If you‘ve spent any time scrolling through social media or browsing online, chances are you‘ve come across Redbubble. This global online marketplace provides independent artists a platform to showcase and sell their unique designs on a variety of products, from clothing to home decor.
But what exactly is Redbubble and how does it work? Is the quality of products worth the cost? And is Redbubble a good place for artists to sell their work?
In this comprehensive Redbubble review, we‘ll take an in-depth look at how Redbubble works for both artists and customers. We‘ll analyze product quality, pricing, customer service, and more to help you decide if Redbubble is right for your needs. Let‘s dive in!
What is Redbubble? Company Overview and History
Redbubble is an Australian-based company founded in 2006 with a mission to "give independent artists a meaningful new way to sell their creations." The online marketplace allows artists to create their own shops and upload their designs to be printed on-demand on a variety of products.
When a customer purchases an artist‘s design, Redbubble handles the transaction, printing, and shipping, then pays the artist a commission on the sale. This model allows artists to focus on creating designs without the need to manage inventory or fulfill orders themselves.
Over the years, Redbubble has grown into a global community of over 700,000 independent artists. The marketplace features designs in a huge range of styles from cartoons to fine art, pop culture fan art, and everything in between. For customers, Redbubble offers an easy way to find unique, meaningful products that support independent creators.
How Does Redbubble Work? The Artist and Customer Experience
So how exactly does Redbubble work? Let‘s break down the process for both artists and customers.
For artists, opening a shop on Redbubble is completely free and straightforward. After creating an account, artists can upload their designs and select which products they‘d like them to be sold on. Redbubble offers over 60 different products including T-shirts, stickers, posters, phone cases, mugs, and more.
Artists can customize the placement and sizing of their designs on each product using Redbubble‘s online interface. They can also set their own profit margins, meaning they have control over how much commission they earn on each sale.
When a customer purchases an artist‘s product on Redbubble, the order is sent to one of Redbubble‘s third-party manufacturers for on-demand printing. Redbubble handles the entire transaction and shipping process, so artists don‘t have to worry about managing inventory or mailing out orders themselves.
For customers, shopping on Redbubble is designed to be an easy, enjoyable experience. The marketplace features a wide variety of unique designs that can be filtered by product type, theme, style, color and more.
Redbubble‘s product pages include photos of the design on the actual product, so you can get a clear visual of what you‘re purchasing. You can also view customer reviews and photos to get a sense of quality and fit.
One potential downside of Redbubble‘s on-demand manufacturing model is that processing and shipping can take longer compared to other online retailers. Redbubble states that most orders are printed and shipped within 3-6 business days, but this can vary based on the product and manufacturing location.
Redbubble Product Review: Quality, Selection and Customer Feedback
Now let‘s take a closer look at the actual products available on Redbubble. The marketplace offers a huge range of customizable products including:
- Apparel like T-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses and leggings
- Accessories like phone cases, tote bags, backpacks and laptop sleeves
- Home decor like wall art, throw pillows, blankets and shower curtains
- Stationery like notebooks, stickers and greeting cards
- Drinkware like mugs, travel cups and water bottles
With so many products available, selecting just a few to review was a challenge! For this review, we focused on some of Redbubble‘s most popular items: T-shirts, stickers, posters and phone cases.
Redbubble T-Shirt Quality Review
T-shirts are one of Redbubble‘s top selling products, so we were excited to put their quality to the test. For this review, we ordered the unisex classic T-shirt in a few different designs and sizes.
The shirts are made of 100% cotton and have a soft, lightweight feel. The material is breathable and comfortable to wear. In terms of fit, the unisex sizing does run slightly large, so you may want to order a size down if you prefer a slimmer fit.
The print quality on the shirts we reviewed was vibrant and crisp. The colors were true to the design previews on the website, and we didn‘t notice any blurring or fading after several washes. Redbubble does note that slight variations in color and placement can occur due to the on-demand printing process.
One thing to point out is that the printed designs have a slightly raised, rubbery texture on the fabric. This is typical of most direct-to-garment printing and didn‘t bother us, but some customers may prefer the feel of screen printed designs that sink into the fabric more.
Overall, we were impressed with the quality, comfort, and print vibrancy of Redbubble‘s classic T-shirts. At around $20-25 each, they are priced competitively with other custom printed shirt sites like Society6 and Zazzle.
Redbubble Sticker Quality Review
Stickers are another one of Redbubble‘s most popular products, so we had to test them out for this review. Redbubble‘s stickers come in a glossy or matte finish and range in size from 2×2" to 4.6×4.2". Depending on the size and order quantity, prices range from around $2-4 per sticker.
The stickers we reviewed had clean edges and were cut precisely in the shape of the designs. The details and colors looked vibrant and sharp, with no noticeable pixelation or blurring.
Both the glossy and matte finishes had great color payoff, but we preferred the glossy for its slightly more vibrant look. The stickers have a nice thickness to them and feel durable and waterproof as promised.
Redbubble‘s stickers come with a strong adhesive backing – they stick well to various surfaces like laptops, water bottles, and car bumpers. Overall, we were very happy with the print quality and value of Redbubble stickers. They definitely stand up to popular sticker sites like Stickermule and Redbubble‘s own competitor, TeePublic.
Redbubble Poster Quality Review
If you‘re looking to decorate your walls with unique art, Redbubble has thousands of poster designs to choose from. Their posters come in sizes ranging from small (13.3×18.5") to extra large (28.6×40.1").
We ordered posters in the standard size (17.3×22.8") which costs around $20. The posters arrived rolled in a sturdy mailing tube to prevent any creasing or damage.
The poster paper has a nice weight to it and a smooth semi-gloss finish. Details looked crisp and colors were vibrant and true to the previews we saw on Redbubble‘s website. The semi-gloss finish gives the colors a slightly shiny, enhanced look that makes the art pop.
While Redbubble‘s posters are a great way to display art and support independent artists, they do only come in the one paper option currently. Some customers may prefer a matte finish or other paper choices. Sites like Society6 offer a wider range of poster sizes, finishes, and framing options.
Redbubble Phone Case Quality Review
These days, our phones are practically an extension of ourselves – so why not customize them with unique art? Redbubble offers phone cases for a wide range of iPhone and Android models in flexible, snap, and tough styles.
For this review, we tested out a flexible case for iPhone with a colorful abstract design. The case was easy to put on the phone and the print lined up well with the camera and button cutouts.
The flexible material is smooth and somewhat glossy to the touch. It doesn‘t add a lot of bulk to the phone and has a slim profile. The design looked bright and crisp with no signs of peeling or fading.
However, after a couple weeks of daily use, we did start to notice some wear and tear, particularly some scratches on the design. The flexible material doesn‘t offer as much protection as a tough case would. But for a stylish, lightweight option, Redbubble‘s cases are a great pick and reasonably priced at around $25.
Is Redbubble Legit? Feedback From Real Customers
So what do real customers think of Redbubble and its products? From our research, feedback is generally very positive. On consumer review site Sitejabber, Redbubble has an average rating of 4.52 stars out of 5 based on over 7,900 reviews. Many customers praise the unique designs, product quality, and customer service.
One happy customer writes, "I have ordered from Redbubble 4 times and have loved everything! The products are great and shipping is pretty fast. I will definitely keep ordering my favorite designs from here!"
Trustpilot shows similar positive feedback, with an average of 4.3 stars out of 5 based on over 30,900 reviews. Another satisfied buyer shares, "I am very happy with my Redbubble purchases. Good quality items, great prints and most important great service and communication."
As with any online retailer, there are some negative reviews for Redbubble here and there. Most complaints seem to center around slow shipping times and orders not arriving at all. Others mention issues with product sizing, like shirts fitting too small.
It‘s important to note that Redbubble is a third-party marketplace, so fulfillment and shipping times can vary based on the product and location. The company does offer a detailed Help Center with FAQs to help address common customer concerns.
Based on our research and the overwhelming amount of positive reviews, we feel confident in saying that Redbubble is a legit site to purchase from. As long as you pay attention to the size charts, read the descriptions carefully, and keep the shipping estimates in mind, you‘re likely to have a good experience.
Redbubble Customer Service Review
Redbubble offers several ways for customers to get assistance, including an extensive Help Center with FAQs, email support, and a contact form on their website. They also have an active social media presence and respond to questions and concerns on platforms like Twitter.
For our review, we tested out Redbubble‘s email support to ask a question about our order. We received a response within 24 hours that was friendly and helpful in addressing our concern.
While Redbubble doesn‘t offer phone support, their Help Center is intuitive and well-organized. We were able to find the answer to most of our questions there.
In terms of shipping, most orders are processed and sent to the printer within 24-48 hours. Standard shipping for apparel and stickers is estimated at 5-12 business days, while wall art and home decor is 7-18 business days.
Express shipping is also available at checkout for some products, which can speed up delivery to 2-5 business days depending on your location. It‘s important to note that since Redbubble‘s products are printed on-demand when you order, they can take longer to arrive compared to other retailers.
Redbubble offers a generous 90 day return and exchange policy for most items (excluding bathmats, shower curtains, and duvet covers). If you‘re not satisfied with your order, you can send it back for a full refund or exchange it for a different size or color.
Overall, we were satisfied with Redbubble‘s customer service options and support. While there‘s certainly room for improvement in the shipping speeds, it‘s understandable given the on-demand nature of the marketplace.
Is Redbubble Worth It? Final Thoughts and Recommendation
After thoroughly testing products, researching customer reviews, and assessing overall value, our verdict is that Redbubble is absolutely worth shopping at. The huge marketplace of unique designs from independent artists paired with the solid product quality makes it a great place to find meaningful gifts for others or yourself.
We were consistently impressed with the crisp, vibrant printing on Redbubble‘s products during our review. While the on-demand manufacturing model means items can take a bit longer to arrive, the quality is reliable and shipments are generally accurate.
Redbubble‘s prices are very reasonable considering the original art you‘re getting. We love that part of each purchase supports the independent artist behind the design. If you‘re looking for even more of a deal, Redbubble frequently offers sitewide promotions and discounts to help you save.
One thing to keep in mind is that Redbubble is best for fun, casual everyday products like T shirts, tote bags, and phone cases. If you‘re looking for more upscale home decor like framed fine art prints and canvas, you may prefer Society6 or Minted.
Additionally, Redbubble‘s apparel mostly consists of basic styles and casual wear. For dressier or more fashion-forward clothing featuring artist designs, sites like Threadless are a good alternative.
Overall though, we feel Redbubble offers a fun, easy way to inject some unique art into your everyday life while supporting talented independent artists. With their huge selection, reliable quality, and frequent sales, Redbubble is a great choice for those who want to wear and share meaningful designs. We hope our Redbubble review has helped you decide if this popular marketplace is right for your needs!
