Author Topic: No downloads in two working days!!! (Read 19377 times)

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?

enstoker · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2013, 13:50 »

How big is portfolio?

gostwyck · « **Reply #2 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.

tickstock · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2013, 14:05 »

gostwyck · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2013, 14:12 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 14:05

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.

m-studio · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2013, 14:32 »

Quote from: gostwyck on March 12, 2013, 14:12

Quote from: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 14:05
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

enstoker · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2013, 14:45 »

O sh..

drial7m1 · « **Reply #7 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.

vuk8691 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2013, 17:12 »

Quote from: enstoker on March 12, 2013, 13:50

How big is portfolio?

7000+

vuk8691 · « **Reply #9 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.

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2013, 17:45 »

Quote from: 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.

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.

ShadySue · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2013, 18:48 »

Quote from: mlwinphoto on March 12, 2013, 17:45

Quote from: 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.

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.

aeonf · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2013, 18:55 »

Quote from: 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.

Join the club.
The less downloads the less you have to lose.

wds · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2013, 19:00 »

These last couple of days have been abysmal.

aeonf · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2013, 19:00 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 18:48

Quote from: mlwinphoto on March 12, 2013, 17:45
Quote from: 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.

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 ?

ShadySue · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2013, 19:15 »

Quote from: aeonf on March 12, 2013, 19:00

Quote from: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 18:48
Quote from: mlwinphoto on March 12, 2013, 17:45
Quote from: 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.

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).

tickstock · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2013, 20:27 »

ShadySue · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2013, 20:34 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 20:27

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.

davidgoh · « **Reply #18 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. :/

vuk8691 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 13, 2013, 01:45 »

Quote from: mlwinphoto on March 12, 2013, 17:45

Quote from: 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.

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?!

ShadySue · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2013, 07:34 »

Quote from: vuk8691 on March 13, 2013, 01:45

Quote from: mlwinphoto on March 12, 2013, 17:45
Quote from: 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.

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.

heywoody · « **Reply #21 on:** March 13, 2013, 13:21 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 20:34

Quote from: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 20:27
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

Quote from: 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. :/

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.

davidgoh · « **Reply #22 on:** March 13, 2013, 13:33 »

Quote from: heywoody on March 13, 2013, 13:21

Quote from: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 20:34
Quote from: tickstock on March 12, 2013, 20:27
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

Quote from: 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. :/

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.

I hope it stays that way... *fingers crossed*

aspp · « **Reply #23 on:** March 13, 2013, 14:14 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 19:15

They have done nothing to persuade exclusives that they should stay.

What would you like them to do ?

dingles · « **Reply #24 on:** March 13, 2013, 14:17 »

IS iStock rapidly declining? It seems to be declining across the board...not just iStock.

tickstock · « **Reply #25 on:** March 13, 2013, 14:19 »

davidgoh · « **Reply #26 on:** March 13, 2013, 14:27 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 13, 2013, 14:19

Quote from: davidgoh on March 13, 2013, 13:33
Aye! I lucked out with a single file that managed to get a flame - it's responsible for half of my earnings overall. 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.

Working hard on that at this very moment!

ShadySue · « **Reply #27 on:** March 13, 2013, 14:37 »

Quote from: aspp on March 13, 2013, 14:14

Quote from: ShadySue on March 12, 2013, 19:15
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.

ShadySue · « **Reply #28 on:** March 15, 2013, 05:57 »

Wish I hadn't looked at my stats up to and including the 13th.

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

vuk8691 · « **Reply #29 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.

ShadySue · « **Reply #30 on:** March 15, 2013, 07:37 »

Quote from: 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.

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.

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #31 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.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 15, 2013, 10:04 »

Quote from: 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.

hope your reason to be exclusive have nothing to do with money

m-studio · « **Reply #33 on:** March 15, 2013, 10:34 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on March 15, 2013, 10:04

Quote from: 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.

hope your reason to be exclusive have nothing to do with money

Somebody @ IS would say... You haven't uploaded enought lately... :/

Today I've got my 10th dl this month...

lisafx · « **Reply #34 on:** March 15, 2013, 10:39 »

Quote from: ShadySue on March 15, 2013, 05:57

Wish I hadn't looked at my stats up to and including the 13th.

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.

Talanis · « **Reply #35 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...

pro@stockphotos · « **Reply #36 on:** March 15, 2013, 11:06 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 10:39

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.

m-studio · « **Reply #37 on:** March 15, 2013, 11:26 »

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 10:39

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...

lisafx · « **Reply #38 on:** March 15, 2013, 11:32 »

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

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.

Gel-O Shooter · « **Reply #39 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!

gostwyck · « **Reply #40 on:** March 15, 2013, 18:41 »

Quote from: Gel-O Shooter on March 15, 2013, 11:50

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.

gostwyck · « **Reply #41 on:** March 15, 2013, 18:44 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 11:32

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

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.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #42 on:** March 16, 2013, 06:59 »

Quote from: gostwyck on March 15, 2013, 18:44

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 11:32
Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

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

I wonder what doesn't upset other

ShadySue · « **Reply #43 on:** March 16, 2013, 07:07 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on March 16, 2013, 06:59

Quote from: gostwyck on March 15, 2013, 18:44
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 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.

VB inc · « **Reply #44 on:** March 16, 2013, 08:52 »

Quote from: gostwyck on March 15, 2013, 18:44

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 11:32
Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

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.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #45 on:** March 16, 2013, 09:00 »

Quote from: VB inc on March 16, 2013, 08:52

I don't know if there is a favor for exclusives in the best match any more.

looking for MAN (200 results)
- 155 exclusives

wds · « **Reply #46 on:** March 16, 2013, 09:05 »

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 11:32

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

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.

KB · « **Reply #47 on:** March 16, 2013, 09:55 »

Quote from: wds on March 16, 2013, 09:05

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.

aeonf · « **Reply #48 on:** March 16, 2013, 12:39 »

Quote from: wds on March 16, 2013, 09:05

Quote from: lisafx on March 15, 2013, 11:32
Quote from: pro@stockphotos on March 15, 2013, 11:06

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.

ShadySue · « **Reply #49 on:** March 16, 2013, 16:24 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on March 16, 2013, 09:00

Quote from: VB inc on March 16, 2013, 08:52
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

tickstock · « **Reply #50 on:** March 17, 2013, 11:04 »

luissantos84 · « **Reply #51 on:** March 17, 2013, 11:48 »

3 non exclusives for me (2 videos)

ShadySue · « **Reply #52 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):