FAQ's | Pioneer Print Co.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering and Graphics F.A.Q’s

When will I get my shirts?

Standard turnaround is 10-12 business days after a proof is approved and the order is paid in full. If you need them sooner we can put a rush on them for a fee.

What about shirt sizing?

There’s nothing worse than ordering shirts and the fit isn’t right. We’ve made a Shirt Sizing Guide to help with this process.

Graphic Design for your Custom Shirts

Each order comes with graphic design time included. 12-35 get 20 minutes || 36-95 get 1/2 hour || 96-143 get 1 hour; ||144+ get 1.5 hours. Any additional time on artwork is charged at $40/hr, billed in half-hour increments. We will not start artwork until a quote is approved and the invoice has been paid. 

Do you ship items?

Absolutely! If you’re in the Midwest we use a local courier – Speedee Delivery. It’s a flat rate $10/box. Any shipments outside of their service area are typically sent via UPS Ground and are $15 – $25 /box depending on size and weight.

How does payment work?

We accept credit/debit cards, Paypal, cash, and checks. Our invoice system allows you to quickly pay online with a credit card. If this is your first time ordering with us we require the order to be paid in full before we proceed. All further orders require a 50% down-payment. Orders must be paid in full before they are picked up, shipped, or delivered. For clients such as government agencies and schools Net 30 terms are available.

Do you offer different styles and brands?

Absolutely! Choose from a wide variety of brands, styles, fits, and colors. We have relationships with the top shirt distributors to get you your custom shirts. Here are some links to the industries largest suppliers:

Do you do online ordering?

YES! If you’re a sports team, business or organization that’s looking to make ordering more simple we can set up an online store! Your store can have different apparel times, brands, colors, and decoration methods. There’s the option to use online stores for fundraising as well. 

What about School Sports Teams?

Are you a coach that spends more time chasing money and order forms than coaching? We offer an online ordering system, as well as order forms, that makes your life easier. WE deal 100% with taking the orders and payment so you can focus on coaching. This allows parents, grandparents, family members, and people far away to place orders online and help you raise more funds for your team! Learn more about our revolutionary school apparel system HERE.

Screen Printing F.A.Q’s

Why do more colors in a design cost more?

Each color in a design and per side of the shirt requires a silk screen to be coated with emulsion, exposed, registered, setup, and cleaned. The more colors in a design means there are more screens, more materials and time invested. We offer price breaks depending on the amount of garments ordered.

How many colors can you print per shirt?

We can print up to 7 colors. We print using a method called “simulated process” which allows us to make different colors and shades by blending – or half-toning. This allows us to make some prints look like they are say 5 colors and it’s only a 3 color shirt. We also offer Direct-to-Film Transfers for designs requiring full-color printing.

What will my shirts be like?

Each shirt goes through 4-5 inspections before it is in your hands. Each shirt is printed to have a minimal feel to it, or hand. We only use phthalate and PVC free plastisol inks. Our proofing process is very precise and you’ll have a realistic mock-up to review and approve before anything hits the press!

Can I get my design screen printed on different items?

Yes, we can make that happen. Let us know when you contact us or at the end of the estimate form just let us know what else you want your design printed on! Keep in mind that sizing can play a factor. A 12″ W x 14″ H design isn’t going to fit on a toddler’s tshirt as well as it would an adult tshirt. We will talk with you about some different options when you contact us.

What types of ink do you use?

Our shirts are printed with phthalate and PVC free plastisol inks. Plastisol is your industry standard ink and what you’ll find on most all event shirts. For some speciality jobs we will use waterbase ink. Waterbase provides a soft-hand print that is smoother, but does require longer curing times, more energy consumption and is less forgiving than plastisol, which is why it’s more expensive.

Embroidery F.A.Q’s

How much does it cost to embroider a garment?

There’s only one answer to this question – it depends. Embroidery costs are dependent on stitch count, how many stitches are in your design, and the amount and type of apparel your wanting embroidered. Without seeing your design, having the file, running it through our software and getting the estimated stitch count makes it hard to put an exact number on it. If you send us your logo or graphic we can quickly get you a quote. We offer quantity discounts. The more you order the more you save. Use our form HERE to send us your embroidery job information.

What types of things can you embroider?

Most anything. Our most popular items are hats, polos, hoodies, jackets, t-shirts and bags. Our connection to multiple distributors, top of the line embroidery equipment, and professional graphic design allow us to make your design look great on a vast assortment of items!

What is "Digitizing"?

Digitizing is the process of taking your logo, image, or design and converting it into a special file that can be read by our embroidery machines. It is a very important part of the embroidery process and will ultimately determine the quality of your embroidered image.

Can I bring in my own items and have them embroidered?

It depends. We have taken on jobs like this in the past and have refused some. If we take them on we are not liable for any damage done to the garment! The truth is that things can happen – God forbid – and the last thing we want is to have something go wrong while embroidering a family heirloom or really expensive shirt!

How many colors can you embroider?

Our machines allow us to embroider up to 15 colors in your design, which is more than plenty to do any design we’ve come across.