Order extra blanks?

[Gilligan]

When ordering shirts do you guys recommend I order extra blanks in case I f' up some shirts?

Obviously I'd rather not waste money BUT  I don't order very often and don't want to waste even more money on shipping for a couple of shirts.

If it IS recommended that I order extras what should I order?

Maybe the size with the most and then print that size first banking on that I'd probably mess it up while first getting into my grove/stride?  So order a couple of that size.  Or maybe the top two sizes one of each and if I mess up one then switch to the other sizes, hoping again that I get in a groove and not mess up again?

[sweetts]

I figure my spoilage to be around 2-3 % so I will order an extra for every size, so if the order has 4 different sizes thats 4 shirts.  I figure an extra shirt is ordered every 33 shirts. I do figure that cost into the quote so I am not out anything, and if they want one or two more shirts added later its gravy.

[Shawn (EIP)]

Running down to the store to by them retail sucks, aways have a few in size on hand, why not?

[tpitman]

I used to. Now I've got probably $200 to $300 worth of one- and two-off blanks stuffed into plastic bags in a storage unit. Eventually I'll use 'em up for set-ups, then cleaning rags, but I had almost 200 misprinted shirts from about 4 years ago that I'm still using for set-ups and cleaning. With 3 shirt wholesalers in town, frustrating as it is to screw up one shirt and have to go buy a replacement, I buy only what the job calls for. The exception is if it's something odd I have to order out of town. I just bear down on getting everything right before I start printing on the new blanks, then enter a zen-like state of oneness with the squeegie (or malted barley stupor, whatever) to print each one correctly avoiding mistakes.
Spend your time getting the press set up, add a bit of choke or trap to art to cover any hairline alignment problems (not as a crutch to hide slop) and use plenty of platen adhesive. Truthfully, about the only mistakes I make anymore are pulling a shirt off the platen before all the colors are down, and that's not that often.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

I generally don't order extras. By the time I start printing, I've already ran numerous test prints first on scraps.
I do have a local distributor so on the rare occasion I do mess up, it's no big deal to get a replacement right away.
If it's a brand that comes from out-state, like Alstyle or American Apparel, well, I just order the exact number I need and so far, so good....

[squeegee]

Generally no, but for PITA customers sometimes, the kind that has to have every shirt.  Or, sometimes for difficult or multi location jobs where setting up twice, if necessary, sucks.

[GraphicDisorder]

We generally do 1 extra per size/per color and keep them on the shelf.  Once we get a stock of them we stop doing the extras.  We used to make a lot more mistakes on the manual.  Generally speaking on the Auto is misprint is really rare. 

[Shawn (EIP)]

The spot gun saves my ass 9 times out of 10 but there is that crappy gildan with a hole or stain. Explaining why an order is short sucks.

[Gilligan]

Generally no, but for PITA customers sometimes, the kind that has to have every shirt.  Or, sometimes for difficult or multi location jobs where setting up twice, if necessary, sucks.

Which brings up another question... do you guys actually make customers stick to your "spoilage" statements.  I mean, I guess they re good to have as a fall back option if you CAN'T fix it.  But how does that really work?  If I order 100 shirts, I want 100 shirts.  Lots of times the reason they are a PITA is because those shirts are all accounted for and if you don't get 100 shirts then someone isn't getting a shirt.  Now who is the bad guy?

Problem with that is if I'm the customer and I had to short someone because the printer made a mistake I'd likely look for another printer... maybe that's ignorance as a customer but it's reality as a vendor of how customers think/react.

[Gilligan]

The spot gun saves my ass 9 times out of 10 but there is that crappy gildan with a hole or stain. Explaining why an order is short sucks.

My last order had a PC54 with a hole through and through the shirt... I luckily had some red Gildans and could swap it out.  I printed my personal sample on that shirt since the hole was below the print.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Feel free to correct me but I think the spoilage rates are meant for very large quantities and contract printing.

[tpitman]

Personally, I don't lean on a spoilage rate. For contract work I can see where the "customer" supplies the shirts and they can throw in a few extras to make sure they get their full order, but if a customer orders 100 shirts that I buy and print, I give them 100 shirts. If I bought a case of beer and there were only 23 cans, or a "meal" at a fast food place, and the fries container was half full because they'd run out of stock, I'd be pissed.
Aside from Gildan's "surprise in every box" feature, would you feel shorted if the case had 70 or 71 shirts in it?

[squeegee]

We don't have a "spoilage policy", as mentioned, that is more of a contract thing. 

I think this issue comes down to communication and getting to know your customers.  There are those that preorder for others for an event or similar, and there are others that buy for give away or a projected audience. 

When we have a misprint or a mill defect and no shirt on hand to replace it we ask them if they need it or if they are fine with a refund for it and take care of them accordingly.  For some, the ones I call PITA, we order extras to have on hand and try to avoid the issue entirely.

Regular customers in general come to understand that screen printing is not a perfect science and most (not all) are understanding of these things, just like we are understanding of them when they call the day before the job is due and want 5 more youth medium, or call at 5 PM and say they are running late and stuck in traffic.  There's a lot of give and take, mostly give.

[Nation03]

the ac moore we have in town sells blanks for about $2.50 so I go there if necessary. Spoilage is really low though.

[JayzTeez]

i keep one extra shirt per color and size of the gildan 2000 extra on hand in case of a screw up. i am about 25 miles from the nearest store that sell blanks so i need to keep my bases covered.