We made a few updates to the structure of the Marketplace URLs for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) reasons. This update will not affect Shopkeepers. If you are linking to the Marketplace, the “old” URL will simply redirect to the new URL structure.

Examples of new URLs for the Marketplace:

Search Results: http://mugs.cafepress.com/dog

Product Page: http://mugs.cafepress.com/item/crabby-snoopy-large-mug/68681752

As we grow our merchandise selection we look at many different methods that contribute to a healthy merchandise line. In this process we routinely aim to satisfy buyers, and the needs of both Shopkeepers and CafePress; after all, the success of one leads to the success of the other. So far, you’ve mostly seen these strategies play out in two ways; new products and discontinued products.

In early July (we’re aiming for July 10) we’ll introduce a third way; distribution. Just like a Shopkeeper may offer different products in different sections to please different buyers, we’re beginning to look at what items are offered and where. With this change the Value T-Shirt will become available exclusively through individual shops, and will no longer be available through the CafePress Marketplace, or Create & Buy.

There are two primary reasons behind this decision:

• We’re moving toward higher quality products that are directly associated with the CafePress brand. We’ve learned that a majority of buyers view the Marketplace as the “CafePress Store,” and the dissatisfaction for the Value T-Shirt, sold through the marketplace, was leading to a poor overall image of CafePress products.
• We’ve had lower than acceptable customer satisfaction on the Value T-Shirt. We look at many factors when determining overall customer satisfaction on products. This includes sales rates, return rates, buyer survey scores, perceived quality, and more. Unfortunately this product routinely misses the bar.

For more information, please see the following FAQ’s. 

Sincerely,

The Cafepress Merchandise Team

Value T FAQ

1. Why is CafePress removing the Value T-Shirt from the Marketplace?
2. What will happen to the Value T-Shirts that I currently have in my shop?
3. What will happen if I only have Value T-Shirts in my shop without the images replicated on the Men’s Basic White T-Shirt?
4. Will CafePress offset any lost sales that I experience as a result of the removal of the Value T-Shirt from the Marketplace?
5. What will my customers see if they first come to the Marketplace and click through to my shop?
6. If you feel the Value T-Shirt is a lower quality than you want directly associated with the Marketplace why are you keeping it at all?
7. How bad is customer satisfaction on the Value T-Shirt compared to other white T-shirts?
8. The Value T-Shirt is 5.5 oz cotton with a 2 on the thickness scale and a few other products are very similar in weight and thickness. Are they really significantly different in quality?
9. Were there really very many returns on these?
10. Is this decision based on the confusion between the basic white T-Shirt and the Value T-Shirt?
11. Will the Value T-Shirt become available in the Marketplace again in the future?
12. CafePress has never restricted products from being included in the Marketplace, why now, why the Value T-Shirt?
13. Why not just discontinue the Value T-Shirt?
14. If a buyer adds a Value T-Shirt to their cart while shopping in an individual shop, and then links to the Marketplace, what happens in the Cart? Does the Value T-Shirt remain?

Value T FAQ

1. Why is CafePress removing the Value T-Shirt from the Marketplace?There are two primary reasons:
   • We’re moving toward higher quality products that are directly associated with the CafePress brand. We’ve learned that a majority of buyers view the Marketplace as the “CafePress Store,” and the dissatisfaction for the Value T-Shirt, sold through the marketplace, was leading to a poor overall image of CafePress products.
   • We’ve had lower than acceptable customer satisfaction on the Value T-Shirt. We look at many factors when determining overall customer satisfaction on products. This includes sales rates, return rates, buyer survey scores, perceived quality, and more. Unfortunately this product routinely misses the bar.

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2. What will happen to the Value T-Shirts that I currently have in my shop? We realize that some Shopkeepers may still want to offer the Value T-Shirt within their shops, so our decision to remove Value T-Shirts from the Cafepress Marketplace will not have an impact on the Value T-Shirts that you currently have in your CafePress shop. They just won’t be eligible to be featured in the CafePress Marketplace. If you have the same design replicated on the Men’s Basic White T-Shirt, that product design will remain in the Marketplace.back to top
3. What will happen if I only have Value T-Shirts in my shop without the images replicated on the Men’s Basic White T-Shirt? You will need to add the designs you have featured on the Value T-Shirt to the Men’s Basic White T-Shirt to your shop before July 10th for that design to remain in the Marketplace.back to top
4. Will CafePress offset any lost sales that I experience as a result of the removal of the Value T-Shirt from the Marketplace? No, CafePress will not offset any lost sales based on this change. We are providing advance notice of this change to encourage shopkeepers to update their shops to maintain representation of their Value T-Shirt designs in the Marketplace.back to top
5. What will my customers see if they first come to the Marketplace and click through to my shop? While still in the Marketplace, the Value T-Shirt will not be represented, however once the customer clicks through to your shop, they will be able to see and purchase the Value T-Shirt.back to top
6. If you feel the Value T-Shirt is a lower quality than you want directly associated with the Marketplace why are you keeping it at all? A sampling of Shopkeeper’s has indicated that the Value T-Shirt is appropriate for their shops. And, when given the choice of this option or discontinuing the Value T-Shirt altogether, they preferred to keep it as an exclusive product for the shops.back to top
7. How bad is customer satisfaction on the Value T-Shirt compared to other white T-shirts? We look at many factors when determining overall customer satisfaction on products including sales rates, return rates, buyer survey scores, perceived quality and more. Unfortunately this product routinely misses the bar.back to top
8. The Value T-Shirt is 5.5 oz cotton with a 2 on the thickness scale and a few other products are very similar in weight and thickness. Are they really significantly different in quality? Quality is scored on many levels; besides thickness and weight we also look at cotton quality, the “hand” (how the material feels), stitching, construction, product consistency, cut, and fit. The Value T-Shirt rates low on quality scores across the board.back to top
9. Were there really very many returns on these? Returns were only one factor in this decision, but yes, the return rate for the Value T-Shirt is above average.back to top
10. Is this decision based on the confusion between the basic white T-Shirt and the Value T-Shirt? The primary reasons are explained in the first question above, but part of the overall dissatisfaction is a result of buyer confusion. It is a confusing consumer experience to see the Value T-Shirt next to the Men’s Basic White T-Shirt with a similar retail price.back to top
11. Will the Value T-Shirt become available in the Marketplace again in the future? At this time, we have no plans to reverse this change.back to top
12. CafePress has never restricted products from being included in the Marketplace, why now, why the Value T-Shirt? We’re moving toward higher quality products that are directly associated with the CafePress brand. We’ve learned that a majority of buyers view the Marketplace as the “CafePress Store,” and the dissatisfaction for the Value T-Shirt, sold through the marketplace, was leading to a poor overall image of CafePress products. We looked at two options, discontinuing the product all together, or removing it from the marketplace. We spoke to a sampling of Shopkeepers, and this was the preferred option.back to top
13. Why not just discontinue the Value T-Shirt? This option considered as an option, but we realize that it is a successful product for some Shopkeepers.back to top
14. If a buyer adds a Value T-Shirt to their cart while shopping in an individual shop, and then links to the Marketplace, what happens in the Cart? Does the Value T-Shirt remain? Yes, any Value T-Shirt that has been added to the cart will remain in the cart so the customer can still buy the item.back to top