Author Topic: Storyblocks actually listens to contributor complaints! How can that happen? (Read 25775 times)

KB · « **on:** August 09, 2018, 10:16 »

In case you haven't read your email yet:

In the weeks since announcing our new commission structure, we’ve had the opportunity to speak with a number of contributors in the community. You have given us valuable feedback about how we can serve you better, and we have been working hard to put your ideas into action.

In particular, many of you have expressed concern with our member price for HD footage remaining at $49 with a 50% commission structure in place. We understand how important pricing is—not only to your earnings with Storyblocks—but to your overall participation in the stock media market. We have decided to address your concerns and will be raising the price of HD footage.

By October 15, 2018, we will raise the publicized price of HD footage to $79. This is the price that guests will pay to purchase an HD clip. Members will also be charged $79 per clip, but they will receive a 10% instant rebate at the end of their checkout, the cost of which we will share 50/50 between us and you. In other words, when we sell an HD clip to a Storyblocks member, you will earn $35.55 per asset. For sales to guests, you will earn $39.50 per asset. This also means Storyblocks will no longer collect a “guest fee” from nonmember purchases. These changes will be reflected in your contributor agreement as well. The new 50% commission share will begin as planned on August 15.

We will never stop working to create a sustainable, thriving community for you, our contributors. Our relationship with you is what sets Storyblocks apart, and we do not take that for granted. As always, please reach out to [email protected] with any questions you have.

All the best,
The Storyblocks Team

Of course I'm still not thrilled with the commission cut. But the price increase helps alleviate that somewhat, and brings their prices more in-line with other stock sites. It's nice to see a company actually make a positive change in response to contributor feedback.

KB · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:18 »

Oh, no, dueling threads!

http://www.microstockgroup.com/videoblocks/success!-storyblocks-listens-to-contributors-on-pricing/

Any chance of a merger?

KevinM · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:30 »

Mods deleted other thread as a duplicate. It's OK, my point there was that we achieved success through speaking up! CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW FANTASTIC IT IS THAT CONTRIBUTORS MADE THEMSELVES HEARD THROUGH WRITING EMAILS, DELETING PORTFOLIOS, REFUSING TO UPLOAD, ETC.! This is how we protect our interests as contributors and keep our industry viable. Great job, everyone!!

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:34 »

Nice. Good news.

aetb · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:36 »

So we earn 50% of 79$ istead of 100% of 49$
With the fees and everything.. that mean 35.55$ instead of 42.44$
...
and you guys find it's a good idea ?
Probably I don't get it at some point.

KB · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:55 »

Quote from: aetb on August 09, 2018, 10:36

So we earn 50% of 79$ istead of 100% of 49$
With the fees and everything.. that mean 35.55$ instead of 42.44$
...
and you guys find it's a good idea ?
Probably I don't get it at some point.

Let me help explain it to you.

1. We make more per sale than under their first plan, and that change is wholly due to contributor feedback.
2. They make money this way on every sale, compared to making $0 under their original scheme. Despite their previous stated belief, they were not able to continue under that model. This makes it "sustainable".
3. Their prices for HD clips are now similar to industry prices, which means we aren't undercutting ourselves by having our clips on SB.

I hope that helps.

trek · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2018, 11:00 »

Big improvement. Will resume uploading.

aetb · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2018, 11:03 »

1. We make more per sale than under their first plan, and that change is wholly due to contributor feedback.
... sure... just not that first point.
Like I said it's about 7$ drop per sale.

KevinM · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2018, 11:05 »

The original Storyblocks 100% commission rate was great while it lasted but ultimately unsustainable. Cutting commission by 50% but not raising prices was unfair to contributors and damaging to the market. By keeping commissions at 50% but raising prices to market standards, a balance has been struck and commission dollars are good.

RAW · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2018, 11:11 »

Well it's better than the alternative.

aetb · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2018, 11:18 »

Quote from: KevinM on August 09, 2018, 11:05

The original Storyblocks 100% commission rate was great while it lasted but ultimately unsustainable. Cutting commission by 50% but not raising prices was unfair to contributors and damaging to the market. By keeping commissions at 50% but raising prices to market standards, a balance has been struck and commission dollars are good.

So they got that huge amount of footage and contributors to become just like others right after.
That was for sure par of the plan since the start... anyways - 50% of 49$ is not cool... I get it now.
I just did not see that they were going to do that move.

... I don't want to make people angry... but I still feel that Storyblock has sucessfully stop giving 100% comission and contributors are happpy with that.
If they would decided in one day to raise the prices and then take 50% everyone would be pissed - but because they "negociated" you seems all proud of what you got. Foor me Storyblock just became like other companies.

KevinM · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2018, 11:41 »

Quote from: aetb on August 09, 2018, 11:18

Quote from: KevinM on August 09, 2018, 11:05
The original Storyblocks 100% commission rate was great while it lasted but ultimately unsustainable. Cutting commission by 50% but not raising prices was unfair to contributors and damaging to the market. By keeping commissions at 50% but raising prices to market standards, a balance has been struck and commission dollars are good.

So they got that huge amount of footage and contributors to become just like others right after.
That was for sure par of the plan since the start... anyways - 50% of 49$ is not cool... I get it now.
I just did not see that they were going to do that move.

... I don't want to make people angry... but I still feel that Storyblock has sucessfully stop giving 100% comission and contributors are happpy with that.
If they would decided in one day to raise the prices and then take 50% everyone would be pissed - but because they "negociated" you seems all proud of what you got. Foor me Storyblock just became like other companies.

So you think 100% commission forever is sustainable and they're wrong for stopping it? I have to disagree with that perspective, and I don't think they lied when they said 100% commission was unsustainable. If they had originally came to us as contributors and said they have to make a change to stay in business, I would be fine with it as long as the change was fair and not damaging long-term to the market (i.e. low sales prices AND lowering commissions). Their idea on how to change was bad, they got stung for it, and now they've adjusted to end up in a fair place. They should have done that from the start. Think about it - they're now selling at the same price as SS but with a higher commission rate. Frankly, let's hope that lasts, we'll see if they can pull it off.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2018, 12:34 »

Quote from: aetb on August 09, 2018, 11:03

1. We make more per sale than under their first plan, and that change is wholly due to contributor feedback.
... sure... just not that first point.
Like I said it's about 7$ drop per sale.

The point is that it's $10 more than it was going to be. Nobody is celebrating that were getting less than we were... we're just slightly happier that were getting more than we were about to start getting.

ForrestBrown · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2018, 12:50 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on August 09, 2018, 12:34

Quote from: aetb on August 09, 2018, 11:03

1. We make more per sale than under their first plan, and that change is wholly due to contributor feedback.
... sure... just not that first point.
Like I said it's about 7$ drop per sale.

The point is that it's $10 more than it was going to be. Nobody is celebrating that were getting less than we were... we're just slightly happier that were getting more than we were about to start getting.

Also, by raising the price of footage to $79, Storyblocks is no longer massively undercutting the prices of the other stock sites, which is something that a lot of contributors has disliked about StoryBlocks.

RAW · « **Reply #14 on:** August 09, 2018, 13:06 »

Isn't this illegal 'Price Fixing' ?

DavidK · « **Reply #15 on:** August 09, 2018, 13:24 »

Kudos to KevinM and everyone else who was/were so strident and active in their opposition to this. For those who did nothing, enjoy your free lunch. You know who you are. Perhaps next time something like this happens (which it will) maybe more of us will be motivated to participate .

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #16 on:** August 09, 2018, 14:28 »

Quote from: RAW on August 09, 2018, 13:06

Isn't this illegal 'Price Fixing' ?

No, it's price fixing in the sense that they've changed the price. Companies do that all the time without it being illegal.

RAW · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2018, 15:21 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on August 09, 2018, 14:28

Quote from: RAW on August 09, 2018, 13:06
Isn't this illegal 'Price Fixing' ?

No, it's price fixing in the sense that they've changed the price. Companies do that all the time without it being illegal.

Matching all the other $79 HD companies sure sounds like price fixing to me.

"Price fixing is an agreement (written, verbal, or inferred from conduct) among competitors that raises, lowers, or stabilizes prices or competitive terms. Generally, the antitrust laws require that each company establish prices and other terms on its own, without agreeing with a competitor."

Visualab · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2018, 15:42 »

Raw??what's the point??do u want sb to set their price to be different from other agenicies so you are happy??78.50 for hd is nice??77.50 is better??

Inviato dal mio SM-G930F utilizzando Tapatalk

flywing · « **Reply #19 on:** August 09, 2018, 16:12 »

Quote from: RAW on August 09, 2018, 15:21

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on August 09, 2018, 14:28
Quote from: RAW on August 09, 2018, 13:06
Isn't this illegal 'Price Fixing' ?

No, it's price fixing in the sense that they've changed the price. Companies do that all the time without it being illegal.

Matching all the other $79 HD companies sure sounds like price fixing to me.

"Price fixing is an agreement (written, verbal, or inferred from conduct) among competitors that raises, lowers, or stabilizes prices or competitive terms. Generally, the antitrust laws require that each company establish prices and other terms on its own, without agreeing with a competitor."

It seems "resale price maintenance" is allowed in some cases, though.

StockStudio · « **Reply #20 on:** August 09, 2018, 16:51 »

Does that mean Dissolve will need to update it's HD prices back to $79 for all those who sell both on VB and dissolve??

ForrestBrown · « **Reply #21 on:** August 09, 2018, 17:03 »

Quote from: StockStudio on August 09, 2018, 16:51

Does that mean Dissolve will need to update it's HD prices back to $79 for all those who sell both on VB and dissolve??

I was wondering that also, I would guess that they would need to. Maybe time to put my footage on Dissolve.

pkphotos · « **Reply #22 on:** August 09, 2018, 20:26 »

Quote from: StockStudio on August 09, 2018, 16:51

Does that mean Dissolve will need to update it's HD prices back to $79 for all those who sell both on VB and dissolve??

They will have to, no other option open to them

Mantis · « **Reply #23 on:** August 09, 2018, 20:50 »

Quote from: ForrestBrown on August 09, 2018, 17:03

Quote from: StockStudio on August 09, 2018, 16:51
Does that mean Dissolve will need to update it's HD prices back to $79 for all those who sell both on VB and dissolve??

I was wondering that also, I would guess that they would need to. Maybe time to put my footage on Dissolve.

I would not give Dissolve sh!t even if they went to $79. Their spots haven't changed who they are.

aetb · « **Reply #24 on:** August 10, 2018, 00:35 »

Hey guys... I'm not saying they are lying about the fact that it's unsustainable at 100% comission.
What I mean is more than that... it's that their plan was maybe already taught.

Let me explain it properly and if you don't understand it's because I'm not clear.
You can believe me or not - I'm not always right in life.

So... imagine you want to start a new stock company. - and that you have the budget to make low profit for more than a year. Would it be a good idea to give 100% commission to contributors and then make sure to have all the footage quick and from all around the world. Contributors would also refer their clients since they get 100% commission ! Would that be nice !? What IF that was the plan and it was also the plan that AFTER beeing the fastest growing stock video company - they start making money like others !!. Imagine if their plan was to sell videos at 79$ and get 50% commission from day one. It's politics then... you remove something to the mobs, your sad... you said you make sacrifices - then they are not happy, so you give a little more then they are happy.

What I think it that since day one, they wanted to get 50% commission of 79$ video stock clips. They did some politics... some kind of emotional negotiation with you. If you would not said anything, they would probably keep their clips at 49$... maybe not even since NOW they have the clients... NOW they have all the contributors ! So why having low prices... ? They can do like big players now !

I just hope I'm wrong - but let assume... if you start a new stock video company today - you could do exactly the same thing and it would work - or at least, you would get some contributors uploading at start.

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Author Topic: Storyblocks actually listens to contributor complaints! How can that happen? (Read 25775 times)

KB

KB

KevinM

Video-StockOrg

aetb

KB

trek

aetb

KevinM

RAW

aetb

KevinM

SpaceStockFootage

ForrestBrown

RAW

DavidK

SpaceStockFootage

RAW

Visualab

flywing

StockStudio

ForrestBrown

pkphotos

Mantis

aetb

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