Nice calendars from Zazzle and at a decent price!

CalfeeRider

Well, after two bad experiences with Lulu and the soon to be defunct Sony Imagestation last year I've just received my "pilot" calendar back from Zazzle and have to tell you that I was very, VERY pleased with the quality! :clap

You can preview it http://www.zazzle.com/2008_splendorous_sojourns_calendar-158217981934900896

They can be a bit pricey ($23 for an 11x14 format), but also are running a 30% discount on calendars purchased before 12/31 (use code: CALENDAR2008) which brings down the cost to about $16 - not bad - and even less if you buy 12 or more.

Has anyone else had any experience with them?

Ann McRae

That looks great Jack

So, if I were to buy one of yours for the posted $22 price, then do you get some profit from it?

If I made my own, I would probably buy multiples and then use them for gifts etc, so am interested to know what my ability to sell through zazzle is?

And, can you tell us your comparison to the Lulu product - I made lul calendars last year and they were okay, but not really high photo quality. I'd love to hear detailed comparisons.

Again, lovely job.

ann

CalfeeRider

Ann McRae wrote:

That looks great Jack

So, if I were to buy one of yours for the posted $22 price, then do you get some profit from it?

If I made my own, I would probably buy multiples and then use them for gifts etc, so am interested to know what my ability to sell through zazzle is?

And, can you tell us your comparison to the Lulu product - I made lul calendars last year and they were okay, but not really high photo quality. I'd love to hear detailed comparisons.

Again, lovely job.

ann

Hey Ann! And thanks!

Frankly I'm not sure how their "royalty" works yet, but I should be setup to get 10%. I do think $22 is high for anyone to buy a calendar online, but like you I'm more interested in buying some for Christmas gifts and direct sales etc so with the 30% discount and additional 10% bulk discount for buying 12 (or more) it'll bring down the cost to closer to $15 each including taxes and shipping. Anything else that may sell online is just gravy.

The Lulu calendars I got last year were not terrible, but certainly not good enough to sell either. The colors were washed out with some banding quite easily seen. Nothing I'd care to sell and put my name on it. I even sent some back and they sent me some more (nice customer service) but the quality just didn't improve so I didn't buy but a few.

By comparison, I love the 11x14 format for photography! The colors were off just a tad on a couple of the shots, but to be fair I think my new computer setup could be as much as fault. Although I calibrated the monitor I have to tweak my own prints and have had to resort to making more proofs than I did on my other workstation. I know need to recheck that I have my ICC profiles are setup correctly.

Holler if you have anything other or more detailed questions!

I'm going to place an order for at least a dozen tomorrow and will let you know if anything changes.

Llywellyn

I use Zazzle a lot, actually. You are set up to get royalties, but if you buy one of your own products, you get it "at cost." I've gotten t-shirts, mugs, and notecards from them. The notecards come in a box with envelopes if you order 10 or more (make a great gift using your own photography). And I will be using them to print up baby announcement cards on their postcard stock (which allows you to remove their logo from the back!).

I've been very happy with all the products I've created with/received from them.

cmason

CalfeeRider wrote:

Well, after two bad experiences with Lulu...

What didn't you like about LuLu? was the quality of the calendar poor or....? Interested, since I am about to 'push the button' on a LuLu order...

Ann McRae

cmason wrote:

What didn't you like about LuLu? was the quality of the calendar poor or....? Interested, since I am about to 'push the button' on a LuLu order...

From Jack's answer to me:

The Lulu calendars I got last year were not terrible, but certainly not good enough to sell either. The colors were washed out with some banding quite easily seen. Nothing I'd care to sell and put my name on it. I even sent some back and they sent me some more (nice customer service) but the quality just didn't improve so I didn't buy but a few.

My experience from Lulu was this: the calendars are nice, but not like a store bought glossy photo quality calendar. Banding, on large areas of blue sky in particular, is fairly well documented and I experienced it as well.

I ordered the smaller size calendars; apparently the quality on the Lulu products is better on the larger size.

I am looking to showcase my work, and would love to kick the quality up a notch. And I would love a way to keep costs down at the same time

ann

gman33

I just signed up with zazzle and waiting for some t-shirts to arive. What I really liked about the interface is seeing what the product looks like with a photo or text...even on the models. I will have to sign up to their associates program when I receive my shirts

Thanks for pointing them out to me

gman33

Quick update

Order 5 shirts from them...logo came out nice on the front but they forgot my URL on the back...had to send them back and wait for reprints.

Client had shirts made using a graphic design I did for her son...same thing...forgot the backs and put a couple on the wrong shirt

Not a good experience..and not sure why I would have to send back the old shirts...inventory maybe...but two strikes so far

Just an FYI...oh and their shirts run smaller...so if you take a large, order an extra large ;-)

fotofool

SmugMug/MyCanvas Calendars
MyCanvas and SmugMug have partnered to offer an awesome option for calendars. You can check out the calendars as well as photobooks and posters at smugmug.mycanvas.com.

• There is a 20% off coupon code, SMHOLIDAY, that can be entered at checkout which is valid until midnight, December 24th.

We'd love to hear what you think.

Llywellyn

Aw, man! Wish the code had been up last week! I was watching your calendar pages like a hawk and jumped when they finally went active. Just got notice my order shipped, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys produce.

JDrake

I use cafepress for my calendars. I just put together 2 new ones this year. One on Rare Horse breeds and another on The Akhal-Teke horse. I ordered one for myself of the Akhal-Teke calendar and I was really impressed with the quality. The paper it is printed on is really nice and the print job wasn't too shabby either... especially for a print on demand. Here is a link if anyone wants to check my calendars out: http://www.cafepress.com/paintingpony/3888759