Lead Times
Nothing is more disappointing than ordering your custom uniforms and apparel only to have them show up late and potentially miss a game or an event. For this reason we want to ensure that you understand what our lead times are and what that really means to you!
Our official lead time is 4-weeks from
artwork approval ! (read on)
There we have said it, but if you do not read the rest of this you may be disappointed. Please try and understand the entire order process as our goal is to not only not disappoint you, but rather make the uniform or apparel buying experience as painless, pleasant and transparent as possible
Steps in the Order Process
Initial Inquiry - you call or email us and we talk about your needs
Artwork Design – graphic designers interpret your request and send you mock-up
Artwork Approval – you and your team review and approve. Be careful no changes allowed once approved
Submitting sizes, names and numbers – the order cannot be submitted without a complete list. Be sure that if submitting names they are in the proper case (usually upper) and of course spelled correctly
Purchasing – we double check your order and place with factory
Production – factory produces your fully custom uniform or apparel in 4-weeks
Delivery – allow a few days for product to arrive
What does 4-weeks really mean to you !
First of all, the clock does not start ticking on
the 4-weeks when you pick up the phone and call us. Let us explain the process:
A normal call might
be “Hi John, this is Bob at ABC High School, I need to get some jerseys. What do you recommend and how long will it
take”. Johns response might be “ I
recommend our sublimated jerseys and the lead-time is usually 4-weeks”. This is a perfectly normal conversation in
which no one has said anything wrong but this is a conversation that inevitably
leads to a misunderstanding. Bob as the
customer goes to his staff and says John can get us jerseys in 4-weeks. Bob calls John and says lets go ahead with the
jerseys I will get you the sizing and numbers. John then says, great let’s get
the artwork going and asks Bob the normal questions of what colors, layout
ideas, what logo or sponsors are needed, what size and type of font for
numbers, etc. John then takes the
information and brings it to his graphic department to “interpret” what Bob
would like on the jersey. This is a
process that usually takes anywhere from 24 to 72 hours depending on how busy
the graphic department is. John sends Bob a mock-up 2 days later and Bob says
let me show it around and get some comments!
This process takes 24 to 72 hours – or more!. Bob comes back and says let’s
make a few “tweaks” to the design.
Graphics now does this a little quicker but it is still a 24 hour
turnaround. Let’s assume Bob likes the changes but still say’s “let me show
everyone the final version to be sure”.
24 hours later Bob comes back and says the artwork is approved. John now
sends it to purchasing to have the order entered and purchase the goods. Let’s give that process another 24 hours. The factory receives the order but the next
day comes back with a question or two wanting to ensure they understand the art
and everything about the order.
The above paragraph is not an unusual exchange in the uniform order process. On the contrary it is the absolute “norm” and no one has said or done anything wrong. That being said the factory making the order, which offers a 4-week lead time, has now received the order anywhere from 4 days to a week and half or more from the original phone call. If the factory ships in 4-weeks then we need to add time in transit from factory to the order to get to you, the customer. This varies from 1 to 6 days depending on where you are. The reality of the 4-week lead-time is that it can be 6 weeks or more before you receive the goods. Unfortunately many people only hear “4-weeks” and think that we mislead them with a 6 week in-hand date. We want to ensure you that is never our goal and we hope this little bit of “disclosure” makes the order process a little more transparent.
The bottom line of this whole exchange is that you need to
account for the extra time of doing artwork, getting approvals, shipping of the
product, etc. The best rule of thumb is
that on average it takes 6 weeks from the time you first pick up the phone
until such time your order will arrive.
Of course if this is a reorder then 4-weeks and a few of days for
freight is OK.
Check List for Order Process
Initial Inquiry - you call or email us and we talk about your needs
Artwork Design – graphic designers interpret your request
and send you mock-up
Artwork Approval – you and your team review and
approve. Be careful no changes allowed once
approved
Submitting sizes, names and numbers – the order cannot be submitted
without a complete list. Be sure that if submitting names they are in the proper case (usually upper) and of course spelled correctly
Purchasing – we consolidate the order and place with factory
Production – factory produces you fully custom uniform or
apparel in 4-weeks
Delivery – allow a few days for product to arrive
Your shopping cart is empty!