4 Over versus Zoo - Red Tag - explained
4 Over versus Zoo - Red Tag - explained
Before deciding i would compare with 4over's red tag project which is the same concept. I like their service and selection of products better but really like the once a week free delivery and cheap, quick shipping I get here in NY.
I am also interested in both so please let us know what you decide and why.
thanks
You, sir, are greatly misinformed. It is not the same concept AT ALL. I have personal knowledge of and experience with both. Read on for the differences.
Zoo gives you a private label site produces by Eon Code which is pre-populated with their product. You determine the markup based on the very low margins they give you to choose from (at least it was that way when they launched it). When someone places an order, the payment goes to you and the artwork goes to Zoo. You have to then review the artwork and make your payment at your discounted rate to Zoo. The problem is that you cannot make bulk price changes or set markup based on item type. Every product, quantity and configuration is a different product. If you want to change all of your prices by 1%, i you would literally have to go in and make thousands of price changes on-by-one.
RedTag is 4Over's way to ruin your business. It is a despicable program and enough to make me leave them. I have been a very loyal reseller of their's for years, but this is a game changer. Here is how it really works: They have a site that takes retail orders (from anyone, including customers they may have gone to you or maybe your current customers). They then, supposedly, distribute those sales to members of the program (for now, I have no reason to think they don't , but how would we know?) All sounds good so far, BUT here is the catch - take a look at the prices. You might make 10% and in some cases much less. You might argue, "who cares? It is found money". Not so fast - you now own all of the customer service problems. They cannot contact 4Over. Even though 4Over got the money directly, you are their only point of contact. You may have made $3 selling a set of business cards or nothing selling a banner, but they gave you a customer. They will argue that the customer is now yours so you can make money with other business with them. Right, except they will always look at Red Tag pricing which makes you nothing and maybe the next time they order they order through the site again since that is how they got to you in the first place, then they go to some other printer (though 4Over may keep track and send them back to you, this I am unsure about). Either way, they are controlling the pricing, not you. If you leave the program, what do you think will happen?
Here is the bottom line, and if you take away one thing, take this away: 4Over came up with a plan on how to start selling retail without having to deal with the headaches of retail. They still make the same amount of money as if they sold through a broker. They are attempting to price-fix the market since now they will be your competition. They think that their brokers are so stupid that they could not see through this garbage. Anyone who joins this program is an absolute fool. 4Over says this is to compete with Vista Print - this is BS, Vista Print sells garbage - that is not my market. My market are customers who want better quality.
4Over is trying to steal your business and your time - if you are a broker with them, write to them and let them know what you think of this nonsense. Zoo is better, but is still trying to keep your profits at a minimum. Both of them want you to pay for this privilege. You could not pay ME $300 a month to join either program. I truly hope that 4Over gets rid of this before it puts them out of business because, believe me that cannot sell retail direct because their customer service can't even handle the volume of resellers they have nor do any of them care what you think, no matter how much business you give them.
I welcome your responses and inquiries - ESPECIALLY if you work for 4Over.
