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Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: vuk8691 on March 12, 2013, 13:31

Title: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: vuk8691 on March 12, 2013, 13:31
No downloads in two working days. I don't remember it happened ever before. Does iStockphoto still rapidly declining?
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: enstoker on March 12, 2013, 13:50
How big is portfolio?
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: gostwyck on March 12, 2013, 14:00
Over the first 11 days of March my downloads are down 33% compared to the same period in 2012.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 14:05
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Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: gostwyck on March 12, 2013, 14:12
That's good to hear, it's not just exclusives then.  4 of the first 11 days were weekends though so it's not too surprising.

They were in 2012 too.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: m-studio on March 12, 2013, 14:32
That's good to hear, it's not just exclusives then.  4 of the first 11 days were weekends though so it's not too surprising.

They were in 2012 too.

Got a DL today after 5 days:S 1K portfolio:S
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: enstoker on March 12, 2013, 14:45
O sh..
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: drial7m1 on March 12, 2013, 16:52
I've got a small portfolio of just over 900 and only have 4 sales so far this month. 
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: vuk8691 on March 12, 2013, 17:12
How big is portfolio?

7000+
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: vuk8691 on March 12, 2013, 17:16
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: mlwinphoto on March 12, 2013, 17:45
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

The last 4 months have been a turning point for me but this one will push me over the edge.  I suspect there will be alot of crowns flushed down the drain in the next few weeks.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 18:48
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

The last 4 months have been a turning point for me but this one will push me over the edge.  I suspect there will be alot of crowns flushed down the drain in the next few weeks.
And I suspect that's exactly what they want.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: aeonf on March 12, 2013, 18:55
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

Join the club.
The less downloads the less you have to lose.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: wds on March 12, 2013, 19:00
These last couple of days have been abysmal.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: aeonf on March 12, 2013, 19:00
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

The last 4 months have been a turning point for me but this one will push me over the edge.  I suspect there will be alot of crowns flushed down the drain in the next few weeks.
And I suspect that's exactly what they want.

That's exactly what they DON'T want.  if store number 1 sells a widget for 2$ and store number 2 sells the same widget for 1$ why would anybody shop at store number 1?
further more if the widget manufacturer makes a 30%-50% margin in stores 2,3 and 4 instead of 15%-20% in store 1, who do you think is he more likely to encourage buyers to go to ?
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 19:15
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

The last 4 months have been a turning point for me but this one will push me over the edge.  I suspect there will be alot of crowns flushed down the drain in the next few weeks.
And I suspect that's exactly what they want.

That's exactly what they DON'T want.  if store number 1 sells a widget for 2$ and store number 2 sells the same widget for 1$ why would anybody shop at store number 1?
further more if the widget manufacturer makes a 30%-50% margin in stores 2,3 and 4 instead of 15%-20% in store 1, who do you think is he more likely to encourage buyers to go to ?
That's far too logical.

They have done nothing to persuade exclusives that they should stay.
Unless things have changed, they don't do any sort of debrief on people dropping their crown, which they would do if they wanted to know how to encourage them to change their minds, or what to do to retain other exclusives.
They have not answered the plain and simple question which was asked and transferred to the exclusive forum: "Dear iStock. Please tell us, what reasons to stay Exclusives You see now for us." since Jan 17th. The very fact that it was moved to the exclusive forum proved that they have no real carrots to attract more exclusives, and the subsequent admin silence is "No answer was the loud reply" (one of my Mum's favourite aphorisms).
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 20:27
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Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 20:34
Getting a higher royalty percentage than I would at Shutterstock, Dreamstime, 123RF, or Fotolia should count for something shouldn't it?
So long as you can keep selling, i.e. the site can keep selling, which iS seems not to be doing as before. I had 0 dls yesterday and 3 today.
I was once with a small RM agency which at the time offered 60%. I made one sale. Even 100% of very little is very little.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: davidgoh on March 12, 2013, 22:29
My earnings have been a steady $30+ per weekdays on iS (average 6-7 purchases), and I have a portfolio of 115 files (I do vectors.) Makes me wish I was here when iS was at its glory days still, sounds like I would have been earning so much more. :/
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: vuk8691 on March 13, 2013, 01:45
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

The last 4 months have been a turning point for me but this one will push me over the edge.  I suspect there will be alot of crowns flushed down the drain in the next few weeks.
I hope that the sale is not reduced in other agencies?!
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 13, 2013, 07:34
I'm getting closer termination of exclusive agreement. The decision is not easy but this month could be a turning point.

The last 4 months have been a turning point for me but this one will push me over the edge.  I suspect there will be alot of crowns flushed down the drain in the next few weeks.
I hope that the sale is not reduced in other agencies?!
For sure, there is now a lot more competition in the other agencies, but it looks like they are probably gaining a lot of iS's customers too.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: heywoody on March 13, 2013, 13:21
Getting a higher royalty percentage than I would at Shutterstock, Dreamstime, 123RF, or Fotolia should count for something shouldn't it?
So long as you can keep selling, i.e. the site can keep selling, which iS seems not to be doing as before. I had 0 dls yesterday and 3 today.
I was once with a small RM agency which at the time offered 60%. I made one sale. Even 100% of very little is very little.

+1

My earnings have been a steady $30+ per weekdays on iS (average 6-7 purchases), and I have a portfolio of 115 files (I do vectors.) Makes me wish I was here when iS was at its glory days still, sounds like I would have been earning so much more. :/

Wow! $6 per image per month  - sounds like you are one of the few who really could be earning so much more by adding more images.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: davidgoh on March 13, 2013, 13:33
Getting a higher royalty percentage than I would at Shutterstock, Dreamstime, 123RF, or Fotolia should count for something shouldn't it?
So long as you can keep selling, i.e. the site can keep selling, which iS seems not to be doing as before. I had 0 dls yesterday and 3 today.
I was once with a small RM agency which at the time offered 60%. I made one sale. Even 100% of very little is very little.

+1

My earnings have been a steady $30+ per weekdays on iS (average 6-7 purchases), and I have a portfolio of 115 files (I do vectors.) Makes me wish I was here when iS was at its glory days still, sounds like I would have been earning so much more. :/

Wow! $6 per image per month  - sounds like you are one of the few who really could be earning so much more by adding more images.

Aye! I lucked out with a single file that managed to get a flame - it's responsible for half of my earnings overall. :P I hope it stays that way... *fingers crossed*
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: aspp on March 13, 2013, 14:14
They have done nothing to persuade exclusives that they should stay.

What would you like them to do ?
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: dingles on March 13, 2013, 14:17
IS iStock rapidly declining? It seems to be declining across the board...not just iStock.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: tickstock on March 13, 2013, 14:19
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Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: davidgoh on March 13, 2013, 14:27
Aye! I lucked out with a single file that managed to get a flame - it's responsible for half of my earnings overall. :P I hope it stays that way... *fingers crossed*
Don't count on it.  I had a file that made well over $5000 just stop selling almost overnight because the search changed.  Your best bet is to keep working on finding a new best seller.

Understood. ;D Working hard on that at this very moment!
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 13, 2013, 14:37
They have done nothing to persuade exclusives that they should stay.

What would you like them to do ?
It's not about me.
But their temptations/benefits of excusivity have been eroded consistently. Prices have gone up, but we are compete directly with indies, albeit often with better best match placement.
However, a few hours back Lobo said he would have news for exclusives 'early next week', but he didn't say good or bad.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 15, 2013, 05:57
Wish I hadn't looked at my stats up to and including the 13th.  :(
(http://www.lizworld.com/stats0313.jpg)

and considering dl numbers are way down from last year, and last year's from every previous year ...  :'(
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: vuk8691 on March 15, 2013, 07:21
A similar situation is with me. Also take into consideration that my portfolio is significantly higher than last year.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 15, 2013, 07:37
A similar situation is with me. Also take into consideration that my portfolio is significantly higher than last year.
Even though I redirected over 100 prints uploaded between Sept and Dec which had sunk without trace I still have almost 300/10% more prints more than at this time last year.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: mlwinphoto on March 15, 2013, 10:02
46 downloads in Nov and steadily downhill since then in spite of continuing to upload.  On track to get 4 DL's this month. 

I know, small port, but I look at trends and this one is alarming.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: luissantos84 on March 15, 2013, 10:04
46 downloads in Nov and steadily downhill since then in spite of continuing to upload.  On track to get 4 DL's this month. 

I know, small port, but I look at trends and this one is alarming.

hope your reason to be exclusive have nothing to do with money :o
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: m-studio on March 15, 2013, 10:34
46 downloads in Nov and steadily downhill since then in spite of continuing to upload.  On track to get 4 DL's this month. 

I know, small port, but I look at trends and this one is alarming.

hope your reason to be exclusive have nothing to do with money :o
Somebody @ IS would say... You haven't uploaded enought lately... :/

Today I've got my 10th dl this month...
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 10:39
Wish I hadn't looked at my stats up to and including the 13th.  :(
([url]http://www.lizworld.com/stats0313.jpg[/url])

and considering dl numbers are way down from last year, and last year's from every previous year ...  :'(


Yes, this is quite alarming.  March has always been my #1 month for sales at Istock and this month very very slow. 
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: Talanis on March 15, 2013, 10:55
March is really horrible at iStock here too. I decided to drop exclusivity. The annoying part is I'll have to upload my portfolio all over the place from scratch but it's not like I have 5k photos to upload, just a bit under 1k. The problem now is trying to decide to which agencies I will upload. SS, DT, FT and 123RF for sure but don't know if it's worth uploading elsewhere... maybe DepositPhotos...
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06


Yes, this is quite alarming.  March has always been my #1 month for sales at Istock and this month very very slow.

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives. 
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: m-studio on March 15, 2013, 11:26


Yes, this is quite alarming.  March has always been my #1 month for sales at Istock and this month very very slow.

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.
Happy 4 U:)
For me it hasn't pucket up... But down...
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 11:32

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.

It would be smart of them to wake up to what losing their exclusives means.  Recently it has seemed they don't care about losing exclusives at all, which I have found baffling. 

Unfortunately, the graph I was referring to as being alarming was Shadysue's, and she's still exclusive AFAIK. 
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: Gel-O Shooter on March 15, 2013, 11:50
If my sales are any indication of the general market, then it seems that SS has taken the buyers away from IS.  My sales at SS are up 300% in Feb 2013 vs Feb 2012.  In contrast, my sales are down 90% at IS from Feb 2012 to Feb 2013. And it continues to get worse, I have had ONE ten cent sale on IS in the past 5 weeks.
Both portfolios have doubled in size since last February. I am at the point right now of trying to figure out if it is still worth my time to upload anything new at IS.  I am over halfway to a payout and I need new FX lenses for my D800!
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: gostwyck on March 15, 2013, 18:41
My sales at SS are up 300% in Feb 2013 vs Feb 2012.  In contrast, my sales are down 300% at IS from Feb 2012 to Feb 2013. And it continues to get worse, I have had ONE ten cent sale on IS in the past 5 weeks.

How can your sales be "down 300%"? That means you'd have to be paying Istock twice what they paid you last year.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: gostwyck on March 15, 2013, 18:44

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.

It would be smart of them to wake up to what losing their exclusives means.  Recently it has seemed they don't care about losing exclusives at all, which I have found baffling. 

Unfortunately, the graph I was referring to as being alarming was Shadysue's, and she's still exclusive AFAIK.

My sales at IS are looking better this month, at least by recent standards. Even so I'm still projected to be over 20% down on March 2012.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: luissantos84 on March 16, 2013, 06:59

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.

It would be smart of them to wake up to what losing their exclusives means.  Recently it has seemed they don't care about losing exclusives at all, which I have found baffling. 

Unfortunately, the graph I was referring to as being alarming was Shadysue's, and she's still exclusive AFAIK.

My sales at IS are looking better this month, at least by recent standards. Even so I'm still projected to be over 20% down on March 2012.

a minus for saying your own sales :o I wonder what doesn't upset other
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 16, 2013, 07:07
My sales at IS are looking better this month, at least by recent standards. Even so I'm still projected to be over 20% down on March 2012.
a minus for saying your own sales :o I wonder what doesn't upset other
I'm sure this is the rating vendetta.
Either someone hates iS so much that they can't stand to hear of someone doing even a bit better, or it's personal, but still pointless to mark down someone for a 'neutral' remark.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: VB inc on March 16, 2013, 08:52

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.

It would be smart of them to wake up to what losing their exclusives means.  Recently it has seemed they don't care about losing exclusives at all, which I have found baffling. 

Unfortunately, the graph I was referring to as being alarming was Shadysue's, and she's still exclusive AFAIK.

My sales at IS are looking better this month, at least by recent standards. Even so I'm still projected to be over 20% down on March 2012.

I thought i was going to take a hit when i became independent this january but it seems like the amount of downloads hasn't really dropped much at all going from exclusive and indie. It is just the commission cuts thats painful.

I don't know if there is a favor for exclusives in the best match any more.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: luissantos84 on March 16, 2013, 09:00
I don't know if there is a favor for exclusives in the best match any more.

looking for MAN (200 results)
- 155 exclusives
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: wds on March 16, 2013, 09:05

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.

It would be smart of them to wake up to what losing their exclusives means.  Recently it has seemed they don't care about losing exclusives at all, which I have found baffling. 

Unfortunately, the graph I was referring to as being alarming was Shadysue's, and she's still exclusive AFAIK.

Yes, I'm exclusive and based on this week's dl's,  March is shaping up to be horrific. March has also been my best month the last two years. Edging more towards dropping the crown.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: KB on March 16, 2013, 09:55
Yes, I'm exclusive and based on this week's dl's,  March is shaping up to be horrific. March has also been my best month the last two years. Edging more towards dropping the crown.
Last week was my worst non-holiday week for DLs in years.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: aeonf on March 16, 2013, 12:39

It has picked up for me this month.  Especially with the dec/jan gi sales.   Maybe they are helpling exclusives in the best match because the survey asked a lot of questions that would show a conern about losing exclusives.

It would be smart of them to wake up to what losing their exclusives means.  Recently it has seemed they don't care about losing exclusives at all, which I have found baffling. 

Unfortunately, the graph I was referring to as being alarming was Shadysue's, and she's still exclusive AFAIK.

Yes, I'm exclusive and based on this week's dl's,  March is shaping up to be horrific. March has also been my best month the last two years. Edging more towards dropping the crown.

Same here!  Last march was a BME, this month is 40% less $$$$ with 40%+ bigger port.
Waiting for the 30 days to be over.
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 16, 2013, 16:24
I don't know if there is a favor for exclusives in the best match any more.


looking for MAN (200 results)
- 155 exclusives


Asian Elephant, top 28, 50-50
(http://www.lizworld.com/Asian.jpg)
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: tickstock on March 17, 2013, 11:04
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Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: luissantos84 on March 17, 2013, 11:48
3 non exclusives for me (2 videos)
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: ShadySue on March 17, 2013, 15:39
That must be the geographical bias on what best match serves up. Also I'm not a buyer, and apparently that gets a different best match.
OTOH, I've had an almost identical search on Gorilla for months - 1 man in a monkey suit, then a whole batch of Vettas (photos only):
(http://www.lizworld.com/Gorilla.jpg)
Title: Re: No downloads in two working days!!!
Post by: tickstock on March 17, 2013, 20:12
My search for Gorilla looks the same as yours.