CafePress is in the midst of a series of price changes for its political paraphernalia, and as they cascade through the system you should be able to see their striking effect.
Take for instance, this Veterans for Obama button.
Veterans for Obama Button — $3.95 (not including shipping and handling), CafePress production
A couple of months ago, you could have bought this button or another like it on CafePress for $2.50, plus shipping and handling. Now it’s selling for $3.95 a button, and that’s not even the full price. CafePress charges $1.00 shipping and handling for you to get a button sent to you in 7-9 business days (that’s 9-11 actual days), which is the timeline for parcel post. If you want the button sent to you in 4-6 business days, which is the speed of first class mail, it’ll cost you an additional $7.00. That’s right: CafePress will charge you $10.95 to receive a button at the speed of first class mail.
For longer than we’ve been selling buttons through CafePress, we’ve been making and shipping our own. They are of the same size (2.25 inches) and have the same manufacture (sturdy metal pinback buttons created in heavy-duty press machines) as CafePress buttons. We churn them out in our attics and basements when the writing day is done. Here’s the same Veterans Against Bush button for sale in our own Election 2008 button shop:
Veterans for Obama Button — $2.75 (including shipping and handling), Irregular Times production
It’s a different thumbnail graphic, but it results in the same button, And yes, that’s $2.75 including shipping and handling. We ship first class. Don’t worry, we make a little bit of money off of the venture through our own shop, but apparently a bit of profit is not enough for CafePress. CafePress is a huge operation with all sorts of economies of scale. It’s surely more efficient in its button production and shipping than we are. So if we can make a little bit of money off of a $2.75 button that we make and send ourselves, can you figure out how much money CafePress makes off of a $10.75 button?
It’s exorbitant and it’s gouging and there’s no excuse for it on CafePress’ part, other than the fact that they think they can get away with it.
We have no intention of following suit at our own button shop. We not only plan on keeping our prices low, but also plan to add more designs to the hundreds already available at our shop. If you take a gander at our button shop and don’t find the sort of button you’re looking for, send us an e-mail or leave a comment here with your request. If we like your idea, we’d be happy to oblige by promptly adding a new design for you.
