Description: We dug deep into Ryan Hogue's Print on Demand Full Course (officially called "Dropshipped POD") and found it's positioned as a comprehensive blueprint for building a print-on-demand business from scratch. The course targets complete beginners who want to tap into passive income through custom-designed products sold on platforms like Amazon, Etsy, Walmart, and Shopify.
Ryan Hogue, a former senior front-end web developer and adjunct professor with eight years in tech, claims his POD efforts generate nearly $50K per month passively. The course promises to reveal his exact methods through over 60 hours of video content, covering everything from niche research to automation strategies.
What caught our attention was the breadth of platforms covered. While most POD courses focus on one or two marketplaces, Ryan's curriculum spans Amazon Merch on Demand, Etsy, Redbubble, Shopify, Walmart, and even smaller platforms like TeePublic and Spreadshirt. The course structure follows a logical progression: understanding the business model, finding profitable niches, creating designs (even if you're not a designer), optimizing listings, and eventually automating operations.
The program includes modules on intellectual property law (crucial for avoiding trademark issues), platform-specific strategies broken down by experience level, and an entire section dedicated to using AI tools in POD workflows. We appreciated the inclusion of a POD Product Creation Archive, showing real walkthroughs of creating various products from start to finish.
However, we need to address the elephant in the room: the overlap with Ryan's extensive free YouTube content. Multiple students report that significant portions of the paid course mirror what's available on his channel (we found similar sentiments across Reddit discussions). The main differentiator seems to be organization, structure, and some exclusive deep dives.
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)
Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)
Make Money
After analyzing reviews across Trustpilot, Reddit, and YouTube comments, we found student opinions split down the middle. The course has an "Excellent" 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot from over 1,150 reviews, but Reddit discussions paint a more nuanced picture. Many appreciate Ryan's straightforward teaching style, while others question the value proposition given his extensive free content.
Reddit user u/No_Beginning_7917 on r/AmazonMerch stated, "I bought one of his courses, and it was literally all stuff from his YouTube videos but in one spot. I was kinda disappointed and got a refund." Another user, u/Embarrassed-Swan3560 on r/MerchByAmazon, commented, "No he's not a scam. But his courses are very expensive and most of the information given in them can be found on his YouTube channel." These sentiments echo across multiple POD-focused subreddits.
People generally view Ryan as legitimate and knowledgeable, but many question whether the course justifies its premium price when so much similar content exists for free. Success stories exist, but they're outnumbered by reports of minimal results.
Ryan claims his POD business generates "nearly $50K per month passively." While we found evidence of his success through income reports on YouTube, we couldn't independently verify current figures. The term "passive" is misleading, as POD requires continuous design creation, trend research, and listing optimization. Most students report nowhere near these results.
The course has increased from earlier versions. We found references to it being offered at $397-$497 in previous iterations. The current $997 price point represents a significant jump without apparent major content additions beyond regular updates.
Post-purchase, students encounter recommendations for various tools (many with affiliate links): Merch Informer, Placeit, various automation software. While these tools can be helpful, the cumulative cost adds up quickly. No aggressive upselling to higher-tier programs was reported.
Verified success stories exist on Trustpilot (users "V T" and "Kimberly" report positive results), but they're vastly outnumbered by mediocre outcomes. We couldn't find independently verified case studies showing typical student earnings. The lack of transparent success metrics is concerning at this price point.
The marketing overpromises on ease and earnings potential while underdelivering on realistic expectations. The "passive income" angle is particularly misleading for a business model requiring constant market adaptation.
Hosted on Ryan's Method platform (members.ryanmethod.com), likely using a system like Teachable or Thinkific. The interface is clean and functional, with logical course progression and easy navigation.
Lifetime access to streaming videos, downloadable resources (templates, checklists), regular content updates pushed automatically. Videos aren't downloadable, which some students found limiting for offline viewing.
Fully responsive design works well on tablets and smartphones. Video playback quality adjusts to connection speed.
Standard computer with 5+ Mbps internet for smooth streaming, modern web browser, sufficient storage for design files
The delivery system is professional and reliable, matching what we'd expect from a course at this price point. The lifetime access and regular updates add value, though the lack of downloadable videos is a minor inconvenience. The platform handles the basics well without any standout features.
The most significant complaint we encountered repeatedly was the gap between marketing promises and actual student results. Multiple reviews mention achieving "$0 sales and 0 visitors" despite diligent implementation. While not fraudulent, this pattern raises questions about realistic expectations versus marketing hype.
The course offers a 14-day money-back guarantee, but there's a catch: you must have viewed less than 33% of the content to qualify. This restriction wasn't clearly advertised in initial marketing materials we reviewed. Some students successfully obtained refunds (as reported on Reddit), but the limited window and viewing restriction create potential friction.
Ryan's marketing leans heavily on his claimed $50K/month passive income from POD. While we couldn't independently verify these numbers, the emphasis on "passive" income glosses over the substantial upfront work required. The sales page focuses on potential earnings without adequately highlighting the competitive nature of POD markets.
Beyond individual complaints, we noticed a pattern in community discussions questioning whether Ryan still actively runs POD businesses or primarily profits from course sales. This "those who can't do, teach" sentiment appeared across multiple forums, though we couldn't definitively verify either way.
While not a scam, the course exhibits several yellow flags: overpromising on passive income potential, restricted refund terms, and a significant gap between marketed outcomes and typical student results. The high price point amplifies these concerns.
At $997, this course sits at the high end of High Ticket pricing, which creates elevated expectations. While the content is comprehensive and Ryan's expertise is genuine, the significant overlap with his free YouTube content undermines the value proposition. For absolute beginners who need hand-holding and structure, there's merit here. For self-directed learners comfortable with YouTube, the ROI is questionable.
Ryan Hogue's Print on Demand Full Course is legitimate but overpriced for what it delivers. We spent considerable time analyzing both the course content and student outcomes, and here's our honest take: Ryan knows POD inside and out, and his teaching style is clear and actionable. The curriculum covers essential topics comprehensively, and the regular updates show ongoing commitment. However, three major issues prevent us from giving this a stronger recommendation. First, the extensive overlap with free content makes the premium price hard to justify. Second, the gap between marketing promises and typical student results is concerning, with many reporting minimal to no sales. Third, the 14-day refund window with viewing restrictions feels restrictive for a course of this scope. If you're someone who absolutely needs structure and struggles with self-directed learning, this course provides a clear roadmap. But if you're comfortable learning from YouTube and willing to invest time in research, you can achieve similar results without the $997 investment. The course is legit, but whether it's worth it depends entirely on your learning style and financial situation.
At $997, this course sits at the high end of High Ticket pricing, which creates elevated expectations. While the content is comprehensive and Ryan's expertise is genuine, the significant overlap with his free YouTube content undermines the value proposition. For absolute beginners who need hand-holding and structure, there's merit here. For self-directed learners comfortable with YouTube, the ROI is questionable.
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