Cleared earnings went red

[SapphireDesigns]

Hey all.... I'm having massive amounts of frustration with business practices here... not sure where to turn.  First of all... I keep meticulous records of my earnings here, and every month, the payment I receive from Zazzle is within $2-3 of what's in my records (has been for YEARS).  This month.... for some reason, I'm receiving over $50 LESS than what I have recorded as being earned for the month of July (September being the payout month for July).   Then today, I noticed my CLEARED earnings dropped over $20.... and I went back through my sales history and noticed a CLEARED sale from August 6th went red.  To my knowledge.. once they clear, they can not be taken from you.  I understand there were times during Covid that things went out of stock etc and this was happening - but that was an unusual circumstance (or so they said).   I'm already dealing with SEVERELY decreased earnings due to all the changes they're implementing on the site (cover photo, digital downloads, etc) resulting in reduced visibility of my products and little to no physical / paper invitation purchases.   For years leading up until now,  I have only added more products and designs and have seen an increase in views, interaction and purchases.  Now - next to nothing.   I've already giving up on adding any more designs or adding new products.  I'm done.   Yet, Zazzle still manages to short me. 

Not sure if it's worth placing a call and making an attempt at having them make things right - but I thought the forum might be a good place to start.   If anyone has experienced anything similar - please feel free to chime in.  If a moderator has any input, I'd also love to hear it.

[Jules]

Unfortunately, I think this statement is a misconception: "I went back through my sales history and noticed a CLEARED sale from August 6th went red. To my knowledge.. once they clear, they can not be taken from you." Actually, a customer can still cancel their purchase months later, and it will be cancelled on your royalty listing - and Zazzle WILL deduct it from your earnings. 'CLEARED' only means the royalty is now ready to be paid to you in the next payment cycle; it does NOT mean that it is yours unconditionally. I have even seen my supposed 'cleared' total turn negative when a previously paid out sale turned red. 😞

[TerryW]

And with no explanation given by Zazzle.  Seems like a pretty good little racket. No transparency, lots of unexplained taking. 

[SapphireDesigns]

That's exactly what it is.  I know there are plenty of others experiencing the same issue as me.  I can't be the only one.  I had another cleared royalty go red again this morning... almost $20 - taken away.  No explanation.  Not a single moderator or Zazzle rep has commented on my post or offered explanation.  We all know how retail works.  If you buy something, there is a return WINDOW.  If you go beyond that return window - it's too late.  You can't return it.  In my opinion, if Zazzle decides for what ever reason to waive that 30 day return window for a customer, it should be on them.  NO MONEY should leave a designers pocket because they chose to make an exception for a customer.  I'm out almost $40 because of those decisions - not to mention the additional $50 that I did not receive last month with NO EXPLANATION.  

[ievajen]

there is also delivery time, I think sometimes in some cases it takes too long;  it's not Zazzle fault but some problems with postal services, what about those looted trains in California; one customer on FB complained that he received opened empty parcels from another POD ... ; so company has to refund those customers.