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QuoteSo what are we all going to do?Nothing. And iStock knows it. I wish I believed that there was going to be some uproar, some mass exodus to a site that pays 50% or more, and a buyer revolt and similar exodus to that same site so we could all happily earn 50%+ per sale instead of the 15-20% non-exclusives will be getting. But I have my doubts that any part of that scenario would ever be possible. Ever the optimist, I'm trying to support and promote sites that I believe to be operating in a more ethical way, and at the same time steering anyone I talk to about stock (buyers and sellers both) away from iStock. Will it have any effect? Who knows. But short of just completely deleting my iStock portfolio, this at least feels like some sort of effort. In the meantime, I'll keep on cashing out my weekly earnings and feeling a bit like a sell-out in doing so. But until December 31st, at least I know I'm still selling images at iStock under the same crappy 20% arrangement that I've always been under. I just wonder how I'll feel about it when it drops to 17% on January 1st, and if I'll still be able to stomach the idea of working with iStock for such a disgustingly low percentage. Guess we'll see then.
So what are we all going to do?
QuoteLOL! You think they will stop on this? You are wrong!You may be right, but currently any drop in my income is within the bounds of acceptable. I feel I can make it up with a bit of effort. The alternative would be what though?If you can suggest something I can do that will have minimal effect on my income I'm all ears. If you're going to suggest giving up exclusivity and uploading to multiple sites, don't bother. I know 2 people who have done this and they're both back as exclusives, poorer but wiser. I'm still earning within the top 10% of incomes in my European country, even with a 10% drop I'm still there and I feel I can make up an income drop by working harder and being more focussed. What suggestion can you offer?
LOL! You think they will stop on this? You are wrong!
There is what is unsustainable for Getty: All commissions higher than 20%
Quote from: ShadySue on September 12, 2010, 11:23Quote from: acv on September 12, 2010, 08:35There are alot of other agencies to work with. To begin with Alamy. I make very good $$$$ on there and they give you 60% on each sale. Yes 60%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not some slave wage at 15%. And for big fees. Good people at Alamy. Can't fault them. However classic micro style wont sell too well on there. You got to submit editorial style. Can I just correct this: yes, you get 60% if you sell directly through Alamy. However, if sales are made via their distributers, the distributer fee comes off your 60%. And while fees can be big, a lot of editorial sales are to education and newspapers, who get bi-i-i-i-g discounts off the published prices, so fees can be lower than an EL at iStock would be for the same use.That said, I've been building my port at Alamy at the expense of my iStock port for some months now. You can't expect big money quickly (but you could get lucky!): even after you get sales it takes weeks or months for the cash to come in to Alamy so that you can get your hands on it.So for the moment, I'll continue with the plan of supplying Alamy (editorial) primarily, and keeping a watching brief on my port at iStock and looking at alternatives as time goes on.Sales directly through Alamy are the majority by a wide margin, you can option out for sales via distribution, sales via a distributor are split like this 40% for the distributor, 20% for Alamy and 40% for you still pretty fair IMHO, Novel Use sales are 50/50 split you can option out for this too.
Quote from: acv on September 12, 2010, 08:35There are alot of other agencies to work with. To begin with Alamy. I make very good $$$$ on there and they give you 60% on each sale. Yes 60%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not some slave wage at 15%. And for big fees. Good people at Alamy. Can't fault them. However classic micro style wont sell too well on there. You got to submit editorial style. Can I just correct this: yes, you get 60% if you sell directly through Alamy. However, if sales are made via their distributers, the distributer fee comes off your 60%. And while fees can be big, a lot of editorial sales are to education and newspapers, who get bi-i-i-i-g discounts off the published prices, so fees can be lower than an EL at iStock would be for the same use.That said, I've been building my port at Alamy at the expense of my iStock port for some months now. You can't expect big money quickly (but you could get lucky!): even after you get sales it takes weeks or months for the cash to come in to Alamy so that you can get your hands on it.So for the moment, I'll continue with the plan of supplying Alamy (editorial) primarily, and keeping a watching brief on my port at iStock and looking at alternatives as time goes on.
There are alot of other agencies to work with. To begin with Alamy. I make very good $$$$ on there and they give you 60% on each sale. Yes 60%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not some slave wage at 15%. And for big fees. Good people at Alamy. Can't fault them. However classic micro style wont sell too well on there. You got to submit editorial style.
Quote from: Albert Martin on September 13, 2010, 02:08There is what is unsustainable for Getty: All commissions higher than 20%More accurate to say "unacceptable" than "unsustainable". IStock showed that payouts much greater than 20% were sustainable, while Getty has shown that with enough mismanagement you can cause a company to fail with 20%.Getty are just too arrogant to see that maybe IStock had it right and they have it wrong, even though that's the very reason they bought the company.Otherwise, yep spot on, they will cut exclusives down to 20% while independents will either have to go elsewhere or accept much, much less.
Just to clear that what I previously said:It is pure interest and my selfishness what drives me to talk to you here.I have plans to live from doing this and any cut of authors royalties I feel like cut to my personal earnings.It is not anything against your logic and current position! It is about future where there is action we ALL must do now or will face consequences in the future.Idea with attracting buyers to FAIR-TRADE sites seems like our best weapon we can use until someone come up with better one.
Stockfresh Alamy Graphicleftovers
For me reaction will be a process, not a cut in a single day...
I'm seriously considering taking the bull by the horns here. We need the micro stock equivalent of the SAA. Look at the SAA's mission statement, http://www.stockartistsalliance.org/info/about/mission This wouldn't be an organization with dues, just a loosely formed association where contributors can align themselves and agree to certain actions in order to keep these companies in check. We need a site where contributors can post a link to their portfolio at iStock and sign a petition / agreement to actions against the company in order to force their hand. I like the idea of increased actions over a period of time. I'm looking into a url now, we'll see.
All we have to do is stop uploading. all of us. Just for a week perhaps, like a strike! continue downloading, fine. It will stop Gettys business in its tracks. yet not adversely affect us or take any effort. We Just need to pick a date and inform everyone. How? Anyone?
I"m also curious - and this may be purely anecdotal - but did any of you independents see an increase in downloads at iStock when the price of exclusive files went up? I'm wondering if buyers are actively searching for files "without the crown" in order to find the cheapest price.
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Topic: So what are we all going to do? (Read 34488 times)
