GCU Forum - How long is the wait for approval?

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 71

How long is the wait for approval?
Nov 22^nd, 2010, 12:59pm

I know GCU has been very busy, but I'd just like to ask how long is the wait for approval now? I have 4 cards (Christmas theme) submitted 2 weeks ago, sure would like to see them up by Thanksgiving.

Also, what is going on with envelopes? My order from the summer had very nice quality envelopes, a heavier, textured paper. My last order from a couple weeks ago arrived with lightweight smooth envelopes. I've had trouble in the past with these lightweight ones sticking to themselves in humid weather. I've had to toss several which leaves me with several cards w/o envelopes. I had hoped the new heavier ones were going to be standard. I realize there is probably no way to specify envelopes, but wanted to give you my feedback.

The printing quality on the cards if fantastic, great color, good surfaces. I'm proud to send these out.

Thank you!

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Nadine_142067 Senior Member artist Posts: 283	Re: How long is the wait for approval? Reply #1 - Nov 22^nd, 2010, 2:00pm Hi Pat, I've noticed the average wait lately is about 17 days, give or take, so SOON and very soon you should see your cards on your site. Best of selling wishes to you! Nadine
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Linda_132742

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 1796

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #2 - Nov 22^nd, 2010, 3:43pm

Hello, Pat
The approval wait is getting longer and longer. Well worth the wait, as you know the quality is superb. However, acknowledging all that I have resorted to using another site for Christmas greeting cards. I hate to do this as I feel that GCU is my "home site", but have no other choice. I am still uploading cards for Christmas on the GCU site, however, I am thinking of them as being early for next year, not this holiday season. Currently I am designing for St. Pat's day on this site, just finished a bunch of new designs for St. Valentine's day. I have oodles of cards awaiting approval here, however the ones that I have uploaded to another site are selling very well. I want to be loyal to GCU, but given the delay in approvals can't justify the potential loss.
Just my opine.
L undecided

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Doreen_137017

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Posts: 5273

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #3 - Nov 22^nd, 2010, 3:55pm

I'm with you Linda. I upload to both sites when I create something new these days and I make sales at the other site almost immediately. I too just consider the uploads I put here on GCU as cards for next year. It is sad because I'm actually to the point at GCU where once a card is approved I often get sales within a day or two (because of how well I market myself), so GCU is missing out on sales by having the reviews take so very long.

I'm with you though...GCU is my home when it comes to cards and I really love it here!

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Linda_132742

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 1796

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #4 - Nov 22^nd, 2010, 4:52pm

Hey Doreen...we are on the same page regarding GCU..it is a shame...don't know what can be done on our side to get GCU 'up to snuff' approval wise. It is a shame that this wonderful site is missing out on sales...I don't see the logic. I agree that once a card is approved I quickly get sales here, but it is the "once that cards are approved" that is the stickler. I have had the best month here for sales, the best month on other sites too...I am not complaining by any means or stretch of the imagination. When I was a newbie here, back in 2007, I asked if GCU was on the open market, I wanted to invest...I was told that they weren't, and today I am glad I wasn't able to invest. Unfortunately I feel that GCU is not the place to be sales wise, though it is the place to be for quality and of course the forum. I adore the forum.
Sending light and love,
Linda

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Pat_134551

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 71

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #5 - Nov 22^nd, 2010, 7:37pm

Alright Linda & Doreen, care to share the other sites you're using? You can email me privately if you don't want to say on a public forum-- jackstarcards (the at symbol) gmail.com

I do love the quality of the cards here, but I want to expand my on-line presence, as I'm not getting as many sales here as I hoped I would. I think there are some other places that might reach certain markets better. I'd love to hear from people who are using other sites as well.

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Nadine_142067 Senior Member artist Posts: 283	Re: How long is the wait for approval? Reply #6 - Nov 22^nd, 2010, 8:37pm Ditto!
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Mindy

GCU Administrator
Community Manager

Posts: 6567
Gender: female

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #7 - Nov 23^rd, 2010, 2:15pm

We will pass on your comments re: the print quality and envelopes. I suspect the heavier envelopes from the summer you are referring to were before our latest printing partner.

As for review time we are working on ways to speed things along, please see here for a recent update:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1234562095/15

Specifically:
** update effective immediately **

Change in Review Practices:
The reviewers will no longer FIX titles or keywords that are less than optimal as this slows down the review time and penalizes the savvy artists that have taken the time to educate themselves and submit cards with well termed titles and keywords. We will not delay these card but will approve w/ comments suggesting where improvements can be made.

We will continue to NOT approve cards with errors, but will no longer take the extra time to make it more marketable. That is each and every artist's job.

Also please do know that most of these other sites do not review your products for errors. We choose to invest the extra time in the review process to benefit both shoppers and artists by minimizing if not eliminating errors on products.

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Rebecca_140932

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Posts: 624

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #8 - Nov 23^rd, 2010, 2:35pm

Quote from Mindy on Nov 23^rd, 2010, 2:15pm:

We will pass on your comments re: the print quality and envelopes. I suspect the heavier envelopes from the summer you are referring to were before our latest printing partner.

As for review time we are working on ways to speed things along, please see here for a recent update:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1234562095/15

Specifically:
** update effective immediately **

Change in Review Practices:
The reviewers will no longer FIX titles or keywords that are less than optimal as this slows down the review time and penalizes the savvy artists that have taken the time to educate themselves and submit cards with well termed titles and keywords. We will not delay these card but will approve w/ comments suggesting where improvements can be made.

We will continue to NOT approve cards with errors, but will no longer take the extra time to make it more marketable. That is each and every artist's job.

Also please do know that most of these other sites do not review your products for errors. We choose to invest the extra time in the review process to benefit both shoppers and artists by minimizing if not eliminating errors on products.

Sounds great to me, Mindy. Let the artists fix their own mistakes. It helps them learn what those mistakes are in the long run, helping them get better at it.

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Pat_134551

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 71

Re: How long is the wait for approval?
Reply #9 - Nov 23^rd, 2010, 8:34pm

Quote from Mindy on Nov 23^rd, 2010, 2:15pm:

We will pass on your comments re: the print quality and envelopes. I suspect the heavier envelopes from the summer you are referring to were before our latest printing partner.

As for review time we are working on ways to speed things along, please see here for a recent update:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1234562095/15

Specifically:
** update effective immediately **

Change in Review Practices:
The reviewers will no longer FIX titles or keywords that are less than optimal as this slows down the review time and penalizes the savvy artists that have taken the time to educate themselves and submit cards with well termed titles and keywords. We will not delay these card but will approve w/ comments suggesting where improvements can be made.

We will continue to NOT approve cards with errors, but will no longer take the extra time to make it more marketable. That is each and every artist's job.

Also please do know that most of these other sites do not review your products for errors. We choose to invest the extra time in the review process to benefit both shoppers and artists by minimizing if not eliminating errors on products.

Thank you, Mindy! I think the heavier envelopes added to the overall quality.

And I'm very glad to hear that the review process is being streamlined. Thank you! I appreciate that cards with errors are sent back - sometimes as an artist I know I've misspelled something or made a mistake and I'd rather have that card rejected than published with errors. Thanks for all the hard work the reviewers do. It must get crazy there sometimes! : )

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Andy_133737 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 4	Re: How long is the wait for approval? Reply #10 - Nov 24^th, 2010, 4:40pm Good to know. I uploaded some cards about 2 weeks ago, after a long absence, and was concerned I had made an error since they appear to be stuck in pending. I'll give them a few more days.
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