I just want to say that as a result of my income decreasing since the Ambassador program started (currently earning 1/3 of what I was earning prior to the program start since this program started) the amount of stress this is causing me is has inspired me to speak out in the forums more than is healthy.
I don’t think I can continue to objectively post in the forums while I’m having days like today where I have made a total of 8.00 US in sales and it’s 2pm in the afternoon and yes I work Sundays. When this happens I am so demotivated I just stop for the rest of the day. That can not be good for myself or the platform itself.
It is not my goal to bash or complain about the ambassador program… I accept this is the new math and there is nothing I can do about it but just do the best I can. I’m just expressing my disappointment with the severe drop in $
I have one last question before I end this post: I am a long time contributor to this platform (since 2010) and if I feel discouraged or demotivated to design and promote how is that going to help this platform make more? 45% more of 1/3 is not a winning strategy and although that is not the exact description of what is happening here it illustrates the drastic nature of it.
I will continue to design, create, and promote as much as I can to try and get back on track but… what a challenge this is. I’m not going to just throw away 14 or 15 years of efforts.
As always I wish you all continued success for those who are still succeeding.
Thank you for all your participation in the posts I shared.
Zazzle will surely see that they are paying a lot less out to the creators, while at the same time seeing a huge increase in what they are retaining. At some point they should realise it is disproportionate and that they need to redress the balance.
Honestly, I’ve been feeling the same way and starting to wonder if I should shift my energy elsewhere. Just saying that out loud makes me feel sad it’s hard to imagine walking away from something that’s been such a huge part of our lives.
But with all the fees and the way earnings have dropped, it’s tough to stay motivated. Like, how do you keep pouring hours into something that barely gives anything back? When Fees hurt our earnings so excessively, it’s easy to think, what’s the point? I’ve definitely had moments where I shut down for the rest of the day, just feeling defeated.
Z was always at the top of my list for where to design for multiple reasons and partly b/c of the volume of products they offer. I get that things change and they can set their own rules but people don’t have to be happy about them. I’m not throwing in the towel at this point but I’m looking at things a lot differently. I’m disheartened and discouraged, to say the least.
It’s hard to post objectively when one feels, for lack of a better way to say it, abused and unappreciated. There are things I feel need to be said that I don’t feel free to say and it shouldn’t be that way. Designers need to at least be heard without fear of possible reprecussions. The very fact that tons of people don’t seem to be abandoning ship in spite of having our earning slashed to nothing should show that we actually care about Z and want to be here. If Z and designers can’t both succeed, nobody wins and right now designers are losing big time.
I have been at Zazzle since 2009 thats a long time. I cannot recal a single day that i did not sign in to see what was going on. Even when I had my surgery I signed in to see “what sold” . Is it addiction or was Zazzle something I truly loved? It was love and addiction. I love the creative aspect, I love when customers buy my products and I love the views, knowing what people like and what falls flat. I do not love the excess marketing fees and the royalty fees. And have been sad for a long time.
I recently realized that Zazzle either does not hear our voices, or they just don’t care. I think it’s odd that a moderator had not commented. Maybe their hands are tied, maybe there is nothing that they can do. All I know is that I raised my royalty to 22.1 its under the 23.9 and I feel somewhat competitive. I also know I am not promoting like I used to (average of 7 hours a day) I figure if I have to pay a marketing fee then I am not promoting or spending money out of my pocket for advertisement at Pinterest.
I am slowing down with listing. I think under 10 products in 3 days. My heart just into Zazzle anymore…I am just disappointed that they are taking so much from us. 35 to 50% marketing fees and excess royalties is just too excessive. I wish you the best of luck van in whatever you choose.
I am sorry you’re feeling discouraged, but please know that you’re not alone. I do understand that the POD landscape is increasingly challenging, but Zazzle’s huge carve-out straight from our royalties seems extreme.
It aligns with my general feelng that too many companies are going too far in their policies and fees, while turning a deaf ear to customer and partner feedback. I also think it’s hard for companies to build back trust once they’ve crossed that threshold.
I wish you the best in your designing and promotional efforts.
