I have to throw in my .02 on the latest Microstock controversy here.  It's no secret that a lot of people have felt burned by FT on changes made in the past but in my opinion most, if not all the changes made had been done so with the sole intent of increasing business which ultimately had a benefit to us all.

So many people have asked me on many different occasions why I am exclusive to Fotolia.  I received a call from a guy just the other day trying to recruit me to upload to his company.  I told him I was exclusive and he said "Oh, I thought you were a Fotolia guy...not I-Stock."  That made me chuckle and realize how few people are exclusive to FT like myself.  Reading about the I-Stock Changes got me to thinking about why that is so I thought this seemed like as good a time as any to explain my choice.

Right now, as an Exclusive Emerald (equivalent to I-Stock Diamond right?) Photographer I earn a 54% commission on my sales.  54%!  Not only is the commission high, but I set my prices at $5 for XS and $40 for XL so I'm getting a higher commission on a higher dollar amount.  Every time I sell an XL file I get $21.60 added to my account.




As an Emerald Photographer I also have an Infinite Collection account to sell photos at even higher prices ($20 for XS, $200 for XL) with increased visibility and a 50% commission.

As far as I know, even non-exclusive commission rates have always been dramatically higher than those of I-Stock.  I always found it shocking that so many people were so defensive of IS and their 20% commissions...now?  

FT has an option for Image Exclusivity which lets contributors raise prices on individual photos.  Of course you get the higher commission if you are an exclusive photographer but you can still get the benefit of higher prices on exclusive images even if not.  This doesn't benefit me as I'm totally exclusive anyway but I thought I would mention it regardless.

I can upload as many images as I want as often as I want regardless of being exclusive or not.  I heard there is some sort of bulk upload option for new photographers as well but I'm not too sure about that.  When I dipped my toes in the I-stock water a few years ago I was puzzled and frustrated by the limits.  I would never get caught up...ever!  Not that I am now but being chronically behind is solely based on my procrastination through FT not on silly limitations they put on me.

FT pays commissions on promotional and free credits as though they were purchased.  I heard that I-Stock does not do this?  From what I understand they send out a lot of these promo credits to recruit buyers.

FT is the number one micro-stock site in Europe and is picking up speed around the world!  I have always believed that FT has had my best interest in mind as their successes equate to my success.  I would both love and hate it if all the top micro-stockers were at FT.  Love it because the quality of imagery would be so high that the lions share of the buyers would have to be there too.  Hate it because the competition would be so fierce I would really have to step up my game.  I'm willing to do it if you want to give it a shot come on over!

For what it's worth guys, I'm sorry that you are getting dumped on so rough at IS.  Especially those of you that are exclusive.  If any of you have any questions about FT I'm happy to answer them.  I'm not always a shameless cheerleader, I'll give straight answers to the best of my ability and if I don't know the answer I will try to find it for you.

Good luck all,

Mat Hayward  

And Fotolia now do almost the same thing as IS ....... you have to find this funny Mat ....... and then someone bans me from the forum ?? you just have to laugh ..... or forgot Mat its ok because it don't affect you :-)

I think its totaly sad that people think they can blind other people with pure spin and think us plebs will take it as if we have no brains at all.

What kind of people do they think we are ? Kids going out spending our pocket money on disposable cameras then submiting our "snaps" to stock sites hoping they will sell "our" images for �1 giving us coppers ?

They value our contribution ....... yeah bet they do !!

I'm trying to keep the topic at the top, or near the top of the forum until we get some kind of official news from Fotolia so we will see  

thats the Fotolia forum sorry !

But then it also depends on both the currency used to buy the credit and where the contributor, whose image is downloaded, lives. There's up to a 40% differential on that alone. That's neither fair nor transparent.

Thats always been the case gostwyck, not saying thats right but this value change in the buyers credit only came into effect on the 1st Feb 2010

Quote from: massman on February 09, 2010, 11:11

Quote from: warren0909 on February 09, 2010, 09:53

Depending on the quantity purchased, bundle credits range from �0.63 - �1. When customers purchase bundles that put credits to a value of under �1, contributors are still paid out at �1.

^ Just a portion from FT's reply to Warren.

Am I misunderstanding this. Does is say we are paid at the rate of �1?

Only contributors signed up through British Fotolia are paid at the one Pound rate. (sorry I don't have that symbol on my keyboard), just as those signed up through European Fotolia sites are paid at the rate of one Euro, as I understand it.

If you are in USA then your credit is worth $1. 

Yeah that right in the states as a contributor your credit woth is $1.00 .... but a buyers credit worth is $1.20

I asked a few questions yesterday and got a few answers , it all boils down to our credit as contributors has not changed and juging from the answers I got is not going to change.


Ok I sent this to support today as adivsed by THE CHAD



Hiya

Chad posted on the forum almost a week ago on the above subject, the new perchase incentives have now been in place for a week and mean that 1 Credit for a buyer is worth �1 sterling or $1.20.

When will the new commission structure be in place so both buyers and contributors will be on a level playing field ?

Thanks

Warren


And this reply has just come back ....... I read it that nothing is going to change dont know about you ?? what you think ?


Thank you for your inquiry. Our website has been updated to all the new structures - both for buyers and contributors.

Both buyers and contributors benefit under this new
structure. We've provided buyers with incentives to purchase more credits through our credit bundle purchase options.

Depending on the quantity purchased, bundle credits range from �0.63 - �1. When customers purchase bundles that put credits to a value of under �1, contributors are still paid
out at �1.

Fotolia is still able to offer some of the highest commissions in the business. Plus, unlike other stock sites, Fotolia honors free and promotional credits as if they are regular sales.

Kind regards,

Fotolia Team U.K.
0208 816 72 84



So sent this and here are the replys also !!


Hiya your answer is below to my last question and thanks but can you confirm that the buyers credit is worth �1 and the contributors credit is worth �0.75 and will not be changing from �0.75 ?

Thanks



Reply  


I'm sorry but I don't understand your question. Could you please clarify?

Kind regards,

Fotolia Team U.K.
0208 816 72 84 2010-02-08 08:28 pm


So made it a bit more simple


Is a contributors credit still worth �0.75 and if so is that amount going to change ?

Warren


and the reply


For contributors + �0.75 (as before). Please see also the contributor page as any updates would also be made here:

http://en.fotolia.com/Info/Contributors

Kind regards,

Fotolia Team U.K.
0208 816 72 84


So no dont think things are about to change anytime soon

Its this simple,

The value of one credit for a buyer is �1 ($1.20)

The value of one credit for a contributor is �0.75  ($1.00)

the fact that fotolia decide to give bonus credits to buyers who buy in bulk has sod all to do with what we should get They give them the bouns credits that bring the value of a buyers credit down !!!!

Its all very frustrating so now it looks like we will not know how much we are all working so hard for ? very strange. I dont understand why Fotolia think this is in anyway helping the situation and cant understand why our credit rate was removed in the first place. we all now know that a buyers credit is worth more than a contributors credit so its not as if they are hideing anything.

Umm oh well no doubt we will find out sooner ar later 

Warren

Danicek,

I totaly depend on the money I earn on stock sites, people who know me know this only too well, and dont doubt for one second what FT are capable of, so yeah anyone can hide there true identity, even Fotolia so thats why the likes of me have to be careful in what we say and what we do.

Ok what i was saying was this and now I know it wouldnt work thats fine (dont whant to be involved in any fruad case !!)

I can buy credits yeah, so I pay �2000 for 3200 credits @ �0.63, they go into my credit balance so I cash them in as a contributor @ �0.75 ........ �400 instant Profit
I know this wouldnt work but it does give you an idea of how much we are getting scewed for !!

For your info Baldricks

Just as a matter of interest are Credits that are bought by the buyers transferable ?

Is it possable for a Fotolia contributor to also be a Fotolia Buyer ?

And if the above is possable are the credits for buying and the credits for selling seperated in any way ?

Perhaps it me being stupid but there must be people in fotolia who contribute and also buy images !!

21 credits = � 20.00 (included 1 bonus credits - � 0.95/credit)
55 credits = � 50.00 (included 5 bonus credits - � 0.91/credit)
115 credits = � 100.00 (included 15 bonus credits - � 0.87/credit)
180 credits = � 150.00 (included 30 bonus credits - � 0.83/credit)
325 credits = � 250.00 (included 75 bonus credits - � 0.77/credit)
700 credits = � 500.00 (included 200 bonus credits - � 0.71/credit)
1500 credits = � 1,000.00 (included 500 bonus credits - � 0.67/credit)
3200 credits = � 2,000.00 (included 1200 bonus credits - � 0.63/credit)

This is the credit buying structure � as it stands now, if you average these up it does indeed come to �0.75 per credit Fine.
These prices are only for buying bulk credits, at the end of the day 1 credit = �1 (at least to the buyer) and thats a fact.
So Fotolia do have a double standards on the value of the credits depnding on if your a buyer or seller and sorry but thats also a fact.
Can you see a car dealership saying to a car supplier "well we are only going to pay you so much for this car as we intend to give the customer a discount" !!!!