Author Topic: So what are we all going to do? (Read 39011 times)

gostwyck · « **Reply #100 on:** September 15, 2010, 06:34 »

Quote from: Norebbo on September 14, 2010, 22:44

I've stopped all uploads to iStock - it's unlikely they will get anything more from me as long as they are paying such low royalties.

Same here.

dirkr · « **Reply #101 on:** September 15, 2010, 06:39 »

As I mentioned elsewhere:

No uploads until end of the year.
If my future commission will be below 20%*, I'll start deleting my portfolio in January.

* This means if Istock does not reverse the changes. The chances that I will reach 20% via redeemed credits are zero (the chances that I reach 16% are close to zero) - but if Istock would somehow manage to produce that amount of sales I would certainly fall to my knees and apologize a thousand times

Eireann · « **Reply #102 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:33 »

I cannot bring myself to upload to a site that pays 15% commission.
I gave it a lot of thought, but it's impossible.
I just can't do it, something inside me breaks.

I will not sell a single image for anything lower than 20%.
Stopped uploading.
Delete port before the change takes place.
Do my best to let designers know what's happening and divert them away from IStock. Today, tomorrow, long term.

Buying from IStock is not cool anymore.

fotorob · « **Reply #103 on:** September 15, 2010, 08:50 »

What to do?

Simple: I stopped uploading new images to istcockphoto.

Kone · « **Reply #104 on:** September 15, 2010, 09:07 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 15, 2010, 06:34

Quote from: Norebbo on September 14, 2010, 22:44
I've stopped all uploads to iStock - it's unlikely they will get anything more from me as long as they are paying such low royalties.

Same here.

Same here

cathyslife · « **Reply #105 on:** September 15, 2010, 09:14 »

Quote from: disorderly on September 14, 2010, 21:43

Quote from: KB on September 14, 2010, 21:28
Quote from: brm1949 on September 14, 2010, 19:18
Stopped uploading last week and deleted all dollar bin images.
How is it you, as an independent, had dollar bin images? Just curious; did they used to let everybody participate in that?

Let us? This is iStock. They forced us!

(They really did. Back in the mists of time, they'd take images that hadn't sold after a couple of years and dump them into the dollar bin. If they didn't sell there after a relatively short while, they'd be deactivated. As I recall, they stopped the deactivation later on, but not the demotion to the dollar bin. I have a couple of hundred images in the bin, but fewer every day.)

And before they went to the dollar bin, I used to get an email telling me they were headed there and asking if I wanted them there or deactivated. I always chose to deactivate, did not want my images there. I sell the same images at other places for more than a dollar, it was not good for me to do that. But then the emails stopped, unannounced of course. A couple of weeks ago after F5, I happened to be looking around the site, trying to find things, and decided to check there, just in case. Guess what, a whole bunch of my old unsold images were there. I promptly deactivated them all. Now you have to check to make sure none are there, if you don't want to participate. Because they automatically go there after a period of time with no sales.

dirkr · « **Reply #106 on:** September 15, 2010, 10:39 »

Quote from: cclapper on September 15, 2010, 09:14

Because they automatically go there after a period of time with no sales.

Anybody knows what that period of time is exactly?

Gannet77 · « **Reply #107 on:** September 15, 2010, 11:07 »

Quote from: dirkr on September 15, 2010, 10:39

Quote from: cclapper on September 15, 2010, 09:14
Because they automatically go there after a period of time with no sales.

Anybody knows what that period of time is exactly?

No they don't, not any more.

There was a period when only exclusives (I think) got to nominate up to 10 at a time of files that hadn't sold for a year, but it was a manual process.

Then when the partner program started, they automatically pushed all dollar bin images to the PP if you opted in. People asked about deactivated Dollar Bin files, and they re-activated ALL of them and sent them to the PP as well.

So non-exclusive files from a long time ago may have been reactivated there.

That was the last update to the dollar bin as I recall, though there was a request a little while ago for suggestions as to what to do with it, so it could be there are plans for it.

Just went away and tracked it down... here it is:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=231581&page=1

gewitterkind · « **Reply #108 on:** September 16, 2010, 14:17 »

If anybody is interested: I have created a page at facebook that's called "Stock contributors against proposed royalty changes" (you cant use the word istock in the name...). I don't know yet what exactly to do with it, but i'm open to suggestions. I figured if the protest would only be visible in the istock forums, then we wouldn't be heard.

lisafx · « **Reply #109 on:** September 16, 2010, 14:25 »

^^ Very good idea. BTW, welcome to the group

gewitterkind · « **Reply #110 on:** September 16, 2010, 14:26 »

Thanks. Until now, there was no need to go outside the istock forums. Unfortunately, that has changed.

lagereek · « **Reply #111 on:** September 16, 2010, 14:26 »

Going to do?? well why dont we build a fire, sing a couple of songs, drink a few beers, you know.

lisafx · « **Reply #112 on:** September 16, 2010, 15:00 »

Quote from: lagereek on September 16, 2010, 14:26

Going to do?? well why dont we build a fire, sing a couple of songs, drink a few beers, you know.

I hear the string quartet continued to play as the Titanic sank. Maybe some of the musicians here could do the same for Istock

dgilder · « **Reply #113 on:** September 16, 2010, 15:03 »

I've got a couple boxes of business cards I need to get rid of, might make good kindling.

helix7 · « **Reply #114 on:** September 16, 2010, 15:20 »

StockFresh commented on the situation on their blog.

lisafx · « **Reply #115 on:** September 16, 2010, 15:37 »

Quote from: helix7 on September 16, 2010, 15:20

StockFresh commented on the situation on their blog.

Very nice. This certainly comes at a perfect time for SF. Just as so many buyers and former exclusives will be looking for a site that offers good commissions. Great way to get started in the business!

LSD72 · « **Reply #116 on:** September 16, 2010, 17:24 »

Quote from: lisafx on September 16, 2010, 15:37

Quote from: helix7 on September 16, 2010, 15:20

StockFresh commented on the situation on their blog.

Very nice. This certainly comes at a perfect time for SF. Just as so many buyers and former exclusives will be looking for a site that offers good commissions. Great way to get started in the business!

Still waiting on an approval or rejection though. Those former exclusives might have to wait a bit.

Phil · « **Reply #117 on:** September 16, 2010, 17:49 »

I'm mildly surprised more sites havent done stuff. DT has their paid upload, and FT is doing cannister matching? But I see it would be a good opportunity for someone like crestock. Revamp royalty structure to something like SS for subs and a scaled 20-35% for ppd and you'd be the site (and new owner) that was increasing commissions some pretty serious goodwill.

abimages · « **Reply #118 on:** September 16, 2010, 17:57 »

Quote from: Phil on September 16, 2010, 17:49

I'm mildly surprised more sites havent done stuff. DT has their paid upload, and FT is doing cannister matching? But I see it would be a good opportunity for someone like crestock. Revamp royalty structure to something like SS for subs and a scaled 20-35% for ppd and you'd be the site (and new owner) that was increasing commissions some pretty serious goodwill.

Whats the FT canister matching? Havn't heard about that.

Phil · « **Reply #119 on:** September 16, 2010, 18:30 »

Quote from: abimages on September 16, 2010, 17:57

Quote from: Phil on September 16, 2010, 17:49
I'm mildly surprised more sites havent done stuff. DT has their paid upload, and FT is doing cannister matching? But I see it would be a good opportunity for someone like crestock. Revamp royalty structure to something like SS for subs and a scaled 20-35% for ppd and you'd be the site (and new owner) that was increasing commissions some pretty serious goodwill.

Whats the FT canister matching? Havn't heard about that.

they match cannister levels with istock. Basically if you're gold excl on istock and give up the crown they will make you an instant gold non exclusive on FT. Like DT you have to ask specifically and show them your level on istock (I pretty sure they are still doing it, perhaps someone can confirm).

NancyCWalker · « **Reply #120 on:** September 17, 2010, 09:56 »

I've posted in my blog that I will be removing my portfolio from IS if the 20% minimum royalty is not restored. It's not financially workable for me to make less on an image than I would make with SS.

I've also stopped uploading, removed myself from all programs that I can opt out of, and started to delete images. Most are dollar bin images that weren't getting sales anyway. I don't want to be to rash so I'm giving them amble time to correct their mistake. If the mistake is not corrected by my next payout then I will call for a payout and to close my account.

lisafx · « **Reply #121 on:** September 17, 2010, 09:56 »

Quote from: Phil on September 16, 2010, 18:30

Quote from: abimages on September 16, 2010, 17:57

Whats the FT canister matching? Havn't heard about that.

they match cannister levels with istock. Basically if you're gold excl on istock and give up the crown they will make you an instant gold non exclusive on FT. Like DT you have to ask specifically and show them your level on istock (I pretty sure they are still doing it, perhaps someone can confirm).

Unfortunately the across-the-board canister matching program expired.

OTOH, FT is eager to get gold and diamond istock exclusives, so maybe there is room for negotiation if you are a top seller on Istock? Who knows? The time to ask would be now, IMO.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #122 on:** September 17, 2010, 10:04 »

Quote from: lisafx on September 17, 2010, 09:56

Quote from: Phil on September 16, 2010, 18:30
Quote from: abimages on September 16, 2010, 17:57

Whats the FT canister matching? Havn't heard about that.

they match cannister levels with istock. Basically if you're gold excl on istock and give up the crown they will make you an instant gold non exclusive on FT. Like DT you have to ask specifically and show them your level on istock (I pretty sure they are still doing it, perhaps someone can confirm).

Unfortunately the across-the-board canister matching program expired.

OTOH, FT is eager to get gold and diamond istock exclusives, so maybe there is room for negotiation if you are a top seller on Istock? Who knows? The time to ask would be now, IMO.

I sent a message, we'll see.

Allsa · « **Reply #123 on:** September 17, 2010, 10:08 »

Quote from: Kone on September 15, 2010, 09:07

Quote from: gostwyck on September 15, 2010, 06:34
Quote from: Norebbo on September 14, 2010, 22:44
I've stopped all uploads to iStock - it's unlikely they will get anything more from me as long as they are paying such low royalties.

Same here.

Same here

Same here

abimages · « **Reply #124 on:** September 17, 2010, 10:19 »

Quote from: lisafx on September 17, 2010, 09:56

Quote from: Phil on September 16, 2010, 18:30
Quote from: abimages on September 16, 2010, 17:57

Whats the FT canister matching? Havn't heard about that.

they match cannister levels with istock. Basically if you're gold excl on istock and give up the crown they will make you an instant gold non exclusive on FT. Like DT you have to ask specifically and show them your level on istock (I pretty sure they are still doing it, perhaps someone can confirm).

Unfortunately the across-the-board canister matching program expired.

OTOH, FT is eager to get gold and diamond istock exclusives, so maybe there is room for negotiation if you are a top seller on Istock? Who knows? The time to ask would be now, IMO.

Thanks Lisa.
I'm only silver, so probably of no interest to them. But I've asked them anyway

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Author Topic: So what are we all going to do? (Read 39011 times)

gostwyck

dirkr

Eireann

fotorob

Kone

cathyslife

dirkr

Gannet77

gewitterkind

lisafx

gewitterkind

lagereek

lisafx

dgilder

helix7

lisafx

LSD72

Phil

abimages

Phil

NancyCWalker

lisafx

traveler1116

Allsa

abimages

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