Product Video Upload Failed

[1WhoConquers]

I'm attempting to upload a video to a product. This has worked previously with files LARGER than the one I'm uploading here, but I keep getting an "upload failed" error messge. I'm accessing the media manager from the product page so it gets linked right to the product. This has worked for me previously.

1. I thought it might be a file name issue, so I changed the file name to some thing safe and generic with no punctuation. Upload Failed.
2. I thought it might be my internet connection, so I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the WiFi. Upload Failed.
3. I thought there might be a glitch in my Android Tablet, so I tried rebooting it. Upload Failed.
4. I thought it might be a gitch in my web browser software (Opera) so I tried a different browser. Upload Failed.
5. I thought it might be this DEVICE (even though it worked fine for previous uploads), so I tried using my phone instead of the tablet. Upload Failed.

Out of ideas at this point. Something wrong with the server on Zazzle's end? Any thoughts? Until then, I guess I'll have to content myself with having the video on Pinterest, X, and YouTube. But the whole point of this thing is the status of my Zazzle store, which is "95% complete" because of a lack of media. Frustrating!

[Cat]

Happens to me frequently, though less than it used to. I just keep trying and eventually it works. Sometimes changing the file name seems to help, though that might just be a coincidence.

Only other thing I've heard is that if the video is less than 10 seconds long it causes problems, but I'm not sure if that causes the same error message or a different one.

[1WhoConquers]

Thanks. How much time do you generally allow between attempts? If it's strictly a server issue, I'm guessing it might just be too busy at times.

[Cat · Accepted solution]

It varies. Usually I just try immediately after I get the error message. It sometimes takes 3-4 attempts, but generally I can get it to upload. Every once in a blue moon I've just given up and waited for a few hours. Generally, if it fails 3 times in a row I'll try renaming the file and that usually does the trick... but I don't know if it was changing the name that caused it to suddenly work, or if it's just a coincidence.

[1WhoConquers]

It's becoming increasingly frustration as I know have multiple failed attempts with both products and collections, and my store is stuck at the "95% complete" stage because I cannot upload the 10 videos it wants. The bizarre irony is that I have successfully uploaded vidoes, and I'm using the same software to create all of them (Canva). I've tried various formats (square and landscape)... thus far the one that uploaded successfully was landscape, but square seems to fit the format better. Expecially since people might be coming in from Pinterest, where 95% of my followers are on phones.

[Cat]

What sort of upload speed does your connection have? My service is through cable and it has blazing fast download speed but really slow uploads. They recently upgraded it a little so my upload speed went from 7Mbps to 24Mbps, and it seems like I've been having a lot fewer problems since they made that change. Don't know if that has anything to do with it or if it's just another coincidence, but it's possible that's part of the issue.

[1WhoConquers]

I was finally able to upload more than one video tonight. We're on TMobile wireless/satellite which is sometimes sluggish, but I've never had much to complain about upload speeds, typically 100-300MPS, I've also got YouTube channels and upload there without a hitch.

Of all things, the first upload that went through successfully was off my PHONE. I normally transfer my MP4's to there via Bluetooth because Pinterest refuses to let me upload via my tablet. So since the video was there already, figured why not try it? And lo and behold it went through. That MAY have been a coincidence thought. Because right after that I did my next upload off my tablet and it worked. As an IT/Computer guy myself, I have a sneaking suspision that it really was an issue on the server side. Thanks for your help!

[Cat]

I think you're right, it probably is an error on Zazzle's server - I mean that is what the error message says after all! Plus, there really doesn't seem to be any discernable pattern to the failures on our end.

[1WhoConquers]

As a former computer programmer and web developer, I think they could have made that message more specific and user-friendly. If the server is too busy, say so. If there's a problem with the file name, say so. If that file name already exists, give us the option to overwrite it or rename it. Basic User Interface stuff, folks!

[ColsCreations]

FYI - those 10 media files they want for the store completion steps don't have to be videos.  You just have to add 10 things whether they're pictures, videos or combination of both.

[1WhoConquers]

Good to know. The quandry I'm having is WHAT to put in the generic store vids & pics. Since I've not actually ordered any of these things myself, I don't exactly have a bunch of subjects to use, unless a spin-off getting a little creative with the mock-ups is acceptable for this sort of thing? I'm also wondering where exactly do these things appear? I've uploaded videos for Collections successfully as well at this point, but don't see those appearing IN the collections. And apparently those don't count as the 10 "store media" towards completion either.

[ColsCreations]

They appear on the Store's home page and on the About tab for the store, in a section on the right titled Media. These media files have nothing to do with adding covers or vids to products or collections via the Media Manager. What you as the store owner chooses to put there is totally up to you.

[1WhoConquers]

Thanks! I'll brainstorm some theme-related ideas later, but for now, since my collections are organized as the same art on different product types, and the collection videos are slideshows of those veriou products, what I did for the store videos for now is slideshows of the different artwork on the SAME product. Basically the opposite of what I did with the collections. And for the first time in the YEARS of being on Zazzle, I've finally got a store at 100%. Thanks for your help!

[Sara_H]

@1WhoConquers if it's not uploading on the .com try going over to one of the international domains and uploading via your images then come back to .com and try again) 

like @Cat says - renaming your file sometimes helps too (tip - don't have the file name too long)