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Messages - jamirae
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601
« on: January 07, 2011, 13:24 »
They say they price them depending on the quality. They don't. 99% of the graphics have the $1 price tag.
This topic and your astonishment to see a $3 sale says it all.
that was what I thought. Doesn't seem to worth it to send them high quality/detailed vector work if it's more than likely going to be just a $1 unless, I suppose, there are super high volumes of sales to offset the low price.
602
« on: January 07, 2011, 13:00 »
I was just checking out VectorStock as a possible outlet for my vectors now that I've dropped exculsivity at iStock. VectorStock FAQs says that they have 1, 3, 5 and 10 credit files but all I can find are 1 and a few 3 credit files. did they used to be just 1 credit only and now are adding more or do they price almost everything at just 1 credit? there are some really nice detailed vectors there going for just 1 credit! from the Artist FAQ "How is it priced?" http://www.vectorstock.com/faq/artistHow is a vector priced?
Vectors are priced in 4 price brackets. Trace, path quality and subject matter may also affect the pricing of your work.
1 CREDIT vectors (25 credits under Extended License)
Simple Icon sets, ornaments and graphics, traced images or silhouettes/shapes, simple backgrounds or graphic design elements, highly common or similar subject material. Single or groups of silhouettes and objects.
3 CREDIT vectors (50 credits under Extended License)
Multiple color Icon sets, ornaments and graphic sets, cartoons, complex silhouette groups, backgrounds or detailed design element sets or renders. Large groups of objects.
5 CREDIT vectors (75 credits under Extended License)
Multiple detailed Icon sets, ornaments and complex graphic sets. Highly detailed cartoons, illustrations, silhouettes, backgrounds or complex design element sets. Unique and creative compositions and subjects.
10 CREDIT vectors (100 credits under Extended License)
Original highly skilled and detailed illustrations, cartoons and graphics. Professional top quality illustrations and graphics.
603
« on: January 07, 2011, 12:43 »
They did push some search fixes yesterday, so perhaps that's why sales today are slow 
It's fixed?!
I just did a search, clicked on one of the images, hit the back button, and all the thums were missing except for an apparently random one.
Three F5s made no difference. The Search Results showed as (4), although the real result was 283.
This however isn't consistently replicable, as doing the same again (inputting a search term, clicking on one image, hitting the back button) shows all the thums as it should be.
"I'm sure it's your browser, try a different one." That seems to be one of the canned responses.
604
« on: January 07, 2011, 12:42 »
Today's slow, but Wed & Thu were very nice (for January), especially given how much of the site is busted. They did push some search fixes yesterday, so perhaps that's why sales today are slow
-------------------
Maybe they tweaked best match to futher disfavor independents? As a new independent, my sales suck and I would guess are worse then they were this time last year.
as a new independent myself (since Oct), my sales this week have not been too bad actually. I think it's Ebb, Flow and the Bugs. (sounds like a great name for a band! haha)
605
« on: January 07, 2011, 10:35 »
yes, you'd think they would launch the last big product they announced - the logo program, which has now been sitting around gathering dust of over a year.
606
« on: January 07, 2011, 10:33 »
The earnings figures still update regularly, if not the charts.
Thanks. I wasn't referring to earnings though which updates in real time. My entire query is in regards to stats only.
there used to be a time when stats also updated real time. They were supposed to bring those back, too, but since most people have now forgotten that we used to have live stats (everything was updated right away just like the earnings), I don't see that ever happening again.
607
« on: January 06, 2011, 18:38 »
For every one that takes the time to post, there MUST be dozens others who just leave.
Undoubtedly. It could well be hundreds of buyers leaving for every individual that bothers to post. Istockphoto's 'Faceted Search' must be the best Christmas present that their competitors have ever had. It's "the gift that keeps on giving".
this is exactly what I was thinking about - for every one buyer that complains openly, how many just say "f-it, I'm outta here!" I think gostwyck has it right it is "the gift that keeps on giving" for iStock competitors! LOL!
608
« on: January 06, 2011, 18:35 »
I just got the Contact Sheet. Not a mention of any of the site problems nor any word on when those (apparently nonexistent) problems would be fixed.
I am shocked, I say. Shocked!
609
« on: January 05, 2011, 15:08 »
Yes, I had been hesitant to mention it because of the usual "it's too early to tell" comments, but my sales there are in the toilet as well. It can't be a coincidence that the site is so messed up and sales are down, can it? Unlikely.
well I'm sure that has something to do with lower sales.. but as you both pointed out, it's also early -- though things should start to pick up this week as people get back to work after holidays. Today has been a rather decent sale day for me at iStock, first one in several weeks so it could just be an anomaly. It will be interesting to see how this month goes at iStock and if the fixes happen without breaking anything new. and FWIW, SS has gone wild on me for downloads lately, too. I'm smiling at that one and wondering if it's also just a fluke or if a chunk of fed-up iStock buyers are looking at other places to shop.
610
« on: January 05, 2011, 12:47 »
I still can't fathom that they would let things get as bad as they have. I've been with IS a number of years and each year has been marked by at least one major IT disaster. There was one Fall I particularly remember when the site crashed, constantly, for weeks. They have a record of IT mismanagement going back years, this is nothing particularly new. It is very frustrating, particularly in the light of all the recent PR disasters such as the received credits change. You'd think they'd try and be on the ball a bit more, or maybe they just don't care. With all the money they make, they could pay the best to sort out the site once and for all.
In the 7 years I've been with iStock, this seems to be worse as it has lasted quite long and seems as they try to fix one thing they break three others in the process.
612
« on: January 04, 2011, 12:50 »
I suppose it's better than silence.
But just barely.
I didn't see a link to a thread to ask questions. Usually/sometimes they link back to a thread so people can ask questions then they (sort of) respond to them in the one sticky thread. does anyone see that?
613
« on: January 04, 2011, 11:38 »
<snip>
All I'm saying is, if the rumors of a sale of IS/Getty are true then it's possible it's already been signed and that management is basically just running out the clock trying to keep a lid on things and put out fires but not really taking action with a view to long-term plans (such as shaking up the IT department) because they're probably not going to be in a position to finish any such plans.
<snip>
I think you are probably right. And yes, there were no emails to tell us anything about the big fraud - and when asked "why not send an email message?" the response from iStock was "our email database is too big for that" or something to that effect. I guess it's not too big for announcing a Vetta sale, but to inform contributors about potential issues is just too much work for them.
614
« on: January 04, 2011, 10:57 »
More epic failures.
Failure to update the royalty pages with the new 2011 structure.
Failure to even inform people if their royalty percentage has changed, despite the fact that they said it would be rolled out on 1/1/11.
They must still be on vacation.
seriously, this is crazy. I work on several different websites and when I have a client send me content they don't want to show up for another week or they want removed after a certain date, I simple set that in the code on the backend. Half my clients think I'm so on the ball with getting this done on time, it's great - but many know that it is all programmed. I cannot for the life of me believe that this was not pre-coded to go into effect at midnight on 1/1/11. It just is weird. I'm not going to complain if it means I get to keep the commissions earned, but it really points to another fact where iStock has not kept their word. again. heavy sigh.
615
« on: January 04, 2011, 10:52 »
More epic failures.
Failure to update the royalty pages with the new 2011 structure.
Failure to even inform people if their royalty percentage has changed, despite the fact that they said it would be rolled out on 1/1/11.
They must still be on vacation.
Absolutely. There should have been some sort of announcement by now. For most of us, Jan 3 was the day we got back to work (if we were off in the first place). Admin is still almost totally mum on the IS forums.
Personally, I don't think they are vacationing anymore or baking cookies, but trying to dig themselves out of the deep hole their extended vacation created in the first place.
couldn't agree more. This is crazy or scarey - can't decide which! You'd think they would know by now to come in and at least say "we understand you want to know the RC and all that bs.. but we're working on it" -- yeah, yeah, eventhough people give them crap for saying "we're working on it" .. to me that is better than complete silence. or maybe KKThompson made another "what you really meant to say was how much you love iStock..." post and had the foresight this time to have someone review it so now it's getting some surgery done on it by the "istock spin doctor."
616
« on: January 04, 2011, 10:43 »
Maybe some information for Pixmac might help to understand some of our "distrust":
- At most agencies that offer an API/affiliates do not disclose who their resellers are. We don't get a word from either the source agency nor the affiliate agency (without asking). Once we find our images at unknown agencies we get nervous and have to start our own detective work to figure out which agency is collaborating with who.
Not that this is only time consuming and nerve wrecking but also it doesn't build any trust with either agency.
- Right now, ever since Pixmac started I still don't know which of my images is coming from what agency. AFAIK Pixmac is affiliated with Fotolia, Dreamstime and Bigstock amongst others I suppose.
- I couldn't figure out how to interpret affiliate sales that came through Pixmac on any of the affiliated source agencies. We just see regular sales which could also be affiliate sales. It would be fantastic if we could see affiliate sales reported separately with the name of the affiliate. This alone could be a very powerful feature so we know how well an affiliate is performing.
Under which conditions would it be beneficial to upload directly to Pixmac? Just so we can sell our images there under the subscription plan as well? What is the commission on subscription sales? What are the contributor terms? I can't find that information on the Pixmac web site.
+1
617
« on: January 04, 2011, 10:43 »
I would like to thank pixmac for coming to this forum and trying to clear the air. MANY other sites don't give a d&mn and we all know who they are. I haven't decided to upload there or not, but appreciate the effort put forth to come here and clear the air.
I agree with this. Still evaluating everything, however I do appreciate that we have not gotten any snarky reply from Pixmac (Zager) and appreciate you, zager, continuing to try to address each question.
618
« on: January 03, 2011, 15:48 »
I didn't see the answer to "eliminating the middle man." How would uploading images to DT and Pixmac at the same time work? Would we earn more for the image loaded directly to Pixmac?
Compare the revenue that DT offers and ours in the Press Release. It's based on the history you have on either site. If you'd be at the base level you'd earn 30% at Pixmac or DT for non-exclusive image.
thank you for coming in and responding to the inquiries here. So, can you clarify this? If an image is on the base, non-exclusive, and it is sold on PixMac through the link from Dreamstime, does it earn the same amount as it would if it was instead uploaded directly to Pixmac instead of through teh DT partnership? also, if our image is already on PixMac from a partner site, wouldn't uploading to PixMac cause duplicates? which brings another question, how do you handle duplicate images if you get images from the same photographer from both Fotolia and DT and/or other partner sites?
619
« on: January 03, 2011, 15:37 »
I can't even find how to get accepted or how to upload, on the Pixmac site.
that was my question. I thought I had stumbled upon it earlier, but then went back to try to find it again and could not.
620
« on: January 03, 2011, 13:35 »
Very Interesting ... but, if they already have my DT images thru the partnership program does it make any sense to RE-upload?
Is there a way to dump the DT partnership and receive higher commissions by selling directly thru pixmac?
Guess I should go there to ask such questions?
that's one of the things I was wondering as well. if you're going to ask, can you post the response you get back in here?
621
« on: January 03, 2011, 11:37 »
From the thread "And the Pay rise is..." -- I posted this there, but it probably is better as its own topic. Pixmac just made a pretty nice announcment about pay rises. They may not be iS or SS or whatever, but they way they're going it's a bright start
http://blog.picniche.com/microstock/pixmac-offers-a-new-deal-for-microstock-photographers/
I just read this and was wondering if anyone here is using Pixmac. I had not really paid much attention to them - they look more like a reseller of images from dreamstime and some other sites but you can also directly upload to them. Is anyone using them and have they been growing as it seems to indicate? I see from the monthly earnings survey that they are a low earner (or at least not reported much by MSG members). also.. MSG blog post about it is here http://blog.microstockgroup.com/major-press-release-from-pixmac-fairness-in-front/
622
« on: January 03, 2011, 11:35 »
Pixmac just made a pretty nice announcment about pay rises. They may not be iS or SS or whatever, but they way they're going it's a bright start
http://blog.picniche.com/microstock/pixmac-offers-a-new-deal-for-microstock-photographers/
I just read this and was wondering if anyone here is using Pixmac. I had not really paid much attention to them - they look more like a reseller of images from dreamstime and some other sites but you can also directly upload to them. Is anyone using them and have they been growing as it seems to indicate? I see from the monthly earnings survey that they are a low earner (or at least not reported much by MSG members).
Good questions, Jamirae. May be worth starting a separate thread?
hmm.. yeah..good idea.
623
« on: January 03, 2011, 10:59 »
Pixmac just made a pretty nice announcment about pay rises. They may not be iS or SS or whatever, but they way they're going it's a bright start
http://blog.picniche.com/microstock/pixmac-offers-a-new-deal-for-microstock-photographers/
I just read this and was wondering if anyone here is using Pixmac. I had not really paid much attention to them - they look more like a reseller of images from dreamstime and some other sites but you can also directly upload to them. Is anyone using them and have they been growing as it seems to indicate? I see from the monthly earnings survey that they are a low earner (or at least not reported much by MSG members).
624
« on: January 01, 2011, 22:49 »
Marisa - by taking off I meant dropping your crown. I'm sorry if you disagree with that statement and when you paraphrased me you changed what I said. I wasn't talking about just those who are removing images, I was actually referring to all exclusives dumping the crown.
I have no idea how many have dropped exclusivity and are deactivating images. I only know of three who are actively removing images, one of whom has deleted his entire port, which we all know because he started a thread here about his departure. there are a lot of exclusives 'taking off' or 'dropping the crown', however you want to word it. and as an exclusive, since as far as we know exclusive files are given some best match preference, remaining exclusive when a good number of people are leaving exclusivity presents a best match advantage if you agree that iStock is pushing exclusivity, which I believe they are. no comment on whether it's right or wrong, but just the way it is. it also doesn't mean that the hit I'm taking doesn't still hurt. I don't get a raise even though I was counting on it when I hit diamond. I lose out on Vetta and ELs. I'm not attaching any nobility to staying exclusive, nor do I buy into the notion of nobility on the part of those leaving the crown behind.
What I said I thought you meant by taking off, to refresh: "was that as more exclusive contributors cancel their contract and go independent, the more pie there is for remaining iStock exclusives."
So Jami misunderstood your initial comment (as I suspected) and I clarified - correctly guessing at what you *really* meant. You're welcome 
And thank you for quoting the number of contributors you know of who are actively removing their images. I *knew* it was less than five!
yep. I misunderstood. but I think we all have it figured out now.
625
« on: January 01, 2011, 18:53 »
^ do you often make business decisions based on a few posts by one pathologically cranky guy? good luck with that...iStock is a mess, as Vlad said above, right now. disreputable....ha. listen, the more other contributors take off, the more of the pie there is for the rest of us.
Are you referring to me by any chance? Coming from someone whose 'Ignore' stat's outweigh those of their 'Useful Post' numbers by 5:1 then I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. I guess the good folk of this forum have already made their own mind up on who is 'pathologically cranky'.
Good luck on getting 'more of the pie' as you hope. Not sure how big the pie's going to be though or indeed how much of it Istock will actually let you keep in the future.
ignore button, lol...who cares. it's a way to pique the people you 'dislike'. it should be called the cliqueometer. and I thought you might guess I was referring to you ;-)
@ jamirae: you're a really good contributor. I can understand your decision, though I personally think dropping the crown will hurt you financially. but as some people have stated, for many this is about more than just the money. so I hope your principles are worth the drop in income. I have no doubt those new indies experiencing drops in income will never say so here anyways.
of course I will see a drop in income while I build my portfolio at other sites. this is about money for me, some principle, but mostly about the money. I'm giving it a year and I'll be the first to say if it doesn't work out as an Independent, though I doubt I will have any regrets at this time next year.
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