My Experience with Zazzle: Lessons for Fellow Creators

[marina_Orlando]

I am SO SO FRUSTRATED right now! 

Don’t bother working 7 days a week promoting your designs on your blog or social media, or wasting time creating polished mock-up images. Don’t even bother putting in the extra effort customizing for clients and then sending them direct links with your own Ambassador ID. No matter what you do, you’ll still see unexplained third-party sales — even when the product is private and shared only through your link.

And now, with royalties capped at just 10%, it’s hardly worth the effort. Try asking why your expected referrals don’t appear in your earnings, and the answer will always be the same: Zazzle claims it’s “beyond their control” how customers navigate and interact with the site. So why even create an Ambassador Program to boost earnings if creators aren’t protected in the slightest?

[Sara_H]

@marina_Orlando  Royalties are not capped at 10% You can set them as you see fit up to 50% (99% for instant downloads).

It's only a zazzle suggestion/ recommendation and not the law.

https://help.zazzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/220267087-What-Royalty-Rate-Do-You-Recommend-I-Use

If you go above 10% they will take a tiny "Excess Royalty Fee" of 5% but worth it

[marina_Orlando]

thanks but it is not only the royalty. Sure I can always increase it and less be competitive. But what it is frustrating me right now are the referrals! Why do we have an Ambassador Program is then it's so difficult to get the referrals as part of your earnings?

[Rena]

I am getting so many complaints from others that they aren't getting any or hardly any referrals since the change in April. I have lost several people using their links promoting my store. They don't even get referrals on their own orders. 

[Connie]

More and more people are raising their royalties, so you'll still be competitive.

[Mariholly]

I completely understand you! There are a lot of posts talking about the same thing.

I raised my royalties, and with the few sales there are, it’s the only thing that convinces me. Also, in my case, invitations, cards, etc., used to sell in large quantities, but now it seems that events have reduced their invitations to 30 or 40 units.

If you check other designs, you’ll see that the prices are similar. I might be wrong, but most have increased their royalties.

It’s your decision.

[Jadendreamer13]

I will offer you encouragement. I have made seven referrals so far in the last 16 days. Referrals are shown separately in your Referral report. They don’t always show on the bell notification at the same time as your regular royalty.

All seven of my referrals were the result of me sending (repeat) customers links to the products using either a text message or Instant Messenger.

I also post a combination of manual pins on Pinterest and pins posted via Zazzle’s automatic Pin posting link.

I have raised my royalty to 15% without any impact on my sales. It still does not equal 10% (my previous rate), but it has moved me closer.

I make mock ups for each new product I create, spend time researching which types of products and designs are currently selling in my niches, follow design trends, always strive to improve my designs, and refresh my knowledge of the standard graphic principles of design—and I still do this as a person who made my living as a graphic artist for large corporations for 40 years. If I don’t do this, my designs will stagnate and will no longer improve. There is always room for improvement.

You can give up, or you can pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and carry on. The choice is up to you.

I feel your frustration. I’ve been there before. Carry on. 🙂

[sm_business_car]

If this helps any, I made 16 referrals and the last 16 days and most my royalties are 23.4%. I post on Pinterest here and there and keep up with mockups.  But I think a big part of it is because I have also and always strived to be the best graphic designer I can be. Over the years I've taken continuing ed classes, I keep my designs fresh by watching the trends and doing research - and just trying to be a little more unique. When I first started Zazzle I had no training in design. I literally had no idea what I was doing. 

I haven't  been posting as much as I used to as I am now painting to help replenish what I have lost in earnings with all these changes (starting in 2021) - and it's been quite substantial. 

All I can say is continue developing your skills and knowledge. It takes time, but hopefully the effort will ultimately produce positive results.

[Susang6]

I never did mockup...never had the time, I did a few and shared them on my blogs and pinterest and found that they increase views.   I don't think I have sold anything that was in the the mockup but since adding a few mockups sales have increased.   Like I said in my other post, I work less now at promoting than I did before April 1st and my earnings are steady.  They aren't what they were, but considering everything with the Z fees I am grateful for any sale.   Impressive that you had no training in graphic design, for some reason I thought you came for Etsy and that you were an artist.   I guess I got you confused with someone else.

[sm_business_car]

I have always been a artist (abstract painter) but became interested in graphic design in the mid 2000s. Recently I have turn my most attention back to the canvas and am now selling on Etsy as well. 🙂

[Aisha]

Hello Marina,

I feel your pain. I sent the following message to Zazzle on 16th August 2025 but have not received a reply:

Subject: Feedback on Third-Party Referrals, Cancellations, and Long-Term Profitability for Designers

Dear Zazzle Support Team,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share some concerns and seek clarification regarding third-party referrals and cancellations, as these issues are beginning to feel somewhat disheartening for me as a designer.

The majority of my sales appear to come through “third-party referrals,” yet I receive very little information about what this means in practice. For example, I recently received as little as £0.06 for wedding invitations, which feels discouraging given the time and care that goes into creating designs. Without transparency about how these referrals work — who the third parties are, what platforms they use, and how sales are being tracked — it is very difficult for me to know where I should focus my efforts to grow my sales and receive the full benefit of my royalty rates.

Additionally, I have noticed a number of cancellations, sometimes before the customer has even received the product. Without more detail on why these cancellations occur (e.g., payment issues, shipping times, customer dissatisfaction, or something else), it is nearly impossible to learn from the situation or make improvements that would benefit both Zazzle and me as a designer.

I truly value being part of Zazzle and love creating designs for customers. However, I would like to know whether Zazzle does become profitable for individual designers in the long term. Many of us invest significant time and creative energy into building our stores, and we want reassurance that these efforts can result in fair earnings and sustainable growth if we stay committed.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could:

1. Provide more detailed information about how third-party referrals function and how royalties are calculated in those cases.

2. Share clearer insights into reasons for cancellations.

3. Offer any guidance or reassurance on what designers can do to ensure Zazzle becomes a profitable long-term venture.

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to this feedback. I am passionate about contributing to Zazzle’s marketplace, and greater transparency on these points would be immensely motivating and helpful.

Warm regards,

[Rena]

nothing about any of this is right 

[Susang6]

 Since April 1st I have had 26 referrals and I work less hours than I did before April 1st.  I promote a few things to Pinterest and my blogs,.   The 3rd party sales don't bother me.  It's a sale and I am happy to have them.  I raised my royalty and I am still competitive.  

Keeping royalties at 10% to “stay competitive” isn’t helping anyone. You’re doing all the work and earning pennies when something sells. That’s not sustainable. You could raise your royalty to 19.3%, still earn 10%, and the buyer wouldn’t even notice the price difference. Undervaluing your work just teaches people to expect quality for cheap, and it burns out good creators. We deserve better than that.

[CrazyMermaid]

I am so glad that things are working out for you!

[lena77678]

I completely agree with this. The current attribution system for sales feels unfair, especially when customers contact me directly for custom changes. I take pride in being a responsive seller and almost always accommodate their design requests. However, I’ve personally noticed over 20 instances (and likely many more that I couldn’t track) where a sale made through a direct link I sent to a customer was attributed to a third party instead of me.

Even if Zazzle doesn’t want to credit me with the referral, those sales should at least be marked as “none.” I genuinely don’t understand how a third party can receive credit when the buyer used my direct, customized link. The ambassador program clearly needs adjustments to ensure that the person who actually brings in the sale is properly rewarded.

What’s most discouraging is the lack of transparency. I’ve emailed Zazzle multiple times about this issue and haven’t received a single response. I’ve poured my heart and soul into my store since day one - Zazzle has been my main source of income, and I’ve generated over 40,000 sales. Until April 1st, I truly felt that Zazzle and its designers were working toward the same goal. Now, I feel defeated - like my work and dedication aren’t valued, and that going the extra mile for custom requests no longer matters.

What Zazzle doesn’t seem to realize is that customers often don’t distinguish between the platform and the designer - they see us as one and the same. If designers start losing motivation, stop accepting custom requests, and reduce marketing efforts because sales aren’t being fairly attributed, Zazzle risks losing its best creators. Without fresh, active designers, the marketplace will stagnate - and that would be the slow decline of what was once an inspiring community. I’d be genuinely heartbroken to see that happen.

[Rena]

@lena77678  YES all of the people who are using affiliate links for my Zazzle store are getting nothing, so why should they take the time and effort to do anything. They are very frustrated and ready to give up. To me that is going to cost not only us but Zazzle in the end. 

As for the ads I see on TV it is only about the cards nothing about anything else. Please no offense intended but we as creators should all get equal time for what they are taking from our sales. 

I think since I have been doing this for over a year I have only received maybe THREE none referrals. Oh my gosh If i got that for everyone what a huge difference that would make. Even before April 1st all of mine were 3rd party. 

I love being on Zazzle, I love my customers, but fair is fair and this isn't fair. 

I am getting complaints that the new tissue papers are not of good quality and the dark prints are black. 

Another thing that isn't fair is if I use the for instance the name Frankenstein on my design I created and is nothing like the original but my own and it gets taken down but others get to keep theirs up. I have even sent in an email with their links but I have to dispute the image. I am not going to do that. BUT again fair is fair and that isn't fair. 

I do have to give a HUGE KUDO's to Zazzle because they got a huge issue with the discontinued papers that was showing up on my store fixed. I can't thank them enough for that. So maybe in time the referral ordeal will get fixed but in the mean time I wonder how much money I am losing and those who use affiliates for me. 

thank you 

Rena 

[Deb]

Well I would say one huge reason is while on a product page .. all of a sudden there is a huge popup for 20% (or other) off .. so the customer clicks on it .. and wahlah.. and you get a 3rd party sale.. as far as referrals.. I used to get a decent amount of referrals.. but now? I have not gotten one since Sept 1 - which is HIGHLY unusual for me something isn't right with referralshow you end up with a 3rd party sale

[CreativeLeahG]

My referrals are also down

[Barbara]

That popup proves what we've all suspected.

[RRBStudio]

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, would someone explain to me what a referral is? I seldomly have sales in my store, so every once in a blue moon I see I made a referral but I don’t know what that means. I looked up on the Zazzle help and nothing came up about it. Thanks very much for the help. - Rhonda

[SJoy]

A referral happens when you share a link (on your social media, blogs, etc) and a customer comes into Zazzle through that link and makes a purchase (as long as they don't have someone else's referral I.D. already attached). Depending on how that link is set up, you can earn a commission (or referral in this case) from that customer's purchase. Here are some Zazzle Help links you can check out and read up on to learn more about how they work.

How to Build Cross-Promotion Links 

Zazzle Ambassador and Creator Royalties and Referrals 

[RRBStudio]

Thanks! Interesting though, I don’t have any socials, so I wonder where the referral came from?