Warning: long rant. Posted this elsewhere but it's something I need everyone to know :
I've been hoping someone else would bring it up, but I can't contain my frustration any longer. For almost 6 weeks now a small minority of iStockphoto contributors around the globe have been unable to upload AT ALL due to what iStock claims are 'ISP problems'.
It's possibly affecting a lot more users than those who politely post about it on the iStockphoto forums as there are bound to be a few applicants who face the same problem when they go to post their three initial images for review, so it really is costing iStockphoto as well as the photographers.
However, it seems the company has grown so huge that it doesn't need or care about these few contributors, as iStock staff appear to be largely ignoring the issue and offer us only, on average, one update on the problem per week. That is, unless you have the nerve to threaten to post other stock site URL's as a temporary distraction.. in which case they respond with ferocity in an attempt to intimidate you into not speaking out again.

I think that, after 3 - 6 weeks of twiddling our thumbs, most of us are either taking steps to switch to another internet service provider or looking elsewhere to sell our work. I'm choosing the latter as the former isn't a possibility where I'm sharing a network. There has been no other option provided, apart from waiting possibly another several weeks for iStock to either solve the problem or simply give the official word that it's one that is impossible/too difficult to fix. I have indeed received this response, in not so many words, from technicians so that may make me a fool to believe they're actually taking any steps towards remedying the problem.. I understand that complicated problems with different ISP's located in different parts of the world are difficult to address but why the inability to admit defeat? This would at least allow us to make an informed decision about what we might do, ourselves.

I could go on for a few more paragraphs about my disgust at this neglect of what is a very serious site glitch and the attention and time invested into trivial things like 'forummeters' and 'steel cage battle-viewers' but I'm sure that would be best expressed to iStockphoto management directly.. if only they would allow free speech on the forums I could air my woes there..

I realise that this is probably too much to ask from the microstock market leader but it's mighty unprofessional and unbusinesslike of iStockphoto to not even provide even so much as an apology for the inconvenience caused, much less our financial loss. The arrogance is truly astounding considering the rising popularity of their competitors, alot of whom offer more than twice the commission on image sales and a much higher quality of service to contributors and probably customers as well.

Is there anyone out there also suffering this handicap who has any ideas or can anyone offer any suggestions as to how we get this addressed properly? If you were in our shoes, would you report this behaviour to Mr. Getty?

I would post a link to the thread where you could all read about it but in the interests of avoiding the iStock Gestapo I hope you might track it down yourself if you're interested : 'To all those who CAN'T UPLOAD, click here' in the main discussion forum.
There are severe penalties imposed (ie. banning) on those who 'misbehave' or criticise istockphoto on their forums and I realise this is just another form of oppression which defines the relationship between contributor or employee and company but this is an issue that is long overdue for some attention. I'm trying to turn microstock into a business but dealing with agents as unreasonable as this makes it a less than attractive proposition.

End of rant! Thanks for reading. All thoughts and comments welcome!