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Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: WarrenPrice on November 30, 2011, 14:28

Title: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: WarrenPrice on November 30, 2011, 14:28
After seeing the thinkstock poll I checked to see if my iStock stuff was being transferred to thinkstock.  It is.  My question is:
are those images being sold at both iS and TS?
where can I see how much iS images earn at TS?
and ... will the Stock Expert link (monthly sales) reflect all TS sales or just those in Hemera Collection (those transferred from StockXpert)?

I guess that should have been my question(s) are:   :P
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: disorderly on November 30, 2011, 14:41
My understanding of the situation, which will be right, wrong, or some combination of the two:

Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: WarrenPrice on November 30, 2011, 14:59
Thanks, Dis.  It is starting to make a little more sense.  It seems my images (more than I thought) have been selling as PP for much longer than I thought?
I thought I was enrolled by default (didn't respond to the email) but must have been already enrolled prior to email?
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: WarrenPrice on November 30, 2011, 15:14
After perusing the iStock PP stats, I am starting to feel pretty stupid. 
It seems that all the Hemera Collection is paid thru the StockXpert link/site/ different company check (HAAP Media). 
I have only 300 +/- in Hemera selling at 25 cents vice 28 cents.  It takes forever to reach payout threshold.
About the same amount in iStock collection selling at 28 cents vice 25 cents.  That money is added to my sales figures at iStock, reaching payout threshold at much faster rate.

Why do I even fool with the Hemera Collection?  Wouldn't it make much more sense to delete those images and work the PP sales as part of the iStock dollars?

How do I delete just the Hemera Collection?

*... this is getting to be like WORK.  I am retired.  I don't need this.   ::) ;D
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: disorderly on November 30, 2011, 15:30
Warren,

You could delete any or all of your images from StockXpert, and eventually they'll notice and remove them from ThinkStock.  But unless you have all of those same images on iStock as well, you'll just be replacing those .25 sales with empty air.

Seems to me iStock made a big deal about eliminating duplicates between iStock and StockXpert.  What I don't remember is if they said which they'd choose in the event of duplication.  My guess is the copy on StockXpert, because it got to ThinkStock first.  So you could make an extra .3 per download if you just delete the dups from StockXpert, minus whatever you lost before they managed to notice their disappearance and transferred the iStock version, assuming they ever did.

Me, I wouldn't bother.  Oh, and for reference, at this moment I have 4706 images on ThinkStock.  3814 (81%) come from StockXpert, 892 (19%) from iStock.  But revenue-wise it's the opposite.  in October iStock's partner program brought in $44.80, StockXpert $7.25.  That's 86% for iStock to StockXpert's 14%.  Why, I have no idea.
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: lisafx on November 30, 2011, 16:19
Oh, and for reference, at this moment I have 4706 images on ThinkStock.  3814 (81%) come from StockXpert, 892 (19%) from iStock.  But revenue-wise it's the opposite.  in October iStock's partner program brought in $44.80, StockXpert $7.25.  That's 86% for iStock to StockXpert's 14%.  Why, I have no idea.

Good answers to all the questions above :)

I wonder if Istock's collection has search preference at TS?
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on November 30, 2011, 16:45
Oh, and for reference, at this moment I have 4706 images on ThinkStock.  3814 (81%) come from StockXpert, 892 (19%) from iStock.  But revenue-wise it's the opposite.  in October iStock's partner program brought in $44.80, StockXpert $7.25.  That's 86% for iStock to StockXpert's 14%.  Why, I have no idea.

Good answers to all the questions above :)

I wonder if Istock's collection has search preference at TS?

I suspect it has.  A lot of StockXpert stuff was rejected from iS so it is probably regarded as lower quality, in addition it is all old and the iS stuff is regularly getting added. Subscription buyers are meant to like a supply of new content and iS may be the only site providing that.
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: Karimala on November 30, 2011, 17:29
Oh, and for reference, at this moment I have 4706 images on ThinkStock.  3814 (81%) come from StockXpert, 892 (19%) from iStock.  But revenue-wise it's the opposite.  in October iStock's partner program brought in $44.80, StockXpert $7.25.  That's 86% for iStock to StockXpert's 14%.  Why, I have no idea.

Good answers to all the questions above :)

I wonder if Istock's collection has search preference at TS?

IS seems to have preference.  I have duplicates on TS and have to dig, dig, dig in order to find the Hemera Collection version.  The IS version always pops up first.
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: RacePhoto on December 03, 2011, 14:26
After perusing the iStock PP stats, I am starting to feel pretty stupid. 
It seems that all the Hemera Collection is paid thru the StockXpert link/site/ different company check (HAAP Media). 
I have only 300 +/- in Hemera selling at 25 cents vice 28 cents.  It takes forever to reach payout threshold.
About the same amount in iStock collection selling at 28 cents vice 25 cents.  That money is added to my sales figures at iStock, reaching payout threshold at much faster rate.

Why do I even fool with the Hemera Collection?  Wouldn't it make much more sense to delete those images and work the PP sales as part of the iStock dollars?

How do I delete just the Hemera Collection?

... this is getting to be like WORK.  I am retired.  I don't need this.   ::) ;D

Still waiting on the final, I closed my StockXpert account this month (another one bites the dust...)

When they originally had people leaving, (in droves) the word was, "...delete all your photos and then request to have the account closed, you will get paid the next month after all the downloads are reconciled."

So last month I deleted everything but 10 photos (or maybe 12, I don't remember exactly) Waited until the report came in for Nov. and that I was over payout Min. Emailed and nicely asked them to close my account and pay me. "What do I need to do?" I'd quote the answer but Thunderbird just ate all my email! Basically the response was do nothing, we'll take care of it and when all sales have cleared, will send a payment to PayPal.

So OK that's nice and easy. I go look to see about removing the rest of the images and my account doesn't exist. I don't mind, that's good news, it means I can't see, but also means there's something in process and they are closing me out.

Last I checked, my images from Hemera are still on ThinkStock and may still be for sale? Even the ones that I deleted a couple weeks before.

To all the rest, yes IS comes up first in the searches now. I had some dupes that they missed in the transition, so it was easy to see. No I won't take 25c, it's bad enough that I'm forced to take 28c! My meager sales on IS (I stopped uploading) have moved from whatever I got a month on IS, to most of the same images being downloaded now from ThinkStock. That means that I used to average over $1.50 a download on IS and I am locked at 28c on ThinkStock. Same number of sales, roughly 82% less income.

Hey, here's a good one, ask Karimala how she's doing closing her account. If I remember right, it's been over a year and they still have her stuff from StockXpert up on ThinkStock. But you need to get that from the accurate source. Hopefully she's still getting paid?

When I get the PayPal I was going to write the dates and closing, but since everything is gone, it doesn't make much sense. Closed on Nov. 16th, waiting for things to go away and final payment. That's my story.

... this is getting to be like WORK.  I am retired.  I don't need this.   ::) ;D

I just joined that same club. (unfortunately still working two crummy jobs) Just can't wait for the motor home and a long vacation trip shooting pictures. Hey, where's the update on all of that?  :D
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: Karimala on December 03, 2011, 15:42
Hey, here's a good one, ask Karimala how she's doing closing her account. If I remember right, it's been over a year and they still have her stuff from StockXpert up on ThinkStock. But you need to get that from the accurate source. Hopefully she's still getting paid?

I didn't actually close my StockXpert account, but rather removed over 300 photos in April.  Every single one is still on sale at TS! At least I'm still being paid for them. 

However, I want to make about 20 of the photos exclusive at Fotolia, because that's the only place they sell well...but I can't make them exclusive until StockXpert removes them!  I've removed them everywhere else in anticipation of making them exclusive.  Translation: instead of making more money by offering them exclusively at Fotolia, I continue to lose money, because StockXpert won't remove them from TS.   
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: RacePhoto on December 04, 2011, 01:50
Hey, here's a good one, ask Karimala how she's doing closing her account. If I remember right, it's been over a year and they still have her stuff from StockXpert up on ThinkStock. But you need to get that from the accurate source. Hopefully she's still getting paid?

I didn't actually close my StockXpert account, but rather removed over 300 photos in April.  Every single one is still on sale at TS! At least I'm still being paid for them. 

However, I want to make about 20 of the photos exclusive at Fotolia, because that's the only place they sell well...but I can't make them exclusive until StockXpert removes them!  I've removed them everywhere else in anticipation of making them exclusive.  Translation: instead of making more money by offering them exclusively at Fotolia, I continue to lose money, because StockXpert won't remove them from TS.   

Thanks for clearing up what I got wrong.

Yes I closed my account and the images are still there, but I need to be fair and give them a month or two, to clear the sales and remove everything.

They have wiggle room on the removal, but I don't know why they would be delaying or dragging their feet. It's not like 300 photos, or my last 50-100 (I forget) will make or break them. I did delete all but a dozen, but none of them have gone away. Maybe all will go at once?

Stockxpert shall use reasonable efforts to have your Images removed from the websites of any Stockxpert affiliates (including co-branded websites) within ninety (90) days of the removal of your Images from the main Stockxpert website.

"reasonable efforts" are vague? ???

There you go Warren, delete them yourself and wait and see or close the account and wait and see?
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on December 05, 2011, 10:31
I checked this morning ad we're now up to a grand total of 10 images of mine transferred to Thinkstock/photos.com. That's up from 9 at the end of last week and 8 at the beginning of the week.

At this result, I won't see the whole portfolio of 2500 for about 24 years!
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: StockCube on December 05, 2011, 16:01
How can you see that Jo-Ann?
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: pancaketom on December 05, 2011, 16:44
to see your files at Thinkstock search on your name (well, I found one of my images that way). A few directed KW searches didn't find any more of my images, but who knows.
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: Artemis on December 05, 2011, 17:23
yeah, it seems the migration has officially started... last week nothing, now 5 of my images are there...
I thought i was mentally prepared, but still felt nausea when i saw them overthere :-\...so i pulled some more of the ones i have left on istock and felt a teenyweeny bit better... 
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on December 05, 2011, 17:27
How can you see that Jo-Ann?

If I search for "Jo Ann Snover" - not jsnover - I can see my images at photos.com and ThinkStock
Title: Re: Thinkstock/iStock images question
Post by: lagereek on December 06, 2011, 01:55
I checked this morning ad we're now up to a grand total of 10 images of mine transferred to Thinkstock/photos.com. That's up from 9 at the end of last week and 8 at the beginning of the week.

At this result, I won't see the whole portfolio of 2500 for about 24 years!


Same here, a grand total of 5 images, blimey we will be seven foot underground when this is all over. Ofcourse, its the usual hallmark of "nothing happening"