Is Redbubble Legit? How Safe and Legit is Redbubble in 2024?

If you’ve ever considered purchasing custom products from artists online, or thought about launching your own print-on-demand business, you’ve probably asked this question. Redbubble is certainly one of the better-known print on demand marketplaces in the world today.

In fact, the site has earned about 24.3 million visits from customers worldwide. For both sellers and customers alike, Redbubble offers a unique experience.

Customers can order personalized products from independent creators worldwide, and sellers can capture the attention of endless consumers.

But is Redbubble safe, legit, and reliable for 2024?

Is Redbubble Legit? What Is Redbubble?

To answer the question: “Is Redbubble legit?” we first need to define what Redbubble is. Redbubble is an online print-on-demand marketplace, designed to connect artists and creators with customers searching for unique, custom-made products.

Customers can browse the app or site to find the designs they like, printed on phone cases, t-shirts, stickers, hoodies, home décor and more. They can then purchase those items through the Redbubble website, and the company produces the products and delivers them directly to their door.

Though Redbubble is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, it operates globally. There are more than 700,000 artists on the platform, and the company has served millions of customers worldwide.

What Products Does Redbubble Sell?

The range of products available from Redbubble is huge. As a vendor of print-on-demand products, Redbubble essentially provides creators with “white label” items they can customize however they like. These products are then sold at a markup price on the Redbubble marketplace, allowing creators to earn a profit, without having to actually create any items themselves.

The variety of products available include:

• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Phone cases
• Home Décor
• Wall art
• Stickers
• Stationary
• Kids clothes
• Pet supplies

Notably, some of these products can be customized further by consumers before they’re purchased. For instance, an artist can allow consumers to access their unique designs on t-shirts in a range of different colors.

Is Redbubble Legit for Buyers?

For consumers, Redbubble is a legitimate company. It’s an official business, headquartered in Melbourne, and it’s been operating since 2006. Though the company isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau, it is listed on channels like TrustPilot, where it’s earned an average score of 3.8 stars out of 5. That’s not the best rating we’ve seen, but it’s not terrible either.

Redbubble is a popular site, used by countless consumers worldwide. The company offers secure payment tools, has an excellent customer support team, and even offers free return, exchange, and money-back guarantees for orders.

Where Redbubble usually falls short in the eyes of many consumers, is in the variation between its products. Though the quality of the items produced by Redbubble can be excellent, they can also vary depending on a number of factors.

If artists don’t upload the best-quality high-resolution images to the site, some prints can seem grainy or off-focus. Additionally, it’s always possible for some items to be damaged in transit, particularly when they’re being shipped over long distances.

Does Redbubble Give Returns and Refunds?

As mentioned above, one thing that does make Redbubble a relatively safe choice for consumers, is it’s willingness to offer returns and refunds. You can get your money back if you’re not happy with a purchase, but there are some caveats to the rules.

For instance, you’ll need to ensure you contact Redbubble to request a refund, or make a return within 90 days of receiving your order. Additionally, Redbubble might not accept returns for just any reason.

If you decide you don’t like the design of a product, or change your mind about a purchase for no reason, you might not get your money back.

Redbubble only offers returns when an item is actually damaged, or doesn’t meet your expectations. It’s also worth noting you won’t necessarily be refunded the cost of shipping. You may also only receive store credit for certain returns.

Is Redbubble Expensive? Redbubble Costs

Depending on the products you want to purchase from Redbubble, you might think the prices are a little high. However, it’s worth remembering Redbubble doesn’t set the prices entirely on their own. They’re third-party printers. This means they allow online business owners and content creators to add their own designs to POD products.

Artists need to be paid a small commission for their designs, which means you will pay a little extra for high-quality products with excellent designs. Ultimately, the cost of every item on Redbubble.com is determined based on the base price of the product, the price of creating or printing the order, and the cost of shipping it to you directly.

Some artists on the platform may also require a higher profit margin, particularly if they’re well-known influencers and creators. Notably, it’s worth remembering that although Redbubble describes its products as “officially licensed merch”, it doesn’t come directly from big brands.

This could be part of the reason so many people think the price of certain types of products is a little too high. However, it’s worth remembering you are getting a custom item.

Is Redbubble Ethical? Redbubble Ethics

Both entrepreneurs considering working with Redbubble to earn an artist margin, and consumers in search of unique products should consider the ethics of the business. Ultimately, how ethical you deem Redbubble to be will depend on your opinion.

The company does have a strict policy against hate speech, and prevents independent artists from creating offensive content. It also has moderators in place to review all items before they’re approved for a sale. From a sustainability perspective, Redbubble is relatively eco-friendly.

Although the company doesn’t specialize in “green” products, like some alternative POD vendors, it does produce most of its goods in the same location they’re ordered, which can help to reduce emissions. Redbubble has third-party partners all over the world, so it doesn’t have to rely too heavily on extensive delivery and shipping journeys.

Redbubble also participates in schemes designed to offset the carbon emissions generated from shipping their products. However, some artists have complained that the company doesn’t deliver the best profit margins to its creators.

What do People Say About Redbubble?

People are pretty opinionated about Redbubble. You can find a lot of reviews online, from content creators and consumers alike. As mentioned above, the company has a 3.8 score on TrustPilot, which is decent, considering it has earned over 25,000 reviews. Around 65% of these reviews give the company a five-star rating, while 21% rate Redbubble as a 1-star company.

Most people generally feel happy with the experience they get from Redbubble, whether they’re a creator or a consumer, but there are some complaints out there.

Some consumers say their orders don’t match their quality standards. Others say they find it takes too long to receive their order after placing a purchase. Shipping times can vary depending on your location, though Redbubble does have delivery partners around France, Canda, the US, UK, and AU.

Is Redbubble Safe for Creators?

While Redbubble is generally considered “legit” by most consumers, it’s worth thinking about its legitimacy from a creator standpoint too.

On the one hand, Redbubble can be a fantastic tool for creators looking to earn a little extra cash to their PayPal or Bank accounts.

Rather than having to set up a store on Etsy and create their own clothing, or sell products through an ecommerce platform, artists can use Redbubble to sell items to customers with minimal risks. Redbubble allows businesses to create various types of products, and sell them for a decent retail price, paving the way for a good source of passive income.

Plus, since the user-friendly platform already has a wide audience of consumers, it’s relatively easy for talented artists to find potential customers.

As an added bonus, Redbubble is free to use, with no subscription costs. Companies and creators don’t pay anything to use the service, but they also don’t earn their full profit from each item. Instead, artists are paid a commission based on the profit margin they set for their own designs.

While Redbubble could be a good alternative to setting up a complex online store, and running your own online business, complete with inventory management and shipping, the profit margins may be a little lower than they would be if you built your brand from scratch.

On the plus side, Redbubble does appeal to a wide range of creators. It even has its own “fan art program” which allows artists to make money from their designs. Artists can submit designs to be featured on a huge range of products, which are sold directly by Redbubble.

How Much Can Creators Earn on Redbubble?

Choosing Redbubble as your POD solution can be an easy way to earn money from your own designs. Redbubble ship and create products on your behalf, so you don’t have to manage inventory or buy any supplies yourself. However, you won’t necessarily earn a fortune straight away.

Redbubble adds a default markup of 20% for artists onto each item, and artists can choose to adjust this up or down depending on how much they think their items are worth.

Although you can’t choose the exact price of your products, as Redbubble sets the price of the base item, you can decide exactly what your profit margin should be.

Plus, it’s worth noting that the company doesn’t charge any selling or listing fees, so you won’t lose any money by selling through the platform.

How Do Artists Get Paid on Redbubble?

If you’re wondering how artists receive their money from Redbubble, the simple answer is PayPal. Creators are asked to provide their PayPal account details to the company when they sign up for account. This means they can accept commissions directly whenever they make a sale.

Notably, however, negative reviews point out that you don’t get paid for your sales immediately. Payments are made on the 1^st of every month, for the sales you make in the month before. This means it can take a while to see your earnings.

How Trustworthy is Redbubble?

Redbubble’s customer reviews from both consumers and creators can vary depending on where you look. Some people believe the company is highly trustworthy, offering an exceptional range of items. Others have suggested the website is a “scam” due to higher prices on some items, and the variable quality of products.

However, overall, Redbubble is a reasonably trustworthy site. It has a fair return policy, and does its best to deliver excellent customer service. While it’s true that the product quality can vary, the same could be said of virtually any online marketplace offering POD solutions.

If you’re a creator or a seller, you can trust Redbubble to pay you the money you earn, protect your rights, and deliver a relatively consistent level of service.

Redbubble also offers benefits like:

• Direct access to a huge audience of potential customers worldwide
• Access to an easy source of passive income
• A low-risk business model with no inventory management
• Automated order fulfillment for your customers
• Access to a wide range of products
• Shipping all throughout the US, EU, Canada, and other regions

Best Alternatives to Redbubble

Although Redbubble does have a reasonably good reputation overall, it’s far from the only print-on-demand solution or marketplace companies and consumers can consider.

Some Redbubble alternatives offer a very similar experience to the popular marketplace, allowing organizations to sell through an existing platform. Others allow companies to integrate the POD service into their existing ecommerce platform or to tools like eBay and Amazon.

Some of the most popular Redbubble alternatives include:

1. Printful

Printful is one of the most popular print on demand solutions in the world. Not only does it offer access to a wide range of high-quality products, but it includes a fantastic set of design tools, and can integrate with a variety of ecommerce platforms and marketplaces. However, there aren’t any built-in analytics available on the app.

2. Printify

Similar to Printful, Printify is a print on demand solution that can integrate with a host of valuable ecommerce tools and marketplaces. The platform is easy to use, with automatic syncing and a free mockup generator. The company also gives businesses access to a wide variety of suppliers, making it easier to find the right vendor to create your product and ship it quickly to your target customer.

3. Sellfy

Sellfy is an ecommerce and print on demand marketplace that helps companies to launch their own online store where they can sell unique products. The platform offers access to a free plan, where you can create a customized storefront, and sell up to 10 products. There are also paid plans which include access to subscriptions, memberships, and other tools.

You can find plenty of other Redbubble alternatives, from Teepublic, to Gelato all over the web. We’ve reviewed a number of Redbubble competitors and print on demand vendors here on Ecommerce Platforms, so feel free to search through our articles for a behind-the-scenes insights into some of the best options for would-be creators.

Is Redbubble Legit? Final Thoughts

So, is Redbubble legit and safe for consumers and sellers in 2023? The simple answer is “yes”. Redbubble is a fully legitimate POD website, and marketplace, designed to make it easier for artists to sell their products and ensure customers can find a wide range of customized items.

Redbubble is easy-to-use, and charges no fees for artists to get started on the platform, making it an excellent choice for beginners in the creator economy. It also allows creators to set their own profit margins, which is a nice bonus if you want to maintain more control over your earnings. However, you might find it’s a little difficult to stand out from the competition at first.

For consumers, Redbubble offers high-quality customer service, secure payment methods, and access to a wide variety of products. However, the shipping times and prices of products can vary. Plus, it’s worth noting that the quality of the products might differ depending on a range of features.

Overall, Redbubble is a safe and legit solution for print on demand vendors and customers in search of unique products. You can rest assured if you’re buying products from this site, or choosing to build your own Redbubble storefront, you wont be dealing with a scam.