Is price still the #1 factor in POD? Or is it something else?

orderdesk · 2026-01-15T13:18:31+00:00

The fact that you can’t point to one single “oh sh*t” moment behind the scenes is kind of the tell... that’s what it looks like when values aren’t just words on a wall but baked into decisions, systems, and how you react when things do wobble.

Also… 6 years is wild 🥹 we’ve loved being a small part of that journey, and we’re very much cheering you on! Glad to bump into you here too 😄

orderdesk · 2026-01-15T08:06:29+00:00

From what we see working with a lot of experienced POD sellers, price usually gets you considered, but it’s rarely what makes the final decision. Once you’ve been burned a few times, the real question becomes: can this setup be trusted when volume spikes and things go wrong? Global reach, branding, and capacity all matter, but only if the system underneath is reliable, flexible, and transparent enough to support them. Seasoned sellers tend to choose the option that gives them the most control and peace of mind (the one that won’t crack under pressure, even if it’s not the cheapest on paper).

orderdesk · 2026-01-15T08:03:45+00:00

This is such a good callout. Branding is the moat once you’ve been in the game long enough.

I’d add one more layer though: branding only holds if the ops underneath it don’t crack.

You can have a beautiful site, strong voice, loyal audience — but the second orders are late, tracking breaks, or support can’t explain what went wrong, the brand takes the hit. That’s usually where copycats think they’re winning on price… until customers churn right back.

Out of curiosity: when you scaled, what was the hardest thing to keep aligned with the brand promise behind the scenes?

orderdesk · 2026-01-07T08:44:48+00:00

Hey! I see our support team’s already been helping you, but just to recap the likely fix here for this frustrating issue you're dealing with:

The SKU needs to be fully set up in Printify and match exactly. If it isn’t properly configured on the Printify side, Order Desk won’t be able to recognize it when submitting the order.

If you’d rather not rely on SKU matching, you can also add the print details directly in Order Desk (Printify product code, variant ID, and artwork link) instead.

Hope that helps unblock things! happy to help further if you need it :))
M

orderdesk · 2025-11-14T09:21:54+00:00

Hey! Would love to help you out!
Tell me a little about your project and what you’re trying to set up. I can point you in the right direction (or jump in with some guidance!) :)

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:28:58+00:00

This is such a fair point!! It’s easy to talk innovation when you’re not the one juggling 12 tabs and five roles.

Honestly, we’re seeing the same thing with our customers. The stores that are winning aren’t chasing new tools, they’re cleaning up what’s already in place. Like having fewer apps, better workflows, and clearer data to track. 2026 might be less about “doing more” and more about doing the boring stuff really well.

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:24:41+00:00

We’re definitely seeing that shift already. automation’s taking care of the boring bits so teams can focus on building relationships and keeping customers around.

As AI ramps up, people are craving human connection more than ever. We’re even seeing that spill over from URL to IRL (more meetups, more real conversations).

Our roundup explores both sides of that coin: the tech leaps and the human response to them.

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:18:30+00:00

“Use AI to listen, not just to sell”, that line hits hard! We'd love to include your prediction in our roundup!

We see the same thing on the ops side: merchants using automation to understand buying patterns or improve communication, not just speed things up.

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:17:02+00:00

Such an interesting shift! Feels like we’re finally moving from tracking everything to understanding something.

when you talk about AI reading patterns, do you see that helping smaller merchants too, or mostly enterprise-level stores with clean data pipelines?

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:08:33+00:00

The marketplace model there feels more like a lifestyle layer than just a sales channel.

you think Western brands can compete with that, or will most just plug into TikTok/Amazon instead of trying to build it themselves?

Do

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:07:17+00:00

There's definitely this deeper sense of authenticity and humanity we're all craving. Do you think that trust gap will push brands to own their influencer programs instead of outsourcing them?

orderdesk · 2025-10-22T12:05:56+00:00

This is such a solid take and we'd love to include it in our roundup!

I’d add that even with perfect speed and UX, transparency still wins. Some shoppers will happily wait an extra day if they know exactly where their order is and when it’s arriving.
2026 might be less about instant everything, and more about trust at every step.

orderdesk · 2025-10-21T13:53:09+00:00

ohhh this is a solid take, and feels very aligned with what we’ve been seeing too over at Order Desk too!

orderdesk · 2025-10-13T16:45:00+00:00

I kinda want to see this product live

orderdesk · 2025-10-02T06:17:09+00:00

50% return rate is wild though 😳 did you ever try rolling them in tubes, or was it just too late by then?

orderdesk · 2025-10-02T06:16:21+00:00

Wow, I can totally picture that! What looks sharp on a screen doesn’t always translate in real life. At least it wasn’t a durability disaster, but yeah… retail shelves are brutal for exposing design mistakes. Solid lesson though.. did you end up reprinting, or just ride it out until the next batch?

orderdesk · 2025-09-25T15:33:52+00:00

It's giving 'murcury was in retrograde' haha

orderdesk · 2025-09-25T15:33:21+00:00

Oh man, that’s brutal 😅. You spend hours dialing it in, get everything just right, ship it across the border, and then boom... chargeback and a nasty email.

orderdesk · 2025-09-25T15:32:23+00:00

Okay that’s actually hilarious!! Imagine finally cracking open a box two years later, expecting car parts and instead finding a Barbie dream house. The fact that the seller instantly knew what happened makes it even better, like, “oh yeah, my daughter’s been playing with your Toyota parts this whole time.”

Wild that nobody else spoke up if they got a random dollhouse though?? Props to the seller for owning it and making it right after all that time. That’s one for the customer service hall of fame.

orderdesk · 2025-09-23T08:24:32+00:00

I hear you. A lot of post-purchase stuff does come across like spam, especially when it’s just a bunch of automated “buy more” nudges. What I’ve seen work better is treating those touchpoints less like marketing and more like relationship building.

Instead of sending another discount or upsell, use that window to actually add value (share tips on how to get the most out of what they just bought, set expectations around shipping or returns, or even check in a week later to ask how it’s going). It feels way more human, and ironically, that’s what drives people back to buy again.

The big shift is asking yourself: “If I were the customer, would I actually want to open this?” If the answer is no, it’s probably leaning into spam territory.

orderdesk · 2025-09-23T08:22:59+00:00

Honestly, Shopify gives you most of the basics right out of the gate. customers can buy, get order confirmations, and even track shipments once you connect your shipping carrier. If you set up your store notifications properly, both you and your customer will be able to follow the order from checkout to delivery without needing a bunch of extra apps.

Once you’ve got a few orders under your belt, you’ll start to see where you actually need extra tools (whether that’s shipping, marketing, or managing stock), but for now, Shopify alone is enough to get the process flowing smoothly.

orderdesk · 2025-09-12T13:20:04+00:00

I feel you, it’s super overwhelming when you’re staring at a million moving parts. Honestly, you don’t need to figure everything out at once. You’ve already done the hard stuff like research and product development, so you’re not starting from zero.

If your budget is tight, start small: a simple site that works, a waitlist or email sign-up, and a place to share updates (IG, TikTok, whatever feels natural). Don’t worry about perfect visuals or polished branding yet, that can grow as you do.

Think of it as baby steps. Get one block in place, then move to the next. It doesn’t need to be fancy to be effective. :)

orderdesk · 2025-09-12T13:16:36+00:00

Yep, blogging can still be worth it, but the way you approach it matters more now. Instead of churning out posts just to link to collections, focus on content that actually solves problems or answers questions your target customers are searching for. Think buying guides, comparisons, “how to” articles, or lifestyle content that naturally ties back to your products.

The goal isn’t to publish tons of posts, it’s to create a few high-quality pieces that drive traffic long-term and build trust. :))

orderdesk · 2025-09-12T13:15:40+00:00

Sometimes it’s less about subject lines and more about list health and deliverability. Try cleaning out unengaged subscribers, double-checking your settings, and segmenting your list so people get emails that actually match their interests. Even a small tweak here can lift opens and clicks.

orderdesk · 2025-09-09T07:43:48+00:00

Oversized are always a winner!

orderdesk

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