Product Statistics Don't Change

[Westerngirl2]

About 10 days ago, I purchased one of my own designed products as a gift for my granddaughter. When I designed the product, I included a name template with a generic name that I often use, just as a placeholder. When I decided I would like to give this product to my granddaughter for her birthday, of course I replaced the template name with her name, as anyone else would do. The product should be delivered in the next few days, and I think she will love it.

What bothers me is that the sales stats attached to that product have not changed. It still says zero sales. I have noticed this in the past.

Does anyone know why, if you purchase a product that you designed and customize any of the templates, the product stats do not update as it would if any other customer would have customized it and purchased it?

[Scott]

The product that you ordered appears to be a private product, which is why the sale was not credited to the store/product. Would you like me to cancel this order for you so that you can place a new order?

[Westerngirl2]

I'm super confused as to how it became a private product. I initiated the purchase at this link https://www.zazzle.com/blue_cheerleader_team_name_ceramic_ornament-175984296386054545 

I changed the template fields for what I needed and placed in my cart. Somehow it created a new private item? I did come into Zazzle from my website, searched my store and selected the original item, so I received a referral. When I check my referral stats, I see that the order IS for a new product #. At what point did that get created?

And no, I don't think it needs to be cancelled, but thanks for offering. I'd just like to know how it works in case I do something similar in the future. Thank you!

[ColsCreations]

When you as the designer edit or customize one of your own posted-for-sale designs, it's treated as if you're making a new design. So if you buy it without publishing it first, it goes down as a private purchase (something you made for your own use not intended for sale) unrelated to the posted product you made it from so no credit/royalty for it.

[Westerngirl2]

Thanks ColsCreations, your explanation makes sense as to what happens. I'm left wondering WHY, though. Seems a bit strange that we order an available product the same as another customer does, but it doesn't really count as a sale. Not a bigge, just a bit hard to understand why it was set up that way. If we don't use the customization templates, and order a product without that...it counts as a sale for that product. Kinda weird.

[ColsCreations · Accepted solution]

If a random shopper comes to Zazzle and designs something from scratch and purchases it, it's just a private sale to that customer, no one gets credit or royalties for it, the customer never intended it to go up for sale in the public marketplace. It's just a normal online order.

As designers with posted-for-sale products, we can use our existing public products to create new products to post for sale, via design transfer or editing and publishing as another new product with different colors or text or whatnot. But if we don't actually publish it, it's just another saved design so if we buy it, it's a "private sale" as it was never listed as a marketplace item. Just like the above random shopper creating something for themselves. It sounds weird but it actually makes sense to me.

You can buy your own products as-is and get the credit/royalties on it, but if you make any changes to it, then it's a new private design unless you publish it.

[Marcia]

What I do is use an account I've set up for my husband. I email him the link. Then I click on the email link, edit & purchase.

[PacifierCity]

If you visit your own store, while logged out and after you have cleared any cookies that would id you, then you can go in and make changes to your design before adding it to the cart.  I do it often.  Once prompted to sign in during the purchase process, sign in and continue to make a payment.  If you change anything while signed in, the system believes that you are in the process of making a new product and unless you publish it and then purchase, you won't get credit, royalties, etc...

I hope that makes sense.  I purchase birthday cards from my store monthly and have to change the names, etc, for my coworkers.  I always get credit, royalties and referrals.

PC

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[Westerngirl2]

Thanks, everyone, for contributing information. I will change how I do this. Helpful with the upcoming birthdays on my schedule, and definitely for Christmas. In this purchase I was a bit miffed that it didn't show a sale, as the product was created in the last 3 months & any little boost a product can get in the MP may pay off dividends. But it's all good. Again, thanks for the info and suggestions...y'all rock!