Author Topic: The Fall Of An Empire (Read 39324 times)

iStop · « **on:** December 03, 2012, 19:53 »

Historically empires rise and fall. This may be a first time in history where an empire solely destroyed itself.

Reading this post from a buyer makes you realize that all of the recent destruction of iStock's buyer base could have been avoided if iStock just knew the meaning of "If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It".

Just having to read this kind of post from a buyer makes you realize that if someone knows how to run a business that things would never ever reach such a critical breaking point. It's a shame a buyer is left to feel this desperate. What a pity.

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=349485&page=1

gostwyck · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2012, 20:14 »

It's not 'the first time' at all. It's actually what normally happens __ just a bit faster than might be expected, but that's probably the times we live in.

Studies I read back in the 90's reckoned that historically the average life of a business was about 40 years. That's about how long it usually took for a one-man business to grow, take on employees, become a big player, achieve the status of 'market-leader' in it's field ... before complacency almost inevitably sets in, allowing younger more vibrant competitors to overcome and destroy them.

Unfortunately the complacency at iStock probably started in 2005, when they introduced the exclusivity programme, but never quite made it financially attractive enough to destroy their competitors before they had got going. iStock is now being destroyed by SS who they allowed to live back then __ because they never really believed them to be a threat. Big mistake.

tab62 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2012, 20:16 »

I wonder when Microsoft will end up the same? Maybe Apple will eat them up...

tab62 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2012, 20:20 »

More history-

http://www.microstockposts.com/istockphoto-makes-all-the-wrong-moves/

RacePhoto · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2012, 02:40 »

Quote from: tab62 on December 03, 2012, 20:16

I wonder when Microsoft will end up the same? Maybe Apple will eat them up...

Actually except for some Mac blind followers (and the fact that it is MUCH better for graphics), and the myth that Macs work better and don't get viruses, Apple would already be out of business if Microsoft hadn't propped them up.

Apple with 5% of the world market and for those who think the US is the center of the Earth 12% and maybe 15% if things continue upward.

I doubt that Apple will eat anything, except from their core followers.

What's hurting MS more is free developers who make things like Open Office and Firefox and Thunderbird or many other projects, Ubuntu and Linux could be interesting.

I'm not so sure the predictions of four years for Micro will come to pass. There are hundreds of little agencies, * what they can get out of the system. Even if they go, the top 20 or so, are making about 85% off our work. So they have expenses, but the mid-tier that don't spend bundles on marketing are just making money off people and the crowd source victims. It reminds me of people who can't leave an abusive relationship. It's the only way of life they know.

I wish the predictions were right, and we'd lose the parasites. Then maybe the working agencies could afford to charge reasonable prices and pay us better commissions. People who feed these money * price cutting agencies are just as much at fault as the agencies that take advantage of people who need the income.

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2012, 03:04 »

No youre very wrong. Its destruction for a purpose, i.e. its done on purpose and for a reason and the IS admin cant do anything about it because they are themselves just minor players in all this. Got nothing to do with it.

So far the strategy has worked out superb. Getty has got them exactly where they want them and frankly it might all be for the better? after all as independants we were not treated much better before, were we?
Personally I am much rather in the hands of Getty then the present wobbling IS admin.
Besides at the moment IS, is selling very well for me. Cant complain at all.

ffNixx · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2012, 03:50 »

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 03:04

No youre very wrong. Its destruction for a purpose, i.e. its done on purpose and for a reason and the IS admin cant do anything about it because they are themselves just minor players in all this. Got nothing to do with it.

So far the strategy has worked out superb. Getty has got them exactly where they want them and frankly it might all be for the better? after all as independants we were not treated much better before, were we?
Personally I am much rather in the hands of Getty then the present wobbling IS admin.
Besides at the moment IS, is selling very well for me. Cant complain at all.

LOL, that's the most self-contradictory post I ever read on these forums, at least since Lagereek had his meltdown and disappeared.

Hang on... You look familiar!

gillian vann · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2012, 03:53 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on December 04, 2012, 02:40

Quote from: tab62 on December 03, 2012, 20:16
I wonder when Microsoft will end up the same? Maybe Apple will eat them up...

Actually except for some Mac blind followers (and the fact that it is MUCH better for graphics), and the myth that Macs work better and don't get viruses, Apple would already be out of business if Microsoft hadn't propped them up.

ouch, them's fighting words

nicku · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2012, 03:55 »

It's amazing that the post was not deleted yet... the accumulated tension among buyers is starting to burst.... The war in Balkans ( in the 1990's) started on a football stadium as a result of accumulated tensions....

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2012, 04:24 »

Quote from: ffNixx on December 04, 2012, 03:50

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 03:04
No youre very wrong. Its destruction for a purpose, i.e. its done on purpose and for a reason and the IS admin cant do anything about it because they are themselves just minor players in all this. Got nothing to do with it.

So far the strategy has worked out superb. Getty has got them exactly where they want them and frankly it might all be for the better? after all as independants we were not treated much better before, were we?
Personally I am much rather in the hands of Getty then the present wobbling IS admin.
Besides at the moment IS, is selling very well for me. Cant complain at all.

LOL, that's the most self-contradictory post I ever read on these forums, at least since Lagereek had his meltdown and disappeared.

Hang on... You look familiar!

Sigh! the ususal little microstockers neewbie glib.

JPSDK · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2012, 04:28 »

Or not.
I have noticed that when first you begin to use the word "little", it will only take a few posts before you use the word "girl".
I have also said how that sort of communication is labeled.

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2012, 04:34 »

Quote from: JPSDK on December 04, 2012, 04:28

Or not.
I have noticed that when first you begin to use the word "little", it will only take a few posts before you use the word "girl".
I have also said how that sort of communication is labeled.

Wasnt aware of that actually? sorry but I got the impression that your J, stood for Jane? now if your a guy, begging your pardon.

gillian vann · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2012, 04:51 »

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 04:24

Quote from: ffNixx on December 04, 2012, 03:50
Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 03:04
No youre very wrong. Its destruction for a purpose, i.e. its done on purpose and for a reason and the IS admin cant do anything about it because they are themselves just minor players in all this. Got nothing to do with it.

So far the strategy has worked out superb. Getty has got them exactly where they want them and frankly it might all be for the better? after all as independants we were not treated much better before, were we?
Personally I am much rather in the hands of Getty then the present wobbling IS admin.
Besides at the moment IS, is selling very well for me. Cant complain at all.

LOL, that's the most self-contradictory post I ever read on these forums, at least since Lagereek had his meltdown and disappeared.

Hang on... You look familiar!

Sigh! the ususal little microstockers neewbie glib.

well, it's a change from the usual "ignore the newbie" attitude

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2012, 05:06 »

Quote from: vannphoto on December 04, 2012, 04:51

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 04:24
Quote from: ffNixx on December 04, 2012, 03:50
Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 03:04
No youre very wrong. Its destruction for a purpose, i.e. its done on purpose and for a reason and the IS admin cant do anything about it because they are themselves just minor players in all this. Got nothing to do with it.

So far the strategy has worked out superb. Getty has got them exactly where they want them and frankly it might all be for the better? after all as independants we were not treated much better before, were we?
Personally I am much rather in the hands of Getty then the present wobbling IS admin.
Besides at the moment IS, is selling very well for me. Cant complain at all.

LOL, that's the most self-contradictory post I ever read on these forums, at least since Lagereek had his meltdown and disappeared.

Hang on... You look familiar!

Sigh! the ususal little microstockers neewbie glib.
well, it's a change from the usual "ignore the newbie" attitude

Not you! like your port btw.

JPSDK · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2012, 05:09 »

And here we have.
Dividera et impera, version intimidation.

gillian vann · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2012, 05:29 »

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 05:06

Quote from: vannphoto on December 04, 2012, 04:51
Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 04:24
Quote from: ffNixx on December 04, 2012, 03:50
Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 03:04
No youre very wrong. Its destruction for a purpose, i.e. its done on purpose and for a reason and the IS admin cant do anything about it because they are themselves just minor players in all this. Got nothing to do with it.

So far the strategy has worked out superb. Getty has got them exactly where they want them and frankly it might all be for the better? after all as independants we were not treated much better before, were we?
Personally I am much rather in the hands of Getty then the present wobbling IS admin.
Besides at the moment IS, is selling very well for me. Cant complain at all.

LOL, that's the most self-contradictory post I ever read on these forums, at least since Lagereek had his meltdown and disappeared.

Hang on... You look familiar!

Sigh! the ususal little microstockers neewbie glib.
well, it's a change from the usual "ignore the newbie" attitude

Not you! like your port btw.

you should see my etchings sometime.

rubyroo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2012, 05:32 »

Whilst I realise that this doesn't necessary mean that he's staying at the helm precisely as he is now, I see nothing but optimism for the future of SS in this interview. He doesn't sound like someone who wants to walk away from his creation:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/shutterstock-ceo-jon-oringer-on-ipo-success-the-future-of-video/

gostwyck · « **Reply #17 on:** December 04, 2012, 07:19 »

^^^ Great link, thanks for posting. It'll be very interesting to see where "... the next nine years" takes us.

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #18 on:** December 04, 2012, 07:25 »

Quote from: rubyroo on December 04, 2012, 05:32

Whilst I realise that this doesn't necessary mean that he's staying at the helm precisely as he is now, I see nothing but optimism for the future of SS in this interview. He doesn't sound like someone who wants to walk away from his creation:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/shutterstock-ceo-jon-oringer-on-ipo-success-the-future-of-video/

No he wont just walk away, but with a few billion quid in the pocket ofcourse he will leave the admin and running of the company to others.
Thats not the problem. Problem is and will alway be after an IPO. Once the shareholders start their yearning for profits the troubles start. Its a classic and always follows and to think SS will be the first one not to be effected, well thats to be naive.

Anyhow, wait and see.

rubyroo · « **Reply #19 on:** December 04, 2012, 07:40 »

I'm certainly not naive... but 'wait and see' is very much what I intend to do. In the meantime, as long as they are successful for me, I'll keep uploading.

jjneff · « **Reply #20 on:** December 04, 2012, 08:27 »

I have pondered this a while and come to realize you can buy a culture. iStock was a culture as well as a brand, when big companies buy up companies like istock they think that they can harness the culture and make more money. It never works, Getty did leave iStock alone for a while the problem was Kelly was not a great leader or motivator. Getty moves in full force to clean up only to make things worse. The culture at iStock is almost gone and since they are only trying to squeeze out profits they can't see that even though they are adding site features like cash purchases, they are loosing the culture that drove iStock in the first place. Punctum Day, Fixed levels fostered helping others with out fear of loosing real money, The big Lypse, more communication and the list goes on. If you want iStock to live in the hearts of the artist that feed you and pay your bills iStock then stop killing the culture that made you successful in the first place!

gostwyck · « **Reply #21 on:** December 04, 2012, 08:31 »

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 07:25

Quote from: rubyroo on December 04, 2012, 05:32
Whilst I realise that this doesn't necessary mean that he's staying at the helm precisely as he is now, I see nothing but optimism for the future of SS in this interview. He doesn't sound like someone who wants to walk away from his creation:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/shutterstock-ceo-jon-oringer-on-ipo-success-the-future-of-video/

No he wont just walk away, but with a few billion quid in the pocket ofcourse he will leave the admin and running of the company to others.
Thats not the problem. Problem is and will alway be after an IPO. Once the shareholders start their yearning for profits the troubles start. Its a classic and always follows and to think SS will be the first one not to be effected, well thats to be naive.

Anyhow, wait and see.

Huh? Ever heard of companies called Apple, Microsoft or Google (to pick a few out of countless others)? They never did anything after their IPO's did they? Sank without trace shortly afterwards I expect.

Do you just make these ridiculous statements because you have nothing better to do? You can't possibly believe the nonsense that you write. Oringer still owns 54% of the business. It's his baby as well as being almost the entirety of his wealth. He's not going to blow it because someone like you buys a few shares and then starts clamouring for instantaneous extra profits __ which is the sort of idiotic thing you would probably do if you turned up at a shareholders' meeting.

SSTK have already projected both revenues and profit until the end of 2013 in their Q3 report, 15th Oct. Did you even bother to read it before making your absurd 'predictions'? Stop spouting rubbish and read something based on reality;

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/shutterstock-reports-third-quarter-2012-financial-results-20121115-01447

cidepix · « **Reply #22 on:** December 04, 2012, 08:45 »

I couldn't care less about istockphoto..

despite making 1/6 of what I used to make on istock with less files, my micro income went up so they can go to hell with their commissions..

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #23 on:** December 04, 2012, 08:56 »

Quote from: gostwyck on December 04, 2012, 08:31

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on December 04, 2012, 07:25
Quote from: rubyroo on December 04, 2012, 05:32
Whilst I realise that this doesn't necessary mean that he's staying at the helm precisely as he is now, I see nothing but optimism for the future of SS in this interview. He doesn't sound like someone who wants to walk away from his creation:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/shutterstock-ceo-jon-oringer-on-ipo-success-the-future-of-video/

No he wont just walk away, but with a few billion quid in the pocket ofcourse he will leave the admin and running of the company to others.
Thats not the problem. Problem is and will alway be after an IPO. Once the shareholders start their yearning for profits the troubles start. Its a classic and always follows and to think SS will be the first one not to be effected, well thats to be naive.

Anyhow, wait and see.

Huh? Ever heard of companies called Apple, Microsoft or Google (to pick a few out of countless others)? They never did anything after their IPO's did they? Sank without trace shortly afterwards I expect.

Do you just make these ridiculous statements because you have nothing better to do? You can't possibly believe the nonsense that you write. Oringer still owns 54% of the business. It's his baby as well as being almost the entirety of his wealth. He's not going to blow it because someone like you buys a few shares and then starts clamouring for instantaneous extra profits __ which is the sort of idiotic thing you would probably do if you turned up at a shareholders' meeting.

SSTK have already projected both revenues and profit until the end of 2013 in their Q3 report, 15th Oct. Did you even bother to read it before making your absurd 'predictions'? Stop spouting rubbish and read something based on reality;

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/shutterstock-reports-third-quarter-2012-financial-results-20121115-01447

Oh I can understand your panic since you seem to build your entire future on one single company. We have done that before and look what happend?
Anyhow, dont panic. You will just have to wait and see wont you, same as all the rest. Now if YOU were a few billions richer what would you do, just sit tight in your cobwebb and hope for the best?
Use your brain and stop quoting and comparing Apple and microsoft. There is a giant, giant differance, both in size and products.

Anyhow best of luck and try and look for an escape route when reallity dawns.

all the best.

JPSDK · « **Reply #24 on:** December 04, 2012, 10:04 »

Quote from: cidepix on December 04, 2012, 08:45

I couldn't care less about istockphoto..

despite making 1/6 of what I used to make on istock with less files, my micro income went up so they can go to hell with their commissions..

Hear Hear

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Author Topic: The Fall Of An Empire (Read 39324 times)

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gostwyck

tab62

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ClaridgeJ

JPSDK

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