MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => StockFresh => Topic started by: EmberMike on November 19, 2014, 15:48

Title: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: EmberMike on November 19, 2014, 15:48
From an email I just received:

Quote
We would like to notify you that starting November 24 our subscription plans will include all image sizes and vectors.

We believe that in the current market environment where subscriptions without size limits have become the norm, being the only agency with such restrictions has no benefits for contributors any more, in fact — based on a lot of feedback we're receiving — it just drives customers away.

I think it's the only move they can make here. I did like not having my stuff in subs at all over there, but it's not helping them compete to limit subscriptions to only certain sizes of photos and no vectors at all.

Just a sign of the times.
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: Mantis on November 19, 2014, 16:01
Doesn't really affect me when I only make $4 a month there. What I fear is that this is all we will see on Stockfresh now and it being a low tier site, my $4 is sure to go down to 40 cents a month. For me I have to draw the line somewhere. It won't hurt to leave my images up there for a bit to see what happens, but that is probably going to be a deal killer for me. He will probably make a lot more money with a sub program while contributors are bound to get less when their credit sales start to erode.

I do respect Peter for letting contributors know, but I can't see a win-win here with a low tier site.  Maybe I'm blind.
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: ibogdan on November 19, 2014, 16:17
Definitely not good news...
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: EmberMike on November 19, 2014, 16:23

It's not good news, but I think it's the only news we can expect to hear out of SF these days. Their limited subscription offering was great for us, but it definitely made it harder for the company to compete with the likes of SS and iStock.

If it wasn't this news, honestly I think the only other news we could realistically expect from SF would be the news that they're closing. Not much else is happening over there lately.
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on November 19, 2014, 20:10
My sales there are so sluggish, I'm not sure I care much, but suppose they had made a less expensive subscription for the current limited sizes and a more expensive one with any size or file type? I think there might have been some customers who walked away from iStock because of the massive increase in prices for web size images who might have been receptive to a cheap deal on smaller sizes.

I can't see that this move will make much of a difference in sales volume, but I'll check in after one month and see (I just had a look today so I'd know what to compare it to :))
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: PixelBytes on November 19, 2014, 23:43

It's not good news, but I think it's the only news we can expect to hear out of SF these days. Their limited subscription offering was great for us, but it definitely made it harder for the company to compete with the likes of SS and iStock.

If it wasn't this news, honestly I think the only other news we could realistically expect from SF would be the news that they're closing. Not much else is happening over there lately.

I just read the same e-mail and came to the same conclusions as you.  They had to do it.  It was nice of them to inform us.  The rate they offer, .35, is competitive with most other sites. 

I also agree that there is not enough business there for this to affect my bottom line much. 
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: Harvepino on November 20, 2014, 02:55
Nice of them to inform us. Sales are tiny, but uploading is easy, commissions are standard. We'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: Axel Lauer on November 20, 2014, 03:12
Nice of them to inform us. Sales are tiny, but uploading is easy, commissions are standard. We'll see how it goes.
Nice to inform us????
Oh Boy!!

What about give you the chance to opt out??
That would be the least they could do.

But hey, what to expect from a rip-off business?
So stockfresh is the next one we will give the axe.
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: Axel Lauer on November 20, 2014, 03:29
3.000 images........DELETED
So long, Stockfresh!
Title: Re: Stockfresh to offer unrestricted sub sizes and vectors
Post by: Noedelhap on November 20, 2014, 07:16
Well, I couldn't care less, because I make hardly any money over there. I understand his decision, after all, he has to compete with stronger agencies like Shutterstock.

Unfortunately, it does show what the market has turned into; offering more content for less money.
What struck me as a bit indecisive and weird is that he's willing to go back to the original setup if is negatively impacts credit sales. A nice sounding gesture, but of course an implausible scenario.