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| I just noticed that Zazzle has quietly removed blank stamp designs, with or without border, from the Public Gallery. I'll find out why exactly. Hmmm!... |
I could write a whole illustrated book about this subject. Someday, maybe I will. :)
Look at the above borderless stamp design: it's based on the initial image of a blank stamp from zazzle.com, from which I have removed the black border, for extra space and designing effects, such as irregular contours.
The point for that is to show you that YOU can further customize a blank design, with or without border, with image(s) and custom text of your choice, pending final approval from Zazzle.
Designing is FREE!!!
Then you can put the approved design in your Private Gallery, or in the Public Gallery (where people can buy it and you receive royalty from Zazzle).
In the above design, besides the mandatory info about zazzle.com, do you see any advertisement?
Say No, "coz it ain't".
It doesn't have to be, if you so choose.
Like this:
I often hear comments like: "I don't like personalized stamps; I prefer the regular stamps!".
Dear Sirs and Madams [although Madam may mean various things]: that is a FALSE DICHOTOMY.
It's not EITHER personalized, OR regular stamps.
They are not mutually exclusive.
Do you see ONLY personalized stamps in my blog, for example?
No.
I like many regular stamps, and I like many personalized ones.
I like them because I like THEM, not automatically because they fall into either one of those two categories.
After a while, I decided to "sign" my stamp designs:
Later on, I decided that since nobody seems to even see my stamp creations, let alone buy, I should advertise my zazzle little shop, by including the info: Design by zazzle.com/dorinco*.
The asterisc after dorinco is VERY important because Zazzle tracks referrals by that, with a number code in the address.
Like this:
In the above picture, top row, the second tiger from the left is a customized version of somebody else's tiger stamp at Zazzle.
So, I could customize, create and buy THAT, but I could not put THAT new design in MY Public Gallery - I was not the original author; just a customizer, a subsequent author.
See how I chose to remove the border for that, just for Schitzengiggels?
The above stamp, about euphemism - do I really believe that ANYBODY would like to buy it?
Translation: are you crazy???
:)
That euphemism thingie was just "for entertainment purposes only".
Why did I do it?
I'll answer like Bill Clinton:
The obvious advantage, for me [how come YOU don't see it?] is that personalized stamps can fill a hole, a gap in your stamp collection.
Is there a subject...
...that never appeared on ANY stamp, ANYWHERE in the world?
Then YOU do it, for [your] sake!!!
When it comes to buying, there are tips and tricks about not paying full retail.
[A VOICE FROM THE PUBLIC]: Like what? Like what?
[DORIN]: Like creating a design for the Public Gallery, then customizing all your future designs based on that initial design, even if you remove completely its initial image and text, and replace them.
Like using the 10% discount that Zazzle gives you for a future order over $45 or so.
Like various Holidays discounts.
Like $5 off if you post on zazzle's blog a photo of you with a zazzle product that you designed and purchased.
Like special promotions, such as in the past July 2010, when you could have purchased zazzle stamps AT FACE VALUE!!!
Get it? :)
Now I'll do something for which Google, in their wisdom, might penalize me with "artificial demoting in search ranking", coz they'll think I'm spamming you by simply exposing you to stuff that, yes, can be purchased.
As if you are an addict that HAS to buy everything that comes in sight!
:)
Links for more info about this subject:
More links, to personalized stamps from USA and about 25 more countries:
My friend, Peter C. Elias, has a lot of information and examples of interesting personalized stamps
Dentelli Stravaganti [Unusual stamps] - images of personalized stamps from around the world!
The personalized stamps (from many countries) section of "A World-Wide List of Turtles and Tortoises on Stamps" by Donald N. Riemer
============
I just got off the phone with Zazzle (1-888-8ZAZZLE).
Here's the trick:
[for the record, I leave as "text with strikethrough line" the previous statements, and conflicting statements from Zazzle phone reps]
To design US zazzle stamps, you can do it ONLY thru zazzle.com.
NOT thru any of these sites: http://www.zazzle.com/international.
UPDATE: contrary to what I thought (and to what was confirmed on the phone by zazzle rep), the subsequent email from her shows that YOU CAN DESIGN Zazzle US postage from (at least) the following 4 local sites:
**In the case of orders placed through Zazzle's International web portals, the local tax and customs fees are covered by Zazzle. Separate customs charges will not apply unless the order is shipped outside of the region covered by the portal's distinct agreement with the local customs office. For more information, on what to expect when ordering through one of the Zazzle international portals, please select your local Zazzle site:
To buy zazzle stamps from outside US, you can do it ONLY thru an international zazzle site (local site): http://www.zazzle.com/international.
NOT thru zazzle.com.
To have that postage shipped, your country HAS TO BE on the approved list.
If not, you arrange with somebody from such a country.
OK? :)
"Currently we do offer Stamps for sale internationally.
It is important to note the following regarding international orders for Zazzle stamps:
1. International orders for Zazzle Stamps are only available through our international websites (not through www.Zazzle.com). Attempting to ship stamps outside of the U.S. through the www.zazzle.com portal will result in an error during the checkout process.
2. All Zazzle stamps are sold in US denominations pre-determined by the US Postal Sevice. A full list of those available denominations follow:
* $0.28: postcards
* $0.44: First-class, 1 oz
* $0.64: 1 oz mailings, unusual shapes
* $0.61: 2 oz mailings
* $0.78: 3 oz mailings
* $0.95: 3.5 oz mailings
* $1.39: 4 oz mailings
* $4.90: Priority Mail (up to 16 oz)
3. You can get started with your International Zazzle Stamp order here:
UPDATE 02 March 2011:
Because yesterday I had another Zazzle rep tell me on the phone that "you can only design and buy zazzle stamps thru zazzle.com" regardless of where you are in the world, I have emailed Zazzle about all this.
Here's the answer:
UPDATE 16 MARCH 2011
I spoke on the phone 1-888-8ZAZZLE (1-888-892-9953)with Jillina @zazzle, and she checked with her supervisor.
Zazzle stamps can ONLY be shipped to an US address!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The best procedure is this:
1) you can design zazzle personalized stamps by registering at zazzle.com (the main US website of Zazzle), regardless of where in the world you reside.
Put them in the Public Gallery so you can receive royalty payments (thru PayPal or check) from Zazzle, should your products find buyers!
2) you can order zazzle stamps ONLY from zazzle.com (not the regional zazzle portals!), regardless of where in the world is your billing address associated with your credit card.
3) you can ONLY receive those stamps at an address in USA! So you better get a partner/friend in USA! :)
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Happy Sunday Stamps!
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