More royalty and commission changes at Zazzle

[Ron]

I always had my royalties at 30% but lowered it to 15% when I found out it would make a diff for promotion. After reading that, I will set it at 50%. I dont sell anything on Zazzle anyway. Since a few months its dead. I only had 2 sales a month anyway. Once I hit payout I am closing my store.

[TonyRay]

I always had my royalties at 30% but lowered it to 15% when I found out it would make a diff for promotion. After reading that, I will set it at 50%. I dont sell anything on Zazzle anyway. Since a few months its dead. I only had 2 sales a month anyway. Once I hit payout I am closing my store.

   Cafepress proved you can never make it up and that is the line we are fed with each knife wound,

I have my stuff at 35 percent have all along accept high end stuff like Canvases or Messenger Bags.  I did not make Elite by selling at 5 10 or 15 percent.  Or from Affiliates , sales or bulk which does not happen on POD's.
At least at CP they do not cut into when a product is referred.

If everyone would take a stand which at this point unless you still believe anything Zazzle says we lose anyway.  I read also some people are writing the CEO and there is a address posted at the forums for the Beaver brothers.  If it was not deleted.  I will not post anything from there here as people have lost their accounts and money for doing that,  But I sure hope this time CP taught us that enough is enough and I am so sorry for so many of my disabled friends who now are in big trouble for believing these people.

Sad days for many

[tickstock]

.

[TonyRay]

You can only change your royalty once a month before the 20th.  I assume you are trying to go 14.9 to avoid the 5 percent penalty.

To the person responding

  I have shops at other POD's that are a lot less expensive than Zazzle that do not sell nearly as well as I have, (same designs) than I have with Zazzle.  Just because another is cheaper does not mean you will sell better at that place.  My same designs sell better at the higher rate.  So that is probably why the original OP asked. 

[fujiko]

Is there a way to globally change my royalty on business cards? I want them all to be 14.9% but too lazy to go into them one by one.

edit: oops, never mind, found it.

sorry but I have to laugh a little.   You want to have a royalty rate lower than 15%?  Aren't you always saying how bad istock is and you get better than that there.

Do you really think a 15% of the final price of a printed product featuring your image, with its production costs and all that, is the same as 20% of a license of an unmodified download of the image you created?

[lisafx]

Tony, thanks for the detailed history of what's going on at Zazzle.  Sounds all to familiar to those of us in microstock. 

I appreciate this thread very much, because my next project was slated to be creating a store and stocking it with products in Zazzle.  I have been procrastinating because it is such a huge undertaking.  Now I don't have to bother. 

Sad to see POD following down the path of cr@pping on creatives. 

I have been with Zazzle since 2005 in fact many of us were recruited from Cafepress by Zazzle and many of us ended up making a good living there.  We also referred hundreds of people to Zazzle.  Many of us now are banned from the forums at Zazzle as of last May we saw some disturbing changes coming about.  When we posted about these we were banned some of us even threatened to have our stores closed and our earnings pending ceased.

From what we have all observed first the referral system was changed.  Those of us who were making referrals were now unable to get them almost 90 percent of the times we tried no matter what we have done.  Zazzle refused as it has to date that there were any changes, but blames it on our browsers , time outs, cookies but nothing wrong even though we know how to refer our efforts no longer work,  In fact people that do not refer are now sometimes getting referrals which we have figured to be a glitch on the changes they made this system.

The affiliates came in around this same time frame and pretty much told us who they will and will not promote.  Since that time the game changes every few months.  And yes now the affiliates get it all and all and that is ALL of our incentives have been taken away, or we are punished if we set our royalties above 15 percent and now urged to 5 percent which is just a matter of time that will be set in stone for everyone.

In the town meeting we were also told that it is now at Zazzle's discretion whether they promote our self referrals or even us at the MP sales.

At this same time last May 2012 the groupings were changed at the MP and many of us lost our best selling rankings and were replaced with stores with little inventory we have never heard of.  Some say these are employee's that is speculation but employee's are allowed to have a store.  Zazzle also has their own affiliate marketing team which we also feel is a conflict of interest.  They have run ads for a Affiliate marketing specialist last year, and have a person which ironically has the same name as the affiliate who came into the forums claiming to make well into the high six figures a year with Zazzle.  They claim the two are not the same person but the person employed at Zazzle is their affiliate specialist.

Just a few months ago we were told that the royalty range should be at 10 to 25 percent then changed to 10-15 to be included in sales now again changed. This has levied a ton of work on us sellers changing our royalties which is not easy and only allowed one time per month, just to have it again now twice changed in one year.  Almost like a smokescreen to keep us from seeing what is really going on.

Now we are blindsided with little notice that our VB is going to the affiliates and yes some of us will lose thousands, but that is not the worst part.The VB would not matter anymore as the MP , the rankings, the tag gaming going on all makes it impossible for our best selling items to get the due we worked so hard for, and replaces with vendors, create your own, and now who knows stores for the purpose of Affiliates benefit.

Something is fishy in San Jose California and since we have been over night ruined and banned so we have no voice just like Cafepress did and now the forums are a ghost town we were fooled once but not again.  We will continue to try and find out what happened as we have been told they will NEVER tell us how they do their affiliate program yet they are telling someone and that is not the people that made them what they are today.   

The sad thing is that many still are in shock and denial and even though we tried to warn these people over a year ago, they still think Zazzle has their best interest at hand.  Time to wake up and everyone raise your royalties back up so affiliates get nothing like you will be getting if you do not.  If that does not work then you lose nothing and then close all your stores.  Take pride in your work and self its never going back to the way it was.

[luissantos84]

its never nice to get a cut but I believe that Z is still ahead being "fair" comparing to stock agencies, first we can put our products at the price we wish, you can set your royalties at 99%

secondly, a t shirt selling at 20$:

- 4$ (20%) (contributor share)
- 4$ (5%) = 0.2$ (zazzle fee)
- 3.8$ (contributor final share)

which means they are actually cutting 1%

in microstock it would mean

- 20$ x 15% = 3$ (real 5% cut)

[lisafx]

its never nice to get a cut but I believe that Z is still ahead being "fair" comparing to stock agencies, first we can put our products at the price we wish, you can set your royalties at 99%

secondly, a t shirt selling at 20$:

- 4$ (20%) (contributor share)
- 4$ (5%) = 0.2$ (zazzle fee)
- 3.8$ (contributor final share)

which means they are actually cutting 1%

in microstock it would mean

- 20$ x 15% = 3$ (real 5% cut)

Fair enough, but in microstock, you don't have to do any designing.  Just upload pictures.  It is only natural you should get paid more for taking  the time to design products and set up an online store.  I would expect to get considerably more than $3-4 for all that extra work. 

[luissantos84]

I would expect to get considerably more than $3-4 for all that extra work.

indeed, a few months I don't upload there but I usually take around 6 minutes to create a product, pretty much put the picture in the right place and metadata because they don't import it automatically

I usually get over 6$, I guess I never had them below 30%, anyway unique design and pictures allow you to increase royalties % and still have buyers interested

[lisafx]

I would expect to get considerably more than $3-4 for all that extra work.

indeed, a few months I don't upload there but I usually take around 6 minutes to create a product, pretty much put the picture in the right place and metadata because they don't import it automatically

I usually get over 6$, I guess I never had them below 30%, anyway unique design and pictures allow you to increase royalties % and still have buyers interested

Very helpful info, Luis.  Thanks

I'm still gonna keep them on the back burner though, until I see how this shakes out.

[TonyRay]

its never nice to get a cut but I believe that Z is still ahead being "fair" comparing to stock agencies, first we can put our products at the price we wish, you can set your royalties at 99%

secondly, a t shirt selling at 20$:

- 4$ (20%) (contributor share)
- 4$ (5%) = 0.2$ (zazzle fee)
- 3.8$ (contributor final share)

which means they are actually cutting 1%

in microstock it would mean

- 20$ x 15% = 3$ (real 5% cut)

You can mark your products 150 percent what good is it going to do?  Zazzle has made it clear that they will not promote anyone over 15 percent, and also reserve the right to include or not include you in their sales campaigns regardless of what you mark your products.

Cafepress has proven that over 97 percent of all sales come from the MP and since 2009 not one big seller prior their decision to only show products at the MP at 10 percent has recouped their loses.

Unless you have a very popular Niche and have marketing skills you lose big time as you also are not going to sell 4 times or more products to make what you were before these changes.

There is nothing fair about Zazzle anymore.  Many however still are like the little boy whistling in the dark believing anything they say.  Many of us saw this coming over a year ago and that is when all the forum bans begun no one wanted to believe us then and even with the writing on the wall will not see it now.

I don't compare between sites anymore as I have my stuff on all of them.  Zazzle is good in promoting and yes expensive but go figure no other site made me thousands a month before or after joining Zazzle.   They are good just not for the artist anymore that has pride not to give away their hard work..

[TonyRay]

Tony, thanks for the detailed history of what's going on at Zazzle.  Sounds all to familiar to those of us in microstock. 

I appreciate this thread very much, because my next project was slated to be creating a store and stocking it with products in Zazzle.  I have been procrastinating because it is such a huge undertaking.  Now I don't have to bother. 

Sad to see POD following down the path of cr@pping on creatives. 

I have been with Zazzle since 2005 in fact many of us were recruited from Cafepress by Zazzle and many of us ended up making a good living there.  We also referred hundreds of people to Zazzle.  Many of us now are banned from the forums at Zazzle as of last May we saw some disturbing changes coming about.  When we posted about these we were banned some of us even threatened to have our stores closed and our earnings pending ceased.

From what we have all observed first the referral system was changed.  Those of us who were making referrals were now unable to get them almost 90 percent of the times we tried no matter what we have done.  Zazzle refused as it has to date that there were any changes, but blames it on our browsers , time outs, cookies but nothing wrong even though we know how to refer our efforts no longer work,  In fact people that do not refer are now sometimes getting referrals which we have figured to be a glitch on the changes they made this system.

The affiliates came in around this same time frame and pretty much told us who they will and will not promote.  Since that time the game changes every few months.  And yes now the affiliates get it all and all and that is ALL of our incentives have been taken away, or we are punished if we set our royalties above 15 percent and now urged to 5 percent which is just a matter of time that will be set in stone for everyone.

In the town meeting we were also told that it is now at Zazzle's discretion whether they promote our self referrals or even us at the MP sales.

At this same time last May 2012 the groupings were changed at the MP and many of us lost our best selling rankings and were replaced with stores with little inventory we have never heard of.  Some say these are employee's that is speculation but employee's are allowed to have a store.  Zazzle also has their own affiliate marketing team which we also feel is a conflict of interest.  They have run ads for a Affiliate marketing specialist last year, and have a person which ironically has the same name as the affiliate who came into the forums claiming to make well into the high six figures a year with Zazzle.  They claim the two are not the same person but the person employed at Zazzle is their affiliate specialist.

Just a few months ago we were told that the royalty range should be at 10 to 25 percent then changed to 10-15 to be included in sales now again changed. This has levied a ton of work on us sellers changing our royalties which is not easy and only allowed one time per month, just to have it again now twice changed in one year.  Almost like a smokescreen to keep us from seeing what is really going on.

Now we are blindsided with little notice that our VB is going to the affiliates and yes some of us will lose thousands, but that is not the worst part.The VB would not matter anymore as the MP , the rankings, the tag gaming going on all makes it impossible for our best selling items to get the due we worked so hard for, and replaces with vendors, create your own, and now who knows stores for the purpose of Affiliates benefit.

Something is fishy in San Jose California and since we have been over night ruined and banned so we have no voice just like Cafepress did and now the forums are a ghost town we were fooled once but not again.  We will continue to try and find out what happened as we have been told they will NEVER tell us how they do their affiliate program yet they are telling someone and that is not the people that made them what they are today.   

The sad thing is that many still are in shock and denial and even though we tried to warn these people over a year ago, they still think Zazzle has their best interest at hand.  Time to wake up and everyone raise your royalties back up so affiliates get nothing like you will be getting if you do not.  If that does not work then you lose nothing and then close all your stores.  Take pride in your work and self its never going back to the way it was.

You are very welcome great forum got lost in the other rooms this morning..LOL  Amazing artists out there and helpful kind people...

[luissantos84]

its never nice to get a cut but I believe that Z is still ahead being "fair" comparing to stock agencies, first we can put our products at the price we wish, you can set your royalties at 99%

secondly, a t shirt selling at 20$:

- 4$ (20%) (contributor share)
- 4$ (5%) = 0.2$ (zazzle fee)
- 3.8$ (contributor final share)

which means they are actually cutting 1%

in microstock it would mean

- 20$ x 15% = 3$ (real 5% cut)

You can mark your products 150 percent what good is it going to do?  Zazzle has made it clear that they will not promote anyone over 15 percent, and also reserve the right to include or not include you in their sales campaigns regardless of what you mark your products.

Cafepress has proven that over 97 percent of all sales come from the MP and since 2009 not one big seller prior their decision to only show products at the MP at 10 percent has recouped their loses.

Unless you have a very popular Niche and have marketing skills you lose big time as you also are not going to sell 4 times or more products to make what you were before these changes.

There is nothing fair about Zazzle anymore.  Many however still are like the little boy whistling in the dark believing anything they say.  Many of us saw this coming over a year ago and that is when all the forum bans begun no one wanted to believe us then and even with the writing on the wall will not see it now.

Tony like I have said I don't really mind if they promote or not my work if I have higher than 15% (which I have) because I am selling every month and very consistent so I don't think that promotions do that much anyway, its my case yours can be different

[Simply]

Thanks Tony Ray . I was also considering zazzle.

Did you ever find a better alternative and better experience else where?

[Simply]

I am going to wait until I get my payout and delete my store. Made 45 dollar in 13 months. Not worth my time. I am doing better on FAA, which suits my images better. Thanks for the update.

What does FAA stand for?

[TonyRay]

its never nice to get a cut but I believe that Z is still ahead being "fair" comparing to stock agencies, first we can put our products at the price we wish, you can set your royalties at 99%

secondly, a t shirt selling at 20$:

- 4$ (20%) (contributor share)
- 4$ (5%) = 0.2$ (zazzle fee)
- 3.8$ (contributor final share)

which means they are actually cutting 1%

in microstock it would mean

- 20$ x 15% = 3$ (real 5% cut)

You can mark your products 150 percent what good is it going to do?  Zazzle has made it clear that they will not promote anyone over 15 percent, and also reserve the right to include or not include you in their sales campaigns regardless of what you mark your products.

Cafepress has proven that over 97 percent of all sales come from the MP and since 2009 not one big seller prior their decision to only show products at the MP at 10 percent has recouped their loses.

Unless you have a very popular Niche and have marketing skills you lose big time as you also are not going to sell 4 times or more products to make what you were before these changes.

There is nothing fair about Zazzle anymore.  Many however still are like the little boy whistling in the dark believing anything they say.  Many of us saw this coming over a year ago and that is when all the forum bans begun no one wanted to believe us then and even with the writing on the wall will not see it now.

Tony like I have said I don't really mind if they promote or not my work if I have higher than 15% (which I have) because I am selling every month and very consistent so I don't think that promotions do that much anyway, its my case yours can be different

I understand.. losing thousands a month over the last year with the very well planned system they finally admitted to and speaking for many of the Elites we do care but know we are powerless over what they do.  It does not affect everyone and I still get sales but they too will be declining starting July 1st when this all goes into affect.   Thankfully there is another POD I was invited to join that I have made money from the 1st month and growing fast that promotes us like crazy and has a wholesale program we are also included in at a lower royalty but worth it as I just sold 200 mouse pads to a wholesaler through them so its promising.  Seems when one door closes another opens.  I am on disability and do need this as extra income but thankfully not my only income like many who just got blindsided.

[luissantos84]

please share with us or just PM me

[Ron]

I am going to wait until I get my payout and delete my store. Made 45 dollar in 13 months. Not worth my time. I am doing better on FAA, which suits my images better. Thanks for the update.

What does FAA stand for?

Fine Art America

[TonyRay]

Thanks Tony Ray . I was also considering zazzle.

Did you ever find a better alternative and better experience else where?

You are welcome, yes I did but it was through a invite it is called 3Drose.  It is not your typical POD, you upload all your art in one size format and they put it on their products and sell at Amazon, Sears, and 38 other networks so far.  No posters and their system is kinda limited for designing different items properly but I have faith they will be expanding and its nice to see over 5,000 of my designs when I go to Amazon and all over the search engines.  And volume is the key with them a different concept but I will take the money!!

[Simply]

Thank you Ron. FAA  looks interesting!

Thank you Tony I will check out that site


Awesome. Some researching to do!

[luissantos84]

the site looks terrible, don't even know where to start, the search doesn't work, it looks like 1800

just lost the +1 hahahah sure it was the webmaster

[Ron]

the site looks terrible, don't even know where to start, the search doesn't work, it looks like 1800

Man Im laughing so hard here right now... I have tears running down my face... funniest thing I have read in while.

[luissantos84]

the site looks terrible, don't even know where to start, the search doesn't work, it looks like 1800

Man Im laughing so hard here right now... I have tears running down my face... funniest thing I have read in while.

man ain't that the worst website you ever seen?

honestly I wish I got the usual pop out window spam with a guy saying: "Hi there! My name is Richard and I am going to tell you a way to do 500$ in a day" LOL

[stockastic]

the site looks terrible, don't even know where to start, the search doesn't work, it looks like 1800

I'm coming in late here - are you talking about FAA?

[luissantos84]

the site looks terrible, don't even know where to start, the search doesn't work, it looks like 1800

I'm coming in late here - are you talking about FAA?

You are welcome, yes I did but it was through a invite it is called 3Drose.  It is not your typical POD, you upload all your art in one size format and they put it on their products and sell at Amazon, Sears, and 38 other networks so far.  No posters and their system is kinda limited for designing different items properly but I have faith they will be expanding and its nice to see over 5,000 of my designs when I go to Amazon and all over the search engines.  And volume is the key with them a different concept but I will take the money!!