Author Topic: New Istock Referral Program (Read 6913 times)

Sadstock · « **on:** July 27, 2011, 10:26 »

I never read the Istock forums anymore, but they sent me an email, so I checked it out.

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=332308&page=1

Shockingly,

there are significant loopholes that allow Istock to avoid paying out the referral program bonus.

VB inc · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:37 »

just another indicator of them getting desperate to replace lost buyers

leaf · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:54 »

This is certainly great for the iStock exclusives and especially people that refer a lot of buyers, like Sean. For non-exclusives, there are still a lot better referral programs out there.... to name a few

YayMicro - 20% commission on whatever the buyer buys, forever - 5% on your referral's referrals (also forever)
Shutterstock - 20% commission up to $200
DepositPhotos - 15%
Dreamstime - 10% for 3 years, $5.00 instant bonus

gclk · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2011, 11:02 »

Quote from: VB inc on July 27, 2011, 10:37

just another indicator of them getting desperate to replace lost buyers

On one hand I am glad that - with more print and online advertising, and now by finally starting to do some work on the referral program - some positive efforts to improve marketing and advertising are belatedly happening.

On the other hand, I can't see why there need to be such tight conditions attached to people getting the $20 referral bonus.

If I encourage someone to check out iStock, and they sign up and like what they see, build up some lighboxes, download some free files etc, test the water by buying 12 credits, then - outside the bizarre 30 day window - buy a larger credit package, I get nothing as the referrer. How does the 30 day window make sense?

RacePhoto · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2011, 14:46 »

Quote from: VB inc on July 27, 2011, 10:37

just another indicator of them getting desperate to replace lost buyers

I deleted the email without reading it. Glad someone here posted a link so I could see that I didn't need to care from the start.

redo · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2011, 15:00 »

I'm sorry, but I can't say to anyone:" Please, buy at an agency where I get maybe 16% of the price!"
There are agencies with much better conditions.
Better for me and better for the buyer.

lisafx · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2011, 16:02 »

Quote from: redo on July 27, 2011, 15:00

I'm sorry, but I can't say to anyone:" Please, buy at an agency where I get maybe 16% of the price!"
There are agencies with much better conditions.
Better for me and better for the buyer.

This sums up my feelings exactly.

Snufkin · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2011, 16:58 »

Apparently they have noticed that they are sinking.

Allsa · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2011, 19:36 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 27, 2011, 16:02

Quote from: redo on July 27, 2011, 15:00
I'm sorry, but I can't say to anyone:" Please, buy at an agency where I get maybe 16% of the price!"
There are agencies with much better conditions.
Better for me and better for the buyer.

This sums up my feelings exactly.

My feelings, too.

jamirae · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2011, 21:43 »

Quote from: Allsa on July 27, 2011, 19:36

Quote from: lisafx on July 27, 2011, 16:02
Quote from: redo on July 27, 2011, 15:00
I'm sorry, but I can't say to anyone:" Please, buy at an agency where I get maybe 16% of the price!"
There are agencies with much better conditions.
Better for me and better for the buyer.

This sums up my feelings exactly.

My feelings, too.

me three.. or, er, four... I think. anyhow, I totally agree.

helix7 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2011, 22:02 »

No way in hell I'd ever refer anyone to istock. Ever. The balls on this company. They slash our pay and then ask us to bring new business to their front door? Ha!

Although I do get a bit of a laugh out of the fact that they need to launch a brand new referral program. The pieces all seem to fit together when you think about plummeting sales, complaints about pricing, reports of some buyers taking their business elsewhere, and now this.

sharpshot · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2011, 03:14 »

I just deleted the email without reading it too. I would much rather have my old 20% commission back than see them spend money on things like this. They are one of the last sites I would want new buyers to use now. I still think they would make more money by motivating us, not by reducing our earnings and then hoping we send buyers to them.

Artemis · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2011, 09:54 »

Apart from the fact i'd never send a buyer to a place that treats me and the customer like sh*t...they want to us to jump through their hoops (the UBB format that used to work doesnt anymore and nobody is 100% sure how the new one is supposed to look like, cant get referrals through MOO cards etc), if you managed to get that right the customer has to jump through another set of hoops (must buy 26 credits at once within 30 days, so if they buy 20, and then another 20 you get nothing).
What an exciting offer, cant wait to refer...

rubyroo · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2011, 11:20 »

Quote from: sharpshot on July 28, 2011, 03:14

I would much rather have my old 20% commission back than see them spend money on things like this.

Most definitely. Me too.

Suljo · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2011, 17:54 »

New Istock Referral Program

Did I see that they name it PROGRAM?
in they CWS program means order...
I dont see any order or system.

I will skip my opinion for this turn.
It will to much hurt ex Woyays creeps which are now defectors in front line...

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Author Topic: New Istock Referral Program (Read 6913 times)

Sadstock

VB inc

leaf

gclk

RacePhoto

redo

lisafx

Snufkin

Allsa

jamirae

helix7

sharpshot

Artemis

rubyroo

Suljo

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