Author Topic: What are you doing about istock? (Read 18361 times)

sharpshot · « **on:** August 24, 2013, 04:09 »

Are you tired of reading all these threads about the latest problems with istock? I can understand exclusives sticking with them but isn't it time non-exclusives did something? I know lots of people have already left or removed images but it seems like there's lots that spend time whinging about them while doing noting about it. We did do something positive with D-Day and that was a success for me. I removed my 500 best images and have no regrets. Perhaps the best thing to do is to inform any buyers you know that istock pay non-exclusives 15 to 19% commission. The few I've spoken to are shocked by how little we get paid. Now that prices have been slashed for non-exclusives and I'll be getting another commission cut at the end of the year, I'll start removing more images.

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2013, 04:15 »

I'm going to pay attention to this thread a while. I'm more concerned about my images being pawned off in some major sell-out move due to the declining circumstances.

picture5469 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2013, 05:30 »

Quote from: sharpshot on August 24, 2013, 04:09

Are you tired of reading all these threads about the latest problems with istock? I can understand exclusives sticking ovwith them but isn't it time non-exclusives did something? I know lots of people have already left or removed images but it seems like there's lots that spend time whinging about them while doing noting about it. We did do something positive with D-Day and that was a success for me. I removed my 500 best images and have no regrets. Perhaps the best thing to do is to inform any buyers you know that istock pay non-exclusives 15 to 19% commission. The few I've spoken to are shocked by how little we get paid. Now that prices have been slashed for non-exclusives and I'll be getting another commission cut at the end of the year, I'll start removing more images.

I have already removed all images from istock

BoBoBolinski · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2013, 05:39 »

I have already removed all images from istock

This would seem the obvious answer, if it's so terrible why not just close your account?

cathyslife · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2013, 05:56 »

I have already removed all images from istock. Long before d-day.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2013, 07:19 »

interesting topic, the other day I did a small list of many contributors, the ones that contribute here regularly and also other, I have found a contributor that left this forum I believe after Tyler entering the topic regarding anonymity, he uploaded close to 10k pictures this year

so I wonder if 10 or 50 stopped uploading will change anything, I am starting to think we are just give them advantage as they will continue to collect as our income dry

sc · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2013, 07:47 »

I too deleted a ton of images on D-Day.
Then in July after the latest price cut, when on the 10th I had only sold $21 dollars for the month, I deleted over 500 more only leaving 5 images.
After the August PP payouts are in, I will have passed payout and will drop the account.
I also had to open a support ticket to get the images off of TS and Photos.com, just like after D-Day.

BoBoBolinski · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2013, 08:05 »

"so I wonder if 10 or 50 stopped uploading will change anything,"

Of course it will make no difference to IS, in the same way so-called D-Day made no difference, I doubt it was even noticed at IS. There are tens of thousands of contributors there,new accounts are opened all the time, accounts are closed all the time, a few more here or there makes no difference .

Mantis · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2013, 08:23 »

Quote from: BoBoBolinski on August 24, 2013, 08:05

"so I wonder if 10 or 50 stopped uploading will change anything,"

Of course it will make no difference to IS, in the same way so-called D-Day made no difference, I doubt it was even noticed at IS. There are tens of thousands of contributors there,new accounts are opened all the time, accounts are closed all the time, a few more here or there makes no difference .

I think what will be telling is the next pay cut in January. Everyone BUT Istock loses.....again. I doubt the sweethearts at GI/IS will adjust the RC levels accordingly, so expect a flurry of new threads come February. This "may" force more exclusives to drop the crown and more, overall, to drop IS altogether. Interesting how IS is DEAD SILENT on the upcoming RC issue.

ShadySue · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2013, 09:10 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on August 24, 2013, 07:19

interesting topic, the other day I did a small list of many contributors, the ones that
so I wonder if 10 or 50 stopped uploading will change anything, I am starting to think we are just give them advantage as they will continue to collect as our income dry

It will make no difference to iStock.
They papped Sean because he was trying to call them to rights; they don't give a d*mn about any of us (and probably neither do any of the others).
If you leave, it's for yourself only.
Just don't think they'll even blink as you fly out the door.
I've read that they don't even send out a debriefing email when someone leaves / quits exclusivity - which tells you all you need to know . If they GAD, they'd be finding out why people leave and sort the things that can be sorted.

Snufkin · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2013, 09:25 »

I deleted about 1/3 of my portfolio some time ago. They are irrelevant, they are a waste of time.
I focus on making money elsewhere.

IS cannot be trusted, and it's good that they are getting weaker and weaker. It is not so difficult to replace an 'unsustainable' source of income.

For what it's worth, this month so far I made just a little bit more on Stocksy than on Istock. However, my Stocksy port size is less than 6% of my remaining IS port. Maybe the sample size is still too small to draw conclusions, but anyway I expect Stocksy to continue to grow. For a young agency the results are excellent.

I still have one file at IS that is still usually No. 1 or 2 in the best match of a very popular keyword search and approaching a blue flame. This file doesn't perform as it used to, which tells me it is not me who sucks, it is them. And that is good so.

They are a waste of time, I have moved on to other projects and ideas.

cthoman · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2013, 09:26 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on August 24, 2013, 07:19

so I wonder if 10 or 50 stopped uploading will change anything, I am starting to think we are just give them advantage as they will continue to collect as our income dry

They clearly want more vectors, so I assume they are hurting on that front. I'm not sure what happened though.

chromaco · « **Reply #12 on:** August 24, 2013, 09:42 »

Regarding vectors. I think they were much easier to leave or ignor because there are a number of better options, not just shutterstock.

cthoman · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2013, 10:32 »

Quote from: chromaco on August 24, 2013, 09:42

Regarding vectors. I think they were much easier to leave or ignor because there are a number of better options, not just shutterstock.

That could be it. I just think it is interesting that iStock seems to be courting the vector side a little bit more lately.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2013, 11:27 »

There seems to be a big push on transferring files to PP.
I'll wait and see.

Pilens · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2013, 11:54 »

I stopped uploading ages ago. IS is a waste of nerves and time. Which is sad because IS backed by Getty has/had the potential to a least be/stay on par with SS. Sometimes, however, I get the feeling they are deliberately sinking their ship. I mean can bad management really be that bad by accident?

tickstock · « **Reply #16 on:** August 24, 2013, 11:57 »

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #17 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:05 »

I really don't think we need to do anything at all. iStock seems perfectly capable of self-destructing without any input from us. Too bad, too, as up until about a year ago it looked like the place to be.

I'm hoping that the future lies in concepts like Symbiostock, in the rise of smaller specialty agencies like Macrografiks (which I'm a part of) and in the likes of Stocksy....away from the large self-serving and impersonal corporate agencies and more toward those with customer and contributor service at the forefront.

Beppe Grillo · « **Reply #18 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:17 »

If I delete my images on iStock or close my account

- Will I create some damage to iStock? No
- Will I make more money with iStock? No
- Will I make more money with other sites? No

So what?

tickstock · « **Reply #19 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:22 »

cthoman · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2013, 12:57 »

Quote from: Beppe Grillo on August 24, 2013, 12:17

If I delete my images on iStock or close my account

- Will I create some damage to iStock? No
- Will I make more money with iStock? No
- Will I make more money with other sites? No

So what?

Three is hard to determine. My earnings jumped at some other places after I left IS. Maybe, it was coincidence. Maybe, it wasn't.

ShadySue · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2013, 13:01 »

Quote from: Pilens on August 24, 2013, 11:54

I stopped uploading ages ago. IS is a waste of nerves and time. Which is sad because IS backed by Getty has/had the potential to a least be/stay on par with SS. Sometimes, however, I get the feeling they are deliberately sinking their ship. I mean can bad management really be that bad by accident?

I've often wondered exactly the same thing.

heywoody · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2013, 13:28 »

Yep. Totally dysfunctional and a sinking ship BUT, like Beppo suggests, still probably generate better returns than most others (SS excepted of course).

ctsankov · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2013, 13:41 »

The target of iStock(Getty) is to compete ShutterStock with their ThinkStock.
iStock(Getty) have only the half of ShutterStock images.
It would be interesting to see what would happend in the next months.

JPSDK · « **Reply #24 on:** August 24, 2013, 14:21 »

When they raised their commision for selling my content to 85% I began to look closer at them.
I did a bit of calculations and found out that with my content, they have been able to pay a couple of employees for a year or maybe only a half. But they never spent a minute of their time on me. They didnt even bother to care for my interests.

Then I also noted that all communication from them to me was extremely arrogant, if there was any.
Even if it was on the personal level in the forums.
I was always met with lies, cover ups, manipulations and cheats on the level of Nigerian scams.
In all areas! both with money, facts, processes and future development.
It was always lies, and it was always one sided and it was everywhere.

I had the feeling that no mean would be spared to squeeze the last drop of blood out of me, and I would get nothing back.

I simply will not accept to pay 85% commission for anybody to sell my content, and certainly not if they are not very polite. The annoy factor rose far above the level where you decide to do something about it.
Im not going to be taken the piss on for 15%.
Not!

So I joined D-day and took my content out of their hands, left only a symbolic image.
PLUS, I demean them whereever I can, spread the negative word wherever I can. I still do.

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Author Topic: What are you doing about istock? (Read 18361 times)

sharpshot

Leo Blanchette

picture5469

BoBoBolinski

cathyslife

luissantos84

sc

BoBoBolinski

Mantis

ShadySue

Snufkin

cthoman

chromaco

cthoman

WarrenPrice

Pilens

tickstock

mlwinphoto

Beppe Grillo

tickstock

cthoman

ShadySue

heywoody

ctsankov

JPSDK

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