Ambassador Link Not Working After Browser Cookies Cleared...

[RaphaelaWilson]

Hi,

Just recently, I purchased one of my own products - not from my own store's account, but from my husband's/general account.

Logged into this general account and after clearing all cookies from the browser first, I pasted my product's share link from my store, which looks like this:
https://www.zazzle.com/any_color_floral_art_black_rose_pattern_gothic_blackout_curtains-256109729731...

The sale came through as a "Third Party."

Question: If I cleared all cookies from my browser first before navigating to the product and purchasing, how did the sale come through as a “Third Party” and not received as a self-referred sale?

Just trying to understand how these new links work (they make me a little nervous since I can’t clearly see my ref #)… Thought it was cookie-based.

Thank you for any clarification that you can provide, Z.

[ColsCreations]

Many are experiencing this same thing. Have a look at this thread in the Tech forum. Also, if you can access it, there is a "Catch-All" thread in the Pro Basic forum you could add this too.

@klstock 

[RaphaelaWilson]

Thank you for the link, it has some very detailed testing that you (and others) have done! Perhaps the new system has some bugs that need to be worked out... Hopefully there will be some clarification from Z. 

[Connie]

I have asked Zazzle to confirm it, so I hope they do, but I THINK that now they are tying the cookies right to the account itself, rather than your device. So clearing cookies on the device won't remove their generic Zazzle cookie in your account if you've visited Zazzle at all in the last 45 days.

[Laura]

I hope this isn't the case - I accidentally clicked on a link here in the forum, thinking it was a photo, not a product link - now I have a cookie attached to my account for 45 days that I can't clear?

[ColsCreations]

Yes. The first round of FAQs on the Ambassador program mentioned using "cookies and other technologies".  Then the second round of FAQS mentions more than once the "updated tracking technology". And the Privacy Notice (also updated April 1st) says they use cookies and pixels. Pixels are server-side, nothing users can do to "clear" them. And it's not just 45 days. A "referral marker" is good for 14 days, after that the next one clicked will take its place starting another 45 days before it expires. So it's just a constant cycle of the "cookie credit" changing to whatever random thing one clicked on every 15th day. So to my understanding, as it's no longer something we (or random shoppers) can control, one would have to go 45 days without clicking on a single Zazzle link in order to totally clear their "cookies". Or, you could go two weeks without clicking on a single other Zazzle link and then on day 15, click on a link for whatever referrer you intentionally want to pick up as a marker, and then remember to do it again every 15 days so they stay as the active one.

* This is just my opinion based on the various bits of info Zazzle has provided so don't take it as fact.

[Laura]

Obviously I'm constantly clicking Zazzle links while I'm working on the platform so it sounds like that cookie is stuck for 45 days 🥴 Unless I override it with my own cookie after 14 days, just because I'm clicking on my own products while on Z? 🤔

[idraw]

4/27/25

@Moderators

Since we never know which Mods are working and when, pointed at three below:

@Joanna   @James  @Heather 

While we are working on our shops, logged in, and gathering our links in order to also promote our own work on our external websites/blogs/etc., does this mean we are getting cookies attached and thus being charged third party commission which of course Z gets,for our sales?

In theory: if we shopkeepers log in to: read or post in forums, check our earnings, work with a customer on a problem product, reply to a customer in chat, gather our product links to post elsewhere to promote our shops,  are we in essence giving most of our earnings to Z?
If so, Zazzle, where our shop monies are concerned, and if this is the case, very unfair practice.

Please! Attention Moderators take the time to explain and reply quickly and clearly about this issue, to clarify for all of us.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.

So hoping to hear otherwise, but right now verging on becoming a very unhappy camper,  if this is the case.

@LauraYou raised an EXCELLENT POINT!

@Connie  Hope they reply to my post, may help answer your question too. I certainly did alert enough Mods....They can't say they didn't see the post.

[kashmier]

Now I feel silly having told people to clear their cookies before making the final purchase of items I worked on for them. Does this mean we are just flipping a coin as to getting paid when doing special designs for a customer?