"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.

[Bellissima]

much a do for nothing, lot of work for pennies. lost my motivation too. Are they aware of this at Zazzle ?

[Westerngirl2]

I totally agree. They've introduced several new products, but I keep thinking...."what's the point?" I could spend hours designing, only to see few sales, and then getting pennies on the dollar. They have destroyed my incentive to work all those hours that I used to work on Zazzle. 

It's similar to losing a long time, good friend. 

So I've found other ways to occupy my time. I, too, was a traditional artist prior to Z. Going back...at least it's not as frustrating and I don't feel like I've been taken advantage of.

[Barbara]

@Westerngirl2 

I'm giving myself a crash course in watercolor, which is pretty much the only medium I never tried, not in earnest, anyway. There are some fabulous teachers on YouTube who've become my instructors, giving me a much-needed leg up. It's all so much better and so much more fun then futzing about in Photoshop.

What have you happily gone back to?

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[Westerngirl2]

Sorry for the late reply....been immersed in "family stuff" this week. I work in oil mostly, also have done quite a bit in pastel. I admire your venture into watercolor!

[Barbara]

Opinion: The switch from oils to watercolor required that I do everything in reverse. Beyond that, watercolors' natural environment is impressionism. It's as if my brain is trying to work upside-down. Don't admire what I'm doing; instead, take pity. LOL

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[Bellissima]

I think you make a point here, going back to traditional art prior to Zazzle. and when all creative inclination is destroyed by AI, here too, true artists will return to their brushes and paper

[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.

[LMGildersleeve]

The whine fairy is alive and well. *not to say you are whining*

But I've read just recently and creator had asked Z questions about why the sames could be seen as more 3rd party. The Z person who answered her said that Zazzle wants to reward you for bringing NEW customers to the platform. This means if someone who has shopped on Z before finds your outside link, clicks it and buys something you won't get a referral. Because that customer has purchased something before, or has clicked a different link (grabbing the cookie) before purchasing through your link, you are out of luck.

If I've misinterpreted this someone please correct me.

[Anne]

@LMGildersleeve OMG. 
"you are out of luck" - you could say that again ...

[whimsywhim]

Wait. . .so if someone has bought on Zazzle before and clicks on one's outside link (like Benable), we won't get the referral?!  Holy smokes!  If I'm understanding correctly, that's outrageous!  Good grief.  I don't understand about cookies.  Do they expire?  If so, what is the purpose of sites like Pinterest?  I've had links there for a long time.  Does that mean the links are all expired?  Sorry for my ignorance!  (I did read about them but am still a bit confused).

[ColsCreations]

There is no expiration on links you have out there. 

If someone clicks one of your links and picks up your "cookie" from it, that referral marker can't be over-ridden for 14 days. So if they order in those two weeks, you get the credit. On day 15, it's open season. So if they click a link with someone else's "cookie" in it, that one becomes active for 14 days. Rinse & repeat. It's an ongoing cycle, so someone may have come in via your Pin and bought your product, but if they already had an active "cookie" from someone else, that someone else gets the referral. 

These "cookies" people pick up, they do expire after 45 days. That means if they picked up your cookie, and if they somehow avoided clicking on anything else in those 45 days that would start a new 2-week cycle,  then your orig "cookie" will stick for 45 days. Then it expires and it's open season again. 

[whimsywhim]

Thank you so much!!  I was so confused, but now I understand.  Thanks again!!

[Andrea]

I think this is happening too - unfortunately we are at the mercy of clever the cookies and tracking pixels:

If a customer (browsing pinterest) clicks on your link once and backs off. Then zazzle, using pinterest (knowing what they like) retargets the customer. The customer clicks and zazzle gets the referral, even though it was your efforts that generated the interest in the first place.

I guess this can't be helped.

[Boki]

I haven't had any sales for days either. I see that there are views, but no sales, which is very strange to me. It can't be that no one is buying anything,...?

[sanainvi]

I am in the same boat 😔 

[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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[MOM]

@Barbara Oh, I admire you for so many reasons. Wow!! Good for you. 

[PAZP]

When I began here in 2009 it was something to do for fun while I was still gainfully employed. It wasn't a daily activity and I never expected it bring in a huge income. Like you said @Barbara "no expectations no disappointment".

Now, I'm thankful that it is a daily activity that continues to provide me with an outlet to be creative, learn new skills and keep an active mind. 

[Windy]

This is what I have done for twenty years! 

[Barbara]

@Windy  Isn't that when Zazzle came into existence? What were you doing before then?

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[LMGildersleeve]

Zazzle started in 2005 Barbara. Windy has been here for the entire time.

[Barbara]

2005 was the worst year in my life, and compared to that, everything can do nothing but come up roses. (I'd prefer everything came up as Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, but I'll accept roses.)

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[Windy]

Oh, I am sorry! I can imagine a few very bad things which must have happened. I hope things are much better now!

[Barbara]

We came awfully close to losing our son, but finally, he was cured and all is good now. He's the bestest son.

It must have been fun working with wikiHow. I've learned some excellent and simple methods for doing things. Amongst the decent submissions, I'll bet you found wacky ones too.

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[Windy]

wikiHow! I was an admin there, and learned about Zazzle while patrolling the submissions.

[MOM]

@Anne Oh no, this doesn’t sound good. 😐

[Boki]

My rank started to rise before their changes, then after the changes were made, the rank dropped in all stores and since then and if I do the same, it hasn't risen in any store since. Strange and sad.

And sales - what was that (it's been gone for a long time),...? 🙄

[Anne-Marie]

As I am reading all these comments, can't stop but thinking I chose the wrong 'era' to join Zazzle.. but then again, I didn't know about it until end of 2023. I am almost there to become a Pro Bronze.. Up until April 1st, I would have already gotten this badge, now it will take a few weeks (or less, hopefully) and sometimes I calculate how much do I loose on each sale but I know that is just water under the bridge, it doesn't help with my motivation. So then I stop doing the math.

I also think how much easier was before April 1st to accumulate royalties for those who have been here long enough not to mention the volumes they earned, fair and square before all the changes and how hard is for the newbies to actually make a dollar.  Plus the days when sales stop. Not just drop, but stop.

But on a more positive vibe, Zazzle offers a variety of products you can design on, and having the possibility to design on each individual products, is something I personally appreciate. Plus, there is a forum with great people that help each other and that is not something to take for granted.

[Barbara]

@Anne-Marie  It sounds as if you know already that negative thoughts accomplish nothing positive. Kudos for that.

As for the existence of this forum, I agree with you completely. I've "met" so many truly nice people, smart and helpful people, funny people, artistic people, and I don't want to give it up even if I post new products only every so often, even if the dollar sign is no longer lit up. And who knows? Zazzle sales could shoot back up in the future.

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[KayCordingly]

Yeah it's because when you search for something in the marketplace you get a page that says "404 Page Not Found. We're Sorry About That."

Sure if you search again it will take you to some results, but how many customers are going to try again? I wouldn't.

[Creative_Eman]

99% of my sales are referred as 3rd party, i joined Zazzle in 2023 and I used to get more sales as "none" rather than these "3rd party" sales, it's really frustrating as every single one of my royalty is cut into half now, 

[SORS]

Exactly! That’s what stings the most — the Ambassador Program was introduced as if it would benefit us designers, like it was going to be this great opportunity to expand our reach and earnings. But in reality, it’s had the opposite effect for so many of us.

Now, referrals that clearly come from our own hard-earned traffic — our websites, our emails, our social media — are suddenly labeled as “3rd party,” and our royalties are slashed. Meanwhile, the ones benefiting most seem to be Zazzle and the big affiliate marketers, not the designers who are doing the actual creative work.

It’s hard not to feel disheartened when the rules shift mid-game, and it’s marketed like it’s for our good.

[whimsywhim]

Before, if we got a 3rd party sale, was the royalty cut in half?  If not, what changed?  And what is 'none'?  Does that mean the person found us in a general search on the marketplace?  Why is the Ambassador program so bad for sellers?  Should we opt out of it?  I'm sorry for all the questions.  I'm somewhat out of the loop on this.