# Best Provider for (very) SHORT Run T-Shirts **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309 "2012-10-10T14:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/1 "2012-10-10T14:32:14Z")
Who does the SDMB like for custom T-Shirts? Not ordering in bulk, really only going to do about 5 to start. My personal default is Cafe Press, but I don’t _love_ their product. It’s acceptable, but I don’t think the printing on their T-Shirts looks all that great. Also, although I know that pricing is never great when not ordering in bulk, Cafe Press does still seem a bit pricey to me. Anyone got better suggestion? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/2 "2012-10-10T14:55:13Z")
For five? I’d consider iron-on transfers. Print them right from your home ink-jet printer, iron on, and there you go. I think like $12 for a pack. Won’t look as perfect as a custom-printing job, but you can’t beat the price, turn-around time, or ability to re-do the design if it doesn’t come out how you want. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/3 "2012-10-10T15:49:07Z")
I haven’t tried them yet, but [Custom Ink’s](http://www.customink.com/)prices don’t seem horrible, and they have a lot of styles, brands, colors of shirts they can print on. They were recommended by a friend, so that’s all I have to go on so far. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/4 "2012-10-10T15:55:56Z")
I’ve done this in the past. There are a lot of local companies that specialize in precisely this. I know that there are still some around me. Search the internet for local businesses that specialize in custom T-shirts. Or use the Yellow Pages, if you still have the hard copy. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/5 "2012-10-10T16:09:10Z")
I used [Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company](http://www.annarbortshirtcompany.com/) to print a single shirt based on my design. You send them a JPEG after selecting size, color, etc. I couldn’t be happier with the product, and their service is outstanding. I would use them again without hesitation. mmm ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/6 "2012-11-02T20:59:16Z")
I ended up going with [Zazzle](http://www.zazzle.com/). I tried a couple of local places. The best price quote I could get was $18 per shirt but they had a 12 shirt minimum. **Mean Mr. Mustard** , I took a look at Ann Arbor. I didn’t know them before. They seem cool, friendly, and I like their site but Zazzle had a better price. Zazzle also had a better price than Cafe Press. The website was user friendly and I got my T-Shirts _the next day_ (I did not opt for any special fast delivery, maybe they’re based in Southern California, where I am). They came to about $19 per shirt, but there were cheaper options than the shirts I chose (“Ringer Ts”), and I only ordered 4. Sorry, local mom & pop place. This boy’s on a budget and he didn’t need 12 shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/7 "2012-11-02T22:33:29Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > I haven’t tried them yet, but [Custom Ink’s](http://www.customink.com/)prices don’t seem horrible, and they have a lot of styles, brands, colors of shirts they can print on. They were recommended by a friend, so that’s all I have to go on so far. I used Custom Ink once this year. Their service was excellent. The “ink” on the shirts turned out weird, though, and I can’t recall if that’s because we cheaped out or what. Later I checked with a local T-shirt shop owner and she said could easily beat Custom Ink’s price for a small order. Take a look around locally. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-provider-for-very-short-run-t-shirts/637309/8 "2012-11-03T01:30:14Z")
If you go with Zazzle, make sure to check their shirt sizes carefully before you order. I ordered some Hanes Tagless tees and they ran too small. It wasn’t a problem though. I asked to exchange a couple for larger sizes and they sent me two new shirts for free. I guess they figured they weren’t going to sell any more of the design I ordered.