From the 123RF Credit Targets thread:

Quote from: alex123rf on December 21, 2012, 08:16

Hi Everyone,

It has been moved to here: http://www.123rf.com/contrib_structure.php

Thank you,

Alex.

Thanks CD123 - is there a logical way to get to that page from the 123RF website?

I'm pretty sure it means someone bought it with a credit card, which adds $2 to it. So it would have been a $2 sale size, plus $2 credit card surcharge. This happens when buyers don't use prepaid credits. I've had a few of them.

Quote from: Microstock Man on December 18, 2012, 18:15

Huh, surprised no one is concerned by this...

If I am understanding correctly, this is only if your images are used in a blog, rather than all your images displaying large with no watermarks, right? 

I would be concerned if my images were affected.  I would probably write DP and ask that my images be removed from the blog or else resized or watermarked. 

I think the reason you aren't getting any responses is because it isn't directly affecting anyone.  There is so much else going on on other sites that DOES affect the majority of us, that something that doesn't isn't going to get too much play.  How much outrage are we supposed to be able to muster, after all?

Ha, so true Lisa, it's sad that there are so many problems that you have to be choosy when to get indignant!

Also good point jsnover, I hadn't noticed the copyright line.

I'm 34 credits away from level 5!!!

YOU aren't level 5, 50%? No wonder most others have taken a huge hit. I thought for sure you would have been, guess you will be in a month or two at least.

I'll be pushing to get to level 4, I came in under what I was expecting and am on level 3 - 40% for the time being (not too far off level 4). This is very disappointing to see 123RF act this way despite not 'doubling' their sales as they said.

I think the backlash will be significant from this change. Unless I'm mistaken, it seems they have also slyly changed their referral program, and now if you refer a contributor it only lasts for 6 months. I'm pretty sure there was nothing concrete written on time-frame prior to this week.

They don't seem to be heading down a good road...

Hey jochen53,

enstoker is right. Get onto Shutterstock and others asap, no point waiting around. In fact there are quite a few agencies that you might find will accept your work and sell some images.

For a list of more you can see here if you're interested: http://www.microstockman.com/microstock-photography-sites/
 
All the best with it. 

They don't seem keen on shallow DoF.

True. But when they do let shallow shots through, they sometimes turn out to be the best sellers!

I hope the novel use does end soon. These $1 sales, while in line with the rest of microstock, aren't what I expect to see in my Alamy account.

Anyone heard an ETA on the novel use demise?

Welcome aboard Cypher! Nice alias too, will make me think of the Matrix every time I read it...

Very cool little app.

Between 7 and 12 months for next level for me, depending on which stats I use.

2013 is looking like the year of the Level Increase for me on a number of sites! Sadly, probably in the 2nd half of the year though. Shame - I want it now!

agreed, this paragraph makes it fairly clear about that... hopefully.

Quote

This migration only affects Shutterstock affiliates who use affiliate.shutterstock.com to access their account. If you are a Shutterstock   ntributor using submit.shutterstock.com and feel you have received this message in error, please contact [email protected].

It would be crystal clear if I'd not been logging into submit.shutterstock.com with those accounts, and one of those was one that I received an email about. (I clarify that - I only have one account where I contribute images, but several used for affiliate purposes as mentioned above). It would also be a little clearer if it were not the case that every contributor can log into affiliate.shutterstock.com if they want to.


To be fair, now I understand this a little more I think all I've done here is confuse a lot of people who won't be affected by this!
[/quote]

Ha, thats ok, thanks for bringing it to our attention anyway!

thanks for the info, but it seems this only affects the .affiliate accounts, not contributors who happen to sign up new referrals, as this is done via a different site essentially, the submit.shutterstock site.

So this doesn't seem to affect most of us, just those who don't contribute at all and want to do purely affiliate marketing.

Unless I'm reading it wrong.

I went up a level earlier this year, but no way will i make it two level increases in a year.

Their tiny upload limits means I only have a small port online there, but it does surprisingly well for such an up and down site.

Huh, interesting. So does everyone else see the box, but without functionality? Cos I didn't leave my name in the forum to get signed up.

Thanks for the link w7lwi