Do You Get A Proof Of Your Shirts Before The Official Order Is Placed?

Melissa

We just got our logo done, and are in the process of ordering shirts. I asked the shirt company if they could show me a proof before the order is made, because we had a bad experience before, and she told me, "It is too expensive to get a pre production sample. Since this is a very simple design and not complicated, you do not need to worry."

Is this the norm? I would really like to see what it will look like beforehand. We're ordering 40 shirts that will cost $350.00, and I have to sign for it. I don't want to be liable for something that I don't like.

realpurty2

I'm too paranoid to order anything unseen. We dealt with a few like you mentioned and in the end, went with a local company who was able to computer generate the final mockup exactly as it would be on the shirts.

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ATH

I assume you are talking about embroidery.

We have had shirts screen printed and got nothing more than a confirmation of the artwork via e-mail.

We also have had caps and jackets embroidered. For the caps, we were shown the stitching diagram on the computer at the company who did the work. For the jackets, we were sent a scrap of fabric with the completed artwork sewn on it just as if it were the back of the jacket.

So, I guess the answer is that, from our experience, there is no norm. Of course, we did not order that many pieces on any of the orders.

BTW, if you did not supply the company with the artwork, see if you can get the computer files from them ... tell them you feel better having your own backup copy. With the computer files, you can go to virtually any shop. And, you paid for them, why not have a copy?

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Melissa

We're having the shirts silkscreened.

Teetorbilt

If you are getting silk screened, they are correct. They have to set up the machine for 1 shirt or 100,000. I have always just checked the artwork and let them go at it. I use a local co. just in case we have a BIG problem.

If you don't expect the shirts to last very long ask about seconds, they will be cheaper.

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Melissa

What exactly are seconds? My sister in law warned us about this particular company said they gave her seconds so she stopped using them. We're just getting the Hanes beefy T's, and it is from a local company.

Nac

For silk screen usally no proofs For embrodary I always get a proof

Woz the Painter

Best T-shirts I've ever ordered are Gildan 100% cotton heavyweight.

IHI

Helll Yessss!! My first few 100 shirts were Fruit of the Loom and they lasted great for about 3/4 yr then got really thin and holey.

These Gildans I bought on the next batch have over a year and show no signs yet of thinning and none of the typical small hole/pock marks the Fruit of the Loom always got. Very very happy and will be ordering some more here shortly since i'm running out of polo's anyways.

Screen printing/embroidery I take in the artwork and designated colors they make them. If for some reason they would'nt be right I'd refuse it and have them make another batch, simple as that since I made the descions and told them how I wanted it...not too much to screw up really

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phinsher

Holy Moly, thats a lot of $$ for 40 shirts, how many colors are on the logo?

You could always ask for a proof first, but that proof , might cost you $75.

Guess I'm lucky, the guy across the street prints t-shirts. Gildan shirts, two color Logo $3 per shirt, but i gotta buy a case (72 i think) at one time. Never knew what a deal he was giving me.

I'd say trust them this time, just check them before you hand over the $$.

Mike Finley

Melissa, proofs can certainly be part of the process for silk screening. The industry even has a specific material that is used, they are called pellons. Pellons are used to make proofs before the printing begins.

I used to have a screen printing company next door to me back in NY and they used pellons for everything before they began printing. Often the client would be there and wait for them to "pull a pellon" for them to see and approve before printing began.

I don't know if you are doing this locally or online or what, but doing most of this type of stuff locally is pretty much the only way I do it so I can have access to stuff like this. When printing my yard signs the designer I use went down to the printer 3 times to make sure the green came out correctly. It took them 3 days to get it right.

IHI

If this is their "new, inital order" I can see it be higher due to the fact they have to get everything into their computer for colors and layout. After this order the prices should come down considerably since there is no "set-up" per say.

LOL, once I found out company t-shirts costs me $6/ea I went on a ordering freenzy since it's cheaper to don company wear than "name brand apparell from the stores...and it's a "brand" so to speak LOL!! My polo's are even about half of a store boughten one are Found a new place i'm going to try out, ma and pa that I have a nice "account tab" built up from moving snow at their place so gonna step up with a full gear order, t's, sweats, polos, hooded sweats, and a few coats as well. I'd like to get a few more colors for work t's but I set it up so grunts all wear grey to show the low totem pole status and the guy in charge get's red...kinda like my system and the uniformity of it all, but after awhile the grey t's get a lill bland, especially when handing them out to folks they'd like other colors too.

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Melissa

Yep, our last T's were grey. I got so sick of them after a while!

The $350 does include everything, even $20 for shipping, although she's less than 20 mi away. That's how they do it. She said it's 2 colors (but our logo is different shades of grey for a metalic look, so I thought it was only 1 color???) Anyway, we gave her the green light. Called, and she doubly reasured us they would turn out great. She does all the shirts for marketing type stuff for a big hospital down here, so we're going to trust her for now. And she said she could have them ready by Friday!

AtlanticWBConst

Yes, set up is a pain ---- $$$.

I want to change a few things on our shirt layouts ...but I don't want to have to pay for another set-up.

But, it doesn't really matter.
I like having the shirts, not so much for advertising, but for I.D. when we are working at large jobs with the public or residents around - that way, they know who we are (especially the elderly who can become easily alarmed at the sight of strangers in hallways, etc.)
Apartments, condos, hospitals, etc.. I think it looks more professional on residential jobs too.
We do T-shirts, polos, & tank tops (summer)
Sweatshirts & Hoodies (cooler months) - We especially started buying sweats because, I had some of our own guys showing up on our jobs with some other costruction company's logo on their sweatshirt.

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Teetorbilt

These shirts ran me a little over $300 per 100. I usually order a mixed bag of Polos and tees in all sizes. They are seconds, no need for first runs on something thats just going to get stained with fish blood. You can see some on this one.

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Melissa

What a deal. So, can you tell that they are seconds? I don't want the guys showing up with a lop-sided collar or something like that!

Grumpy

Hell Yes! The answer is true for anything printed, t shirts, paper etc...

jensenconstruction

Yes, they may not want to set up for one shirt but should be able to at least give you a computer print out of what the finished product will look like