Yes, just in case you did not get the reminder, February’s check will be the last check in which Cafepress will be adjusting your checks to make their decisions to adjust the volume bonus program a little less painful.

Hello,

In July 2008, we introduced the new Shop Performance Bonus program (effective September 1, 2008). As with any change that may impact our Shopkeepers, we wanted to reduce the effect of this transition for those most affected. A “transition payment” was offered for sales from September 2008 through December 2008 which guaranteed that under the Shop Performance Bonus, checks would be at least a certain percentage of what they would have been with the former bonus plan.

December sales; February check (last month under the “transition plan”)
Under the transition plan, your February check (December sales) will include an adjustment so your total check income will be at least 75% of what you would have received with the old bonus plan. You will see this adjustment as a separate line item labeled “One-Off Adjustment 75% guarantee – Dec sales” in your Transaction Report.

If you would like to see how your “transition payment” was calculated, you can refer to the bonus calculator. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact customer support at 877-809-1659.

Best regards,
CafePress Team

Once again, a painful reminder that while other PoDs are competing seriously for our business, Cafepress seems to be taking their established shopkeepers for granted. In the current economic situation, it will be certainly educational to see if Cafepress can continue onward and upward based solely on ineria alone while other sites like Zazzle are picking up the slack and giving better bonus structures.

Cafepress really only cares about their bottom line, which is fine, and if they are able to get enough new shopkeepers to sign up to keep their profits going up they will keep treating shopkeepers the way they did with the volume bonus deal. If they cannot, you might see a turn around in their thinking.