MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: stockastic on July 21, 2013, 16:25

Title: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: stockastic on July 21, 2013, 16:25
I deactivated all but 1 on D-Day.   I wanted to keep the account active in case lightning struck and IS was sold, or reorganized, or by some miracle started to make sense again.  But in the time since then, things have just steadily gone downhill, and these latest price cuts have me thinking I should just close the account and forget about it.   

Is there any point in keeping the account active? 
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: cthoman on July 21, 2013, 16:42
If you delete your last image, you'll lose all your stats. Although, you've probably lost some of that already when you deleted images. I like to keep my accounts open rather than close them, but that is just a personal preference.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: alberto on July 21, 2013, 16:57
I think that no-one trust that some changes will happen, but never say never.
Store in your HD username and password and for now forget this agency, if in future things will be better, at least you don't need to open a new account and resubmit the photos d and pass the admission process.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: lisafx on July 21, 2013, 17:11
Good advice from Cory and Alberto.  Unless there is some compelling reason to close the account (can't imagine what that would be), seems like no harm in keeping it open. 
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: stockastic on July 21, 2013, 17:21
The 'compelling' reason to close it is just the general principal cleaning up of a loose end and turning the page.  So I guess it's a philosophical issue - if there's no reason to leave the account open - but no reason to close it - which is the better choice?   

Maybe a better question is this:  what could actually happen at this point, that would cause my account to have any value to me?   Even if IS is sold or 'spun off' it's unlikely to change.  By that point it will be just another bargain basement.   Is it even possible that some new owner wants to change things so the photographer gets a fair deal?  Realistically, never going to happen. 
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: djpadavona on July 21, 2013, 17:32
Stockastic -

If you deactivate your last image, does that automatically close your account? I would think you could have an account, even with 0 active images. If they don't automatically close it, then deactivate the last image but keep the account. You won't be doing business with them, so no harm to you. And if there are positive changes in the future, you can reactivate.

I deleted all of my FT images years ago but kept the account open. I have no reason to consider doing business with them again, but if they were bought out by someone I trusted, I would want to have an account ready to go.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on July 21, 2013, 17:43
If you need emotional closure, make a voodoo doll like object from the istock camera logo and burn it in the back garden (or some secure place). But leave your account open.

It's unlikely at this point that good things will happen with iStock, but you never know. Having an existing account can't make things worse for you in the future and it might be a help in some way.

I left all my accounts open when I went exclusive with iStock (in 2008).  With SS, that was clearly a win given their current royalty structure.

FT closed my account for me when they didn't like some things I posted here, but I had no say in that
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: cthoman on July 21, 2013, 17:51
If you deactivate your last image, does that automatically close your account? I would think you could have an account, even with 0 active images. If they don't automatically close it, then deactivate the last image but keep the account. You won't be doing business with them, so no harm to you. And if there are positive changes in the future, you can reactivate.

I deleted my last image about 2 years ago, and my account is still open.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: drial7m1 on July 21, 2013, 17:55
As I have always been told, you don't want to close a door or burn bridges (too bad), so I'll agree,  keep it open unless there is some significant reason that you have to close it.

Hope you all had a great weekend.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: stockastic on July 21, 2013, 18:13
Well if I can deactivate that last image, collect my balance, but leave the account active, that's probably the thing to do.

Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: mlwinphoto on July 21, 2013, 19:41
Well if I can deactivate that last image, collect my balance, but leave the account active, that's probably the thing to do.

Is your balance at or above $100?  I wonder if they would pay that balance if it is below $100 unless you actually close your account; just deleting that last image probably isn't going to compel them to pay a 'sub-payout' balance.
I'd leave the image unless you need what is owed to you in which case I would close the account.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: shudderstok on July 21, 2013, 20:16
close your account and move on. clean up loose ends. you have all but closed your account by only leaving one image there. what's so difficult about this?
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: flashon on July 21, 2013, 20:31
I deleted my last image. However I have some $30 in my account. I don't think I can get the money unless I close my account.
Any suggestions?
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: tickstock on July 21, 2013, 20:34
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Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: ShadySue on July 21, 2013, 20:36
I deleted my last image. However I have some $30 in my account. I don't think I can get the money unless I close my account.
Any suggestions?
Apparently from both Lobo and from people who previously quit, you should get whatever's in your account when you close. I guess you have to contact CR.
Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: stockastic on July 21, 2013, 21:44
Yeah I have over $100.

Title: Re: should I just close the account and walk away?
Post by: elvinstar on July 22, 2013, 01:15
Wow! I guess that I'm an oddball... I closed my account on D-Day.