Author Topic: Submissions and access gone at Envato (Read 16977 times)

Yay Images Billionaire · « **on:** November 15, 2016, 22:03 »

I opened an Envato account, and uploaded a batch of photos following their FTP instructions. When I went to my dashboard the next day it said:

You currently have no submissions.
Start uploading on the right.

When I clicked on the link to the FTP instructions to check if everything was right, I got this message (although I had access to that page the day before):

You're not authorized to access this page

Has this happened to anyone else? Are sales there really worth the effort of sorting it out?

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2016, 00:51 »

they have locked down submissions for everyone and are going to remove portfolios. only high quality content will be allowed. they will stop reviewing and give approved authors control over content and pricing. this project will take 12 months to complete,

ow and they will start offering subscriptions for buyers

Harvepino · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2016, 01:45 »

Just received the email. Not sure what to think about it. On one hand, I'm glad that there are efforts to stop uncontrollable influx of new low-quality content. On the other hand, Envato has fallen from 7% of my income in 2012 to mere 2% this year. Am I really going to invest time into curating the portfolio at Envato myself? Probably not.
And also... they only want to keep high-quality content and they are going to sell it through cheap subscriptions. How genious. Keep the best, sell it cheap, and even let contributors themselves do the curating work under the threat of closing their account. I don't like

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2016, 01:53 »

Quote from: Harvepino on November 16, 2016, 01:45

Just received the email. Not sure what to think about it. On one hand, I'm glad that there are efforts to stop uncontrollable influx of new low-quality content. On the other hand, Envato has fallen from 7% of my income in 2012 to mere 2% this year. Am I really going to invest time into curating the portfolio at Envato myself? Probably not.
And also... they only want to keep high-quality content and they are going to sell it through cheap subscriptions. How genious. Keep the best, sell it cheap, and even let contributors themselves do the curating work under the threat of closing their account. I don't like

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That has always been their game. Wanting the best with bells and whistles then giving it away for pennies. Why I stopped working with them.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2016, 02:03 »

If only they knew what "high quality" was. What it will probably result in is low quality work from the chosen few as it appears once you are in there's no inspection. Its about reducing costs no more pesky inspectors to pay.

Yay Images Billionaire · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2016, 02:11 »

Quote from: Microstockphoto on November 16, 2016, 00:51

they have locked down submissions for everyone and are going to remove portfolios. only high quality content will be allowed. they will stop reviewing and give approved authors control over content and pricing. this project will take 12 months to complete,

ow and they will start offering subscriptions for buyers

That's quite an intriguing thing to do the day after they accepted me as a contributor. Sounds like they are best forgotten.

BigLeague · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2016, 04:26 »

My images have been in their queue for over 20 days. Now we know why.
All sites evolve, for good or for worse, we roll with it or roll away.

dpimborough · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2016, 04:50 »

One less agency to upload to

Mantis · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2016, 04:53 »

I think they are going more specialty. High end content. Don't make jack with them anyway. I wouldn't complain if I got my port got booted.

sharpshot · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2016, 04:54 »

After getting rid of a lot of contributors by making the tax situation unclear, this will probably get rid of a lot of buyers. Just look how badly GLStockImages did when they stopped new submissions.

Julied83 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2016, 07:49 »

Good bye Envato ! And also ... good luck !

fotografer · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2016, 08:57 »

I haven't taken a lot of notice of what's going in on this site, only to go in and get a pay out from time to time. I have just been and had a look and of about 140$ earnt in the last 30 days about 40$ was deducted in tax and 77$ deducted in fees leaving me with 23$ !! I'm sure it didn't used to be like that. Has something changed. I think I used to average about 70$ a month before not 23 !!

sharpshot · « **Reply #12 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:44 »

Quote from: fotografer on November 16, 2016, 08:57

I haven't taken a lot of notice of what's going in on this site, only to go in and get a pay out from time to time. I have just been and had a look and of about 140$ earnt in the last 30 days about 40$ was deducted in tax and 77$ deducted in fees leaving me with 23$ !! I'm sure it didn't used to be like that. Has something changed. I think I used to average about 70$ a month before not 23 !!

They decided to make our lives complicated by declaring themselves as a market place, rather than the agency they really are. There are possible tax complications and I decided it really wasn't worth selling through them when they did that.

ferdinand · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:14 »

stock site suicide

Giveme5 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 16, 2016, 11:45 »

a few positives - I really like some decent admission test for contributors to join and no poor quality (i.e., snapshots) images because the company is more concern with 'volume'. Heck, I've gone back on some companies and removed many of my images that I did six years ago- they are horrible and I fear a buyer just might want to browse my portfolio.

Now, the part that a company wants only the very best and sell for $.25 or less is a major NO-GO! If you want the best very best you better pay for it!

PixelBytes · « **Reply #15 on:** November 16, 2016, 11:51 »

Quote from: sharpshot on November 16, 2016, 04:54

After getting rid of a lot of contributors by making the tax situation unclear, this will probably get rid of a lot of buyers. Just look how badly GLStockImages did when they stopped new submissions.

Yes. And they've never recovered. Once the buyers leave, they don't come back.

fotografer · « **Reply #16 on:** November 16, 2016, 13:23 »

Quote from: sharpshot on November 16, 2016, 09:44

Quote from: fotografer on November 16, 2016, 08:57
I haven't taken a lot of notice of what's going in on this site, only to go in and get a pay out from time to time. I have just been and had a look and of about 140$ earnt in the last 30 days about 40$ was deducted in tax and 77$ deducted in fees leaving me with 23$ !! I'm sure it didn't used to be like that. Has something changed. I think I used to average about 70$ a month before not 23 !!
They decided to make our lives complicated by declaring themselves as a market place, rather than the agency they really are. There are possible tax complications and I decided it really wasn't worth selling through them when they did that.

Thanks, that's crazy getting just 23$ from 140$ !!!!!

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #17 on:** November 16, 2016, 14:23 »

Quote from: fotografer on November 16, 2016, 08:57

I haven't taken a lot of notice of what's going in on this site, only to go in and get a pay out from time to time. I have just been and had a look and of about 140$ earnt in the last 30 days about 40$ was deducted in tax and 77$ deducted in fees leaving me with 23$ !! I'm sure it didn't used to be like that. Has something changed. I think I used to average about 70$ a month before not 23 !!

It's because you haven't filled out the tax forms. Same forms you have to fill out at Shutterstock, Dreamstime etc.

They are withholding 30% US tax and if you are non-exclusive your normal rate would be 36%.

The big problem here is that they probably withheld 30% tax from 80% of the sale price (BEFORE author fees) which of course is what everyone is pissed off at.

Simple solution is to fill out the tax forms and hope you're from a 0% tax treaty country.

fotografer · « **Reply #18 on:** November 16, 2016, 17:44 »

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on November 16, 2016, 14:23

Quote from: fotografer on November 16, 2016, 08:57
I haven't taken a lot of notice of what's going in on this site, only to go in and get a pay out from time to time. I have just been and had a look and of about 140$ earnt in the last 30 days about 40$ was deducted in tax and 77$ deducted in fees leaving me with 23$ !! I'm sure it didn't used to be like that. Has something changed. I think I used to average about 70$ a month before not 23 !!

It's because you haven't filled out the tax forms. Same forms you have to fill out at Shutterstock, Dreamstime etc.

They are withholding 30% US tax and if you are non-exclusive your normal rate would be 36%.

The big problem here is that they probably withheld 30% tax from 80% of the sale price (BEFORE author fees) which of course is what everyone is pissed off at.

Simple solution is to fill out the tax forms and hope you're from a 0% tax treaty country.

That makes sense thanks. I'll go and see if I can find out how to do it.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 16, 2016, 23:34 »

Quote from: imagesbykenny on November 15, 2016, 22:03

Are sales there really worth the effort of sorting it out?

Not in my experience. I stopped uploading there a couple of years ago due to weird rejections and low sales. Be glad they saved you the bother.

Chichikov · « **Reply #20 on:** November 17, 2016, 11:57 »

I have just uploaded 47 images on Photodune (by ftp and then on the site) without any problem

ferdinand · « **Reply #21 on:** November 17, 2016, 12:04 »

yes it still works - with web uloader too - "should I stay or should I go???!!"

Chichikov · « **Reply #23 on:** November 18, 2016, 02:38 »

So much positive answers on the Envato forum that at last they seem fake……

dirkr · « **Reply #24 on:** November 18, 2016, 02:45 »

Quote from: jamesgiroux on November 18, 2016, 01:05

Hey All,

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I just wanted to let you know that we're reading all your comments. We're responding to questions and thoughts from our official post (https://forums.envato.com/t/adjusting-our-focus-a-new-approach-for-photos-at-envato/). We'd love to have your input into the discussion there and we'll do our best to answer any questions you might have.

Thanks,

James.

James,

what you have not answered yet:

What happens to the money on the accounts of those contributors that don't make the cut (or those who don't want their files to be included in a mandatory unlimited subscription)? Do we get our money if we close our accounts, even if it's below payout limits?

Just to make it clear: unlimited subscription for $49 / month is the last thing we need.
And as long as there is no opt-out from that, I will close my account (if I am rated as worthy for you at all).

Thanks,
Dirk

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Submissions and access gone at Envato (Read 16977 times)

Yay Images Billionaire

Microstockphoto

Harvepino

Justanotherphotographer

Pauws99

Yay Images Billionaire

BigLeague

dpimborough

Mantis

sharpshot

Julied83

fotografer

sharpshot

ferdinand

Giveme5

PixelBytes

fotografer

increasingdifficulty

fotografer

sgoodwin4813

Chichikov

ferdinand

jamesgiroux

Chichikov

dirkr

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors