I just received another order from GCU and they were perfect
 with no flaking, perfect color and perfect bends.  
 
While i love GCU , on several occasions I have posted cards on zazzle,  
so that people could buy now, rather than 1 month latter after  GCU approval
Its a calculated decision to delay approval of cards that cost GCU and artist
 
i would prefer buying from GCU  but in the last year i have purchased over 100 cards from zazzle , because gcu would not have cards approved and available for weeks past a holiday end
Normally we try to work at least a year in advance on designs,  
but sometimes we like a design and we dont want to wait weeks for approval
 
I can load a card on zazzle and its quickly available for me and others to buy
while i wait a month for the card to get up on GCU.  
We sold over 100 cards before the same design was approved on GCU
GCU unfortunately gives me and others reasons to do business elsewhere
generally thats not the best of ideas.
 
Quality printing, fast delivery and a fair price are great qualities,
GCU and artist will lose until they fix approval process, and its not worth the price we are paying.  
 
Delayed approval creates bad feeling and loss of business
At GCU artist know the 1 loss sale is a loss for all
because a person coming in to buy a new approved card ,will probably buy from others along the way and we all win.    PLEASE GET THE APPROVAL PROCESS FIXED
 
 
 

cheryl
 
Like you, we have learned to live with it and find our own answer
 
but that answer sometimes leads elsewhere
and does mean less sales for GCU
 

The many, many hours Tom Rent has donated to creating the videos now available through GCU University should, with time, help us improve this process.  In my opinion, anyone serious about selling their work already has stores at places such as Zazzle, so living with the uniqueness that is GCU is or should not be a big deal.
 
It is what is is and I'm cool with that  

Quote from cheryl_133782 on Jan 9^th, 2011, 1:03pm:

 
 
Couldn't agree more!

Quote from Norma_133903 on Jan 9^th, 2011, 11:41pm:

 
 
Well stated Norma...just what I was saying only with too many words and not enough of the right ones  

Hi David,
I do know from reading the forum that you contributed much toward the print corrections and that you are very interested in GCU being the best it can be, and I think in order to do that the review times in the end are a small price to pay for a superior error free product.  
 
I think we have to remember that every card that goes out of here has GCU's name on it and whilst we are on there as the artist, errors ultimately reflect on GCU, the company. The customers will not make the distinction to avoid a particular artist but will avoid purchasing from GCU in general and that would affect all of us.
 
Pamela

Thank you all for your input and support    We are aware that although we are learning to live with it, the long review time is an issue.  We certainly don't want to see our sales going to other sites.
 
It would be all too easy to have our approval process the same as Z.  But as shared by artists on this thread, we want to maintain quality which is in the best interest of all of us - shoppers, artists and GCU.
 
You'd be amazed at some of the things we see and disallow...keyword spamming, totally unrelated category choices, incorrect spelling, blurry images, etc.  Whether intentional or not it is clear that a loose review or lack of review would allow these cards to be in the public marketplace and reflect poorly on our entire community.  
   
With Tom Rent's recent research we've identified some key problem areas in not only the review process but the card creation process and new artist education that we plan to address.  You have already seen some of these changes like the new category selection tool and GCU University videos.  There are more improvements to come as a result of his research like a more robust spell checker for example.
     
Thank you for your support and helping to be part of the solution vs aggrevating the problem.  It is greatly appreciated  

I hear you too, David!  We artists do tend to compare the sites we're involved with and I have to say that life on Zazzle can be so much more fun because of the ability to create instant products.  I stayed away from GCU for a very long time (after initially signing up) because of that.
 
Now I'm starting to adapt to the approval process here and plan to fill my store with lots of inventory.  I just wish the approval process could go a little faster; would hiring more staff be a solution??