QR Codes now on the back of cards

[SORS]

Hello,

I just noticed that a Zazzle QR code is showing up on the back of my cards.  Did I miss an announcement about this? Unfortunately it messes up my logo and information I just created after Zazzle changed the attributions on the back a short while ago.

 It's my understanding that the QR code will bring the customer directly to our store, which is great in some ways, but it might take away from my referrals, as I was putting my website on the back of my cards. 

Would love to hear feedback from other creators. 

Thanks!

[Saints_Aplenty]

@shellifitz 

By now, you've probably read the threads dealing with the new Attribution here and here.  In case you haven't, down the page in the latter Scott has a list of items on which the new QR code appears.  Flat holiday cards are on the list.

[CatsEyeViewGift]

Speaking of the back of cards - I just looked at the back of one of my folded cards and the word Zazzle and the little heart look HORRIBLE!!!!  Everything else is clear, these two things look like there's a printer issue - which would only make sense if everything was fuzzy.  Therefore, I'm thinking someone designed it this way?

[Fiorenzo]

@CatsEyeViewGift Definitely not a printer issue, this would affect the whole printing. To me, the way the Z logo and heart look visibly antialiased ("pixelated"/fuzzy) suggests that a tiny low-resolution/pixel raster image made for screen display has been used and enlarged rather than taking a vector element which would be appropriate for that matter. I doubt this is a one-time issue, IMO it's a "graphic design"/print file generation fault in an automatized process. Don't wanna know how many customers have received such results.

I hope the QR codes have been tested well for good readability. On small cards, they seem to be too small at that complexity. My opinion.

[designsbydani]

My issue is, if I were to receive a card with a QR code on it, I would think that it's a further message from the sender or something that I have to do as the recipient. Not that it's advertisement. Holy moly. I am CRUSHED by this. I JUST realized that this is on all my invitations. And I want to cry.

[Cat]

@designsbydani On invitations the attribution is turned off by default, so you shouldn't have to do anything to existing invites to turn it off.

I am inclined to agree with you in terms of customer confusion - especially for things other than folded cards. I don't have any problem with it on the backs of folded cards because I think that's a place customers would expect to see a logo or other marketing device. For flat cards I think it's overkill, confusing, and disruptive to most designs, so I'll just turn it off. I'm on the fence in terms of postcards.

[Fiorenzo]

@Cat I agree, on folded cards, it's absolutely fine and common use, even if you already have your own designer attribution. The QR code looks fine now, centered on the card and near the bottom, and the white background around the code does not hurt, this is normal both on QR codes and on barcodes. I can live very well with them on folded cards, even on a decorated background. My logo and website address are pretty centered on the lower third of the card, and the QR code underneath looks well. I have it disabled (checked) by default, though.

On flat cards, it's a different story. In that case, it depends if you have a backside with content or not. On backsides with content, I don't have any own credit but an optional personalized branding section for the customer. Backsides without content can be treated like backsides of folded cards, in that case, a QR code is not an issue.

On postcards, it's too much due to the restricted place, USPS requirements, and content. On these cards, I have my branding in a very small font rotated by 90° within the middle line (no branding at all, where not appropriate). On top of that line, I have a little image that can be either my emblem or a specific illustration and can be replaced by the customer with their own image, such as a logo or a decorative monogram, whatever.