Instant Download: Questions, Suggestions and Feedback!

[James]

Hi Creators, 

We're so excited to introduce Instant Downloads to Zazzle. If you haven't checked out the announcement and dedicated Landing page including FAQ's and How it works, please do so.

We're sure you might have some questions about this and some thoughts, so please feel free to share them here. 

Thank you,

The Creator Team. 

[CreativeLeahG]

I think you have misunderstood,

The cutomer can buy it to print, as a download or both, ie they can buy a download without a printed product.

What James means is that in the future we may be able to create a product that CANNOT be printed, and is ONLY available for download. ie evites, graphics packs etc.

[ThankYouAlways]

That's what I'm wondering things like graphics packs, etc. May be artwork to help support other designers and businesses. 

[Cat]

Thanks Leah - apparently I've got layer upon layer of confusion going on! Anyhow, found this sentence to verify what you're saying: "When a Customer comes across your product listing, they can have the opportunity to purchase the printed product, the Instant Download, or both." 

I think I get it now.... I hope! 😜

[ThankYouAlways]

Hi Cat,

Not sure if Zazzle will do this or maybe they're undecided. I expect the team want to see how the Beta Test goes first.  Can't wait to see how it all goes, hope it will be good news for us all! 

[Connie]

Do I have the math right here?

For invitations, the maximum royalty is 92.89, so out of $11.95, you would get $11.10. The customer can print 1 invitation, 100, or 1000, and this is the most you'll get.

If a customer buys 100 physical invitations, at the current price of $205/ 100, based on an average 10% royalty, you'll get $20 from that sale (just a plain old straight sale, not counting third party carve-outs, etc.) So how does it make sense to offer digital downloads for anyone except budget sellers?

[CreativeLeahG]

People often want both printed and digital (various reasons for this)

And people may want an odd number and resent paying for a rounded up sum or they need extras for whatever reason and don't have time to wait for manufacture and shipping before they can be posted

So many reasons, obviously Zazzle know what they are as do many who already offer printed and digital via other sources. 

Most importantly, they can get this stuff from other sites for less, there are bundles of wedding stationery for less than $11 on another site, so 1 item here is expensive by comparison. Zazzle and us need to be competitive or we will cease to exist. 

[Connie]

Being competitive doesn't always mean offering the lowest price, or dealing with the lowest budget segments of the population. And you also cease to exist when you spread yourself too thin and try to do too many different things at once- you end up being good at none of it. Like you said, there are already plenty of other places to get the cheap stuff, so there's no need for another site in the same niche. What financial benefit is there to compete in the (already over-saturated) segment of the market that has the least money?

[PlayfulPixel]

Mmm, my thoughts exactly. We shall  see what happens.

[CreativeLeahG]

I don't call earning over $500,000 from download sales implication of 'least amount of money'. This is one seller (who has joined Zazzle) and sold downloads on that site which you are disparaging. Your opinion appears to be ill-informed. This is a huge market and if we do not compete we will cease to exist. It is as simple as that. The other platform is a hugely popular platform with some features that are superior to those offered by Zazzle at this time. Pretty decent Analytics for one. Zazzle has a few competitors now it didn't when it started and it does need to compete. This is a fact of life. If there are better offerings for designers elsewhere they will jump ship. Offering digital downloads with no responsibility for taking orders, arranging manufacture and shipping and dealing with returns is VERY attractive. As is Zazzle doing all that for us, hence we're here, not there. This is where Zazzle has the edge, it remains the lead in print on demand BUT there are very popular competitors and the more they ascend, with advanced features and offerings, the harder it becomes for all to be seen. 

On a final note, digital downloads don't come under the heading 'cheap stuff'. You can download a premium item for the same price as a budget item and it makes no difference at all as it is digital. It is a huge industry, massive income potential as many others have already demonstrated. If you don't want to be in that is your prerogative.

I personally learn from the success of others and those with a proven track record and making it pay in this industry. If they can do it, so can we. For those starting out, there is much to learn and dismissing the experience of those who benefitted from it is an obstacle. Reach for the stars and you may just manage the moon but at least you're off the ground 😉

[ColsCreations]

I've been wondering about the pricing since first viewing the FAQ page which states "The price of an Instant Download can range from $1.70 all the way up to $1000+" and shows this little chart:

My initial reaction was that the $11.95 must be the base price which, same as any other product, would increase depending on royalty chosen. But then this page  shows this chart

which makes it very clear that the $11.95 is the list price including the default 92.89% royalty. (It also makes it clear that Instant Downloads will indeed be subject to whatever sales Z wants to include them in, which opens a whole 'nother line of questions probably best for a separate comment line.)

Here's how the default (92.89% royalty equaling a $11.95 list price) breaks down at list price and at 50% off:

 and here's how it breaks down for a regular greeting card at the default (78.50% royalty equaling a $3.95 list price):

Keep in mind that one of the Mods answered that with folded cards, customers will be able to get a separate image for each of the four sides. Does anyone else see where this could go? You could use the card format to purposefully offer four different designs in one download purchase. (Like say Save the Date, Invite, RSVP, and Thankyou). Now we're talking super low budget, as little as $0.50 per image/design in the case of a greeting card at 50% off, each of which can then be printed at home on as many paper copies as they want. As I said in the beginning, there is a lot of room here for savvy designers and customers to exploit this, wedding market and otherwise. I am NOT suggesting anyone do this, but I am wondering if Zazzle has considered this occuring, if there will be rules in place or measures taken to prevent such strategy or if this type of creative marketing will be allowable?

And, back to the beginning of this comment - I don't see any way to get the list price up to over $1,000 if the $11.95 is the price after the 92.89% royalty has been applied. ??

[Cat]

Hmmm... wondering if you can set the royalty to a number over 100%. That's the only way I can figure you could get a price as high as they're claiming.

[Connie]

I missed that $1000+ claim! NOBODY would ever pay that much for a digital download!

[CrazyMermaid]

I thank you for this and the last paragraph. After competing with the budget-priced crowd in weddings that used flyers to sell wedding invites for as little as 36 cents each, I think they are already designing 4-sided cards as a wedding suite. I had already thought of that. I am just depressed about this. You are much better at this analysis than I am. I appreciate you sharing it. 

[bkthompson]

🙏💙Thank you VERY MUCH for laying all this out - it helps me to "see" it and understand it better!

[Barbara]

Having run a business in which everything was digital, I've been comparing what's proposed here and wondering about the setup. The downloads I offered were one time only and all sales were final--no refunds. Customers understood this, and I never had any problems.

A big difference here is design tool availability, and it's where trouble can occur.  I don't think offering digital versions of work already created for print is the best way. An entirely separate department for digital where it could be better controlled and limited might work better for all concerned. As it is now, it's like offering products on a platter to all the thieves in the world.

My decision, therefore, is to wait and watch for how all of this evolves, which it probably will.

Colorwash's Home

[CreativeLeahG]

Can we set different download royalty for different products?

[DancingPelican]

With the digital download products, will Zazzle’s 100% money back guarantee apply the same as for printed products? I am imagining scenarios where customers could purchase a digital download invitation, for example, then report they are not happy with it, then use the downloaded product in a multitude of ways.

[klstock]

Zazzle said yes they will be offering refunds on digital downloads. 

My question is, will Zazzle be absorbing this cost themselves and not deducting it from the designer's earnings? 

[MargPhoto]

I've been doing some research regarding selling digital downloads. Other POD companies are doing it, I have noticed people selling courses on how to make money selling digital designs, Esty sells a lot of digital downloads. I've seen people blogging about how they are making a full time income doing it. It's like when digital cameras first came out. Everyone was afraid of it. Slowly people warmed up to it now you cant buy film in the store anymore, most newspaper have gone digital. If we don't flow with the times we will lose out. I cringed at the thought of digital downloads. Mind you I was considering selling my images on a stock photo company but decided on Zazzle instead. If there is money in it, I will let go of my ego. I stopped checking Amazon a long time ago to see who stole my images. It's impossible to control and you could spend 40 hours a week reporting them all. I'm likely opting in. Just would like to pay the bills and have some extra. - Marg

[klstock]

I agree that you could certainly make money doing it, and if done right it could be a good thing. I don't have an issue or fear of digital downloads - I have already done it outside of this. 

My issue is with the terms of how it is being done, not that it is being done.

[Connie]

I don't want to trip over the dollars from physical products, to get the pennies from digital downloads (relatively speaking). And digital sellers have a ton of places to sell on (especially Etsy), but Zazzle is the only one if its kind for physical customizable products. If I wanted to sell digital stuff, I'd be on those other sites instead of Zazzle. Those digital courses have been around forever, and are mostly useless, at least the ones I've tried. The market is so over-saturated and the heyday is over, so it's not exactly "flowing with the times," more like trying to jump in at the end of a trend. And I've already tried that, as well as just about every other money-making scheme on the internet, for years and years, and Zazzle is the only thing I've had any success on.

[klstock]

This is somewhat related to what you are saying (I think)...

I wish Zazzle would put more emphasis on the "quality product made by independent artists" angle. And something along the lines of "We provide quality stationery so you can share your life's moments with style"... Messaging that gets across the idea of paying a little more for a quality product vs a "get it now and cheap" approach.

As this relates to the addition of the digital downloads, I think it is important not to go full-throttle and drive off the cliff catering to the "get it now and nearly free" crowd. 

[James]

Hi all,

We have posted an update about Instant Downloads in Creator News. 

Check it out, here. 

Thanks. 

[Cat]

I'm actually a bit bummed that the release date is being pushed back, but I understand why - it's unfortunate though because I have a few anxious customers waiting for it to be available. Guess I'll have to go apologize to them.

[Connie]

At least we get a little bit of a reprieve, hopefully until after the holidays.

[KC]

One thing to think about, is that it's NOT USUALLY the exact same buyer who is would actually purchase finished prints vs a digital download. 

Many of us designers have print experience and are more "in the know" with the process and appreciate the difference between professional printing and a home ink jet. We are not usually your average purchaser for these types of items.

Someone going for last-minute stuff would never have been able to physically get a printed product from Zazzle (or most printers) wither because of timing.

Someone without the budget for printing would not have ordered the printed cards anyway.

Someone (without prior experience doing so) looking for a higher quality print is not the same person who will print it out on a home computer with whatever paper an inexpensive desktop printer can handle. 

Someone who was looking for a digital thing to send out is often not the same person who researched and priced out printing nicely printed cards a month before they needed them.

That "someone" could be the same person at different times, for different events/reasons as well. 

Print people and paper lovers will still be ordering printed cards.

So it's not necessarily eliminating print purchases or eliminating someone who was about to buy the printed cards.

ALSO - Creative Fabrica's license does NOT allow digital downloads unless it's significantly modified and flattened. Their POD license is NOT the same as their digital license.

Worth checking in with them and all artwork sources about this.

So definitely will be worth turning products "on" for digital on an individual basis if you've used this (and other) graphics resources.

[LMGildersleeve]

---

@KC wrote:

ALSO - Creative Fabrica's license does NOT allow digital downloads unless it's significantly modified and flattened. Their POD license is NOT the same as their digital license.

Worth checking in with them and all artwork sources about this.

---

With Zazzle's new FAQ information we now know the customer designs on Zazzle and downloads a flattened image.

[Mistica]

I have been checking some my sources again. Their licenses are super clear...no digital downloads period.....

I noticed as time goes by...the licenses get stricter and stricter. 
Most of them have updated their licenses to no POD and mention Zazzle. i guess I will be designing off of my old licenses images.

Maybe down the load if I start doing my own art I will think about it. Doing it right now would be a death wish.

I was so excited about this feature too...but boy oh boy. I would get in one huge heap of trouble.

[KC]

That's good! 

Still leaves the "significant modifications" up to interpretation. I've seen several POD art sources say that "adding text near or around a piece of artwork is not a significant modification" which is where I get concerned for individual designers and the marketplace as a whole?

[Connie]

That's true. I've written to the sites several times asking if a particular design I'm wanting to post would meet the requirements. sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't, which is why I usually buy the full-POD licenses whenever possible. But now for digital, the full-POD licenses is NOT acceptable for digital use, but the regular license IS, as long as it's significantly modified, which was a gray area to start with!

[Connie]

You are right, Creative Fabrica's full-POD license expressly forbids making the digital files available to ANYONE, while the regular license does allow flattened digital files with significant modification. This whole digital thing is a license NIGHTMARE, with having to keep track of what elements were bought under the regular license, and which ones under the POD license, and then other sites don't allow it at all.

[Barbara]

 I'd dearly love being able to section off a bunch of designs via a category to be included because I simply don't want all my designs going digital. I understand, however, why Zazzle is doing it the way they are. They need LOTS of designs for the test, and if everyone did it the way I want to, Z wouldn't be able to get the stats nor enough experience about where there might be dragons.

I don't, by the way, want to open another store for this purpose because it makes no sense, given we'll be able to pick and choose at some point in the future.

(Big sigh at this end.)

Colorwash's Home

[Angela]

I read your "section off" phrase and thought that for those of us that have a mixture of designs that we do or don't want involved... we can spend the extra time Zazzle is giving us to move items into different folders. Being organized could help us bulk edit items the day the download program is live.

[Barbara]

I just now gave myself a dope slap. Why? Because I finally remembered it isn't my entire store that will suddenly have everything offered in digital format. Basically, it's just cards and posters, and I'm not sure the type of posters I do will be attractive to those who want to download.

The one question I have is, I think, answered elsewhere, but I can't remember where: After the beta test is done, will everything be migrated to digital automatically or are we, at that point, able to add only what we want?

I'm off, now, to opt in.

Colorwash's Home

[KeegansCreation]

One of the various articles about this said that the mass migration was a one-time thing. They will do auto migration once and thereafter products need to be activated (or deactivated) from digital download on a product-by-product basis. 

[LMGildersleeve]

If you opt in @Barbara all your invitations, holiday, folded cards and poster will be digital. After that point you can manually opt out of individual products.

[driveindustries]

I really don't sell many invites. The majority of my sales come from pillows, phone cases & posters. What's to stop a counterfeiter spending the $14 to buy a high res poster download of one of our designs and putting it on all kinds of products from cases to shower curtains? We already play "wack-a-moll" with low res versions of our images all over Amazon & other faux PODs. Any thoughts?

[KeegansCreation]

I think the way to protect against that is to not opt in any posters that are art. Zazzle has a poster section for weddings that has 79,568 posters of seating charts, "welcome to our wedding" signs and such. It is likely those that Zazzle is thinking of when they have posters included along with cards and invitations. I suppose it would be possible to use those off Zazzle for shower curtains or pillows but they would look awful and weird.

I'd advise doing what I and many others are doing which is opting out of the mass migration (which will be just done once) and then picking and choosing some cards or invitations to opt in individually. 

[driveindustries]

Like I said, I am not an invitation (or  wedding) designer! I design tropical prints which are counterfeited all over Amazon etc. Your advise is good. I opted OUT! If I feel something might benefit, I will select that those items and opt in. (I did not think we could do that. I read the release about a dozen times and that was not made clear.) Thank you!!

[Barbara]

@KeegansCreation  and @LMGildersleeve  Thank you for reassuring me on how it will work after the beta version has finished. I'm now all opted in and waiting to see what will happen.

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