"Frustrated by 95% of Sales Coming from 3rd Party – Anyone Else?"

[simplystunningp]

Lately, I’ve noticed that around 95% of my sales are coming through third-party and it's really discouraging. The earnings from these sales are significantly lower compared to how it was before, and it's starting to feel like all the effort I put into designing and promoting isn't paying off fairly.

[Barbara]

It appears to be the same for pretty much everyone else. I just checked to make sure I'm right, and I am: My sales since April 1 are a full 100% third party. No self-referral, no "none," and the earnings per item are close to half what they were before April.

I've lost the desire to design. I've thought about designing some bookmarks, then realized I'd make peanuts on them. Why bother? They've been adding new abilities to the design tool as if it will entice designers to not quit, but there's only one thing that would accomplish this, and it's not unnecessary abilities in the design tool.

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[MOM]

I have made all three kinds - third party, self-referral and "none“. But I also have lost much of my motivation.

[simplystunningp]

I totally get what you're saying. It's really discouraging to see all that hard work bring in so little, especially when the earnings used to be much more reasonable. I've been feeling the same lack of motivation lately. it's tough to stay creative when it feels like the system is working against you.  I hope they start listening to the people who actually keep the platform alive.

[CBolton]

I haven't gotten a sale for several months. Also those that I did get were all 3rd party as well.  
Been advertising, but seems everything came to a total stop. 😑

[MadjackGG]

Previously I was typically seeing a self referral sale about once a month. 

After the new TOS at the beginning of April, I hadn't seen another self referral sale for about 3 months, before I made one last Friday. It was a good sized payout, but unfortunately there's been no sales at all (referral or third party), for six days now, which is unusual in itself.

[MadjackGG]

And then soon after posting this I make a sale of one sticker. Because of course that would happen.

[Anne]

Third party, then drying up to a trickle, now sales are at a complete standstill. Wondering why one of my stores still stands at zrank 9. And if my rank 9 store does not make any sales, what does that say about the overall state of Zazzle? It seems to be time to move on to something else, just haven't figured out what yet.

[Barbara]

I've been on a search, and the first thing I noticed was that, when it comes to PODs, Zazzle shines in its design platform and its array of products (which are far too many at this point). For commissions, it's Redbubble, but they've gone to fee structure (simply more overt than that of Zazzle), their product array is small, and their design surface is bare minimum. All the other PODs don't attract me at all.

I'm about to turn 80 in August and, because of this, have gone back to my roots, which are based in painting. After so many years, I want to do the things I love best. This doesn't necessarily mean I won't periodically submit art online. I'll do so whenever the spirit moves, knowing full well that I won't receive much for anything I do. No expectations, no disappointment.

Those who are like I am (not in dire need of money) might consider creating for the simple pleasure of it and posting some of those creations on Zazzle. It makes for happier days.

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