pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Is Shutterstock Manipulating the Numbers?  (Read 3730 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

« on: January 14, 2025, 09:08 »
+3
I'm genuinely surprised by the low figures from Shutterstock and Pond5 this January. Considering their business practices, I can't help but wonder if they might be manipulating the numbers or hiding salesbut is that even possible?

I'm experiencing a drop of around 70% compared to the same month last year. Is anyone else noticing something similar?
 >:(


« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2025, 09:27 »
+1
Could they have reduced their marketing activities with regards to the coming merger?

That fresh licensing contracts are sold more on getty/istock than SS already?

That is what many have suspected is happening with pond5. Sales crashed since the takeover.

« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2025, 09:33 »
0
I'm genuinely surprised by the low figures from Shutterstock and Pond5 this January. Considering their business practices, I can't help but wonder if they might be manipulating the numbers or hiding salesbut is that even possible?

I'm experiencing a drop of around 70% compared to the same month last year. Is anyone else noticing something similar?
 >:(
Not here. Slightly up for SS in regard to last year around this time. IS doing well also. It's Adobe who is lagging substantially for me.

« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2025, 10:24 »
0
Right now, on Shutterstock, I'm tracking to be ahead of January 2024 in terms of downloads. Revenue is down, partly because of the reset and partly because i haven't had any of the bigger sales yet.

So, no, I don't think they are manipulating the numbers.

« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2025, 14:55 »
0
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2025, 10:15 »
+3
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

Well... considering that theyve changed the rules over and over, whenever they felt like it, broke trust with contributors and clients alike, operate like a greedy and stingy monopoly, yadda, yadda, yadda... its only logical for people to get a little bit sensitive about them, dont you think?
LOL!
 ;D

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2025, 14:53 »
+2
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

My sales are up and I found one of my images, first in a search, there's obviously some unfair manipulation going on there!  ;D

« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2025, 18:37 »
+1
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

My sales are up and I found one of my images, first in a search, there's obviously some unfair manipulation going on there!  ;D

Yeah I've noticed Shutterstock sometimes sell very high numbers of one or two of my images and those images are almost always at the top of every search result. When I contact Shutterstock support to ask them why my port is always being favored by the algorithm they just keep replying with generic unhelpful information. I am going to sue them over this!   

« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2025, 18:59 »
+2
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

My sales are up and I found one of my images, first in a search, there's obviously some unfair manipulation going on there!  ;D

No Pete, this is not manipulation. I have personally noticed that downloads increase when you dance naked around a public fountain in winter.
I'll submit photos later  ;)

« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2025, 19:14 »
+1
@RalfLiebhold:
Thanks for making me smile ;-)

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2025, 14:11 »
+1
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

My sales are up and I found one of my images, first in a search, there's obviously some unfair manipulation going on there!  ;D

No Pete, this is not manipulation. I have personally noticed that downloads increase when you dance naked around a public fountain in winter.
I'll submit photos later  ;)

Please don't, just imagining that scene is scaring me.  ;D

I generally sacrifice chickens, under a Full Moon. (others call it grilling BBQ Wings, but close enough?) I burn offerings to the all powerful and wise God of Microstock, Hephaestus, who is the Greek god of artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, craftsmen, fire, metallurgy, metalworking, sculpture and volcanoes.


Also covering other options, I celebrate Saturnalia, with a Scotch tasting festival, near the winter solstice.

Charms are also something that everyone should have and use, for good luck. The rabbits foot is extremely powerful for more illustration downloads.



« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2025, 16:11 »
+2
I'm genuinely surprised by the low figures from Shutterstock and Pond5 this January. Considering their business practices, I can't help but wonder if they might be manipulating the numbers or hiding salesbut is that even possible?

I'm experiencing a drop of around 70% compared to the same month last year. Is anyone else noticing something similar?
 >:(

Very easy to do programatically. Its literally a couple lines of code, and yes - that is a risk you have selling on a 3rd party platform.

Easy way to test - get several friends to purchase several of your assets. If you are not credited with ALL the sales, then yes - they are manipulating the numbers.

I believe someone (here) had done that 1-2 years ago with shitterstock (& posted the results), and came to the conclusion that shitterstock was indeed keeping/hiding some sales. You should be able to do a search and find that.

« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2025, 16:15 »
+3
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

Lol - why do you call anything you personally don't agree with a "conspiracy theory", and on top of that - not offer ANY intelligent discourse, other than labelling it as such? It would be like someone trying to discredit anything & everything you say by simply saying "Oh, there is ralf again, the left wing nut, yada yada yada, spouting his left wing nut nonsense". ARE you a left wing nut - and do you prefer just name calling? OR... are you capable of intelligent discourse?

« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2025, 16:58 »
+1
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

My sales are up and I found one of my images, first in a search, there's obviously some unfair manipulation going on there!  ;D

No Pete, this is not manipulation. I have personally noticed that downloads increase when you dance naked around a public fountain in winter.
I'll submit photos later  ;)

Please don't, just imagining that scene is scaring me.  ;D

I generally sacrifice chickens, under a Full Moon. (others call it grilling BBQ Wings, but close enough?) I burn offerings to the all powerful and wise God of Microstock, Hephaestus, who is the Greek god of artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, craftsmen, fire, metallurgy, metalworking, sculpture and volcanoes.


Also covering other options, I celebrate Saturnalia, with a Scotch tasting festival, near the winter solstice.

Charms are also something that everyone should have and use, for good luck. The rabbits foot is extremely powerful for more illustration downloads.




Okay, you win. I feel like a beginner right now. You definitely have more opportunities to influence your success

« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2025, 18:18 »
+1
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

My sales are up and I found one of my images, first in a search, there's obviously some unfair manipulation going on there!  ;D

No Pete, this is not manipulation. I have personally noticed that downloads increase when you dance naked around a public fountain in winter.
I'll submit photos later  ;)

Please don't, just imagining that scene is scaring me.  ;D

I generally sacrifice chickens, under a Full Moon. (others call it grilling BBQ Wings, but close enough?) I burn offerings to the all powerful and wise God of Microstock, Hephaestus, who is the Greek god of artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, craftsmen, fire, metallurgy, metalworking, sculpture and volcanoes.


Also covering other options, I celebrate Saturnalia, with a Scotch tasting festival, near the winter solstice.

Charms are also something that everyone should have and use, for good luck. The rabbits foot is extremely powerful for more illustration downloads.




Okay, you win. I feel like a beginner right now. You definitely have more opportunities to influence your success


What's with all this weird spam? Im not sure what kind of private conversation you two are having, but it seems like it belongs somewhere else I mean, get a room or something... If you need to discuss this, maybe take it to a private chat instead of flooding the forum. You two have completely derailed the discussion.

« Reply #15 on: January 16, 2025, 18:20 »
+1
I'm genuinely surprised by the low figures from Shutterstock and Pond5 this January. Considering their business practices, I can't help but wonder if they might be manipulating the numbers or hiding salesbut is that even possible?

I'm experiencing a drop of around 70% compared to the same month last year. Is anyone else noticing something similar?
 >:(

Very easy to do programatically. Its literally a couple lines of code, and yes - that is a risk you have selling on a 3rd party platform.

Easy way to test - get several friends to purchase several of your assets. If you are not credited with ALL the sales, then yes - they are manipulating the numbers.

I believe someone (here) had done that 1-2 years ago with shitterstock (& posted the results), and came to the conclusion that shitterstock was indeed keeping/hiding some sales. You should be able to do a search and find that.

Interesting...

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2025, 15:17 »
+1
I'm genuinely surprised by the low figures from Shutterstock and Pond5 this January. Considering their business practices, I can't help but wonder if they might be manipulating the numbers or hiding salesbut is that even possible?

I'm experiencing a drop of around 70% compared to the same month last year. Is anyone else noticing something similar?
 >:(

Very easy to do programatically. Its literally a couple lines of code, and yes - that is a risk you have selling on a 3rd party platform.

Easy way to test - get several friends to purchase several of your assets. If you are not credited with ALL the sales, then yes - they are manipulating the numbers.

I believe someone (here) had done that 1-2 years ago with shitterstock (& posted the results), and came to the conclusion that shitterstock was indeed keeping/hiding some sales. You should be able to do a search and find that.

Interesting...

Someone CLAIMED that he knew someone who ran a test and they claimed that they didn't receive credit for all the downloads, but they were waiting to check the data in case there was a delay. In other words, no one had anything except someone on FB who said it happened.

Sorry about having a little fun, jezz.

The only people who see manipulation of earnings are the ones who have lower sales than they think they should have. Anyone who's sales are up, doesn't claim there's any manipulation or favoritism, because that persons sales are up. Get it? I wasn't lying, my images are 1st in some searches and on another I'm 2,3,5 on the first page. One more, I see my images, depending on the variety of the exact search, moving around, but six are on the first page.

According to the conspiracy people, I am getting biased position and an unfair advantage. People with lower sales, of course will claim, it's some software manipulation.

In truth, I think it's just what it is and since my images that got better position, have sold or have a different view from the spammed, multiple other images, I got better rank. No conspiracy. (Of course I'd deny the conspiracy, because it's favoring me...)
« Last Edit: January 17, 2025, 15:20 by Uncle Pete »


« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2025, 19:00 »
+2
I'm genuinely surprised by the low figures from Shutterstock and Pond5 this January. Considering their business practices, I can't help but wonder if they might be manipulating the numbers or hiding salesbut is that even possible?

I'm experiencing a drop of around 70% compared to the same month last year. Is anyone else noticing something similar?
 >:(

Very easy to do programatically. Its literally a couple lines of code, and yes - that is a risk you have selling on a 3rd party platform.

Easy way to test - get several friends to purchase several of your assets. If you are not credited with ALL the sales, then yes - they are manipulating the numbers.

I believe someone (here) had done that 1-2 years ago with shitterstock (& posted the results), and came to the conclusion that shitterstock was indeed keeping/hiding some sales. You should be able to do a search and find that.

Interesting...

Someone CLAIMED that he knew someone who ran a test and they claimed that they didn't receive credit for all the downloads, but they were waiting to check the data in case there was a delay. In other words, no one had anything except someone on FB who said it happened.

Sorry about having a little fun, jezz.

The only people who see manipulation of earnings are the ones who have lower sales than they think they should have. Anyone who's sales are up, doesn't claim there's any manipulation or favoritism, because that persons sales are up. Get it? I wasn't lying, my images are 1st in some searches and on another I'm 2,3,5 on the first page. One more, I see my images, depending on the variety of the exact search, moving around, but six are on the first page.

According to the conspiracy people, I am getting biased position and an unfair advantage. People with lower sales, of course will claim, it's some software manipulation.

In truth, I think it's just what it is and since my images that got better position, have sold or have a different view from the spammed, multiple other images, I got better rank. No conspiracy. (Of course I'd deny the conspiracy, because it's favoring me...)

I also have content ranking at the top, and at one point, I was making 6K just on SS. But, of course, as soon as I hit that, they changed the rules and cut earnings in half. Then came the tier reset, video bundles, and so on.

Not to mention, they bought out platforms like Videohive and Pond5where I was making great moneyand ruined them.

So yeah, I go back to my initial suspicion. Not saying its a fact, but is there some manipulation going on from time to time?
 :)

« Reply #18 on: January 18, 2025, 02:46 »
+1
I'm seeing more than a few reports of contributors reporting very poor earnings this month on Shutterstock. My earnings are 4.35x more on Adobe Stock than Shutterstock so far this month / year. Shutterstock has really gone downhill over the past year and seems it has dropped off another ledge since the start of 2025.

« Reply #19 on: January 18, 2025, 03:49 »
+2
I'm seeing more than a few reports of contributors reporting very poor earnings this month on Shutterstock. My earnings are 4.35x more on Adobe Stock than Shutterstock so far this month / year. Shutterstock has really gone downhill over the past year and seems it has dropped off another ledge since the start of 2025.

I'm certainly one of the people who would report exceptionally poor earnings this month and I'm on target for the worst month there since 2009. Adobe is currently 3 times higher in earnings, and usually, Shutterstock and Adobe are neck and neck.

Part of this is due to the level reset, and January last year was also poor until I got back to level 4, but the download numbers are lower by about 30%.

I'm sure that Shutterstock report sales, and whilst I also have a good number of images in top search positions, I do see that mine are mostly being pushed down by AI coming up to the top.

The cynic in me assumes that this is advantageous to them, as they can turn a blind eye, get the income, and then close down these portfolios, allowing them to keep 100% of the profit.

« Reply #20 on: January 18, 2025, 07:12 »
0
When p5 was taken over by ss sales started to drop. But they kept rising on Adobe.

Many think this is because SS did a lot less marketing for p5, preferring to sell contracts via ss.

If the merger is now coming, perhaps we might get a similar effect, sales of contracts via all ss companies going down with sales of contracts via getty/istock going up.

I think this is something to pay attention to.

While they might keep the agencies formally alive and visible, this does not mean that the sales team will offer contracts for all agencies equally.

It would be a lot easier to bundle all sales via the getty team and just offer access to ss and p5 content under the getty umbrella.

By end of the year we will know how things develop.

« Reply #21 on: January 18, 2025, 07:59 »
0

I'm certainly one of the people who would report exceptionally poor earnings this month and I'm on target for the worst month there since 2009. Adobe is currently 3 times higher in earnings, and usually, Shutterstock and Adobe are neck and neck.

Part of this is due to the level reset, and January last year was also poor until I got back to level 4, but the download numbers are lower by about 30%.

I'm sure that Shutterstock report sales, and whilst I also have a good number of images in top search positions, I do see that mine are mostly being pushed down by AI coming up to the top.

The cynic in me assumes that this is advantageous to them, as they can turn a blind eye, get the income, and then close down these portfolios, allowing them to keep 100% of the profit.

Im not far off that.  Oddly the first week was above average then crashed in terms of volume and RPD.  Assuming it doesnt change im looking at 2012 or so levels with obviously a lot more assets.

RPD is whats crashed though for me.  Example last month it was $1.36 (photo and video combined).  This month is $0.56.  The last January before levels "Good news" it was $1.40

Its a combination of levels reset AND them selling more assets at a lower price to buyers meaning less to us.   Given levels are entirely volume dependent this looks like the first levels month i wont reach Level 3 photo OR Level 3 video by the end of it.

« Reply #22 on: January 18, 2025, 08:27 »
+1

I'm certainly one of the people who would report exceptionally poor earnings this month and I'm on target for the worst month there since 2009. Adobe is currently 3 times higher in earnings, and usually, Shutterstock and Adobe are neck and neck.

Part of this is due to the level reset, and January last year was also poor until I got back to level 4, but the download numbers are lower by about 30%.

I'm sure that Shutterstock report sales, and whilst I also have a good number of images in top search positions, I do see that mine are mostly being pushed down by AI coming up to the top.

The cynic in me assumes that this is advantageous to them, as they can turn a blind eye, get the income, and then close down these portfolios, allowing them to keep 100% of the profit.

Im not far off that.  Oddly the first week was above average then crashed in terms of volume and RPD.  Assuming it doesnt change im looking at 2012 or so levels with obviously a lot more assets.

RPD is whats crashed though for me.  Example last month it was $1.36 (photo and video combined).  This month is $0.56.  The last January before levels "Good news" it was $1.40

Its a combination of levels reset AND them selling more assets at a lower price to buyers meaning less to us.   Given levels are entirely volume dependent this looks like the first levels month i wont reach Level 3 photo OR Level 3 video by the end of it.

In past years, I've made level 4 well before the end of January, although it's been a few days longer each time. I'm still hopeful that I will get there before month end, but it's less likely this year.

Obviously, the January reset knocks the RPD for the month, but it's way down this year at 28c, (images only), which puts it behind Alamy, Adobe, Dreamtime, Bigstock, Canva and Depositphoto.

Congrats Shutterstock, you have moved from best on the planet to 7th place and, when Istock January stats come out next month, you'll be pushed to 8th.

How the mighty have fallen.......

« Reply #23 on: January 18, 2025, 08:59 »
0
No, they didn't.
To be honest, I don't understand how people come up with such weird conspiracy theories in the first place. It's becoming a habit here.

Since Elan Musk hasn't completely shot up the Shutterstock headquarters with his lasers from space, downloads are completely normal, revenue in January is expectedly poor.

Lol - why do you call anything you personally don't agree with a "conspiracy theory", and on top of that - not offer ANY intelligent discourse, other than labelling it as such? It would be like someone trying to discredit anything & everything you say by simply saying "Oh, there is ralf again, the left wing nut, yada yada yada, spouting his left wing nut nonsense". ARE you a left wing nut - and do you prefer just name calling? OR... are you capable of intelligent discourse?
He's just a doctor. And all doctors are a little crazy. They live in their own reality, the reality of their hospital. When doctors go out on the street, they don't see people around them, they only see patients, and that's why they diagnose everyone. Doctors also think that they are smarter than everyone else.
I already wrote to him that this forum is not a hospital and there are no patients of his here.
But probably you need to treat a doctor as a person who has specific deviations due to the nature of his work and his environment.
 ;D

« Reply #24 on: January 18, 2025, 09:04 »
+1
For the month of December, Getty gave me twice as much income as Shutterstock.
This has never happened before. It means our money is being stolen. Or Shutterstock is being deliberately bankrupted.


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
110 Replies
32546 Views
Last post April 11, 2014, 11:27
by tickstock
79 Replies
56822 Views
Last post February 20, 2016, 17:10
by SpaceStockFootage
20 Replies
9048 Views
Last post September 29, 2018, 15:59
by nobody
6 Replies
4725 Views
Last post August 03, 2021, 11:41
by Uncle Pete
76 Replies
20811 Views
Last post May 24, 2022, 04:14
by jamesbenet

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors