By now I'm assuming most SXP users are aware of the review time problems, payment problems, etc. For anyone unaware, the short version of the story is that SXP apparently has a reviewer shortage, and review times for images are now exceeding 3 weeks for many users. On top of that, some sort of PayPal glitch has made payouts impossible for several weeks, with pending payments dating back to 11/21 or even earlier.

The comment I made on the SXP forum and that I'll repeat here is this: When are they going to get it together over there and are there plans to hire the necessary number of staff to handle the workload? On top of this mess of review and payment problems, SXP is also rolling out a video offering. The homepage hasn't been updated in who knows how long (have we had enough of that rainbow image yet?) and it just seems like the folks at SXP have far more on their plates then they can possibly handle.

The latest is that uploading has been suspended while the reviewers try to catch up.

Is this a sign of more things to come for SXP? Or just a bump in the road?

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openpathdesign.com Microstock - A Crash Course

SPX wasn't even accepting new submissions earlier today.

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ShutterStock ? Dreamstime ? StockXpert

They have been great for me but I use Moneybookers and seem to get the friendly reviewer.

I hope they soon sort everything out and that the week with no uploads is worthwhile. I would prefer it if they employed more reviewers but most of the sites seem to be short of reviewers.

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istock-Shutterstock-Bigstock-Mostphotos-Dreamstime-Stockxpert

I think that SXP is growing fast, and it is understandable that it is not without hiccups.

One one side you have LO with a super cool web interface, no payment problems (because almost nobody get a payout here) and on the other side SXP with a perfectible web site, review times which was used to be EXTREMELY fast and which are now too long indeed, and payment issues (but has been solved for me quickly)... and a huge increase in sales for the last few months for me.

Considering that even IS has difficulties in handling their growth (no more real time income update due to increase in server load), I consider myself that the problems SXP has right now are almost positive as they reflect their success in this business.

Hopefully they will catch up with all those issues, but SXP is probably my preferred micro agency along with IS.

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Zazzle - iStock - ShutterStock - StockXpert

I just bailed from sxp.
I took my images as I don't want to leave them in uncertain hands.

I'm concerned that if they don't get it together soon, they may completely fall apart.
Growth is good, but if not managed correctly it can be fatal.

I hope they get it together - but I prefer to watch from a safe distance.

Wow.

I guess SXP represents only a small percentage of your income.

When FT goes to V2, their issue was by far more serious I think as it was an issue with the search engine and thus it does impact sales. Do you also leave FT at this time?

I understand that a photographer wants to leave an agency because there is no sales (as Rinder just leave LO), but not because there is some issues which does not impact sales.

And what do you means by "uncertain hands"?

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Zazzle - iStock - ShutterStock - StockXpert

In my opinion, and not being at SX, delaying payments for a few days because problems, whatever they are, with a third company (Paypal) is understable. But when it's weeks, the site should cancel these payments and get a way of transferring real fast the money to the contributors.

Yes, I'm definitely tired of looking at that rainbow! It's winter (well here it is anyway) for Pete's sake!

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ShutterStock
Dreamstime
iStockPhoto
Albumo
Fotolia

Unfortunately you are correct - SXP was indeed a small part of my income.

"uncertain hands" - means that this is a pivotal time for SXP.
Assuming rapid growth is the cause of the issues:
If growth is handled correctly they can become a very large and formidable player.
On the other hand if growth is poorly handled or is simply too much too fast to soon, it can sink a company very quickly.
I have companies elsewhere in the buisiness world collapse under the excessive weight of rapid growth.

SXP are part of the Jupiter Media and HAAP Media empire. Jupiter Images is in the second tier of global image agencies after Getty and Corbis.

One of the reasons for the growth and sales success at SXP is because of the long standing customer base at the parent organisations.

It is very unlikely indeed that SXP is going to cease business; in fact the better bet is that they overtake Dreamstime and Fotolia and become the agency best placed to provide competition to iStock and Shutterstock. Indeed I have seen numerous comments from established stock photographers such as andresr who already confirm that SXP provides the highest income/return on portfolio after the top two.

Jupiter is a public company with shares listed on the NYSE.

To cancel ones account and remove all images is a surprising and dramatic step indeed.