Author Topic: iStock royalty cut goes live (Read 41474 times)

brm1949 · « **Reply #75 on:** January 23, 2011, 11:40 »

Ran across this on a Russian blog, thought it needed posting.

iStock to contributors, 01/04/2008:
“That our revenue and payouts have eclipsed those of many traditional stock photography companies confirms that microstock is a viable and profitable business model for contributors and clients.”

iStock to contributors, 08/09/2010:
“Since roughly 2005 we’ve been aware of a basic problem with how our business works. As the company grows, the overall percentage we pay out to contributing artists increases. As a business model, it’s simply unsustainable.”

ShadySue · « **Reply #76 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:07 »

Quote from: brm1949 on January 23, 2011, 11:40

Ran across this on a Russian blog, thought it needed posting.

I think that page was linked to back in Sept, but still makes interesting reading in its fullness, and the comments:
http://tinyurl.com/5rp3884

lagereek · « **Reply #77 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:12 »

Well if this cut is live right now?? must say Im not seeing any differance at all. Maybe lots of people are worrying for nothing?

cathyslife · « **Reply #78 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:22 »

Quote from: lagereek on January 23, 2011, 12:12

Well if this cut is live right now?? must say Im not seeing any differance at all. Maybe lots of people are worrying for nothing?

Since we don't get accurate figures for anything on that site, it would be pretty difficult for me to even be able to make a statement like that. If we were getting a detailed CORRECT accounting of every single sale and royalty, then maybe lots of people wouldn't have to worry. As it stands, it is VERY worrisome. To me, anyway.

Re: the Russian blog quote...Yeah, those two quotes are pretty telling. Wonder which one was the truth. Rhetorical question, probably neither.

cthoman · « **Reply #79 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:22 »

Quote from: lagereek on January 23, 2011, 12:12

Well if this cut is live right now?? must say Im not seeing any differance at all. Maybe lots of people are worrying for nothing?

They did sneak a price increase in there too. My average sale used to be 20% of 10 credits. Now, it's 17% of 12 credits. Makes for kind of a wash. It's still a disturbing trend of squeezing from both sides (buyers and contributors).

loop · « **Reply #80 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:28 »

Quote from: cthoman on January 23, 2011, 12:22

Quote from: lagereek on January 23, 2011, 12:12
Well if this cut is live right now?? must say Im not seeing any differance at all. Maybe lots of people are worrying for nothing?

They did sneak a price increase in there too. My average sale used to be 20% of 10 credits. Now, it's 17% of 12 credits. Makes for kind of a wash. It's still a disturbing trend of squeezing from both sides (buyers and contributors).

Could you elaborate?I don't see any price increase anywhere, except for Exclusive Plus files.Price for credits varied just in cents.

Artemis · « **Reply #81 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:43 »

Quote from: lagereek on January 23, 2011, 12:12

Well if this cut is live right now?? must say Im not seeing any differance at all. Maybe lots of people are worrying for nothing?

Seriously, no difference? I used to get $3 to $3.30 for a large; since the cut $2,60 is the most i got, and usually less with a $1.60 low.
Xsmall used to be $0,30, now i get between $0,15 and $0,26. All in all i had a great january in n° of downloads, but royalties will be about 30% down if the trend goes on.
Maybe they forgot to switch the button on your account?

I wished they had at least to decency (ha, haha!) to swallow their own discounts

luissantos84 · « **Reply #82 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:48 »

XS for 0.12$
L for 1.6$

not a bad payment to IS..

cthoman · « **Reply #83 on:** January 23, 2011, 12:54 »

Quote from: loop on January 23, 2011, 12:28

Could you elaborate?I don't see any price increase anywhere, except for Exclusive Plus files.Price for credits varied just in cents.

For me, it was detailed illustrations going from 10 credits to 12 credits. I can't say about the rest. Here's the price increase thread:

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=293832&page=1

helix7 · « **Reply #84 on:** January 23, 2011, 13:19 »

Looks like that price increase they were testing out a couple months ago is now for real.

I guess I should be happy about it, since most of my files now cost 2 credits more than they used to. At the same time, I can't help thinking that the constant price increases and introduction of more expensive collections is going to push buyers away.

ShadySue · « **Reply #85 on:** January 24, 2011, 12:54 »

Horrendously low credits reported here (bronze, inependent)
"OMG, same photo, same size, same method of payment.....is everything ok here???
Saturday January 22, 2011, 08:29 AM XSmallRegular 0.12
Saturday December 04, 2010, 02:45 PM XSmallRegular 0.29"
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=291242&page=13#post5688772
PLEASE let that be a mistake.