
0
,
« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 12:51 by Audi 5000 »


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
17 Replies
6754 Views
Last post July 06, 2007, 19:32
by leaf
3 Replies
4401 Views
Last post March 25, 2009, 21:15
by Pixart
iStock simplifying collections

Started by Poncke v2 « 1 2 ... 7 8 » iStockPhoto.com

192 Replies
32942 Views
Last post May 20, 2013, 20:00
by ShadySue
38 Replies
15233 Views
Last post April 14, 2017, 23:44
by Rage
50 Replies
37608 Views
Last post June 30, 2020, 11:23
by Tenebroso

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors