topic Re: Another Math Question! in Ask a Question

Another Math Question!

MasterpieceCafe — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:45:14 GMT

I do have the spreadsheet generously provided by @ColsCreations but my math isn't mathing for me.

I sold 70 enclosure cards, so the percentage is 50%, but this still doesn't make sense. Help? I know the $29.68 is AUD dollars, but even using the US $ of $23.80 the math isn't working. The $23.80 comes from the 50% volume discount price, I doubt the price would be lower than this. But I guess that's the only thing that explains this?

$29.68

18.8%+

$2.51 AUD++

$1.67**

Re: Another Math Question!

Sara_H — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:56:54 GMT

@MasterpieceCafe I do know with international sales (apart from exchange rate) you get charged VAT (UK is 20%) so perhaps VAT has been deducted from your AUD royalties. See the ++ explanation at the bottom of https://www.zazzle.com/my/earnings/royaltyhistory

"Domains that include VAT (and other sales related taxes) will have 20% deducted from purchase price before royalties are calculated."

VAT

So maybe that's why?

Re: Another Math Question!

MasterpieceCafe — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:24:46 GMT

That would explain it. Wow.

Thanks! I guess I'm just going to jack up all of my percentages. 7% was not what I signed up for.

Re: Another Math Question!

ColsCreations — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:59:17 GMT

If you're asking how the price they paid ended up being $29.68 (AUD) I couldn't guess without looking at the actual product page.

But after that the numbers work out as expected.

The "mid-market" exchange rate puts your earnings at $1.75 US, $0.08 more than the $1.67 shown on your report.
Most banks and money service type apps add a markup to that to cover their costs. For most banks it's 3-6%.
It happens that 5% of $1.75 is $0.08.
So it's either coincidence, or Zazzle uses a 5% mark-up.

Re: Another Math Question!

Jadendreamer13 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:59:56 GMT

Good lord, is it even worth it to sell products in the wedding niche these days? (Asking out of ignorance since I don’t create or sell products in the wedding niche). Why would Zazzle want to chip away so heavily at royalties paid out to designers in their top-selling niche? It seems to me that that’s a great way to drive designers out of that niche.

Re: Another Math Question!

jophb — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:14:43 GMT

I say they are. Plus if you get a self-referral, it's the highest percentage.

Re: Another Math Question!

MasterpieceCafe — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:33:36 GMT

Thank you!! As always, I appreciate the detailed explanation!

The deep cut to profits is so discouraging.