If one pays to remove attribution, is it removed from the envelopes that Zazzle sends with cards?

[PacifierCity]

Hi Zazzle,

I have ordered two sets of birthday cards for my co workers, one for each of the last two months.  Last month was the first time I noticed that you have branded the envelope I paid for.  This is not mentioned anywhere on the site.  I did pay 15 cents for it and previously there was no Zazzle branding on it.  But last month and this month they are branded.  I was unaware that this was going to happen.  I wonder if it happened because I choose to leave the designer attribution on the backside of the cards I bought, or is this a new marketing strategy that is unannounced?  If it is the latter, is there still a way for me to receive plan white envelopes with no Zazzle branding?  Are custom ordered envelopes branded as well?  Any other info you can add about the Zazzle branding on any envelopes on site would be helpful.  If I paid for envelopes for a wedding or a party, I don't think I would want the Zazzle branding on them...

Thanks,

PC

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[SORS]

What does the branding on the envelope look like and where is it located?

[KC]

Please oh please do not brand envelopes.

Products can't end up looking like massive advertisements with logos all over in multiple places. I'm also curious about these questions, PacifierCity.

[PacifierCity]

The image quality is poor, but here is the backside of one of the envelopes I received.  They looked the same last month as well.

 For me, it is not that it looks bad or is poorly done.  It is simple and tasteful, IMO, but it is not announced.  That is the issue I have with it.  I paid for a white envelope, as advertised.  That is not what I received.

PC

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[MCMGal]

I agree, no branding on envelopes please! It brands the entire piece.

[CatsEyeViewGift]

Wow!  definitely something new. Good grief.  Branding the back of the folded cards is one thing - all companies do that - but the envelopes?  Raise prices 15% then start advertising on the envelopes.  Bad form.

[CreativeLeahG]

One of the paper products has increased by 100%, I wish it was just 15%. 

[Connie]

Wow, really? Zazzle's announcement said they were only raising their prices 15%! Could it be a glitch?

[Saints_Aplenty]

Good grief!

[MarilynR]

So what exactly is Zazzle attributing to themselves on a blank envelope. Just be glad they haven't started putting the attribution on t-shirts.

ETA: Wonder how many creators would create baby t-shirts with only the attribution. Sorry, I usually don't go there, but sometimes things are so ridiculous that I can't help myself. Oh, and I didn't try to stop myself.

[MarilynR]

If Hallmark does this,  I am sure it is a less conspicuous, tasteful, embossed design on the flap.

[PacifierCity]

As I have not had a reply from Zazzle as of yet, I put in a return order request.  I made it clear that I am very happy with the cards, but would like to be reimbursed the cost of the envelop.  We shall see what happens.  I will do the same thing for all future orders should the envelopes come with Zazzle branding, if there is no notice about this.  I think that is only fair.

PC

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[PacifierCity]

Zazzle reimbursed the entire purchase.  That was not what I expected or wanted.  I was/am very happy with the cards themselves.  The issue was with the branded envelope.  There is no clear option to select when choosing why the items should be returned.  Maybe I chose one that prompted an automatic refund.  I don't know.  I was not trying to get the entire order for free.  I am more than happy to pay for the cards as I am very happy with them.  I was simply hoping to get my 15 cents per card back due to the branding on the envelope.  I paid to receive a plain white envelope and received a branded one, without notice about the branding.

IDK, I guess we will see what happens when I order again in a week or two...

@Admins- I am not trying to game the system.  I really did not want ALL my money back.  I am still happy to pay for the cards themselves, just not the envelopes, as they are branded without notice.

PC

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[Scott]

Unfortunately, I don't have a great answer for this at the moment. It sounds like we're moving in the direction of using branded envelopes for some paper products. This is work that's being done now and some decisions haven't quite been finalized just yet. Generally, it sounds like the plan is to use branded envelopes for the less formal events, and non-branded envelopes for more formal events. I'll try to update again when things are more finalized.

[Saints_Aplenty]

Good grief!  Let me be the first to say that I certainly hope TPTB dump the idea of branding any and all envelopes entirely.  I think it's a very bad idea.  Period.

[KC]

Love you Zazzle, but If this must happen, PLEASE consider making it much smaller, thinner, and lighter in color, without the slogan, so it's not so in your face, similar to what other stationery PODs have done. And centered on the envelope perhaps, so it works with (not against) anything someone may add to the back flap of an envelope like a hand-written or sticker return address or envelope seal.

Small, simple, and understated. All the branding is really bold and detracting from the rest of the designs, IMO. 

[ConnieMoore]

Please don't. It makes such a personal gesture to take the time to send a card, not personal. The cards are not from Zazzle.

[PacifierCity]

@Scott 

Thanks for the information.  I would think that a notification should be given to the customer about the branding.  They/we/I deserve to know what it is they purchase.  I also understand that folks are working to decide if and how this idea may be implemented.  But at least now you can provide feedback to the group that is making the decision.  Sending a customer a product that they did not pay for may result in the return of items.  I wanted to return .15 cents  worth (per card) of the purchase of 12 (I think) cards.  Instead the team returned ALL my money to me.  The loss to Zazzle due to the way the return was handled is 100%.  There is not option in the return list to choose unhappy with the envelope.  That could also save a total return.  You have probably thought of those things... just trying to be helpful...

Also still willing to pay for the cards I received.  I have no complaints with them.

PC

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[CatsEyeViewGift]

The more I look at the photo of the envelope the tackier it looks.  I do hope Zazzle scraps this idea.  But if they don't, possibly just the Zazzle logo and not "create your moment" ???  Maybe center it?  or Emboss "Zazzle "  on the envelope the way Hallmark does? It's there, but it doesn't smack you in the face.

Zazzle is known for high quality products (and at a premium price) -- so why make the envelope look tacky?

[CatsEyeViewGift]

I just received some 5 x 7 Greeting cards.  The envelopes were blank.  BTW, I did NOT pay to have the attribution taken off the cards.  So, hopefully, Zazzle has already changed this.

[PacifierCity]

I got a few notifications about kudos for some of my posts in this thread and thought I would add to it that the cards that I purchased at the beginning of this month came with unbranded envelopes.  I was very pleased with this as I really did not want to put in another return request.  Especially after I received my entire purchase back from the return request I put in for the other cards I purchased.  I felt guilty about it even though I was very clear about why I was returning the envelopes (not the cards).  I hope unbranded envelopes continue because it will be time to put in another order pretty soon.

PC

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[PacifierCity]

It came back.  Not very pleased when I opened the last order of birthday cards to find the branded envelopes again.  I was hopeful that we were past this, but I guess not. 

I am not going to request a refund this time.  Last time Z gave ALL my money back even though I was only unhappy with the envelope.  It left me feeling guilty.

I will be placing another order in the next few days and I only want to receive plain white envelopes...no branding.  How do I make that happen Zazzle?

PC

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[JB]

This is similar to what other places are doing. Here is a baby shower invitation I got recently and they ordered from M*nted (M*nted also brands the back of all the invitations too, across the entire bottom of the design with a big grey bar and a bunch of text. I am not sure if you can pay to have attribution removed there or not?).

I think Z does need to understate it a bit more (minus the slogan, smaller, lighter, as mentioned upthread) if they are going to insist on keeping it.