I think it's the conspiracy theorist coming out in me, but when I was filling out the survey, I had this thought.  IS has shown good faith in offering a survey to hear our opinions. But, all the survey information is private.  IS can say the results were WHATEVER they wanted them to be. Therefore make any changes they desire claim that "Your survey results suggest you wanted us to raise RC targets 300%."

But let's get real.  Most of you aren't going to do anything.  Look at IS.  Sure people left but most of the larger contributors who added their ports on other sites still left their portfolios at IS with the excuse "but it's a large chunk of my income".  They're not really supporting other sites if they still support the site that pays them 15%.  It doesn't give buyers an incentive to switch if their images are still there.  The same thing will happen with FT.  

Considering nothing will happen and most people won't move.  I may as well stop worrying about contributors in general and worry about making my own money.  I can do several things.  

Knowing the majority of microstockers are suckers, I can come up with something that will screw you all and make me a heap of money...

Or,

I can simply switch hats and focus on design.  I can buy the cheapest images from FT (and they're only going to get cheaper) and make money from your images.  If people don't want to make money out of their own images, I may as well make the money.  I can even buy cheap ELs on FT and sell designs... forever, making endless income while you made a pitiful $4.  Doing this will support FT and will drive your royalties into the ground but that's okay, cause most of you are suckers and won't move anyway.  I'll make money while these people sit there crying and I won't feel sorry for them.

There.  That's my solution

Quote from: Maui on August 17, 2011, 05:00

Quote from: pseudonymous on August 16, 2011, 22:56

Quote from: qwerty on August 16, 2011, 22:27

did you stop uploading to DT or delete your portfolio when they cut commissions ?

Of course I did.  I'm no-one's doormat. I deleted all and left one image in case they respond to people crying out and so no one takes my ID.  It's a vector so now I will upload my crappiest JPG and delete that one too because it's popular.

Did you really? I can still see your portfolio on DT with all 122 images.

Oh sorry, oops "DT". I was eating dinner and rushed it and read "FT".  I thought she was asking whether I deleted my port at FT after the first cut earlier this year.

As for DT, I joined them after commissions were cut.  I never knew till late last year (after the IS riot) that they used to offer 50% (I think it was 50%).  That would have pissed off a lot of people but DT are different with their pricing.  I really like the levels because not only do commissions increase with the levels but so do the prices.  This was a real incentive to stay with them, however the new weekly subs isn't impressing me to be honest.  It hasn't effected me so much (yet) but seeing people here and in the DT forum reporting that they're selling 17/20 subs is disheartening.  I have about 100 new illustrations to upload and I'm finding little incentive to do so... at any site.  It's difficult not to feel deflated when these sites take turns at shafting us.  I'm just working on Zazzle and building my own site for now and I'll see where I go from there.  I suppose in the end, the worse these sites get, the easier it is to let them go and focus on doing my own thing.

Quote from: searagen on August 16, 2011, 21:18

I haven't seen the stats. As others have noted, they most recently "aligned" their non-subscription prices to maximize their position in the market early in 2011.  The results have been underwhelming for my portfolio, at least.  Your mileage on the stats, of course, may vary as my portfolio is long on nature and travel and light on people.

Images In Portfolio. I compared the number of images I had available in July 2010 to July 2011:  Increased by 25%.

# Downloads. I compared the number of downloads YTD (Jan-July) from 2010 to 2011:  Decreased by 8%.

Revenue. I compared the total YTD revenue (Jan-July) from 2010 to 2011:  Decreased by 40%.

As I seem to remember that FT chopped around 25% off my non-subscription royalties in the last cuts, even if they added that to their bottom line, if the decrease in revenue is shared, then these guys are bleeding share to someone.

That's just wonderful!  So six months ago when they reduced your commission, your response was to reward them by increasing your portfolio by 25%. Good move!  So you and others just like you are responsible for this commission cut.

Now, six months later you've found out that uploading still won't make up the difference you're losing in revenue so how are you going to respond this time around?  Are you going to keep uploading to these greedy pigs?  I'd like to know now because your decision at FT will affect my sales at DT, CS etc. in the future.  Am I fighting a losing battle because of people like you?  Tell me please.  Am I wasting my time?  Should I quick microstock now?  My future with microstock rests in your hands.

Quote

Can I email support and get them to do a mass price change for my subscription prices ?
 

Yes, you can.  From my own experience (Emerald since March, 2010) it's worth doing.  But given how sales are falling month by month this year, it's all a bit of a lottery, it seems.