O Gee

Review of Design Ink

I'm currently in the process of starting an appare...

I'm currently in the process of starting an apparel line, I chose Design Ink to help with printing. From the 1st order I should've turned elsewhere. A 7 color print on long sleeve crewneck sweaters and short sleeve T-shirts. I was out to make a strong impression with my first prints. When I go in to pick up my order I was upset with the quality of the prints. It didn't look professionally printed. Colors were faint and looked to be barely on the garment. A distressed look that I did not ask for. I wouldn't print so many colors to have them barely visible. It turns out the print was done on a hand press and looked as if it was an afterthought. Like a homework assignment done minutes before your teacher says its due. Print manager acknowledged the poor print and said the wrong press was used. I had paid for a white underlay so the colors would be vivid and on top of that paid $150 for the location and size of the print. Why wasn't the right equipment used!??? He offered to make things right by reprinting them and calling me the day of reprint to do a press proof. Ok I said but...they couldn't fit me in for another 12 days. The old cliche, time is money.

Round 2 of prints. I had gone elsewhere to print after having a bad first experience. Staying clear of Design Ink Jan-April '16. I was ready to print a bigger order (500+ shirts) so I came back because of their print capabilities and wanting to establish a long-term relationship with a local printer. I had pre-sold 50 shirts of 1 design and was to pick them up and deliver to a client who would be selling them out of the country and was in town during that weekend. I was given a promise/pick-up date of July 1, 2016. This was a full 3 1/2 weeks later. I had paid in full and I had the expectation of picking my merchandise up and delivering July 2 to my client who would be flying home that evening. I waited patiently for a call to pick up my order. When 4pm rolled by and I had not received a call, I made the call to check on my order. I was told "oh...yes they're ready for you to pick up." I get to their new location and immediately knew something was up because of the front desk receptionist's body language. No one likes to give bad news...she tells me a portion of my order was misprinted. How many I ask...96...or maybe more. Over 130 shirts of my best selling print were not ready for pick up. 50 of those shirts belong to my pre-sold, paid in full customer. What now!? Of course no one is in the office on Friday July 1st at 4:30 in the afternoon before a long holiday weekend. No explanation of how a full order gets printed wrong. I'm out $500 and have a left an awful 1st impression on a would be repeat client.

A week later I'm setting up shop in San Jose CA. I pull into the fairgrounds and I see a familiar design on a shirt. I walk closer to the gentleman wearing the shirt and sure enough it's my artwork!!!! It's printed on a t-shirt color that I don't even own or have for sale!!!

I send an email to design ink letting them know of my disgust and frustration of how my artwork ended up on someone without my permission. I get a reply back that's summed up as an excuse for how they got caught. Stating it was a test shirt...how convenient that the test shirt was a perfect fit. Email also stated there was only 1 test shirt....because I should be happy there was only 1??? The very next day more shirts with my design. Tell me this Design ink...why were the "test shirts" not given to me???? Because it was all a lie! I meet with the print manager when I get back into town and he says he's been in business for over 30 years and this has happened before. He wants me to come up with a solution to a problem his shop created. I asked for the shirts back that were printed and 3 weeks later I'm still waiting!

Unprofessional. Irresponsible. Disrespectful. Dishonest.