throw them back! And that’s exactly what I’m doing. Today has been a quiet day for me blog-wise because I got some extremely upsetting news at 11:45am. I spent the first 2 hours crying, then another two hours panicking, and now I’m just plain angry. Some of you may know that I’m work from home mom but I’ve never gone into great detail on what I do.
Well, I’m a CafePress shopkeeper. Basically, since 2004 I’ve been designing graphics that I transfer to apparel and general merchandise and sell them in my own shops through the CafePress service. Over the past 5 years, one design turned into over 1,000 of them in several shops. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I was when I received my first commission check of $55.73. Then my next check came, then another until I started getting checks in the thousands. All my hard work had paid off. I found my niche in the marketplace, it was the American dream for a mom that wants to stay at home and raise her children.
Then last year I got the disturbing news that CafePress was making big cuts to their volume bonus program. It cut my income in half. Due to the fact that I was making as much as my husband, that ended up being a quarter of our total income. Can you imagine a blow like that? It was tough at first, but we adjusted and I kept plugging along even though I had felt like CafePress had just slapped me in the face.
Today I received the devastating news that my income that already got cut in half, will now be cut by another 90% because of changes they are making to their marketplace and commission structure. Basically, they are taking the ability to set my own markup out of my hands, and giving me 10% of the product value. A t-shirt that i once made a profit of $10 on, I will now get $2.49 for.
This is going to hurt my family more than they will ever comprehend. They took greed to whole new level. My checks, that I worked damn hard for, which by the way brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars for CafePress, were paying my bills, the car payment, our groceries, and clothes for the kids. It’s not just me they are hurting, but their entire community. Well CafePress, you can keep your lemons, I’m going to go make my lemonade somewhere else. Things are going to hurt us pretty badly for awhile thanks to these changes, but I’m not giving up. I never used one of the competitor services because of the loyalty I felt to CafePress, clearly that loyalty isn’t recipricated, so I’m taking my designs to a different service. Zazzle, here I come!
About Cat Davis
wow. I looked into that site and thought It looked pretty cool. Sorry to hear that they are doing a snatch and grab on your income hope that zazzle has a better offer.
Oh honey, I’m so sorry
I’m glad you’ve found somewhere else, though *huge hugs*
Oh sweety! I’m so sorry to hear this! My thoughts and prayers will be with you! ((hugs)) But ya know what? YOU ARE GREAT AT WHAT YOU DO!!! You will definately find someone better to do business with! Tell them to suck your lemons…wait…that doesn’t sound right! lmao But you get the idea! lol
Here’s my philosophy:
When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a squirtgun and shoot people in the eyes!!
So screw Cafepress!! You deserve better!
That is totally rotten, I’m so sorry!
oh man how devastating! I hope your zazzle account kicks off like crazy!
Sorry to hear your news, things are hard enough as it is at the moment, and after all the loyalty that you have shown them, this will make you a stronger person but unfortunatly may make you more wary, please dont let it get you down,look at the comments and you will soon see that you are not alone
x x
What a crock!! Way to not give up on something you are fabulous at and justly deserve to be rewarded for!
The economy is tough right now and it sure does hurt families. I wish you the best of luck — sometimes there are hidden treasures in tough times.
I am so sorry!
I have also been a CafePress Shopkeeper since 2/2005 and have gone through the same range of emotions…this is financially devastating to my family. To top it off, I invested in a new computer & software (this week), started a blog with my own .com, all to further promote my cafepress shop. I no longer feel happy or proud of my shop, I feel sick to my stomach. Etsy and/or Zazzle plans are in the works. I actually started a Zazzle shop when they changed the volume bonus plan, but was still focusing on cafepress. Not anymore.
I wish you the best.
I’m so sorry. I agree with Miss Blondie! I hope Zazzle works out for you!
I’m really sorry. Good luck.
Like hundreds of other shopkeepers I’ll be losing about 80% of my revenue also. I’ve crunched the numbers and done side by side comparisons based upon what I think I know. This hurts me but at least it isn’t as major a part of my family’s income as it is for many others.
As bad as I feel for myself I feel worse for others that are hit more harshly.
On a side note I have a store I set up for a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization that supports the military. It was a fund raising effort. So CP has just plundered the revenue stream of a small non profit military support charitable organization. Isn’t that nice.
I really appreciate you sharing this with us. I just started a store on Cafe Press and I though I would try it out. A friend of mine uses Zazzle and he loves it. So I am switching to Zazzle as well. Why should Cafe Press get all the money for custom designs you worked your but off creating. They are crooks!
Thank You
http://twitter.com/circuitvapor
Appalling! This galls me. I got the same bad news. The sacrifices and expenses of an online artist are extraordinary before acquiring income. Shame on CafePress for preying on the dreams of artists. I thought they were above that. I recently went to Zazzle. As long as they play fair, I’ll make my new home at Zazzle.
Okay, here’s a new way of looking at the CafePress changes: I read their statement, at http://announcements.cafepress.com/?p=167
If the quality of content increases; then, customers are more likely to buy what they see. In other words, it appears that CafePress is attempting to eliminate the “redundant” products, which clutter the shopping experience.
Instead of going off the deep end, I am going to wait and see if fewer items of higher quality generate more frequent purchases.
After reading their statement in entirety, the changes appear to have been made carefully, and with the durable shopkeepers in mind.
Let’s see how it turns out. Give it a chance.
Exactly how does dropping a shopkeepers income by 80% help the shopkeeper? I am a professional artist. I set the prices I feel my artwork is worth. It is NOT the right of a POD to arbitrarily decide my work is worth only $2.50 (my profit on a $25 shirt) instead of $9.99 (which is my profit on the shirt I set the price on–$29.99).
Also, how do you reduce redundant artwork by making them all the same price? The only way to reduce redundant work is to toss out the shopkeepers making it! And who decide what is redundant and and what is original?
It is akin to your boss saying “I’m going to reduce your pay by 50%. You’ll make more money now.”
Tery=ry
BTW: I hope you have approval to use the CafePress logo on this blog site. If not, it would be like someone using your art on their blog to tell the world what they think of you.
The only thing in life we can depend on is chsnge(I’ve grown to detest that word) The greedy will become greedier and agendas will always become more favorable in the direction of those with the power to make corrections. Cafepress in light of the current economy is making corrections in favor of their own survival and forgetting what made them so great.. If it wheren’t for people like yourself they could not exist…They seem to have forgotten that.
Wish you THE BEST WITH ZAZZLE….rebuild BIGGER and BETTER.
Want more encouragement Email me it’s free…BTW if you are not on TWITTER good advice….get there
Oh Cat, I am so sorry. I have had no dealings with CafePress and do not know how the structure works, but that just seems completely unfair to the shop owners. I am glad you have found a better alternative. HUGS!
I’m sorry, Cat. That really stinks. I would be super pissed if I were you. I hope things work out at Zazzle.
Wow, I had no idea. This really sucks Cat but you’re so resourceful and intelligent…you’ll find your path and I bet you settle in to a better situation. (((HUGS)))
Way to go Cat! Show them what you’re mad of.
I know any news concerning jobs and finances being cut is devastating. You immediately think of the effects it will have on your family. The good news is that you can use your family to motivate you to continue. Which by the way, I see you are doing very well.
It’s a shame you are not being fully compensated for your talent. Who kows, this could be a blessing in disguise. There could be another opportunity waiting for you.
Whatever it may be, I wish you good luck!
I am sorry to hear your news, how stressful this must have been. But I do love your attitude, resolve, and courage. You are an inspiration to all moms trying to make a living.
Good luck.
so sorry to hear that, I hope you get a great offer at zazzle I will say a prayer, goodluck.
Oh no! I am so sorry!
Good luck with Zazzle! Never heard of them, but I will check them out now!
You go girl!
What a living nightmare, so sorry to hear of the darn lemons thrown your way. You are strong and by this time next year you will double what was once your highest earnings.You will make zazzle dazzle xoxox
Oh no, how horrible. I hope that things take off with Zazzle. Good luck to you!!
Oh My..that’s awful. Screw em!
You can go anywhere with your talent…hope things work out for you!
I saw something on twitter about this. It totally SUCKS EGGS, Cat. I am so sorry girl.
I’mma rebuild both.
But, just for fun, consider this:
CafePress makes pricing distinctions between the “MarketPlace” and the “Shop(s)”.
Keep a nice shop so it’s ready for customers who land in the marketplace first. They find your store because they like what is offered in the marketplace. CafePress is covering the cost of driving customers to a less-cluttered marketplace.
If customers buy your merchandise from the CafePress marketplace, you make a little money; if they continue to your store and buy from there, you make more money. If customers bookmark your store and return for future purchases, you’re in the money.
For more fun, read the news drafts about how you can obtain sales bonuses.
FYI: I am neutral on this issue after having read and comprehended published drafts of the CafePress changes.
Um, you seem to miss the point there. If you as a consumer, see a t-shirt in the marketplace for $24.99, and then go to the store and see that same t-shirt for $29.99, what would you do? I don’t think you’re dumb enough to not notice the price difference.
So you quickly learn to find the design you like in the shop you like, then use the marketplace search to find that design and buy it on the cheap!
How does this strategy help the shopkeeper make more money. And would you shop at a store where the same product is two different prices depending on which register you walk up to?
I am sorry hun about the cut back sure hope it doesn’t last for long..hang in there better days ahead…that is what i heard anyway….
I’m so sorry – I hope this works out for you!
Anna Diera – How ’bout some support? Are you actually a Cafe Press employee? And why should Cafe Press keep more of the $$ when merch is purchased through the marketplace? “Oh, but ‘you’ can earn more IF they click thru to your shop” WTF kind of crap is that?
Cat, sorry to hear about this. Its complete b.s. You will survive, you’ll make it through this and you will be stronger in the end. Plus, this is a major change that may reflect negatively on CafePress, so in the long run, they may have shot themselves in the foot, and they wont even realize it until all of their shopkeepers are setup elsewhere.
Well, how about this: CafePress shopkeepers do nothing to drive customers to the Marketplace. Customers who buy when they hit the marketplace are buying because they accidentally (by way of CafePress and it’s campaign for Internet presence) got there. Shopkeepers can still set their prices and percent of sales.
I am attempting to encourage those of you who have wonderful products to continue to keep up your shop. And promote it.
“And promote it.”
The last thing a CafePress — or shopkeeper elsewhere — needs is to 1) panic; and, 2) hop onto another learning curve at another site during the panic.
I do sympathize with persons who experience a crucial loss of income. I understand the heavy burden and fear, as well as the rage. Many tears of my own have washed the kitchen floor over these things.
I’m just another fool in the pool, but I make it my mission to keep from making my own mistakes twice. If I happen to help others, so much the better. If not, then I should be spending my time elsewhere.
Don’t you think so, too?
psssst. i wudnt b here if i didnt care.
yer welcome.
.
Anna,
How about this: If my designs were not in the marketplace, no amount of advertising by CafePress will result in a sale that makes them money. Without the images put up by the shopkeepers, CafePress wouldn’t exist. The opposite is not true, I can put my images on merchandise if I so desire, there are a ton of companies willing to do it for me. The only advantage CafePress offers is that I don’t have to pay up front for merchandise with my images on it.
And there are other companies willing to do what CafePress does, Zazzle to name just one.
Cat,
It’s amazing how greed cancels good judgment. They will probably loose a lot of businesses because of this move and eventually the profits they were hoping to gain will too be lost because smart shopkeepers like you will move to other companies.
Believe me. I know what a loss in family income can do. It is devastating, but recoverable. I like your spirit. Stomp on a few more lemons, even throw them if you like, and make sweet, juicy tasting lemonade with what you have left.
I don’t blame you, you have to look out for you and yours the most. It sounds like that is something they are not doing. Good luck in your future business. I hope everything goes wonderful for you.
Best of luck to you. Now you can take what you learned w/Cafe Press and be successful somewhere else. They won’t last long if that is the way they treat their clients. You will succeed in the end, and can even sip lemonade while you do it!
.
Cafepress has made a huge miscalculation! Their marketplace will see far fewer quality designs once all the outraged shopkeepers have defected to Zazzle, thus decreasing cafepress sales and decreasing buyer satisfaction.
I hope there is enough backlash from this that they change their minds. It is an awful business decision. They must be reading from eBay’s playbook.
Thanks for your post. I love that Zazzle made ”Welcome Cafepress Shopkeepers” t-shirts so quickly.
–Marianne Dow msdowantiques.com
.
Im so sorry cat! I wish you a LOT of sucess at Zazzle
Oh hun! I’m so so sorry! It makes me angry reading your post. Just stomach wrenching. But you are so blessed to have the awesome talent to be able to design such great things that give you the ability to work from home. I would kill for such a talent! I know you will get over this hurdle. So stay positive and make your lemonade with another company!!
Cafepress was my first POD. I fell in love with it. We started going out and became engaged with a basic shop. After a little while, I popped the question and asked Cafepress to marry me and she said yes. We were happy as can be. We were meant to be. Then the honeymoon was over.
After about 3 years into the marriage, there were problems with the relationship. I started seeing another POD service on the side. Her name was Zazzle. At first I felt guilty that I was cheating on CP. But after a while, I knew that zazzle was giving me what I needed. I tols zazzle that maybe one day I would leave CP for her but kept putting it off. I still felt some kind of loyalty to CP. Then yesterday CP gave me an ultimatum that I just could not accept. I think she may have found out about us Z.
After 5 years of marriage, I have decided to file for divorce from Cafepress. The divorce should be final at the end of this year. In the meantime I have shacked up with Zazzle full time. And I will be keeping custody of the kids (my designs).
What a crock! Just another greedy company on the bandwagon. I think Zazzle is going to see a huge influx of shopkeepers and in return money in their pockets if they treat people right. Good luck in your next venture.
Hope you do TONS better on Zazzle!
Good for you! Hey, I have a pretty good pitching arm, in case you need any help throwing those lemons at CafePress! Good for you for going elsewhere-I’m proud of you. Times (and finances) are hard enough. Believe me, people will pay for quality. CafePress will be the LOOZER! Hang in there, hon, you’ve got my support
maggie@mannwieler.com
That is horrible news. I hope things work out for you on your new venture.
That is so unfair. It is amazing how greed gets to people. Prayers are with you and your family right now.
Whoa- I am angry for you! Good for you for going elsewhere! I hope their greed hurts their business.
I felt the same way you did yesterday. I’ve had a cafepress store since 2003 and it has brought in a lot of money for my family. Last years volume bonus changes were a huge hit and now this will take what used to be $2000-$3000 a month income and turn it intno $200-$300 a month income. That is just wrong!!! I have had a zazzle store since the volume bonus changes and right now with 1/4 the amount of cafepress sales, I am making a larger volume bonus on zazzle than on cafepress. With this change, I have no doubt that even with the much fewer sales I’m getting on zazzle (which have been increasing each month) I will be making more money on zazzle. At least for now, zazzle seems to truely care about making you money as much as they care about making zazzle money. It is clear that cafepress only cares about making cafepress money. I wish you lots of luck with your zazzle store!
I like Miss Blondies’ philosophy! Cat, I know you will do great where ever you end up. You are one amazing woman!
That is horrible!! How can they rip you off like that? Seems like it should be illegal to do that when you are doing all the work.
Well, they won’t be getting any of my business. And I was thinking of setting up shop there, too.
Hope it was worth it, guys. You can’t really rape your producers and expect to get more to sign up.
I’m really sorry to hear about that. I just visited this site from a retweet on Twitter, and I totally feel your pain.
I will retweet this and request others to do so – this kind of behavior is very greedy and Cafepress deserve to have the Social Media community know about it.
It’s shocking!! I’ve been cursing them for the last 24hrs and discussing ways to put them in their place!
Without the designers, cafepress are nothing!! Nice way to show your respect cafepress!
GritFX already use Zazzle, but have been working our butts off to promote our cpress “mother store” and recently got a higher PR.
So, we are thinking of removing our designs from the marketplace and seeing if there is a community that would be willing to do the same. We can promote each other… somehow…
We all have a month to see if something can be done. I’m following you on twitter, so I’m bound to stay in touch.
How horrible! I hope things work out for you and you get the money you deserve.
wow that stinks! Poop to Cafe press!
That stinks!!! I’m so sorry to hear that… Good luck with Zazzle! Keep us posted!
I know what you are going through as I have been hit by this too, after having been a Cafe Press shopkeeper for 6 years. It’s devastating!
Zazzle, Printfection and Skreened will get all of my focus now.
In light of recent unpopular changes made by CafePress(tm) (1), we would like to extend CafePress Store Owners warm welcome to E-Shirt.com (http://e-shirt.com).
At E-Shirt.com, we will continue to let you set the markup price for your designs both in our marketplace, and throughout our retail channels. So, not only are most of our product wholesale prices significantly lower than CafePress(tm)(2), but now you can make significantly more on each and every sale of your design, even in our marketplace.
Compare two identical sales:
One-sided White T-Shirt Design price set by store owner at $22.99 in the CafePress(tm) or E-Shirt Marketplaces (3):
Your CafePress Profit: $17.99*10% = $1.80
Your E-Shirt Profit: $22.99 – $13.95 = $9.04
You don’t have to be a Rocket Scientist to see many people have already moved over to E-Shirt.com It all adds up to what we call the E-Shirt.com difference. Come and see for yourself.
(1) Refers to announcements made on April 22, 2009 (http://announcements.cafepress.com/?p=167)
(2) Tee (cp:$17.99, e-shirt:$13.95), Womens Tee (cp:$17.99, e-shirt:$13.95), Dark Tee (cp:$18.99, e-shirt:$16.95), Womens Tank (CP: $16.99, e-shirt:$13.95), Womens Dark (cp:$19.99, e-shirt:$18.95), Dark Long Sleeve Tee (cp:$23.99, e-shirt:$22.95), Dark Sweatshirt (cp:$29.99, e-shirt:$28.95)
(3) Calculated using current CafePress and E-Shirt wholesale prices, and statement made by Cafepress (1).
Wow, sooo sorry. It will be okay, I promise. God never gives us more than we can handle.
I am furious about Cafe Press’ underhanded and greedy change in terms. So, I closed my shop and deleted the 657 images I was displaying there. The problem now is that CAFE PRESS IS STILL DISPLAYING AND SELLING MY IMAGES! I have written innumerable emails to every level of their despicable corporation and cannot get the images removed. Any ideas?
Lucy