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. 

[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.