MicrostockGroup

In my case, increase at SS is mainly due to a lot of ODs and even ELs. They must have found some new buyers - from where (besides IS) I do not know.

It seems that the internet loves one big company that dominates the sector.  Just look at Ebay, Facebook, Amazon and Google.  They have competition but they just seem to get bigger.

It looked like istock would do that with microstock but perhaps shutterstock are going to be the big fish?  I just hope that doesn't force Getty in to making them an offer they can't refuse.  Hopefully they will be gobbling up Getty one day.

I sincerely doubt they could make them such an offer and why should they, really?  probably more like it SS, makes them an offer. What worries me a bit are these rumours about SS going public,  they could pretty soon find themselves with, shall we say "partners".

Back to the customer service comment - I think they likely do have pretty great customer service.  There was a free vector that I wanted to download this spring and they called me shortly after to welcome me to Shutterstock and we talked a bit about my needs.  I did have a project coming up but I had credits elsewhere.   He asked if he could send me a 15% off coupon so I could try things out.  I used to have the impression that if you didn't want a subs package with SS the prices were quite high - but when I compared them to the other sites their OD's are actually pretty close.  The biggest gripe I have with SS is that if you want to legally purchase an EL license you must pay for 2 (unless they have changed that?).  It seems like we maybe get more EL sales because of that spare.  On the other hand, I wonder how many balk and download with the wrong license.

Yes and one of the people jumping on the bandwagon as a "partner" would be me. I'm sure some other people would like to take SS to the bank as an investor. So some of the partners would be us!  Not that I believe the rumor because like some others you repeat over and over, they don't seem to be based on fact but just someones interesting conjecture. The other one is IS being sold off any day now, which I seem to remember from 2009 and 2010 as why they are into our pockets with cuts and cheap subs.

If SS is in need of funding for something else, then I'd believe it, but not to make the Micro-Stock site change.

yep!  for sure they have already made an offer,  its not like Getty letting somebody else grow so strong as SS. No matter what they do, try, twist and turn, SS, will be there as a giant.

keeps the buisness alive, doesnt it? 

Yes it does and if IS bought SS that would pretty much end Microstock as an open market for many people, and probably kill Micro as we know it.

Just noticed I forgot to answer the question, while I was going off about why SS won't be going public. (also just an opinion)

Last year when SS started reporting sales it was about 53/47 USA/Foreign. Last payment, last month, was roughly 25% US / 75% overseas. Might just be me, and ELs have dropped to none for me, small OD sales. Anyone else getting a change in sales percentages by location?

Dont know but Im getting plenty of ODs and ELs, from both sides, US and Europe, etc.