Is print-on-demand still alive?
Charles Koelpin
2025-06-01 13:07:28
Count answers: 1
I don’t think it’s the golden opportunity it once seemed.
But after trying it out, I’ve realized that POD is no longer as profitable as many people claim.
Here’s why I believe Print on Demand is dead.
The biggest problem with POD is the oversaturation of the market.
It seems like everyone is selling the same kinds of products — funny t-shirts, mugs with quotes, phone cases with minimalist designs.
The margins on Etsy are already extremely low.
After Etsy takes their fees, including the 6.5% transaction fee, the 5% shipping fee, and the $0.20 listing fee per item, there’s barely anything left for profit.
I found myself having to price my products so low just to be competitive that I was making less than $5 per sale after all the costs.