Hi, sorry for the delay in replying.

Yes, when you submit an item Direct to Shop, you can control how many copies appear at any given time (and you can still set a password to lock them or remove it to unlock them).

Unfortunately, Direct to Shop is definitely kinda pricey for what you get (one copy). I actually need to update the main page of this thread, because it's often times much cheaper now to submit an item as unlimited and just pay for the full first batch - when you do that you'll get 5 copies of the item and can sell the spares in trades or in a regular shop (priced in CSC).

Had you submitted the tights that way, you'd have paid 500 more initially, but if you sold all of the spares for 500 csc each, you'd have made back your submission cost.

There is no way to check on status once it's gone into the approval queue. does approvals a few times a week depending on her schedule. It could take a few hours, it could be a few days.

I'll make sure to update the first post as well with info about the new pricing methods (since batches are half the size they used to be)!

No worries at all! And I'm glad I can still have some control if its in my shop LOL! I get why people slot instead of direct to shop...but what is the reasoning that folks would say "slot" for an item, vs. just grabbing it later if you submit unlimited? If I'm understanding the way you explain it above....I'd still submit direct to shop for unlimited (maybe a cheaper price for my slotted people?) I'd pay all out of pocket to start with, but then I have one that's in my shop, and say 5 on hand that I put in trades for my slotted people right? For some reason I was thinking it was 10 spare copies? Oy vey batching just goes over my head LOL! I need to meet a subeta person who lives in my state and does customs and that way I can ask questions and see the process sigh I definitely probably won't make my commission back for my first one...but I really like them and its more for me than anything so if other people like them too? Awesome! But I do like the idea of being able to do unlimited and batches, I just don't want to step on any toes and of course I'm assuming lower price to make it worth it to the folks filling it. :)

And thank you for the status thing...That's okay, I guess I don't need to check LOL! I was just really curious how that works ;) No problem on waiting or anything, I just didn't know what's a typical time...Lord, if its just Jessi by herself I will patiently wait hehe! :)

And yes updates on new pricing methods (maybe examples too pretty please) would be amazing <3 Thank you so much for your response too! (I don't get the half size for batches) haha!

So, most people take slots on items on a forum thread (like the new one you opened) and rather than paying out of pocket, when they submit and choose a batch limit (or unlimited), you actually have a space to put in other user's names and to assign them a slot cost. Batches used to be 10 copies, but were cut in half after a lot of discussion between staff and users. So now you only pay for 5 copies during submission.

It basically like this (I'll add these to the post about submission) - drag the images to your address bar to see them full sized:

The second image shows mine being a recolor (you can choose from your approved items in the dropdown menu if you have them). It's default state is "Not a Recolor" and you leave it like that if it's a new item. It also has the checkbox for whether you want to use direct-to-shop (I did not for this), and if not, you can choose to leave it selected as "Unlimited" or you can give it a total number of copies (these are always in multiples of 10, you cannot select 5, 15, 25, etc - you must choose 10, 20, 30, etc). When you're releasing items, if you choose to slot and you don't plan to have the item unlimited, you must be honest about how many copies you plan to release. You cannot say "One batch" because it's not possible to submit the item as one batch on the site (since a batch is only 5 copies). Minimum allowed is two batches. You can, however, say you'll only be slotting one batch. If you do that, you need to make yourself a note so that you do not ever release more than the 5 copies you promised.

In the third image, there's a large white box for submission notes (if you/your artist used a reference, you need to provide it here - it must be uploaded online somewhere so you can link it; you also put any changes to the item if it's a tribute to a copywrited property).

The fourth image is what the payment page will look like. You're automatically filled in on the top line along with the full submission cost. You can edit it to whatever you'll need to pay after you've filled in the people who asked for a slot and the cost that they are paying each (so if you slotted those tights at 500 csc each, you'd have put yourself at 0, taken 4 slotters at 500 each, and filled in their usernames with 500 in the price box each, which would cover the submission). The totals in that box must add up to at least the total it's asking of you. If it goes over, you'll be credited any profit if/when the item is approved.

Thank you for the images as that is super helpful actually seeing them. I get the images and adding users to slot on those spots. So I don't do direct to shop, I do "unlimited" but still slot 5 people or in this case myself, my artist, and 3 names and maybe a 2nd batch of 5 if its popular? 0.o I guess what I don't understand is if I do unlimited...will I still be able to add it to my "shop" in unlimited later? Like if I only get 1 copy and the users who slotted get a copy....how do I make that unlimited later? (like I'd have to use my slot to put in shop and then buy it from my own shop later?) hope that makes sense lol :) I don't think I'd ever do the one batch or whatever it is haha :) I have plans for lots of items and I can't imagine trying to keep track of a bunch of items and how many etc LOL! ;) Unlimited seems the less complicated of it all! :) Super cute top btw :D

Yep, you've got it right there.

And you can still add it to your shop later.

You can go here to see any items that you've submitted that aren't either fully retired (ie, you submitted with a batch limit and fulfilled it) or already in your shop. From there, you can slot additional batches (if you have more than one full batch), or you can click the link provided under the item to move it to your CW Shop, at which point, it will appear there for pricing etc (and if you submitted as unlimited, you'll be able to change the amount of available copies the same as you would for an item you'd submitted direct-to-shop).

(click or drag to your address bar to see larger)

As for keeping track of copies - if you choose to limit the number of available batches/copies, you do that during submission (instead of leaving it at unlimited, you pick a number, in a multiple of 10). When you do that, the site automatically sets that as a hard limit. If/when you reach that number of copies submitted through the batching system or bought from your shop, it no longer allows you to sell more.

Okay, getting it a little bit more LOL :) So batches I get a copy, but still have to buy a copy but helps with submission costs. So in the case to help cover submission costs and or artist costs I could do say 10 total for slotting at say 500, do unlimited, and release later in shop for 600 (so those who slotted get a good deal) and I'm not out the full amount myself either...right? But if I'm understanding I can only slot 5 at one time, fill those, then later I could do one more batch of 5 to cover any 2nd batch slots right? I might have to try this! I was just thinking I'd pay for it all myself and hope I break even LOL! ;)

Ohhh nice on the keeping track of copies!! That is good info to have...I would worry about trying to keep track of everything...seems complicated LOL! But if the system does that for you, that's nice too! <3

If you put yourself and your artist (if they want a copy) into the first batch, you'll end up paying some.

I usually leave myself off the first batch and slot only my artist and 4 slotters (if the batch fills). Then the total from the 4 slotters usually covers the commission. Then I put myself in the second batch and if it fills I can slot myself at 0 there, so it doesn't cost me more than I've paid for the commission already.

If the second batch doesn't fill, I shift it all to my shop, send out invites (including one to myself) and only pay the slot cost for it in the end.

Sadly, it's really hard to break even if you do all of the submissions on your own unless you get lucky. The safest way is to try and slot.

This is all super helpful. So basically slot the first 5, one for free for your artist, 4 for the other slotters...then if you fill the second batch you put yourself in that? So if we only had say 3 slotters for the 2nd batch....its best to move those to the shop/password protect and send an invite to ourselves, along with the other two people right?

Thank you for all this info <3 I might try to do some slots for the future, though that's terrifying haha! May I poke you later if I have questions on that? <3

That's exactly it!

And you can definitely poke me either here, through comments, or through sMail if you have questions later ;)

Okay good! <3 Starting to grasp it a little bit more LOL! :) Really appreciate the time explaining to a newbie like me! :) It all seems so terrifying in the beginning haha! :) And thank you so much on the questions <3 you are too kind! <3 hopefully it will go smooth but always nice to know I have a backup LOL! My worry is I'll mess up somewhere and have to pay for those slots out of pocket because I can't "change" anything after submitting LOL!

Well hopefully mistakes don't happen, and you can get it all sorted next time so you don't have to spend so much initially :)

Not sure if this is the place to ask....

But I have a dumb question, I would like to buy an item from MY OWN shop (it’s in the warehouse) for a Lumi gift.

I Do Not want to put the item for public sale. I just want to get it out for me to use. (Did this make sense?)

HOW would I go about it, please.

(The only thing I could think of was to lock it in my shop, then issue myself passwords for it?) <—- which really sounds like a big hassle to do.

Any one with knowledge about the ‘how to’ I would appreciate the sharing.

EDIT.
Ha. Just read Starmates post above. Looks like that’s exactly what I’m going to have to do, -lock items in my shop and send myself passwords.

Yikes.

yeah I'd move it to your shop as a locked item...then just send yourself an invite (you probably wouldn't have to do the password) I typically pick a password for all my items for ME so I know exactly the password cause I use it on all my stuff...then I'd put it at lowest price, buy it that way XD you should be able to just set one password like witch or whatever and then copy/paste that if you are buying multiples and voila <3

Thanks Bab-Eeeeeeee, . I did it (made sure I did it SLOooooowly, so my brain didn’t think one thing, when my eyes saw something else) :D

Glad you posted that and I saw it. ❤

happy to help dear <3 glad you found it and was able to make it work <3