Quote from: dirkr on May 13, 2014, 16:27

Until now all we receive is our regular subscription rate.
For example the smallest package sells at $25 for 5 XXL images, i.e. we used to receive $0,25 - $0,40 per sale depending on our rank.

That is 5% - 8%.

Thanks for pointing that out, I never realised how appalling low the commission could actually be.

If agencies squeezed their work colleagues in the same way they would eventually just leave, suppliers are no different to the employees they sit next to every day. Push too hard and they'll give up and move on to something less demoralising.

I think agencies find it all too easy to forget the real people behind the images.

The appalling commission rate of 5 - 8% that Fotolia has been paying is indicative of the utter lack of respect it has for its contributors...and this type of corporate abuse has been going on for years. What a nerve they have now to try and bribe their way out of a situation that they have created themselves. If we stay the course, this will be the most important example of contributor power in microstock's short history...and a warning to other agencies that fair representation for contributors is a must.

Opted out...done.

Quote from: EmberMike on April 29, 2014, 18:15

Quote from: MatHayward on April 29, 2014, 12:34

Quote from: EmberMike on April 28, 2014, 22:46

Are you employed by Fotolia?

Yes, after volunteering as a moderator in the Fotolia forum for many years I made the decision to leave the restaurant business I had been in for more than 25 years and turn my focus to my true passion of photography.  The timing was fortuitous as an opening came available on the Customer Service team at Fotolia that I happily accepted this past September...

Thanks for the clarification, Mat. I hope you realize that this was misleading, though, by earlier emphasizing the point that you are a contributor but never mentioning that you are an employee as well.

I also hope you realize that misrepresenting yourself only adds to the mistrust we already feel towards many agencies these days. Since you are a contributor, you know as well as all of us that it isn't easy being in the microstock business, especially recently. Many companies look to exploit every angle and opportunity to get the most profit from our work while paying us the least amount possible.

So you coming in here acting like a regular joe, hawking the DPC product and expecting us to buy into it all while under the employ of the very company that sells the product is pretty shady.

Frankly, it doesn't speak well to what Fotolia is about today. We need more honesty in this business, not less. I'm opted out of DPC, not just because I think it's a bad deal for artists but also because I'm concerned about the direction Fotolia seems to be going in. If you are truly intent on doing a good job for Fotolia and representing the company here and as a customer service rep in a positive way, I hope we can expect to see some better contributor relations going forward. That needs to include some real transparency and disclosure.

Fair enough Mike, thanks for the feedback.  The truth is, this forum is very hostile.  Yes, my employment status has changed in recent months, but sharing that here was not something I felt compelled to do.  It's not about being "shady" it's simply an unpleasant place to attempt a reasonable discussion/debate or to share news.  How many times have we seen agency representatives attempt to engage in a discussion here only to get the digital equivalent of an angry mob with pitchforks and torches?  I've been a member of this forum a lot longer than I've been an employee at Fotolia and I know how this place works. 

My offer stands, I've shared my email address [email protected].  Feel free to write to me directly if you have any questions, (reasonable) comments or concerns and I will do my best to respond as quickly as possible.

Kind regards,

Mat

This forum is the only place contributors can speak about agencies in an uncensored way. After the way Fotolia has treated contributors over the years, how do you expect them to act? Fotolia has a history of shafting contributors without any explanation in a totally secretive and underhanded manner so I'm sorry if it seems a little unpleasant for you...but I respect the fact that you are making an attempt to communicate at least.

I'd have more sympathy if they had been more transparent over the last six months...

I  received mine on time...

I've stopped uploading months ago after having the same problems as everybody else here. If they were upfront about their problems like Revostock have been, they may have gained some support from contributors. This strategy is unacceptable and has damaged their business beyond repair.

Yeah mine stopped over Xmas and New Year�.still waiting for a sale in January.

Yeah me too�.I can't log in with any browser.

It's a strange project. I suppose the air force wanted the shots and arranged it all, since the expense certainly doesn't seem justified for stock purposes.  You could tell he works mostly in a studio from the time it took him to hit on panning as the solution, which I'm pretty sure a motor-sports shooter would have done automatically.

I couldn't agree more�I thought it was a little embarrassing the amount of time he wasted trying to get the shot. Obviously you have to pan with the plane as it passes by to get a shot like that�pretty ordinary result in the end as well.

I can't be bothered uploading to a site that removed a large chunk of my portfolio.  If it returns, I might start uploading again but otherwise, they aren't worth my time.

Couldn't agree more...

Now I wish I could get a reply back from ClipDealer. It does not look good.
[/quote]

I don't think there is anything wrong with Clipdealer....I've emailed them a couple of times recently and got quick responses.

Quote: "announcements and plans that we make in June, will likely not all be the exact same plans that we have in August."

My favourite line.

Yeah that line is a scream...