FAQs
Everything you ever wanted to know
- About Us
- Quality and Printing
- Do you have minimums?
- How thick / heavy / cheap are your shirts?
- What is your turnaround time?
- Why should I order with you? There are a lot of printers in town.
- Why should I order locally in the first place? There have to be cheaper places online.
- How much would my custom order cost?
- Will my shirts shrink?
- Are your shirts sweatshop-free?
- What's the difference between Gildan amd American Apparel?
- Do you print dri-fit (Under Armour style) shirts?
- Ordering
About Us
Who are you?
We are a small company located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We like shirts, we like you, and we'd like to introduce you to one another.
We have office parties for Always Sunny in Philadelphia every Thursday. We all play guitar, one of us well. We give our misprints to goodwill. Elderly people and small children alike enjoy our company, and dogs seem drawn to us. We are pretty sure that it's because we are awesome...and we keep milkbones in our pockets.
Quality and Printing
Do you have minimums?
No, we don't. For small orders (even just one), we use a digital garment printer which allows us to print screen-free, maintaining maximum quality (600dpi prints) with no set-up costs. This is what allows us to print single and small run orders cost-effectively, add names and numbers affordably, and print most orders within the hour of their receipt. This is a new technology that completely changes the rules of traditional screen printing, and we are eager to spread the word! Please contact us for more information!
How thick / heavy / cheap are your shirts?
Garment fabric is measured in ounces. T-shirts are typically 4.7 to 6.1 oz, and hoodies 7.0 to 11oz. The weight of the fabric largely determines its durability and perceived quality (stitching plays a big role, too). If you've ever had a cheap-feeling, wispy t-shirt it was probably your printer saving a few bucks by giving you a 5.3oz shirt instead of the full 6.1oz. While we can provide cheaper shirts if you so desire, however we default to 6.1oz on all orders, because that is the quality we feel most comfortable attaching our names to.
What is your turnaround time?
Standard turnaround is 7 days. We have the capabilities to turn over shirts as quickly as the next day. Express charges vary depending on the season.
Why should I order with you? There are a lot of printers in town.
We will never speak ill of our competitors. If you have worked with them and are happy - stay! They earned it. If not, then we'd love to earn your business (and keep you coming back) by going the extra mile. We rarely charge for art, and often print overnight. We don't charge for screens except in special circumstances. We know that not all t-shirts are created equal, and want to counsel and help you choose the best one for your team / gift / self / event. We will create you a mock up of your design to send to your group, and give you our input if we think we can help improve your design. Honestly, with the right equipment, printing shirts is not that hard. We know that, and are determined to make our service (and prices) what keeps you coming back. No amount of advertising in the world can match a great referral, and we are determined to send you away smiling.
Why should I order locally in the first place? There have to be cheaper places online.
We don't believe that you are morally obligated to shop locally - especially if it costs you money. So rather than freeload off of the "buy local" movement, we have streamlined our costs and supply chain to the point where we are cheaper than online companies (who typically don't advertise their shipping and set-up costs) while providing faster turnaround, and will happily price match if you prove us wrong :)
How much would my custom order cost?
There are a few factors: number of shirts, style of shirts (say, crew vs. v-neck), brand of shirt, number of print locations, and number of colors in the print.
As a jumping off point, a single custom shirt will run you around $20.00, while an order of 1,000 shirts can be as low as a couple bucks per shirt. Bulk matters!
To get your specific quote, just hop to our quote request form really quick, and let us know what you have in mind. It literally takes about 30 seconds and we'll get back to you really fast (Within 24 hours, often sooner)! Seriously. Jerry doesn't leave his desk.
Will my shirt shrink?
While our shirts are pre-shrunk, they are still 100% cotton and you should expect them to shrink about 5-7%. Wash cold, dry low (and if you are really adament on avoiding any shrinkage, let them air dry.) Although you should not expect any significant fading, wash colors separately from whites, especially on the first wash.
`Are your shirts sweatshop-free?
Yes. We sell American Apparel and Gildan shirts, both of which are now in full compliance with the Fair Labor Association (FLA ). We encourage you to visit their websites for further details regarding their corporate citizenship.
http://www.americanapparel.net/contact/
http://gildan.com/corporate/corporateCitizenship/overview.cfm
What is the difference between Gildan and American Apparel?
The difference is that while the Gildan shirts are perfectly fine, the American Apparel are constructed of ringspun cotton, which is noticably softer. The American Apparel shirts are also more fitted, are available in both the men and women's versions, and weigh less.
Do you print dri-fit (Under Armour style) shirts?
Yup. Unfortunately, we don't have access to Under Armour apparel itself, but we have a lot of great 100% polyester (moisture wicking) garments that are very similar.
Ordering
Can you ship my shirts?
Absolutely! We have shipped shirts as far away as Japan and as close as the West Side of Ann Arbor. We strive to keep shipping as low as possible in every scenario and know this is an important part of your decision to order. Typically, shipping for orders under 100 shirts is between $12.00 and $30.00 - but we will let you know before you commit.
How much is shipping?
For small orders, within the U.S. and Canada, we only charge you $2 for the first shirt and $1 per shirt after. Internationally, It's $7 US for the first shirt, $10 for 2, $13.50 for 3, $17 for 4, and $25 for any amount after that. Larger orders have more of a variance, and are addressed in the quoting process.
Are there any other charges? Like handling or taxes?
Nope. We want to keep it simple. Tax is already calculated into the price of retail shirts, and included on the invoice of custom apparel.
Do you ship retail orders internationally?
Absolutely. Internationally, It's $7 US for the first shirt, $10 for 2, $13.50 for 3, $17 for 4, and $25 for any amount after that.
How long will it take me to receive my stuff?
All retail (webstore) orders ship within 3-5 days of placement, and ship first class via USPS from Ann Arbor, MI. Depending on your proximity to us, once it ships it will typically take between 3-5 days for you to receive your package (longer when going outside the U.S. - typically 5 to 14 days).
I made a mistake on my order! How do I fix it?
Email support@annarbortshirtcompany.com immediately. Seriously, he checks it constantly. We cannot guarantee that your order wasn't filled lightning quick, but it is worth a shot.
