I’m really frustrated with Zazzle lately. After their third-party marketing fees, I always get only 50% of the sale price. It honestly feels like I’m getting robbed.
Thinking more and more about switching to a platform where I can actually keep what I earn.
I think that’s the general consensus these days.
It’s actually only 50% of the commission on the sale price - even worse.
Unfortunately, there is no platform that allows you to create customizable items like Zazzle, like wedding invitations.
Etsy?
No, as a creator, you have to go through a third-party connection like Printify, it’s not really POD on Etsy. And it’s not free.
I do customisable items on Etsy - greetings cards that I print myself, and mugs and coasters that I create the artwork for, then send to twofifteen.co.uk to print and despatch. Customers just fill in the personalisation info when ordering.
Even if you use Printify and HelloCustom, anyway you slice it, personalizing items on Etsy is more work. At least at the moment….
You’re right, though I’ve seen a number of companies that have different kinds of customization customers can do. For instance, there’s MakePlayingCards.com, but of course, it’s for customers to upload their own designs for the cards and then to buy what they’ve designed. Not quite the same thing.
I just looked again. MPC allows designers to create the cards, which they can then sell on the platform. Maybe the world is sneaking up on Zazzle.
I sell with Printify on Etsy for free (other than Etsy’s fees of course). It only costs money if you want to upgrade to the better plan and increase your profits! In the end, I would estimate Etsy fees only take 25-30% of the totals and Printify does factor the fees into pricing for you. Used to seem like a rip off, but in comparison to 50% for doing nothing - it’s not so bad!
Like Printify says, “this is Esty’s fee, this is the product cost, how much would you like to make now.” Honestly I wish Zazzle would switch to asking me how much I’d like to make instead of me trying to figure out what % it will take to feel fairly compensated 
I have loved Zazzle so long, long before I have officially started selling here. And I don’t plan on going anywhere! But it doesn’t change that the overall feeling that I get coming to the website every day now and seeing a notification feels like anxiety instead of joy 
I am hoping that will fade in time! I really do love and believe in Zazzle!
I love being a zazzle creator but the 50 percent reduction in our zazzle commission was and is so disappointing. To earn a certain amount for years and then it is suddenly cut in half is quite a jolt. With the cost of living today and the cost of groceries, an increase in royalties would have made more sense for creators than cutting royalties in half. Sad.
You are right. And a 50 percent reduction in commission really bites.
I think Zazzle has enough designers on it’s site now that it doesn’t need to worry about people complaining about high marketing fees. Even before Zazzle raised their marketing fees, people were willing to wait several years just to earn $1,000 which isn’t even minimum wage in third world countries.