Changes at CafePress
I've been meaning to say more about this, but with everything that's been going on around here, I haven't been able to forumulate a post yet. But this excerpt from the blog Eating the Lotus pretty much brings you up to speed regarding the current situation....
Sure, there had been indicators that all was not rosy in the CafePress camp in regards to designers – first they cut our volume bonus (a system that rewarded designers for selling a certain volume of products each month) late last year. Then one of the CafePress founders left the company – never a good sign. And then, in April this year, the news came through that CafePress had finally crossed the line of goodwill with the POD design community and would, as of June 1st, control how much each product would be sold for and how much money designers could make from their work (a questionable 10%) when selling via the CafePress Marketplace.Comments
Essentially, we went from being akin to partners with CafePress, with the freedom to set our own prices and manage our own business in conjunction with the CafePress business model, to being employees who are expected to accept a flat fee for our unique and original work. I know that is not what I signed up for – especially when all the other POD companies continue to allow designers to name our commission for our creative efforts without interference.
It's hard to speculate what Cafepress thought the reaction would be...
ReplyDeleteI understand that the world is slowly losing respect for intellectual property - copycats all over the place - but the new agreement was still a shock! Cafepress has basically said to shopkeepers that intellectual property and our creativity is worthless!!
Myself and GritFX team withdrew our designs from the MP as soon as the agreement was implemented. I was glad to see other shopkeepers do the same. It would be great for the world to see cafepress for what they are - a service provider and that's all.
I'll be a very happy lady on the day I hear people say "I love the design by X and bought one through their online shop" over "I love cafepress - just bought one of their t-shirts".
END RANT.... :)
P.S thanks for following the twitter account @SupportSKs...