MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 18:37

Title: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 18:37
What do you think will be your commission rate once the new system will affect you?

I just did it for photos, I hope that's ok. Maybe (if this is a big hit) I'll make a footage or illustrator one.  :P

I'm just curious what the results will show as I'm going to be down, a lot...

Feel free to use this thread to throw dirty but censored words at the fictional iStock wall without the fear of getting banned  ;D
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 18:39
Fixed.  ;)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 18:41
Was that you Sean?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: stormchaser on September 08, 2010, 18:45
I think mine will be to low to calculate and may even approach negative numbers.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 18:49
I think mine will be to low to calculate and may even approach negative numbers.

That's how I feel.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: Kngkyle on September 08, 2010, 18:54
What about exclusive maintaining 25, 30, 35, etc?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 08, 2010, 18:55
IS rocks!!!

is there a contributor happy? :P
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 18:58
What about exclusive maintaining 25, 30, 35, etc?

Exclusives can vote as well from 25% to 45%.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: Kngkyle on September 08, 2010, 19:01
What about exclusive maintaining 25, 30, 35, etc?

Exclusives can vote as well from 25% to 45%.

True but it says dropping to 25, 30, 35. Mine is staying the same.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 19:13
What about exclusive maintaining 25, 30, 35, etc?

Exclusives can vote as well from 25% to 45%.

True but it says dropping to 25, 30, 35. Mine is staying the same.

I adjusted it. No discrimination intended. I'm just not really familiar with all the exclusive terms...
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: jsolie on September 08, 2010, 19:17
You left out one...Exclusive maintaining 25% into the foreseeable future (and beyond!)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 19:18
You left out one...Exclusive maintaining 25% into the foreseeable future (and beyond!)

Sorry, I just added that. Plase vote again or you can change your vote.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: madelaide on September 08, 2010, 20:23
Hmm, how do I know?  Is there an easy calculator?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 08, 2010, 20:30
Hmm, how do I know?  Is there an easy calculator?


At iStock go to your financial status page. As of yesterday it shows the credits purchased for your images on the top for this year so far.

iStock claims that in the last 4 months of this year 50% of the credits are being purchased, so technically you should take your current credit number and double it.

This is a rough estimate but according to iStock "they are confident" that these numbers are reliable.

Then go to: http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=861 (http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=861) to check what commission category you would end up.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: cathyslife on September 08, 2010, 20:40
Hmm, how do I know?  Is there an easy calculator?


At iStock go to your financial status page. As of yesterday it shows the credits purchased for your images on the top for this year so far.

iStock claims that in the last 4 months of this year 50% of the credits are being purchased, so technically you should take your current credit number and double it.

This is a rough estimate but according to iStock "they are confident" that these numbers are reliable.

Then go to: [url]http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=861[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=861[/url]) to check what commission category you would end up.


Thanks for that explanation, I had no clue how to figure what I was going to be getting. I saw the number on my stats page, but after reading forty-some pages on the IS forum and 17 pages here, my eyes glazed over, I stuck my head in the sand, and figured I would revisit it all tomorrow.  :-\
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: madelaide on September 08, 2010, 20:41
Oh, yes, now this is clear. Yes, I am dropping to 15%, if I am lucky to 16%.

Now add t this when IS starts to charge taxes....   :-\
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: Pixart on September 08, 2010, 21:38
Don't worry Adelaide, unless they move their head office to Seattle there will be no taxes for you in the foreseeable future. 
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: FD on September 08, 2010, 23:18
Plase vote again or you can change your vote.
No you can't. Actually, I'm 1% higher. I didn't read all that crap from IS. I will catch the Q4 sale boost as they claim, and then deactivate my port. I don't feel like wasting more time on them by reading all their excuses. If they can't maintain a business on 80%, they should scale down their corporate jets.  ;D
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: vonkara on September 09, 2010, 00:59
Those royaltee share are equal at what a coffee farmer get in South America
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: dirkr on September 09, 2010, 02:08
I'm going down to 15%, maybe if the last quarter is only huge record months I could reach 16%.
Therefore I will have to deactivate my portfolio as I do not intend to sell at these conditions.

But I'm really surprised by the outcome of the poll: There is one non-exclusive contributor claiming to stay at 20%? That would mean (assuming an average credit price of one dollar) they currently make around $280.000 from Istock alone? Wow.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: Phil on September 09, 2010, 03:11
I'm going down to 15%, maybe if the last quarter is only huge record months I could reach 16%.
Therefore I will have to deactivate my portfolio as I do not intend to sell at these conditions.

But I'm really surprised by the outcome of the poll: There is one non-exclusive contributor claiming to stay at 20%? That would mean (assuming an average credit price of one dollar) they currently make around $280.000 from Istock alone? Wow.

AFAIK there is only non exclusive who qualifies for 20%, either he voted or so hit the wrong box
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 07:26
10 out of 84 are going to maintain!

12%
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 07:27
10 out of 84 are going to maintain!

12%

why aren't more votes in this poll GUYS???
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 09, 2010, 07:33
Maybe these are the only 84 people that created a thread on the IS forum over 2600 posts the other day...  ::)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 07:50
Maybe these are the only 84 people that created a thread on the IS forum over 2600 posts the other day...  ::)

eeheheh :)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: Albert Martin on September 09, 2010, 08:23
Haha... I couldn't put vote here.

It is mostly between 40-60% - non-exclusive ;-)
Or 70-80% exclusive ;-)

If you know where you have all what is yours!
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 09, 2010, 15:31
I really would like to get a bunch more votes in so I can make a breakdown of the current situation.

Maybe someone can pimp this on Twitter or FB.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 16:35
less than 10% will maintain!

wasn't 20% small enough??

it is ridiculous talking about the royalties at IS, it is just ABSURD!
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: ShadySue on September 09, 2010, 16:41
SHOULD manage to maintain 30%, IF Oct-Dec sales rise as in previous years and the buyers don't desert iStock.
But I was expecting to turn Gold around Feb-March, so it is effectively a pay cut.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: traveler1116 on September 09, 2010, 16:43
I'm in the it will stay the same for a few months then I hit gold and it will be a drop group, so I voted for drop to 30%. 
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 16:44
I'm in the it will stay the same for a few months then I hit gold and it will be a drop, so I voted for drop to 30%.

what a nice portfolio you have, travel photography! wanna do the same :)

you deserve a lot more for sure, but IS dont care, actually I dont see which contributors they want.. :P
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: traveler1116 on September 09, 2010, 16:47
I'm in the it will stay the same for a few months then I hit gold and it will be a drop, so I voted for drop to 30%.

what a nice portfolio you have, travel photography! wanna do the same :)

you deserve a lot more for sure, but IS dont care, actually I dont see which contributors they want.. :P

Thanks that's kind, I have been feeling I deserve more too(I'll have to let the market decide that), so I will try for the next three months to only submit my travel stuff to Alamy as RM and see what happens.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 16:50
I'm in the it will stay the same for a few months then I hit gold and it will be a drop, so I voted for drop to 30%.

what a nice portfolio you have, travel photography! wanna do the same :)

you deserve a lot more for sure, but IS dont care, actually I dont see which contributors they want.. :P

Thanks that's kind, I have been feeling I deserve more too(I'll have to let the market decide that), so I will try for the next three months to only submit my travel stuff to Alamy as RM and see what happens.

you are doing the right thing, I have account on Alamy but their upload/submission is pretty boring
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 09, 2010, 18:38
Here a quick poll status overview (considering 108 votes). I know that this is not very representative but I have to work with what I got. So far we have poll results from:

80 non exclusive contributors which split into:

32.5%   dropping down to 15%
31.25% dropping down to 16%
27.5%   dropping down to 17%
6.25%   dropping down to 18%
1.25%   dropping down to 19%
1.25%   maintaining 20%

These results mean that 98.75% of the non exclusives will suffer a commission decrease.
The number speaks for itself and I don't think I need to show any other calculations.
Anything below 20% commission is simply "unsustainable".


28 exclusive contributors which split into:

32.1%   dropping down to 25%
14.3%   dropping down to 30%
7.1%     dropping down to 35%
21.4%   maintaining 40%

10.7%   maintaining 25%
14.3%   maintaining 30%
0%   maintaining 35%

This shows that 54% of exclusives are dropping into a lower commission bracket while 46% of exclusives maintain their commission percentage.

Of course this poll does not include any information about exclusives rising into a higher commission bracket with the new system.

I would love to hear from the exclusives who will move into a higher commission bracket to get  more objective results.

Please keep voting. I'm more than happy to keep these numbers updated.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: luissantos84 on September 09, 2010, 19:20
Here a quick poll status overview (considering 108 votes). I know that this is not very representative but I have to work with what I got. So far we have poll results from:

80 non exclusive contributors which split into:

32.5%   dropping down to 15%
31.25% dropping down to 16%
27.5%   dropping down to 17%
6.25%   dropping down to 18%
1.25%   dropping down to 19%
1.25%   maintaining 20%

These results mean that 98.75% of the non exclusives will suffer a commission decrease.
The number speaks for itself and I don't think I need to show any other calculations.
Anything below 20% commission is simply "unsustainable".


28 exclusive contributors which split into:

32.1%   dropping down to 25%
14.3%   dropping down to 30%
7.1%     dropping down to 35%
21.4%   maintaining 40%

10.7%   maintaining 25%
14.3%   maintaining 30%
0%   maintaining 35%

This shows that 54% of exclusives are dropping into a lower commission bracket while 46% of exclusives maintain their commission percentage.

Of course this poll does not include any information about exclusives rising into a higher commission bracket with the new system.

I would love to hear from the exclusives who will move into a higher commission bracket to get  more objective results.

Please keep voting. I'm more than happy to keep these numbers updated.

nice job, hope that more contributors VOTE :P
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: click_click on September 09, 2010, 20:49
Anyone - please tweet about this thread or mention it on Facebook.

This way we can (somewhat) verify our actual situation that we're "stuck" in. iStock was giving us funky numbers about how many % will benefit and only so many % will drop in commission. The current poll results show otherwise.

We need to get facts together to make strong arguments towards Getty/iStock. We, both non-exclusives as well as exclusives are mistreated and this is not something iStock will get away with. iStock has the power to change for much better conditions that could satisfy all of us and these conditions need to be enforced.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: RGebbiePhoto on September 09, 2010, 21:55
Dropping to 15% here.
They've moved to my "Stock sites on hold" folder, and will be deleted/deactivated in a few weeks, as soon as we hit payout again.

By the way, I'm one of the ones that deleted our port at Fotolia when they did their mess, and tho they are in the top tier, I console myself by knowing I don't have to deal with their mess anymore, either.

Everywhere I chat, I ask in the room if there are designers there, or ppl that use stock images, and find a way to let people know that Getty is trying to form a monopoly in the industry. I also recommend other sites to anyone that will listen. I've got a few friends that network with designers and other artists, and they are helping to get the word out, too.

So, while it isn't much, I'm doing my best to help the cause.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: lisafx on September 09, 2010, 22:14
Really depressing news in the poll.  The largest numbers will be dropping all the way to the bottom tiers.  And I am surprised to see that any non-exclusives are going to keep the 20%.  Never thought it would be considered a victory to keep a measly 20% of anyone's income. 
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: rubyroo on September 09, 2010, 22:20
Wow... you made me check the poll again Lisa, I thought you'd found a bunch of non-exclusives on 20%, but I see it's just one person (not me, sadly).  As you say... not much of a 'victory'.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: Phil on September 09, 2010, 22:22
Really depressing news in the poll.  The largest numbers will be dropping all the way to the bottom tiers.  And I am surprised to see that any non-exclusives are going to keep the 20%.  Never thought it would be considered a victory to keep a measly 20% of anyone's income. 

it was stated in the istock forum that Yuri has said he wont reach 1.4M and will drop to 19% (not sure if true though). He was the only one who would have come close. So not sure on who voted here
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: Elenathewise on September 09, 2010, 22:34
Mine is dropping to 19%. I would also think Yuri won't reach 1.4M (my estimate his would be around 1M). So ya, if any non-exclusive keeps 20% I would like to know who that is:)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: cthoman on September 09, 2010, 22:38
it was stated in the istock forum that Yuri has said he wont reach 1.4M and will drop to 19% (not sure if true though). He was the only one who would have come close. So not sure on who voted here

It could be a mistake or it could be a vector or other contributor (you know those non-photos). 400,000 credits seems somewhat achievable (not for me), but for someone.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: lisafx on September 09, 2010, 22:44
Really depressing news in the poll.  The largest numbers will be dropping all the way to the bottom tiers.  And I am surprised to see that any non-exclusives are going to keep the 20%.  Never thought it would be considered a victory to keep a measly 20% of anyone's income. 

it was stated in the istock forum that Yuri has said he wont reach 1.4M and will drop to 19% (not sure if true though). He was the only one who would have come close. So not sure on who voted here

Wow!  Not even Yuri!  Seems like they set goals they never intended anyone to reach. 

Thanks for posting Phil.  I haven't been successful in keeping up with that monster thread. 
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: click_click on September 10, 2010, 06:29
...Wow!  Not even Yuri!  Seems like they set goals they never intended anyone to reach. 

I've thought of that days ago if he would make it.

Since he doesn't (despite the fact that there are other top non-exclusive contributors we might not know of...), I was asking myself if the targets of maintaining 20% for non-exclusives and rising to 45% for exclusives is a slap in the face by itself. Why even creating commission brackets that are never achievable?

To me this is an additional insult on top of the other facts that have been published by IS.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: Dark_Angel on September 10, 2010, 06:48
how do you know, Yuri won't be able to maintain the 20%?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: FD on September 10, 2010, 06:54
how do you know, Yuri won't be able to maintain the 20%?
Who said he ever had just 20%?  :P
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: Dark_Angel on September 10, 2010, 06:56
how do you know, Yuri won't be able to maintain the 20%?
Who said he ever had just 20%?  :P

Ya think?  ;D
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? **** FIRST RESULTS ARE IN *****
Post by: luissantos84 on September 10, 2010, 07:06
eheheh made have a deal with them (guess not but...)

he need to have a average of 10 credits sales and 140k sales per year..
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: click_click on September 10, 2010, 12:20
Do you think it's possible to get to 200 votes? That would be a bit more reliable.

Please tweet about this poll on Twitter and mention it on Facebook.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: PixelsAway on September 10, 2010, 12:28
I am dropping to 17% with a slight chance for 18%.
IS is providing 40-50% of my microstock earnings.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: cthoman on September 10, 2010, 13:02
I found this in the comments of the cnet article and I thought it was interesting:

Quote
We've got 5531 exclusive contributors in our contributor charts:

base contributors 105 ( 1.9%)
bronze contributors 2417 (43.7%)
silver contributors 1647 (29.8%)
gold contributors 760 (13.7%)
diamond contributors 574 (10.4%)
blackdiamond contributors 28 ( 0.5%)

I'm assuming the info came from istockcharts, but what I thought was interesting was that about 75% were Silver and below. Is that where the majority of their 76% unaffected come from? Not to mention about 100% of the 25000+ non-exclusives.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: KB on September 10, 2010, 13:17
There are base level exclusives?  ???

I think you're right, however. All bronze exclusive contributors are obviously not negatively impacted by the commission change (they will be by the other changes), and most silver exclusives should be able to reach the silver level of sales. Unless, like me, they haven't been exclusive for most of the year.

It's mostly iStock's "best" contributors, at Gold & above, that are affected.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: click_click on September 11, 2010, 05:34
OK everybody - let's get a few more votes in so I can do another summary.

Please tweet about this thread and mention it on FACEBOOK!
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: TheSmilingAssassin on September 11, 2010, 07:44
OK everybody - let's get a few more votes in so I can do another summary.

Please tweet about this thread and mention it on FACEBOOK!

You, or someone who's already bailed out, should place a link on the IS forums.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 09:56
OK let's try to get 23 more votes for the poll. 200 iStock member votes would help getting a clearer image of what's happening.

Please email this to IS contributors, tweet about it or put it on your Facebook wall or myspace page.

Just 23 more votes!
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: luissantos84 on September 12, 2010, 10:01
OK let's try to get 23 more votes for the poll. 200 iStock member votes would help getting a clearer image of what's happening.

Please email this to IS contributors, tweet about it or put it on your Facebook wall or myspace page.

Just 23 more votes!

I have placed it on FB and twitter :)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: luissantos84 on September 12, 2010, 10:05
it is possible to change my vote?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 10:47
it is possible to change my vote?
I thought I selected that option but I don't think you can change it anymore. Sorry.
I don't know why it didn't work.

Thanks for getting the word around.  8)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: gostwyck on September 12, 2010, 12:24
The results are interesting. Note that over 50% of all the current 181 respondents are independent contributors that will be dropping to 15% or 16%. Added together that probably generates a very significant increase to Istock's profitability.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 12:48
The results are interesting. Note that over 50% of all the current 181 respondents are independent contributors that will be dropping to 15% or 16%. Added together that probably generates a very significant increase to Istock's profitability.
That's how it appears. I would love to get 1000 votes to get a much better result but it shows already that iStock did not publish numbers that are the reality.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 12:50
OK 18 more people! Let's try to get 18 more votes so I can do another status update.

Please let everyone who uploads to iStock know about this poll and tell them to vote.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: Danicek on September 12, 2010, 13:03
The results are interesting. Note that over 50% of all the current 181 respondents are independent contributors that will be dropping to 15% or 16%. Added together that probably generates a very significant increase to Istock's profitability.
That's how it appears. I would love to get 1000 votes to get a much better result but it shows already that iStock did not publish numbers that are the reality.

I think that their later statement that 76% exclusives won't be dropping is technically correct. Most of bronze and silver will keep what they have. Add to that some gold and few diamond level contributors and you are at 76.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FIRST RESULTS ARE IN (see page 2)
Post by: sharply_done on September 12, 2010, 13:23

I think that their later statement that 76% exclusives won't be dropping is technically correct. Most of bronze and silver will keep what they have. Add to that some gold and few diamond level contributors and you are at 76.

Bronze exclusives are already at the lowest commission rate (25%) and thus cannot drop further. This probably pays a significant part in iStock's 76% estimate.

As far as maintaining Silver and Gold commissions go, my calculations show the bar to be quite reasonable: Silvers only need $4,969 in royalties to maintain their 30%, and Golds need $18,550 to keep their 35%. Getting into Diamond is now strictly for dedicated full-timers: you'll need to earn $79,500 to keep your 40%. Being a 45% Black Diamond is only for the truly elite: you'll need to be bringing in $835,000 worth of bacon a year to be in that club.

I think there are a fair number of contributors who have reached Silver, Gold, or Diamond level due mainly from being at iStock for quite a long time, and for the most part it's these people who will see their commissions cut - hence the number of "I've been here since 2004 and now you're stabbing me in the back!" responses.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? Photos!
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 17:10
Here the latest status regarding this poll considering 187 votes:

142 non exclusive contributors which split into:

39.4%   dropping down to 15%
28.9%   dropping down to 16%
22.5%   dropping down to 17%
5.6%     dropping down to 18%
2.8%     dropping down to 19%
0.7%     maintaining 20%

These results mean that 99.3% of the non-exclusives will suffer a commission decrease.

Here some comparisons:
- Approx. 4 out of 10 non-exclusives will lose 25% (a quarter) of their monthly earnings.
- The vast majority of non-exclusives, 9 out of 10 will at least lose 15% of their iStock income.
- According to the poll 1 out of 267 non-exclusives stays at 20%.


45 exclusive contributors which split into:

28.9%   dropping down to 25%
17.8%   dropping down to 30%
6.7%     dropping down to 35%
15.6%   maintaining 40%

15.6%   maintaining 25%
13.3%   maintaining 30%
2.2%     maintaining 35%

This shows that 53.4% of exclusives are dropping into a lower commission bracket while 46.7% of exclusives maintain their commission percentage. (This hasn't changed since the first status calculation).

If a lot more votes keep coming in, I'm happy to calculate this again, but obviously the numbers haven't shifted significantly.

So maybe we can hear now your thoughts regarding the numbers and all other info we've read on the iStock forums.

Thanks to everyone who voted for this poll!
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: lisafx on September 12, 2010, 17:22
Thanks a lot Click for starting this poll and taking the time to tabulate the votes and explain them in simple language for those of us who are mathematically challenged.  :)

Certainly by this poll, Istock's claim that 75% (or thereabouts) will stay the same or not lose out with this are complete nonsense!
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: PeterChigmaroff on September 12, 2010, 17:44
Is there any way an exclusive can get an increase in percentage (immediate jump) once this lunacy is enacted?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 17:50
Is there any way an exclusive can get an increase in percentage (immediate jump) once this lunacy is enacted?
I'm not aware of anybody. If so, that person would certainly have the key to success and I doubt they would share their story anywhere in public.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 17:54
Thanks a lot Click for starting this poll and taking the time to tabulate the votes and explain them in simple language for those of us who are mathematically challenged.  :)

Certainly by this poll, Istock's claim that 75% (or thereabouts) will stay the same or not lose out with this are complete nonsense!
I'm glad I did it because it shows clearly what 142 non-exclusives (141 for that matter) will experience - a loss of income while iStock will make more money.

I think iStock's numbers regarding the contributors who are supposedly not affected was limited to the exclusives. Everything else would mean that a bunch of crazyheads is running that place (although it might not be far off...).

Still, these numbers and iStock's don't match, not even close. I can only explain this with the assumption that most of all exclusives who maintain their commission level are not participating in this one sided discussion and also didn't vote here either. So there might be a higher percentage that isn't actually affected.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: Phil on September 12, 2010, 17:59
Thanks a lot Click for starting this poll and taking the time to tabulate the votes and explain them in simple language for those of us who are mathematically challenged.  :)

Certainly by this poll, Istock's claim that 75% (or thereabouts) will stay the same or not lose out with this are complete nonsense!
I'm glad I did it because it shows clearly what 142 non-exclusives (141 for that matter) will experience - a loss of income while iStock will make more money.

I think iStock's numbers regarding the contributors who are supposedly not affected was limited to the exclusives. Everything else would mean that a bunch of crazyheads is running that place (although it might not be far off...).

Still, these numbers and iStock's don't match, not even close. I can only explain this with the assumption that most of all exclusives who maintain their commission level are not participating in this one sided discussion and also didn't vote here either. So there might be a higher percentage that isn't actually affected.

I agree.

on istocks forum it was mentioned that something like 74% of exclusives are base level, so cannot drop. cant remember the exact figure, but if correct it left only 1 or 2 % of other exclusives not taking a hit.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 18:13
I agree.

on istocks forum it was mentioned that something like 74% of exclusives are base level, so cannot drop. cant remember the exact figure, but if correct it left only 1 or 2 % of other exclusives not taking a hit.
Yes, that's what I've read as well.

Interestingly the majority of exclusive votes  (almost 30% of all exclusives votes!) came from contributors that will drop from 30% to 25%.
One would think that most exlcusive voters would be base level - at least that would be my assumption.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: gostwyck on September 12, 2010, 18:16
Great work CC. Many thanks for getting it in statistical perspective for us.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: click_click on September 12, 2010, 18:39
Great work CC. Many thanks for getting it in statistical perspective for us.

Anytime. Since day 1 of this mess I was interested how the numbers split up. Now we have an idea.
Unfortunately these stats don't make the whole thing go away...  :P
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: sharply_done on September 12, 2010, 21:55
...
Here some comparisons:
- Approx. 4 out of 10 non-exclusives will lose 25% (a quarter) of their monthly earnings.
- The vast majority of non-exclusives, 9 out of 10 will at least lose 15% of their iStock income.
- According to the poll 1 out of 267 non-exclusives stays at 20%.


Throwing out percentages like this doesn't give as good a picture as you might think - it's akin to the monthly earnings percentages thread that circulates around this place: It may be interesting to scan, but it doesn't really tell you anything. Let's put some dollar amounts to this data. With reference to the chart in this thread (http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/extrapolating-redeemed-credits/msg160682/?topicseen#new), here's what the poll results look like now:

142 non exclusive contributors which split into: (omitting contributors who are staying even, for clarity)
New               Number of
Commission   Contributors   iStock Income           Income Lost

15%                39.4%             $0 to $398                  $0 to $99
16%                28.9%             $424 to $2,650            $85 to $530
17%                22.5%             $2,816 to $9,010         $422 to $1352
18%                5.6%               $9,540 to $35,775       $954 to $3,578
19%                2.8%               $37,763 to $352,450    $1888 to $17,623

Breaking it down like before, but a little differently:
- Approx. 4 out of 10 non-exclusives will lose less than $99 per year.
- Approx. 5 out of 10 non-exclusives will lose between $85 and $1352.

45 exclusive contributors which split into: (omitting contributors who are staying even, for clarity)
Old                 New                Number of
Commission   Commission   Contributors    Income                      Income Lost

30% to 40%    25%               28.9%               $0 to $4141                 $0 to $1,552
35% or 40%    30%               17.8%               $4,969 to $15,900       $621 to $3,975
40%                35%               6.7%                 $18,550 to $69,563     $2,319 to $8,695

Breaking it down:
- 47% of exclusive contributors will lose less than $3,975 per year.
- 7% of exclusive contributors will lose between $2,319 and $8,695.
- 53% of exclusive contributors will lose $0.


Although there are far more independents than exclusives, it's clear that exclusives stand to lose more from this than independents. Assuming the poll data is valid, it might be possible to make a broad statement: While 50% of independents will lose up to $1350 per year in this deal, 40% of independents will be minimally affected by it, losing less than $100. Nearly 50% of exclusives will lose up to $4000, almost 3 times the amount of independents in a similar income bracket.

Taking a step back, the majority of income losses shown here are in the chump change category - not even a few hundred dollars per year. While some lost income amounts to the same as losing a performance bonus in a white collar job, it's only the full-time independents earning $70k+ who are losing significant cash, and they make up less than 2% of the respondents. Full-time exclusives (earning $70k+) aren't going to lose anything. How's that for spin?
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: cthoman on September 12, 2010, 22:58
Although there are far more independents than exclusives, it's clear that exclusives stand to lose more from this than independents. Assuming the poll data is valid, it might be possible to make a broad statement: While 50% of independents will lose up to $1350 per year in this deal, 40% of independents will be minimally affected by it, losing less than $100. Nearly 50% of exclusives will lose up to $4000, almost 3 times the amount of independents in a similar income bracket. How's that for spin?

Interesting figures, although your numbers seem a little light on the top end. My losses are pushing the upper end of your $1350. Because I'm a vector artist, I could double my sales and lose about $2400 and still not make the next tier at 75K credits.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: sharply_done on September 12, 2010, 23:10
Interesting figures, although your numbers seem a little light on the top end. ...

These numbers are for photos only - I didn't incorporate credits/commissions for illustrations, flash, audio, or video.

I think the chart shows number ranges that are broader than they really are. The ranges shown are mathematical boundaries, and my gut feeling is that real world values are more tightly clustered - there aren't going to be many losing more than $10,000 here.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: cthoman on September 12, 2010, 23:30
I figured that it was photos only, but I thought it was worth mentioning the rest of us stockers too. So should there be a reverse money chart too that shows how much iStock loses each time someone from each level closes their account?  ;)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: click_click on September 13, 2010, 06:56
...How's that for spin?

Sharply, thanks for taking this approach. The numbers you brought up paint another picture, true.

No matter if I take my numbers or yours, my next year on iStock would only consist of 11 months instead of 12 regarding my income drop - IF sales stay the same or even slightly go up.

Now we have to "wait and see" if iStock can keep its promise of "balancing out" the drop in commission by bringing in more sales but I remain skeptical.

Also, the fact that no other agency offers 15% as a starting point (except voluntarily giving your images away for free...) is simply not a smart move.

I'm not iStock's accounting company but I highly doubt that they are in some sort of financial crisis.

In my eyes (and this may be wrong) iStock has been ordered to achieve figures that are simply too high. Since iStock is now brainless (in terms of not acting on its behalf anymore) it will do whatever is requested to remain part of the "gang" and probably counter-balance any other mismanaged branch of the corporation.

This change is wrong on so many levels (although we mostly care abut the money part) that I feel deeply sorry for many exclusives who have been lied to over the last years.

It is what it is and as much as many realize now that the old iStock is dead we have to move on. Still, this change has affected a huge number of people (some more, some less) and these days, every single Dollar counts.
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: luissantos84 on September 13, 2010, 07:16
whatever the stats from click or sharp.. the main thing is that IS isn't going to increase anyone, just reducing...

it isnīt going to be to good to anyone, just to IS, end of story

p.s: INCOME LOST could be entitled MORE INCOME TO IS! :P

I don't know how much IS does a year.. but they will surely get close to what they want (just close because they want the 100%)
Title: Re: POLL - What's your future commission rate? FINAL RESULTS ARE IN (see page 3)
Post by: Albert Martin on September 18, 2010, 10:41
How about BLACK badge for greed to be put to agencies which are always screwing contributors with words NOT RECOMMENDED?
That would be something that will add to FAIR-TRADE badges...