CafePress vs. GoodStorm
Posted by Jeff August 19, 2006
The Great TShirt Smackdown
I’ve been checking out T-shirt stores recently. I was suprised by CafePress’s (high) prices. Does higher price mean high quality? I aim to find out. I ordered the same shirt from CafePress and GoodStorm on the same day. This page will document my results.
As a consumer, I want a high-quality shirt at a fair price.
As a seller, I want to maximize my profit, minimizing risk and sell a quality product.
The Facts
 CafePress |
 GoodStorm |
|
| Shirt | Python Icon, Fitted T, XL | Python Logo, fitted, XL |
| Description | (1) | (2) |
| Cost | $22.39 | $8.40 |
| Base Price | $15.99 | $8.40 |
| Markup (Profit) | 25%? | 0 |
| Shipping | $5 Flat Shipping (2 days process + 5-6 bus. days transit) | $5.95 Super Saver Shipping Note: Products usually take 2-5 business days to ship in addition to the times listed |
| Order Date | 8/16/2006 | 8/16/2006 |
| Ship Date | 8/19 | |
| Received Date | ||
| Misc | ** $5 coupons for two friends @end of order |
Financials
For a t-shirt seller, all print-on-demand sites work the same way. You have a base price - the price of the shirt. You decide on your markup, which gets split between you and the store.
I’m ordering an XL Men’s Fitted T, printing on one side. The fitted T is towards the high end of the price range. What does fitted mean? I’m not sure, but the marketing copy that implies a veritable babe swarm.
What is the base price, as of 8/17/2006?
CafePress: $15.99
GoodStorm: $8.40
Advantage: GoodStorm.
Next is the revenue split. GoodStorm gives 70% of the profit to the seller. CafePress gives the entire markup. At a price of $16, GoodStorm gives $5.32 of profit–
| Selling Price |
CafePress Profit |
GoodStorm Profit |
| 10 | 1.12 | |
| 12 | 2.52 | |
| 14 | 3.92 | |
| 15 | 4.62 | |
| 16 | .01 | 5.32 |
| 18 | 2.01 | 6.72 |
| 20 | 4.01 | 8.12 |
| 22 | 6.01 | 9.52 |
| 24 | 8.01 | 10.92 |
What will people pay for a shirt? $15 seems about right to me.
From the seller’s perspective: to make $5 in profit, they would have to charge the following:
$20.99
$15.54
Advantage: GoodStorm.
Shirt Quality
GoodStorm: “Our ‘Fitted/Fashion,’ ‘Babydoll’ and ‘Organic’ shirts are American Apparel.” (source: email)
Print Quality (TBD)
Fulfillment Times
8/18: CafePress email saying order has shipped. Email has UPS tracking link.
Misc Links
Coupon Games
Misc Fees: http://help.cafepress.com/hc/s-74058960/cmd/kbreso…This page will be updated. Stay tuned.
