GCU Forum - So Long, GCU

Dave_344114 GCU Newbies Posts: 7	So Long, GCU Sep 25^th, 2016, 5:26pm I just closed my account today. I wasn't really selling any cards, and I really didn't expect to, but seriously, guys - 35 cents commission per card? It's not ever worth it to spend the time trying to find "sales tips". Poor documentation, poor commissions, poor (non-existent, as far as I can see) advertising - hasta la vista, baby!
Back to top	DAbston Cards: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/dabston IP Logged

Michael_197150 Full Member Posts: 106	Re: So Long, GCU Reply #1 - Sep 25^th, 2016, 6:33pm It took me a while but I get a nice payment every quarter now. I would say it is worth it in the long run.
Back to top	MGP Photography: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Michael_Peychich IP Logged

Dave_344114 GCU Newbies Posts: 7	Re: So Long, GCU Reply #2 - Sep 25^th, 2016, 10:46pm Quote from Michael_197150 on Sep 25^th, 2016, 6:33pm: It took me a while but I get a nice payment every quarter now. I would say it is worth it in the long run. Well, good for you! I could very easily be doing something wrong, and am more than willing to admit it... keep up the good work!
Back to top	DAbston Cards: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/dabston IP Logged

dawn_368818 GCU Newbies Posts: 3	Re: So Long, GCU Reply #3 - Sep 26^th, 2016, 8:50am I have worked with the big companies for years, 5% per card is the norm, which works out to be about .15 to .18 cents per card, so .35 cents is really good. You have to be determined though, and find your niche. I know how frustrating it is when things aren't selling though, especially after a lot of work. Best of luck!
Back to top	Dawn Munson-Detloff Designs: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/dawnmunsondetloff IP Logged

Doreen_137017

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 5328

Re: So Long, GCU
Reply #4 - Sep 26^th, 2016, 9:12am

Quote from Dave_344114 on Sep 25^th, 2016, 10:46pm:

Quote from Michael_197150 on Sep 25^th, 2016, 6:33pm:

It took me a while but I get a nice payment every quarter now. I would say it is worth it in the long run.

Well, good for you! I could very easily be doing something wrong, and am more than willing to admit it... keep up the good work!

Selling on a POD site of any kind is not for the impatient Grin

It takes a long time to build up enough high-quality product in your new account to compete. Stores need to have new content at least once a week, meta-tag data needs to be up to the latest SEO requirements. GCU does an outstanding job of giving the artists every opportunity to get their cards found, both onsite and via external search engines. It's a lot of work, but only long-term determination will bring success, regardless of whether the POD is GCU or any other.

Dawn makes the point about working with the big guns and art licensing. I too did that and left that world entirely because the earning a living potential of POD sales is much better in some cases and was so in mine.

Sorry to hear that you did not have the patience to stick it out, but I can almost guarantee that the problems you suffered with no sales was not the fault of GCU.

Good luck!

Back to top

Salon of Art:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/SalonOfArt

IP Logged

Mindy

GCU Administrator
Community Manager

Posts: 6537
Gender: female

Re: So Long, GCU
Reply #5 - Oct 3^rd, 2016, 2:10pm

Some great advice here from your fellow artists.

Yes, it takes work, patience and much more than 4 cards in your store.

Our Artist FAQ about earnings is accurate stating:
With standard earnings, artists will earn up to $ 0.35 for each of your paper cards sold. Artists can achieve premium earnings (2x standard earnings) by meeting the Quarterly Earnings Thresholds.

Good luck to you in your other endeavors. My advice, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty!

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave_344114

GCU Newbies

Posts: 7

Re: So Long, GCU
Reply #6 - Oct 3^rd, 2016, 4:44pm

Quote from Mindy on Oct 3^rd, 2016, 2:10pm:

Some great advice here from your fellow artists.

Yes, it takes work, patience and much more than 4 cards in your store.

Our Artist FAQ about earnings is accurate stating:
With standard earnings, artists will earn up to $ 0.35 for each of your paper cards sold. Artists can achieve premium earnings (2x standard earnings) by meeting the Quarterly Earnings Thresholds.

Good luck to you in your other endeavors. My advice, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty!

Just for the heck of it, here's my card shop on another site:

http://www.zazzle.com/graphicsbydave

I think these cards sell for about the same as GCU - the difference is I can set the price by setting my commission and that commission is certainly not "up to 35 cents."

So you see, I am more than willing to "roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty" if there's some benefit for me.

Back to top

DAbston Cards:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/dabston

IP Logged

Mindy

GCU Administrator
Community Manager

Posts: 6537
Gender: female

Re: So Long, GCU
Reply #7 - Oct 6^th, 2016, 1:48pm

Quote from Dave_344114 on Oct 3^rd, 2016, 4:44pm:

Quote from Mindy on Oct 3^rd, 2016, 2:10pm:

Some great advice here from your fellow artists.

Yes, it takes work, patience and much more than 4 cards in your store.

Our Artist FAQ about earnings is accurate stating:
With standard earnings, artists will earn up to $ 0.35 for each of your paper cards sold. Artists can achieve premium earnings (2x standard earnings) by meeting the Quarterly Earnings Thresholds.

Good luck to you in your other endeavors. My advice, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty!

Just for the heck of it, here's my card shop on another site:

http://www.zazzle.com/graphicsbydave

I think these cards sell for about the same as GCU - the difference is I can set the price by setting my commission and that commission is certainly not "up to 35 cents."

So you see, I am more than willing to "roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty" if there's some benefit for me.

Great, I wish you great success with your Zazzle store.

A little different on pricing. GCU single card price is $3.50 with quantity discounts offered so the more cards the shopper buys the more they save. Looks like you've priced your cards on Zazzle at $4.95.

Lots of differences. Each artist has to find the right POD site that is a good fit for their style, efforts and expected returns.

Back to top

IP Logged