Ordering custom or imprinted promotional products can be confusing. There’s a lot of terminology used when you shop for promos online, and the average consumer will often not understand what these charges are.
In this article I will break down the common terminology and decoration charges. The most frequent question I am asked is: what does the phrase “price includes a one color, one location imprint” mean? This is a standard industry phrase, but it is misleading. There are two main decoration charges involved with most orders: set-up charge and run charge. The above phrase would lead you to believe that your first imprint is completely free or included in the unit price. But the phrase is actually referring to your first color/location run charge is free. You will still have a set-up charge. Here is how it works:
Set-Up Charge: This charge is incurred for every color and/or location imprint. For most decoration methods a “plate” or “screen” must be created to apply your custom imprint/logo to the product. This is the set-up charge. If you have more than one color in your imprint, a plate or screen must be created for each color. For the most common imprint method – a screenprint – each color will be applied to the product one at a time. Most suppliers charge a set-up charge. Exact re-orders within a stated time period (usually 1-2 years) will have a reduced or free re-order set-up charge. There is no set or standardized set-up charge. This charge varies across products and suppliers.
Run Charge: If you are printing in more than one color or side, you will incur this charge. A run charge is a per unit charge, unlike a set-up charge which is based on how many plates or screens are required. For example: if you are printing on one side in two colors = you will have one run charge per unit (remember: your first run charge is included). If the run charge is $0.20 cents and you are ordering 100 units, your add-on cost is $20.00. Using this same order example but adding the 2 color imprint to the second side of the product, you will now have three run charges per unit = one run charge for the first side, second color, and two additional run charges for the two colors on the other side. Your add-on cost is now $60.00.
PMS Color Match: All suppliers offer stock (free) imprint colors. Some suppliers will match any imprint color at no charge. However, many more suppliers charge a PMS color match charge if you want or need to print in a specific color that is not a stock imprint color. “PMS” stands for pantone matching system. A PMS color is defined by a mixture of inks that will result in a specific color. Colors in this system are numerical. For example: your logo is red and the PMS color red is 186. The supplier offers PMS 185 as a stock imprint color. If you cannot or do not want to use this closest match, you will pay the PMS color match charge to print in PMS 186. It is important to know that you will incur this charge for every PMS match that you need, and you will incur this charge every time you re-order. The reason for this is simple: the supplier must mix the inks to achieve your color each time you order.
Ink Change Charge: An ink change charge is applied when you are printing the same artwork on assorted colors of a product. For example: you have ordered 500 tote bags and 250 are white and 250 are black. You want to print your logo in white on the black bag, and your logo in black on the white bag. In this scenario you will incur the ink change charge.
The above four charges are the most common decoration charges you will encounter when ordering promotional products.
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