Author Topic: Shutterstock blackout, 2nd phase: JUN 22-28 (Read 23550 times)

NeonRobot · « **on:** June 16, 2020, 02:43 »

I am quite sure that week is too small period for them to understand the situation in full perspective. Concoction of various drugs and expensive alcohol making brain too tolerant and slow. So show must go on.

Link to Russian mirror:
http://www.microstock.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=20329

FIRST PHASE: JUN 15-21
https://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/stop-uploading-to-ss-join-the-action

THIRD PHASE: JUN 29-JUL8
https://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/shutterstock-blackout-3rd-phase-jun-29-jul-8/

Dumc · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2020, 02:50 »

Since yesterday 9:00AM until today 9:00AM, 2,5 million images gone

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sx80IDLCr0-1_ie1a17Rtm4m9fgUwglaxHdyNy2lDCc/htmlview?usp=gmail_thread

NeonRobot · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2020, 03:26 »

Quote from: Dumc on June 16, 2020, 02:50

Since yesterday 9:00AM until today 9:00AM, 2,5 million images gone

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sx80IDLCr0-1_ie1a17Rtm4m9fgUwglaxHdyNy2lDCc/htmlview?usp=gmail_thread

Too little.

miketravels · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2020, 03:50 »

Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

NeonRobot · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2020, 03:56 »

Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50

Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Frankly? I don't give a sh#t.

My strategy is simple:
-3rd phase: 29 - 5 JUL
-4th?
-turn on , delete all stuff which is too good for ss
-never upload again
-spread "ads" about ss for the lifetime

NeonRobot · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2020, 04:16 »

Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50

Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Their servers are overruned by turning off procedure of angry slaves;)
Wait a bit and your pictures will return with ability to sale for 0.05$ in the nearest future!

Chichikov · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2020, 04:55 »

Quote from: NeonRobot on June 16, 2020, 04:16

Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50
Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Their servers are overruned by turning off procedure of angry slaves;)
Wait a bit and your pictures will return with ability to sale for 0.05$ in the nearest future!

Could it really block their servers?
We all agree to reactivate our portfolios at the same time (we decide on a GMT time that is convenient for most of us - 17.00 GMT [?])
Then two days later we deactivate our portfolios in the same way.
And we continue like this every two days…

NeonRobot · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:06 »

Quote from: Chichikov on June 16, 2020, 04:55

Quote from: NeonRobot on June 16, 2020, 04:16
Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50
Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Their servers are overruned by turning off procedure of angry slaves;)
Wait a bit and your pictures will return with ability to sale for 0.05$ in the nearest future!

Could it really block their servers?
We all agree to reactivate our portfolios at the same time (we decide on a GMT time that is convenient for most of us - 17.00 GMT [?])
Then two days later we deactivate our portfolios in the same way.
And we continue like this every two days…

If they are not stupid they will remove option of port disabling.
Coz described method could count as ddos attack if sufficient contributors will take part in this action.

Roscoe · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:18 »

Quote from: Chichikov on June 16, 2020, 04:55

Quote from: NeonRobot on June 16, 2020, 04:16
Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50
Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Their servers are overruned by turning off procedure of angry slaves;)
Wait a bit and your pictures will return with ability to sale for 0.05$ in the nearest future!

Could it really block their servers?
We all agree to reactivate our portfolios at the same time (we decide on a GMT time that is convenient for most of us - 17.00 GMT [?])
Then two days later we deactivate our portfolios in the same way.
And we continue like this every two days…

If they got their things set up right, I don't think it will block their servers. The system is probably just working the queue of disabled / enabled profiles at available processing capacity, and capacity can be added pretty fast and easy nowadays.

I can imagine it disrupts the customer experience somehow, with images being available/unavailable intermittently, but we're talking about a fraction of the complete database which is disabled/enabled, and that database is loaded with plenty of assets covering the same subject. Chances are pretty high a buyer will find something that fits the need anyhow.

One thing to add: Hovering over the question mark in the account settings menu mentions that images can only be disabled in very rare cases, such as waiting for an exclusivity clause with another party. They remain pretty vague about the circumstances when to use the option of disabling your images, but I can imagine that playing around with it too much can be seen as a violation of their TOS.

WD3 Photography · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:34 »

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

NeonRobot · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:41 »

Quote from: pgkfleming on June 16, 2020, 05:34

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

How about ranking reset every year?
It looks like you don't have basic self-respect.

Chichikov · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:44 »

Quote from: pgkfleming on June 16, 2020, 05:34

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

As far as I'm concerned it's more a question of principle (Shutterstock's* way of doing things) than of price.
Frankly, personally, I don't care much about Shutterstock, with or without my life won't change...

I'm much more concerned about how the world depends more and more on these (not always so) big internet companies that in a nice and playful way, screw us over for the benefit of a few.

*and others

miketravels · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:48 »

Btw I was referring to the contributor admin area where I only see 300ish images now. I thought they'd only remove the image on the front end, not the back end?

Mimi the Cat · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2020, 05:56 »

Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50

Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yes they do and it usually takes 72 hours for them to come back.

Your sales will resume almost immediately (dependent on quality and all the usual stuff)

pics2 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2020, 06:10 »

Quote from: pgkfleming on June 16, 2020, 05:34

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

I was pointing out the same thing, even $ 0.38 is miserable. But, I understood that it sends very strong and effective campaign message. My point of view (and answer to your question) is that people are unsatisfied loosing 30% - 50% of their earnings overnight, that is were anger comes from, that is the point. We all know it is not about $ 0.10 but it is symbolic.

NeonRobot · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2020, 06:21 »

It is already pennies, but they cut even such amounts.
Greed. Should be punished.

Snow · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2020, 06:52 »

Quote from: pgkfleming on June 16, 2020, 05:34

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

Glad you wrote some people because I have quit iStock a looong time ago. Same with a dozen other low payers and low sellers such as BS, DP, DT, 123RF, YAY, etc... even those that do not exist anymore.
Of course you're a fool to protest to this change while still uploading to IS or similar but I'm not one of them. I don't go below 30% either. I am still with SS, AS, P5 and AL and that's it.
Some complain about 0.10 but to be honest 0.38 isn't that great either. I've seen some amazing (art)work being sold for pennies on micro's. I am guilty of that too btw, way too much time and effort to provide them the best and for what? fool around with their reviewers first and then earn a few dollars (if that) for all that hard work, makes sense right!
I've also seen many bragg about gear, technique, commercial skills, experience, etc... while selling their work for pennies!

Micro's should be selling smelly curly turds on white images or mosquitos being killed by fly swapper clips!

ps. I'm all for this protest btw and disabled my image and video portfolio!

Shelma1 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2020, 07:21 »

Quote from: pgkfleming on June 16, 2020, 05:34

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

If all of those "many agencies" cut royalties by 50%, what happens to your stock income?

That's what this is about. Sending a message that agencies that cut royalties will lose a big chunk of their libraries. We already did that with iStock, which used to be the #1 stock site by far but is now #3, if you look at the poll to the right.

Saying you're selling images for 2¢ is nothing to crow about, btw.

Roscoe · « **Reply #18 on:** June 16, 2020, 07:41 »

Quote from: pgkfleming on June 16, 2020, 05:34

I still can't understand why some people are so fixated with $0.10 downloads.

For years I've been selling images on iStock for as little as $0.02 and as high as $20.00.

I presume those that are unhappy put too much emphasis on Shutterstock rather than spreading their assets among many agencies.

The $0.10 is not the exception, it's more like the rule. The majority of the sales are in the 0.10$ - $0.20 range. At least, that's how it looks for me.
There would be far less fixation if these commissions would be the exception and compensated by far higher ones.
And if you worked your way up in the tiers only to get a slightly better RPD, there's a reset to tier 1 at Jan 1st to thank you for your efforts.

The problem is not getting $0.10 for some sales. I guess most of us would be fine with that, under circumstances (limited use or very small resolution for instance).
But getting $0.10 for the majority of what you sell at Shutterstock is a totally different story.
And yes, low commissions were already a problem in the past, many people already complaining about it, but slashing that subscription commission further with at least 60% feels extremely unfair.

miketravels · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2020, 09:11 »

Quote from: Bad Robot on June 16, 2020, 05:56

Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50
Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yes they do and it usually takes 72 hours for them to come back.

Your sales will resume almost immediately (dependent on quality and all the usual stuff)

Thanks for confirming. :-)

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Mantis · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2020, 09:15 »

Um, I am not reactiviating my portfolio at all. None of this 1-week stuff. That won't do a thing to SS. They need to be hit hard and choked of content permanently. For those doing a temporary closure, that does not help with the long-term impact we're looking to achieve. All SS does is wait a week. Bang. Images reactivated. No, we need to strangle them of really well done, salable content to the point where their stock price falls significantly (and remains weak), Investors flee, the board removes Stan, and nobody wants to buy SS if they go up for sale. That takes discipline and commitment.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2020, 09:42 »

Quote from: miketravels on June 16, 2020, 03:50

Btw when/if we re-enable our port/image sales down the line do all our previous images come back? In catelog manager I can only see 300 images now whilst I had over 6k before.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Everything should be back once you re-enable.

In my catalog manager I can only see those files I put into sets - which is a huge chunk of them

I did the turn off/on once before (a long time ago) when I was an iStock exclusive for 3 years.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2020, 09:43 »

I turned my portfolio off May 31 and it stays off until I see something positive happen - perhaps the old rates plus a tier or two above the previous maximums?

marthamarks · « **Reply #23 on:** June 16, 2020, 10:10 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on June 16, 2020, 09:43

I turned my portfolio off May 31 and it stays off until I see something positive happen - perhaps the old rates plus a tier or two above the previous maximums?

Same here.

I've already moved on from SS.

Snow · « **Reply #24 on:** June 16, 2020, 10:38 »

Peeps don't forget to add your link in SS profile so people can find your work elsewhere. Also create a gmail (or other email service) address with your real or contributor name to use as contact address.

If you don't have a website for your microstock profile then you can create one for free at Wix. (geez I sound like a commercial)
Any free service will do of course but I took Wix because it seems to be integrated with Shutterstock and since the purpose of this website is to steer away from SS I find this quite amusing

We are all creatives/designers so it shouldn't be too difficult to set up a quick website.

For any help regarding webdesign please contact Jo Ann Snover!

*hides behind desk*

lol kidding of course, my sincere apologies milady

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Author Topic: Shutterstock blackout, 2nd phase: JUN 22-28 (Read 23550 times)

NeonRobot

Dumc

NeonRobot

miketravels

NeonRobot

NeonRobot

Chichikov

NeonRobot

Roscoe

WD3 Photography

NeonRobot

Chichikov

miketravels

Mimi the Cat

pics2

NeonRobot

Snow

Shelma1

Roscoe

miketravels

Mantis

Jo Ann Snover

Jo Ann Snover

marthamarks

Snow

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