How Do You Handle Customers Using Digital Invitations to Make Other Products?

[Jinaiji]

I just got a request… a customer wants to use my “Wedding Details” card to create various table cards, menus, etc. They’re asking me to make it downloadable. They also mentioned that they’ve already made many signs and other items from the digital download of the wedding invitation.

Am I missing something here? Or am I just being too strict?

According to Zazzle’s rules, isn’t each product supposed to be used for its original purpose - like a wedding invitation being used as a wedding invitation? Or am I wrong?

But even if that’s technically correct… I feel like customers don’t really understand or care about that. They’ll do it anyway - and many of them already do.

So how do you usually handle this kind of situation?

[Anne]

That's one of the reasons why I stopped offering digital downloads. (unless I consider them to be a "free give-away")
Customers can make endless variations and download them all after just paying once. From what I see there is no control as to what they do with the file (basically seems to be "use as you like", or even re-sell)

[dbvisualarts]

 I just disabled mine too. The last 3 digital sales I had were cut well over 50%, so I decided to quit giving them away.

[Windy]

I set my default royalty rate the highest possible figure. https://www.zazzle.com/my/account/defaultroyalty

[Mariholly]

Oh, let us know if that works well for you. I’ve also set mine a bit high. Obviously, I can’t know how many customers back out, but I’d rather not sell than give it away.

[Windy]

I don't expect ever to sell a digital download, but I had made a small handful of my products available that way at one point. Due to recent concerns expressed here, and due to the fact that Zazzle actively discourages digital downloads, I have jacked up the rate just because I can't be bothered finding my items and removing the option.

[Jadendreamer13]

You probably don’t know the answer, so I’m just thinking out loud here, but why would Zazzle enable that option and then actively discourage its use?

[Windy]

I think I do know the answer, actually. I think it seemed to the Z-powers-that-be, that it might be a good idea to step into the digital download world. So they did it. And then maybe after a certain amount of time and experience,  the DD sales numbers (and DD effects on other sales numbers) were showing this was not actually a profitable way forward.   I read something yesterday detailing all the ways in which it does seem Zazzle is now downplaying the entire idea. Maybe @ColsCreations  can remind where that thread is. 

[dbvisualarts]

its not as hard as i expected.  go to your products under store management, select under the digital download tab, all enabled, let it refresh then choose all non-discontinued and scroll down to disable digital downloads.  took me 5 minutes to clear them in 3 stores.

[Andrea]

This is why there must be a mistake. Zazzle may not be aware...
The example they give for a digital download is the same as my download value, but the Estimated Earnings shown in their example - below (found here https://www.zazzle.com/my/account/defaultroyalty) is vastly different to what I got for the same value sale.

It must be a mistake, surely.

Zazzle's Example:

My sale:

[ColsCreations]

That's because the royalty calculator shows what you would earn on a non-referred sale after the Excess Royalty Fee when applicable - in this case $10.55.

But because it came in as a 3rd Party sale in the 40% bracket, your total earnings are $6.11.

[Andrea]

Loving the excel work. Thank you.

It was a custom order - private listing. But I have already had a moan about that. They took a Marketing fee.

[Andrea]

Just going to say - I feel your pain. You must be heartbroken.... like when I find my illustrations on mugs and hoodies on sites I have no business with. Except in your case it's like you have blinkers on; you have no idea what they are doing with your art. If it is your illustration - maybe of a character -  it's even more hurtful because you develop a relationship with the art.... it makes me cry!

[Connie]

That's a HUGE drawback of the Digital Downloads, and something that Zazzle should address. After the initial purchase and download, the customer should NOT be able to make further edits and then download it again. Especially now that Zazzle takes half our royalties. we are basically giving our entire design away for free, and losing out not potentially hundreds of dollars worth of sales of those other products. 

Meanwhile, I set my digital royalty as high as possible, so that I won't miss out on marketplace placement from not having digital downloads, but I also hopefully won't get sales of them.

[SJoy]

I just want to share that I have recently purchased invitations with the digital download. We just found out that there is going to be a battle reinactment happening in the field behind our event on the same day and time.  Total frustration because there is only three weeks until the event.  I am glad I can change the location on the digital download quickly and either have them printed locally or resend them out through email or text with the new location on them. Being a customer with this issue I am thankful for the chance to be able to change things almost last minute and redownload.  I wonder if these types of situations are why Z lets customers edit and redownload. Some customers will purchase invitations way in advance and when the event gets closer they may have to change or update the information.

[jophb]

I could see the need for limited edits. Like maybe you get 15-30 days. Or 1 additional edit or something. But to be able to change it unlimited times for unlimited years is definitely too open.