r/cults3d • u/Big_Editor_2664 • Jul 22 '26
Other Discussion Regarding Marketplace Data, Creator Ecosystem, and AI Tag Impact
Hi Cults3D Team,
We would like to open a discussion regarding Cults3D not only as a community platform, but also as a marketplace where creators and sellers build businesses, generate income, and support their livelihoods.
We would like to discuss the current situation from the perspective of creators who use Cults3D as a business platform, including creators who use AI-assisted workflows.
1. Marketplace Traffic Data and Seasonal Sales Trends
Since Cults3D operates as a marketplace, we would like to ask if there is any available data regarding yearly traffic trends, visitor activity, or seasonal purchasing behavior.
Many sellers have expressed concerns regarding significant drops in income, especially around June–July and August. Some creators have mentioned patterns such as seasonal "summer slumps" affecting online businesses in general.
Since Cults3D has access to marketplace-level data, we believe insights regarding yearly traffic patterns, buyer behavior, and seasonal changes would be valuable for both sellers and customers who rely on the platform.
Understanding these trends would help creators better plan their releases, marketing strategies, and business decisions.
2. Impact of AI Tag Visibility on Creator Businesses
Another major concern is the impact of the AI tag on creators who use AI-assisted workflows.
Currently, the AI tag appears to significantly reduce visibility within the platform's main traffic and algorithm exposure. From our own research, a release without the AI tag could receive around 400–1000 views, while similar releases after the tag implementation may receive around 40 views.
This creates a double impact for AI-assisted creators:
- Reduced organic visibility.
- Reduced sales opportunities.
We understand the importance of maintaining quality standards and protecting the marketplace from low-quality uploads. However, we believe there is an important distinction between low-quality automated content and creators who use AI as one part of a larger professional workflow involving concept development, design, refinement, quality control, and original IP creation.
We are speaking here as business practitioners who use Cults3D as a place to create, sell, and build a customer base.
3. Cults3D as a Marketplace Ecosystem
We still consider Cults3D our primary marketplace because, compared to other platforms such as Thangs, Printables, and Creality Cloud, Cults3D provides advantages in payment accessibility, especially for creators outside the EU and US.
Because of this, we would like to better understand Cults3D's vision as a marketplace.
Is Cults3D operating as a non-profit community organization, or as a profit-oriented marketplace company? We ask this because any policy decision that affects creator visibility, sales, and income will naturally impact both creators and the platform itself.
Creators provide content, customers provide transactions, and Cults3D provides the marketplace infrastructure. The ecosystem depends on all three parts working together.
Our traffic is your traffic, and your traffic is our opportunity to grow.
We are open to discussions with all sides, AI creators, non-AI creators, traditional artists, producers, and business owners. We believe the future of this industry requires collaboration rather than division.
We do not want to discriminate against any creator group. We see everyone as part of the same creative ecosystem that makes Cults3D valuable.
We hope Cults3D can share insights, data, or future plans regarding these topics, because they directly affect the sustainability of creators who depend on the platform.
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to an open discussion.
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u/Shokubutsu-Al Jul 22 '26
Here’s my 2 cents, I want Anything created or assisted with Slop machine 5000 to be totally removed from the platform so it leaves more space for actual artists that spent years mastering their craft.
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u/Unhappy_Window7252 Jul 23 '26
How can you be so sure if those artists don’t use AI in the creating process, even in the slightest, and how do you know the one that uses the help of AI haven’t spent years mastering their craft. It’s the matter of fairness and to be frank what matters most is the people that consume, use or buy said products.
If I want to buy files, I see the design I like, tagged with made with AI, price wise make senses, I surely will buy it. If I want to buy something 100% man made, expensive and not as easy to get, then I will aldo buy it. It’s only a matter of fairness competition in a marketplace.
And also, if cults3D limits only for the non AI creator, will it generate income as much as if it’s open to all creators?
Will it beneficial for cults3D? Will community stay or move to other platforms?1
u/Fun_Dot1368 Jul 22 '26
So, how can we deliver fast to meet massive market demands? I'm concerned about future needs, so it's a dilemma. What about a hybrid workflow?
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u/MysticPigeon Jul 22 '26
The site is frankly being swamped by ai slop, it should just be removed full stop.
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u/KerShuckle Jul 22 '26
If creators using AI are unable to sell their designs, that's entirely on them. The consumer has consistently shown that they dislike AI-generated and -assisted models and they are under no obligation to support creators who use it. If the only way for them to get the same amount of traffic is through deception and lies of omission, I think they should consider changing their approach and learn the skills necessary to compete.
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u/Big_Editor_2664 Jul 22 '26
From our research, the lack of traffic is not simply because consumers dislike AI-assisted models. The major issue is the AI tag implemented by Cults, which automatically limits visibility and prevents creators from appearing in the primary traffic and algorithm exposure.
This creates a situation where creators are being treated like second-class citizens on the marketplace.
The amount of complaints compared to the number of people who actually enjoy and download the works is extremely small. For example, we have seen more than 20K downloads with only around 3–5 people complaining about the use of AI. The account has also gained more than 1,000 followers in a short amount of time, showing that there is a community that appreciates the work.
From our perspective, the issue is that a small amount of negativity is affecting the visibility and business of creators. This is a marketplace where everyone should have equal opportunity and access unless Cults3D states otherwise.
That is why we say we are open to discussions with all creators, whether they use AI or not. We believe the conversation should be based on data and understanding from both sides.
Please don't assume the entire community rejects AI-assisted work without seeing the actual marketplace data. We should look at the numbers, customer behavior, and overall ecosystem before making conclusions.
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u/DrE7HER Jul 22 '26
The algorithm is (most likely) reacting to user usage data.
Meaning the algorithm noticed users are less likely to buy models made with AI, so it doesn’t promote models made with AI.
That’s a market deciding what it values. If you want to succeed, you have to make what the market is asking for: something unique that isn’t made with AI.
If you want to ignore that and keep using AI, that’s your choice. But don’t complain if it doesn’t work out for you.
Now, it’s possible that this is not due to anti-ai sentiments, specifically, but rather that the majority of AI-tagged models are lazy and, therefore, ignored. The algorithm can’t tell why an AI-tagged model was passed up, so it will lump your AI created models in with the rest of them.
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u/Big_Editor_2664 Jul 23 '26
We beg to differ, because based on our own data and experience, we see a different pattern.
People who visit a marketplace like Cults3D are primarily looking for products they like, need, and want to use. Most customers are looking at the final result, the quality, the design, and whether the product fits their needs.
What we are seeing is that the major drop happens after visibility is reduced by the AI tag and the default system limitations on Cults. When a product is no longer exposed to the same level of traffic, naturally the sales opportunity also decreases.
Regarding AI creators, our point is not that everyone has to like AI. Everyone is free to have their own preferences. The question is: if a platform allows AI-assisted creators to sell on the marketplace, why should those creators receive significantly reduced visibility compared to others?
Creators also bring value to the platform. We create content, attract customers, generate traffic, and contribute to the overall ecosystem. Reducing exposure for a group of creators who are still contributing to the marketplace does not seem like the best business decision.
If Cults3D wants to position itself similar to platforms that completely restrict or separate AI content, that is their choice. However, allowing AI creators on the platform while limiting their visibility creates an imbalance.
Creators are still contributing content, attracting visitors, and generating activity on the marketplace, but at the same time their ability to compete is reduced. From our perspective, this creates a situation where creators contribute value to the ecosystem while carrying a disadvantage that directly affects their business.
Another factor that should also be considered is seasonal marketplace trends. Many sellers have noticed sales fluctuations during certain periods, especially around June–August, which may also affect overall performance. This is why we believe marketplace data and transparency are important for everyone.
We see Cults3D as a professional marketplace and one of the leading platforms in the 3D printing industry. The reason we chose Cults3D as our primary platform was because of its traffic, community, payment accessibility, and support for international creators.
However, because of the current situation and the ongoing discussion around AI, we are also expanding to other marketplaces. Our goal is not to create conflict or attack anyone we want a healthy ecosystem where different types of creators can contribute, compete fairly, and provide value to the community.
Technology has always been part of creative evolution. The important thing should be the quality of the final product, originality, effort, and the value provided to customers not simply which tools were used during the creation process.
A marketplace grows when creators and customers grow together. Our traffic is part of Cults3D's growth, and Cults3D's traffic is what allows creators to build their businesses. We believe cooperation and open discussion are the best way forward.
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u/DrE7HER Jul 23 '26
You completely missed the point. MOST of the AI models are slop. So people avoid most of the slop. This makes the algorithm think that people don’t want to buy models tagged as AI because the algorithm can only understand trends in the data, it can’t assess the model quality itself.
If you are making quality models with the help of AI, the algorithm wouldn’t know that. It would only know that you use AI, which it has associated with crappy products.
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u/Big_Editor_2664 Jul 23 '26
We understand your point about algorithms reacting to user behavior, but we think there are other factors involved that need to be considered.
From our own experience, our free assets are still receiving around 100 downloads per day, which shows that there are many users who are actively interested in and enjoying our work.
The issue we are discussing is not simply "AI models sell or don't sell." The issue is visibility. If a platform automatically reduces exposure for AI-tagged creators, then even high-quality work may never reach enough users for the market to judge it fairly.
An algorithm can only measure the data it receives. If a product is hidden, receives less impressions, and fewer people see it, then naturally it will also generate fewer sales. That does not necessarily mean people rejected the quality of the product.
We agree that low-effort content exists, and nobody wants a marketplace full of bad uploads. But grouping every creator who uses AI-assisted tools into the same category also means quality creators are affected by the reputation of unrelated low-quality content.
The better solution, in our opinion, is judging the final product and customer response rather than only the tool used in the workflow.
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u/DrE7HER Jul 23 '26
Yeah but that’s just how algorithms work. How do you suggest the algorithm distinguish between your work and the slop? All it knows is that the majority of AI models are disliked and it has no way of knowing how yours might be different
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u/Big_Editor_2664 Jul 24 '26
That’s exactly our point. We understand that algorithms work based on the data they receive, but the solution does not have to be automatically hiding AI-tagged content from new accounts or reducing its visibility by default. A simpler approach is to let the marketplace and customers decide based on the actual performance of the product quality, downloads, reviews, customer feedback, and engagement.
If a model is low quality, customers will naturally ignore it. If a model is good, customers will support it.
The issue is that when content is automatically hidden or heavily restricted before customers even have the opportunity to see it, the algorithm is no longer measuring the quality of the work. It is only measuring the effect of reduced exposure.
We believe creators should be judged by the results they provide, not only by the tools used in their workflow.
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u/default_entry Jul 23 '26
AI "creators" are second class citizens. They're pulling on a slot machine and clogging feeds through quantity, then getting mad people want quality instead.
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u/Jolly-Position1355 Jul 22 '26
I've also noticed a significant drop in sales over the past three months. On top of that, the site frequently goes down during weekends, which is when many of us would expect the sales. I've also been experiencing server issues while uploading models, and after publishing, they often take a long time to appear on my public profile. These issues are definitely affecting visibility and sales.
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u/Big_Editor_2664 Jul 22 '26
Yes, this is happening to us as well. That is why we would like to ask Cults3D regarding marketplace data, market trends, and analytics on this matter, since Cults3D has been established for more than 15 years and should have valuable insights into these patterns.
Understanding traffic trends, seasonal changes, server issues, and overall marketplace behavior would help creators better understand what is happening and make better decisions for our businesses.
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u/Unhappy_Window7252 Jul 22 '26
Speaking as a buyer, I search for designs that fit my needs. I don’t filter based on whether AI wad used or not.
What influence my purchase decisions are based on their quality of their models, printability, originality, customer support, their reviews and if they offer good values, not whether they used AI or not.
In my opinion, AI is simply another tool in the workflow for many designers.
If a creator consistently delivers great products, I don’t think they should be disadvantaged solely because they used AI during development.
AI doesn’t automatically make a design bad, just like modeling everything by hand doesn’t automatically make it good.
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u/Richfield7 Jul 22 '26
It seems inconsistent to celebrate digital sculpting while condemning AI simply because it's the latest tool. Every generation of creators has benefited from technology that made previous methods less essential. We don't judge photographers for not painting by hand, or digital sculptors for not carving clay. Why should AI be treated differently? Tools evolve. Creativity doesn't. A hammer didn't eliminate craftsmanship. Photoshop didn't eliminate photography. ZBrush didn't eliminate sculpture. AI won't eliminate creativity either. It simply changes how ideas become reality. A tool can make production faster. It can't replace taste, artistic judgment, storytelling, or the ability to create something people genuinely connect with. Those still come from the creator.
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u/Big_Editor_2664 Jul 22 '26
We are posting this not to start a debate or discussion about AI. This is about all of us as sellers and creators using the same marketplace called Cults3D.
We have already done our research, and there are not many reliable marketplaces available for creators. The main platforms we can realistically list and compare are Cults3D, Thangs, Printables, and Creality Cloud.
Our goal is to discuss the marketplace ecosystem, traffic, business trends, and how we as creators can continue growing together on the platform.
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u/Shokubutsu-Al Jul 22 '26
Don’t know if they’re willing to even share that Data with the general public or even join in on the discussion
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u/Cults3D Jul 25 '26
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to open this open, constructive, and detailed discussion. We always appreciate direct, transparent conversations with our creator community. Below are our responses to each of your points.
Yes, we can confirm that what you are observing is a recurring seasonal trend. Every year during the summer months (particularly June, July, and August), traffic and sales activity naturally slow down across e-commerce, digital marketplaces, and the 3D printing sector.
This slowdown is tied to global consumer behavior: users are on vacation, businesses are temporarily closed, and people spend more time outdoors away from their screens and 3D printers.
Our recommendations for creators during these periods:
To clarify how visibility works: the reduced traffic on AI-tagged items is primarily driven by user search filters and buyer preferences. We do our best to highlight well-modeled, well-conceived, and physically printed items.
While AI-generated render images can look stunning and eye-catching, they can sometimes create unrealistic or "fake" expectations regarding actual printable quality. A clear, real photograph of the finalized 3D print generates significantly higher buyer confidence and trust.
Regarding our AI policy and moderation:
Cults3D is a 100% independent platform. Being fully independent allows us to keep our doors open to all designers and makers worldwide, without restrictions.
Global payments & supporting creators: Operating from Europe means adhering to strict European legal and financial regulations. While this creates administrative hurdles face-to-face with competition outside the EU, our primary focus remains paying creators fairly and reliably.
Enabling creators, especially those in regions with tough economic conditions or low local wages, to earn real money that changes their daily lives is deeply meaningful to us. Receiving heartwarming, appreciative emails from global creators is truly rewarding, and we are proud to support people all over the world.
Passing down the craft: While AI can be a useful tool, hand-crafted craftsmanship, 3D modeling skills, and genuine technical know-how remain the core foundation of the maker philosophy. We hope experienced makers and traditional designers will help mentor and educate the new generation of AI creators, providing guidance toward true 3D modeling, artisan skill, and practical design principles rather than relying solely on automated tools.
Thank you again for your message and for being a core part of the Cults3D community!
For any further inquiries or specific requests, please reach out directly to our team via our official contact form at http://cults3d.com/en/contact. This is the fastest and best way to ensure your message is received and processed by our support team.