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Agency Based Discussion => VideoBlocks => Topic started by: BigBubba on August 08, 2019, 04:09

Title: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: BigBubba on August 08, 2019, 04:09
I was good for a couple of years


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Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: cobalt on August 08, 2019, 04:14
Well, they are being consistent.

I guess they have enough content and don‘t really need much more.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: Noedelhap on August 08, 2019, 04:20
Things are taking a turn for the worse at Storyblocks. What a strange, out of left field decision.
You'd think they'd communicate this upfront when announcing the Partner Program, instead they chose to mention this 1 month prior to closing down...

Their reasoning is strange as well: "Less than 5% of our members were purchasing from the Marketplace, ultimately hurting contributors who were not able to earn enough"
In other words: we close it down so you won't earn anything at all.

The short notice also a big f_ you to those who were still uploading actively to the Marketplace. Lots of time wasted.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: jamesbenet on August 08, 2019, 04:24
The marketplace was great for most contributors and got footage to clients at a lower price than other sites while giving us a fair comission. I feel a huge opportunity is wasted and our time to upload and keyword content which I count in the hundreds of hours is now useless. Feel betrayed and forced to join a program that will pay pennies. How is that good for contributors? It may be good for SB as an Amazon Prime like business model and for buyers with a buffet of content for peanuts, but for us it is a path to insolvency in an already harsh market.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: cobalt on August 08, 2019, 04:25
Some people uploaded thousands of files. And many people had good sales.

I only have 300 clips but had regular sales until last November.

Is having content online such a burden? They could have closed the upload,but kept the files.

One marketplace less, is a loss for contributors. But I suppose they have all the content they want and enough feeder agencies to keep going, probably mostly large production houses who upload high volume.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: panicAttack on August 08, 2019, 04:32
so, as I see i have active marketplace, enterprise and third party platforms channels.

what this means for us who don't want to participate to partner program?

do we need to remove all videos? will storyblock to that for us?
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: cobalt on August 08, 2019, 04:33
full text:

For the past couple years, we’ve been hard at work trying to marry the needs of our members and contributors with the Marketplace. Our vision was simple: contributors get 100% of what they earn, and our members get great content at a fair price.

But for our members, an emerging market of creatives like freelancers, hobbyists and independent storytellers, this was anything but simple. Understanding what did and didn’t come with their subscription was complicated. These creatives want freedom of choice and flexibility, and we received overwhelming feedback that the Marketplace wasn’t for them. Less than 5% of our members were purchasing from the Marketplace, ultimately hurting contributors who were not able to earn enough.

Given member usage and the minimal earnings for our contributors, we have decided to close the Images Marketplace on September 10th. Until then, the Marketplace will remain active — you can find additional details here.

As we look to the future, we are committed to driving value for everyone — contributors and members alike. Our focus will be on an all-inclusive subscription experience that is easy to understand, is unrestrictive, and is in support of the Storyblocks mission: Helping a new generation of storytellers create more moving stories.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for working with us and supporting our community over the years.

All the best,
TJ
CEO, Storyblocks
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: cobalt on August 08, 2019, 04:35
from their website:

What Contributors Need to Know About the Marketplace Closing
August 8, 2019

Given the low member usage that ultimately led to minimal earnings for our contributors, we have decided to close both the Video and Images Marketplaces on September 10th, 2019. The Marketplaces will remain active until that date. In preparation for the closure, we’ve put together a list of important information related to how the Marketplaces closing will affect you and your content.

 

Q: What happens to my content after the Marketplace closes on September 10th?
A: On September 10th, customers will no longer be able to view or purchase Marketplace content. In the following weeks, we will be removing Marketplace content from our platform. Once content has been removed, you will no longer be able to view or access it in your account.

Q: What happens to my account after the Marketplace closes on September 10th?
A: You will still have access to your account. You will no longer be able to upload content, but you will be able to login to reference your personal information, data, and payout history.

Q: I have a pending payout scheduled to be issued after the Marketplace closes on September 10th. Will I still receive my payment?
A: Yes. You will still have access to your account, and we will issue all outstanding payouts even after the Marketplaces close. If your tax information has not been approved, we will work with you to ensure that you’re eligible to receive your payout. Please reach out to [email protected] if you need help completing your tax form.

Q: My pending payout does not meet the minimum threshold required to be paid out. Will I still receive my payment?
A: Yes. We have removed the minimum payout requirement to ensure that you receive all pending payouts successfully.

Q: I would like to submit my video content to the Member Library Partner Program. If my content is deleted, will I have to re-upload it?
A: If you’re interested in joining the Member Library Partner Program, please visit this page and click “Apply Now.” We are actively reviewing contributor portfolios for consideration in our Partner Program, and will reach out to you if you’re selected. If you have applied but we do not yet have space to opt in your content, we will keep your content in your account. This will prevent you from having to re-upload content if you’re selected.

Q: I am a current Member Library Partner Program contributor, but some of my content is still being distributed through the Marketplace. Can I add my Marketplace content to the Partner Program?
A: We work closely with our Partner Program contributors to select the content that will maximize earnings, and to ensure that our Member Library meets the needs of our customers. If we feel that your Marketplace content is a good fit for our library, we will reach out to you and keep your content in your account. Otherwise, your Marketplace content will be removed from our platform after the Marketplace closes on September 10th.

 

We hope this answers your questions. For more details, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: increasingdifficulty on August 08, 2019, 04:56
Is having content online such a burden? They could have closed the upload,but kept the files.

Yes, it's a big burden if you don't make enough money from it.

Depending on the size of the library, it can cost $10,000-200,000 per month to keep it online (or more, YouTube could be in the hundreds of millions per year range), and if sales don't cover that, there's obviously no point. Evidently, sales are now below or close to the storage costs, which means shrinking the library that doesn't make them any money is a rational business decision.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: skitchy on August 08, 2019, 04:58
Has anybody joined the partner program? Does it pay? At all?
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: PinHead on August 08, 2019, 05:48
Has anybody joined the partner program? Does it pay? At all?

Before join the partner program try to buy a 39 $ unlimited video plan and see how it works. I have done so and I got scared , imagine that in 5 days I got over 5,000 clips ...about everything I needed in the future for my personal projects.
And then I said to myself with the trembling finger on download button that no matter how much money I would have earn, I would not expose my "work" Clips to such BARBARISM.
And I wonder how long this madness will last, I hope not too long  >:(
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: georgep7 on August 08, 2019, 06:07
Quote
For the past couple years, we’ve been hard at work trying to marry the needs of our members and contributors with the Marketplace.

Confused. It is as simple as "we sell, they buy, minus expences, we split profits with the seller".

No marriage, engagement, sex or hard work to make it work :P

Perhaps it was wisely chosen words though, as long as after marriage a bad divorce might come.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: trek on August 08, 2019, 06:29
Only question I have is:

Should I trust them to delete my content... or should I remove it myself?
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: Brightontl on August 08, 2019, 06:36
I just had a look to their membership library and it looks mostly made by really bad clips (and quite a small number).
I don't think many serious videographers fell for this scum, and I hope nobody else will
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: jjneff on August 08, 2019, 07:26
This will be a fun video to make for my channel. Please don't fall for their Partner Program! Just move on from this site and do everything to not promote it. Really sad I wasted 100's of hours of my time with them that I will never get back! A LOSER move for sure. Don't look back and promote those sites that pay, I know it is tempting to try the Partner Program but that is a dead end! There in no financial gain for that program in the long run don't fall for it!
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: hstiver on August 08, 2019, 07:49
I quit uploading to them some time ago, when it became obvious they couldn't be trusted. However I still have over 8,000 files with them. I don't want to wait for them to close my account but I can't find a way to delete files in mass.

Anybody know?
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: Video1977 on August 08, 2019, 07:58
I have about 7000 videos with them. Hundreds of hours thrown away. Storyblock and its CEOS ended up being a cheap and unscrupulous crap.

 >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: Orchidpoet on August 08, 2019, 09:56
Since I got the invitation for the selected few, I stopped uploading. I am glad I did not waste more of my time.
Title: Re: Storyblocks closing the Marketplace section
Post by: trucic on August 08, 2019, 13:19
SB model will be used in educational purposes by future generations, for sure... from very promising to highly untrustable in a such short period of time...