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Author Topic: Is Shutterstock ending 25 a day subs in favor of monthly limits?  (Read 57450 times)

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« Reply #50 on: March 16, 2015, 10:50 »
-2
I'm not sure what your point is in this thread. Every member has access to all the content...that's a copy statement about SS vs. iS, where you need to pay more to get access to exclusive content. It has nothing to do with how many sub dls you get per day.

Perhaps you'd really like to get people riled up against SS so they don't notice iS has lowered prices again, but you're grasping at straws. There's no news here. It's an offer/copy test.
The part I was pointing out was where they say every member has access to all the content and then say no daily limits.  You don't have to get riled up at all.  If you think this is no news then you can just move on.  Some people might be interested in this change, it seems like a big one to me.


« Reply #51 on: March 16, 2015, 10:59 »
0
...Some people might be interested in this change, it seems like a big one to me.

It's really not. This change will possibly only impact a small percentage of customers who previously maxed out their daily quotas with any frequency. For probably 99% of customers and a similarly large percentage of contributors, this isn't going to change anything. 

« Reply #52 on: March 16, 2015, 11:07 »
0
...Some people might be interested in this change, it seems like a big one to me.


It's really not. This change will possibly only impact a small percentage of customers who previously maxed out their daily quotas with any frequency. For probably 99% of customers and a similarly large percentage of contributors, this isn't going to change anything.

I've asked this before but I don't think anyone answered so maybe you can:   I think most people agree that as a buyer you would rather have the flexibility to download 750 images at any time throughout the month rather than be limited by 25/day right?  If it won't result in buyers downloading any more images on average why would shutterstock keep the 25/day limit?  Is the argument that no buyers ever wanted flexibility?  Is the argument SS never realized buyers might want it?  Is the argument it doesn't really matter and SS is wasting time and energy changing?  I think it will obviously result in more downloads and that's why there was the limit but I'm open to another explanation. 
BTW you're in the US are you getting the new plans at:  http://www.shutterstock.com/pclp?id=FBUSSAVE
« Last Edit: March 16, 2015, 11:14 by tickstock »

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #53 on: March 16, 2015, 11:22 »
+1
I think Jo Ann covered it pretty well. Read the thread.

« Reply #54 on: March 16, 2015, 11:54 »
+2
I think Jo Ann covered it pretty well. Read the thread.
So you think it just sounds good to buyers but they won't won't download more than 25 in a day or if they do they will download less on other days so it balances out?  Even if they see they have 300 downloads left at the end of the month that they can download they'll just leave them and not try to get a few extras in.   Personally I think I would download a few extras at the end of the month if I had hundreds of unused ones left.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2015, 12:04 by tickstock »

« Reply #55 on: March 16, 2015, 12:10 »
+2
they won't won't download more than 25 in a day or if they do they will download less on other days so it balances out?

Exactly. Because at $199 pm Shutterstock would be losing money on accounts which downloaded the full quota. And they aren't stupid.

« Reply #56 on: March 16, 2015, 12:16 »
+1
they won't won't download more than 25 in a day or if they do they will download less on other days so it balances out?

Exactly. Because at $199 pm Shutterstock would be losing money on accounts which downloaded the full quota. And they aren't stupid.
So I'll ask it one more time.  If it looks good for buyers (which I assume it does or they wouldn't be doing it, right?) and it wouldn't affect their margins at all then why didn't they do this before?  It seems like a no brainer, buyers like it better and profits stay at the same level. 
JoAnn said they tried it ten years ago and decided to go with the 25/day limit, why would they do that if downloads would be the same either way?  All they would be doing is giving buyers less flexibility for no reason?
« Last Edit: March 16, 2015, 12:23 by tickstock »

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #57 on: March 16, 2015, 12:30 »
+3
Ah, I see. You want insider secrets to pass on to iS management. Unfortunately none of us is an insider.

« Reply #58 on: March 16, 2015, 12:38 »
+3
Ah, I see. You want insider secrets to pass on to iS management. Unfortunately none of us is an insider.
If I wanted insider secrets about Shutterstock I probably wouldn't be asking an iStock exclusive for them now would I?

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #59 on: March 16, 2015, 12:41 »
+4
I hate to say it nut I think this has a couple of implications.

As mentioned, they think people will download less if they have a monthly limited rather than daily, good for them bad for us.

Second, one problem with the old unlimited model back at the start of micro was that someone could download a sizeable percentage of the library to give away for free and make money from ads or just stockpile. That used to be a problem, now with 50 million plus images SS is probably not as concerned about that, our work is so effectively devalued. 

« Reply #60 on: March 16, 2015, 12:45 »
0
If it looks good for buyers (which I assume it does or they wouldn't be doing it, right?) and it wouldn't affect their margins at all then why didn't they do this before?

I think it is reasonable to conclude that they have decided that in most circumstances, and for most users, a limit described as 25 per day is a number that people can get their heads around. Subscribers would probably look at that and think - that's going to be more than fine. That this has been the best way of describing the offer.

Routinely describing the same amount of content as 750 per month would probably underline the huge quantity of images actually involved - probably way more than most people would ever need. And you would likely get people asking for, say, subs at half the price for half the content. The point is that most subscribers are not really buying 25 images per day or 750 per month. They are buying a service which offers so much that you never use your quota.

But clearly they have identified that a few users may actually need more than 25 per day and they are being flexible about it. It seem obvious.

« Reply #61 on: March 16, 2015, 12:53 »
-1
But clearly they have identified that a few users may actually need more than 25 per day and they are being flexible about it. It seem obvious.
I thought it seemed obvious too.

« Reply #62 on: March 16, 2015, 12:59 »
+1
If I wanted insider secrets about Shutterstock I probably wouldn't be asking an iStock exclusive for them now would I?

As an iStock exclusive I am in awe of how well Shutterstock has been run over the years and how well they have behaved towards their contributors.

ETA: my iStock RF  is mostly very old legacy stuff. It's nothing special and very long in the tooth.

I am in the middle of a coding project at the moment. After that I might well drop the crown since there is other stuff I would like to do when I have time. Unless they change drastically. With iStock - well it feels like Apple in the dreadful mid 1990s - when Apple was drifting lost in the wilderness and seemed certain to fail. But you kind of still wanted to like them despite the crappy products they were churning out - because they had once been cool.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2015, 13:27 by bunhill »

« Reply #63 on: March 16, 2015, 13:54 »
+6
I've asked this before but I don't think anyone answered so maybe you can:   I think most people agree that as a buyer you would rather have the flexibility to download 750 images at any time throughout the month rather than be limited by 25/day right?  If it won't result in buyers downloading any more images on average why would shutterstock keep the 25/day limit?  Is the argument that no buyers ever wanted flexibility?  Is the argument SS never realized buyers might want it?  Is the argument it doesn't really matter and SS is wasting time and energy changing?...

Since it's probably a zero-sum change for most people, gaining the freedom of the removed daily limit but most people not needing 25 images every day anyway. You'd have to ask Shutterstock why they didn't remove it before. Only they know the answer to that.

My point has been that this isn't the big deal you're making it out to be. If this even affects 5% of users I'd be amazed the number of people utilizing the removed daily limitation is even that high. Most people don't use 25 DLs per day. Most people don't come close to 750 DLs per month. That's how SS stays in business and stays highly profitable. This change gives an extremely small number of users who sometimes needed more than 25 images in a single day the freedom to get those images as long as they still stay within 750 total in the month. That's all. This is a largely inconsequential change for the vast majority of buyers and contributors.

« Reply #64 on: March 16, 2015, 14:10 »
0
I've asked this before but I don't think anyone answered so maybe you can:   I think most people agree that as a buyer you would rather have the flexibility to download 750 images at any time throughout the month rather than be limited by 25/day right?  If it won't result in buyers downloading any more images on average why would shutterstock keep the 25/day limit?  Is the argument that no buyers ever wanted flexibility?  Is the argument SS never realized buyers might want it?  Is the argument it doesn't really matter and SS is wasting time and energy changing?...

Since it's probably a zero-sum change for most people, gaining the freedom of the removed daily limit but most people not needing 25 images every day anyway. You'd have to ask Shutterstock why they didn't remove it before. Only they know the answer to that.

My point has been that this isn't the big deal you're making it out to be. If this even affects 5% of users I'd be amazed the number of people utilizing the removed daily limitation is even that high. Most people don't use 25 DLs per day. Most people don't come close to 750 DLs per month. That's how SS stays in business and stays highly profitable. This change gives an extremely small number of users who sometimes needed more than 25 images in a single day the freedom to get those images as long as they still stay within 750 total in the month. That's all. This is a largely inconsequential change for the vast majority of buyers and contributors.
My assumptions are that the average is about 400dls per month for subscribers, if that number moved to 440dls per month it would be a big deal.  I'm not talking about increases of hundreds just 30 to 40 per month.

« Reply #65 on: March 16, 2015, 16:56 »
+5
My assumptions are that the average is about 400dls per month for subscribers, if that number moved to 440dls per month it would be a big deal.  I'm not talking about increases of hundreds just 30 to 40 per month.

Someone who downloads 400/month is doing about 13 per day on average. Maybe closer to 20 a day if you only look at weekdays. Even if a few days a month they hit 25 and needed a few more, in most cases they probably could have just easily waited until the next morning to get the rest of what they needed.

If we were talking about a subscriber who on a weekly basis has days where they hit 25 DLs, then sure, this makes a difference. But besides those rare cases, I just don't see this changing behaviors for average customers. Definitely not for the middle-of-the-road 400/month folks.

Uncle Pete

« Reply #66 on: March 17, 2015, 09:52 »
0
Yes it's a coding error, the link internally is generating the site name twice. As: http://www.shutterstock.com/www.shutterstock.com/subscribe instead of http://www.shutterstock.com/subscribe which by the way is the identical page you linked to when starting this thread.

No it (still) doesn't say what you claim "New Flexible Plans. No daily download limits!". You could just do a screen capture and end the chase. Could be a location matter, limited roll-out. Only shows to negative minded IS Exclusives.  ;)

But the "Our price plans tell no lies. No hidden fees or vague credit system. Our plans are simple, flexible, and we offer the lowest price per image in the entire industry. Can't beat that." is interesting as it targets agencies that sell credits.

As for the conversation, and opinions, I think enough people have convinced me, it won't change anything. The people who run into the 25-A-Day limit are small and the people who would be tempted to abuse the system, which could have been an issue in the past, aren't motivated.

I expect nothing to change for any of us, if this change is implemented.

New facebook ad from SS, unfortunately when you click through you get a 404 error "Doh!".  I guess they'll get that sorted out soon.  It will be interesting to see if the pricing has changed now that they say "we offer the lowest price per image in the entire industry."
"New Flexible Plans. No daily download limits!"
http://www.shutterstock.com/pclp?id=FBUSSAVE


« Reply #67 on: March 17, 2015, 10:14 »
0
No it (still) doesn't say what you claim "New Flexible Plans. No daily download limits!". You could just do a screen capture and end the chase. Could be a location matter, limited roll-out.
It doesn't say it for you.  Do you think they just let me see that and no one else?  I'm sure more people will see it as time goes on.  There is a facebook ad right now that says:
"Now with no daily limits
Get all of the images you love with an annual subscription"

Uncle Pete

« Reply #68 on: March 17, 2015, 10:31 »
0
No that was a  ;) in there for, only you and one guy in FL can see it.  ;D

No it doesn't say that for me. Maybe later today or tomorrow?

What I was trying to point out is this. Links will only show us what we already see. A screen capture will show us what you see. Otherwise your links are a waste of time.

Back to the topic, I see this as nothing more than a line painted on the roadway. It won't even make a bump in the way we individually earn. It could make a larger difference to buyers, to remove limits. And in fact, as others have pointed out, these limits are nearly meaningless.

I believe the other way to describe it would be "Tempest in a Teapot".


No it (still) doesn't say what you claim "New Flexible Plans. No daily download limits!". You could just do a screen capture and end the chase. Could be a location matter, limited roll-out.
It doesn't say it for you.  Do you think they just let me see that and no one else?  I'm sure more people will see it as time goes on.  There is a facebook ad right now that says:
"Now with no daily limits
Get all of the images you love with an annual subscription"

« Reply #69 on: March 17, 2015, 10:35 »
-1
Back to the topic, I see this as nothing more than a line painted on the roadway. It won't even make a bump in the way we individually earn. It could make a larger difference to buyers, to remove limits. And in fact, as others have pointed out, these limits are nearly meaningless.
If they were meaningless then they would have already allowed 750dls per month instead of having a 25/day limit.  Buyers would rather have 750 dls they can use anytime during the month than 25/day.  I don't think anyone will disagree that as a buyer you would rather have the monthly plan than the daily one, right?

« Reply #70 on: March 17, 2015, 10:38 »
+3
I am guessing the average subs buyer uses more like 200 a month, so nowhere near 750. I don't know if their habits will change if they change the daily limit or not. Probably not much. It might make for a bulge at the end of the month though.

« Reply #71 on: March 17, 2015, 10:40 »
0
I am guessing the average subs buyer uses more like 200 a month, so nowhere near 750. I don't know if their habits will change if they change the daily limit or not. Probably not much. It might make for a bulge at the end of the month though.
It doesn't have to change much, 1 dl a day more on average is actually a big deal even though it might not seem like it at first glance.

Edit:  I think you are correct about the 200 dls per month, I made an error before when I said 400.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2015, 11:08 by tickstock »

« Reply #72 on: March 17, 2015, 10:46 »
+5
If they were meaningless then they would have already allowed 750dls per month instead of having a 25/day limit.  Buyers would rather have 750 dls they can use anytime during the month than 25/day.  I don't think anyone will disagree that as a buyer you would rather have the monthly plan than the daily one, right?

You are going around in a circle with this (and flogging a dead horse too).

If you were to advertise 750 dl/month lots of people would likely ask for half of that at half the price. Because it seems like a crazy big number. Where as, for most people, 25 per day sounds like more than they will need - but not massively so.

It's just two different ways of describing more or less the same thing.

« Reply #73 on: March 17, 2015, 11:03 »
-1
If they were meaningless then they would have already allowed 750dls per month instead of having a 25/day limit.  Buyers would rather have 750 dls they can use anytime during the month than 25/day.  I don't think anyone will disagree that as a buyer you would rather have the monthly plan than the daily one, right?

You are going around in a circle with this (and flogging a dead horse too).

If you were to advertise 750 dl/month lots of people would likely ask for half of that at half the price. Because it seems like a crazy big number. Where as, for most people, 25 per day sounds like more than they will need - but not massively so.

It's just two different ways of describing more or less the same thing.
There are lots of different buyers, some want to download as many as possible but it's not really possible with vacations, weekends, or other things that keep them too busy, it will be easier for them to get more images.  Some only need a couple images a day and are paying for the service for when they need them and won't change their buying habits at all.  Some need a lot of images one week and not so many the next, they might download 200 in a couple days now instead of being more choosy because of the 25/day limit.  Some buyers might see they have 400 downloads left at the end of the month and decide to download some more because they'll be wasting them if they don't.  My point is not that all buyers will download the max now, I don't think that will happen.  I think buyers on average will download a higher but relatively small amount more images, like 1 per day or something like that.

« Reply #74 on: March 17, 2015, 11:12 »
0
I think buyers on average will download a higher but relatively small amount more images, like 1 per day or something like that.

We can only guess.

The only way to assess the impact of greater flexibility on buying habits and income would be to see how it went with a small sample selection.


 

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