How long does the process take?

Once we receive payment, it generally takes 3-4 days to digitize your logo and 2 days for sew out approval.  We guarantee production and delivery in less than 10 days.  So under normal circumstances, you can have your items within 15 days of placing your order. 

 

My order is not very large, why does it take so long to produce?

Our schedule remains full in 5 to 10 day increments. We do everything we possibly can to accommodate a rapid turnaround time, however other factors are involved. Shipping and availability of garments and materials can sometimes delay an order for up to a week at times. Embroidery machines sometimes break down and need time for repairs. All of this and more are contributing factors. Sometimes everything goes like clock work and we complete orders ahead of schedule.

 

How are embroidery costs determined?

Since embroidery is a customized process, each job needs to be quoted separately. The embroidery cost is based on three factors: the number of stitches in the logo, the number of garments being embroidered with the exact same logo, and the one time digitizing, or set-up fee to transform a graphical logo to an embroidery design. Typically, digitizing fees average between $60 - $180 per design. Embroidery fees generally average between $3 - $8 per 1000 stitches depending on the size of the embroidery.  Small quantities and high stitch count designs may have a higher embroidery cost.  An accurate quote will be provided after we inspect your design.

 

How do I determine the number of stitches in my logo?

Calculate the number of square inches your logo will occupy by multiplying the length by the width.  Multiply this number by 2000 to get the number of stitches.  For example, if your logo is 2” x 2”, that is 4 square inches and the estimated stitch count is 8000 stitches—assuming 100% fill.  Additionally,

· Each letter at 1/4” height = approximately 100 stitches.  Letters should be at least 1/4” for optimum clarity.

· If a logo has a straight line under it, add 200 stitches per inch.

· If a logo has a drop shadow, add 200 stitches per inch.  Remember this rule of thumb; drop shadows are usually equal to two times the number of stitches for each letter with a drop shadow.  

· If letters are outlined, multiply the number of stitches by 3.

 

Remember, using these guides will give you an estimate for stitch count.  For an accurate assessment, send us your logo and we will send you an actual stitch count and final cost to digitize your logo. 

 

Why is it so expensive?

Embroidery adds tremendous value to ordinarily normal products.  Add to that the fact that embroidery equipment and software costs thousands of dollars to purchase and maintain. In fact, most embroidery machines today sell at prices meeting or exceeding the price of a new SUV. A good digitizing software can also costs as much as a new car.  Doctors cost a lot of money because of their knowledge and investment in their tools and education, and overall value they bring to sustaining quality of life. While not life sustaining, good digitizing is a highly specialized skill and running an embroidery business represents a significant investment.  When you bring them both together to provide value add decorative apparel services, like doctors, embroidery is not cheap.

 

Why do you charge less for large quantity orders and smaller, low stitch count designs? 

The embroidery process takes a lot of set-up time and in the embroidery business, time is money. Each individual design or even lettering has its own properties and stitch parameters that must be applied to run correctly and come out with quality results. The machine has to be set-up for each particular design or lettering.

 

Large orders: The set-up time compared to the machine embroidery time is small resulting in higher efficiency production runs.  Also, our cost from our supplier decreases as our order volume increases and we can pass our savings to customers placing large orders.

 

Smaller, lower stitch count designs: Because it takes less time to embroider lower stitch count designs, production efficiency is higher than for larger, higher stitch count designs.  Higher production efficiency means that we can product more in a defined time period.  Again, we are able to pass along the production efficiency saving to our customers.  

 

Can you do rush orders?

Yes, we can do rush orders.  If you need your order within 8 days of us finalizing your digitized logo, we add 30% to the final cost.  We add 60% to orders requested in 6 days or less.  If you need your order in 4 days or less, we add 100% to the overall cost.  Overnight freight charges apply as well.

 

Why is there a setup (digitizing) fee when my logo is already in a digital format?

Digitizing is the process of converting digital artwork into a digital code thread file that can be read by today's advanced embroidery machines. Digitizing incurs a set up fee because a skillful digitizing artist uses very specialized (and expensive) embroidery digitizing software to interpret your particular artwork design into a digital embroidery pattern.  While the digitizer may begin with a scan or a graphic file, with the assistance of the digitizing software, he/she has to tell the embroidery machine where to put each stitch, and in what order to sew your design - including where to stop, trim the threads, and switch to a different color.  This process can take several days to get a high quality design.

 

Why do you charge for digitizing my art work while some other companies do not?

Nothing in a capitalistic society is free.  Some embroiders advertise free digitizing.  Keep in mind that a “free” digitizing service that produces poor  quality is no bargain if you are unhappy with the final embroidery result.  Additionally, the “free” digitizing, in most cases, is built into the selling price of the item. This means you will pay for the “free” digitizing on future orders – instead of just once with MUSTANG DESIGNS.  Once we have digitized your artwork, we archive it so that we can use that file for future orders.

 

What digital file formats do you accept?

We accept Bitmap (.bmp), Joint Photographic Experts Group (.jpg), Graphic Interchange Format (.gif), and Tag Image File Format (.tif), Portable Document Format (.pdf), Portable Network Graphics (.png), Encapsulated Post Script® (.eps), Post Script® (.ps or .prn), Corel DESIGNER®, Adobe® Illustrator (.ai) , and Corel® Paint Shop Pro (.psp). Please email the highest quality DPI image you have.

Bitmap	.bmp		Encapsulated Post Script®	.eps
Joint Photographic Experts Group	.jpg		Post Script®	.ps or .prn
Graphic Interchange Format	.gif		Adobe® Illustrator	.ai
Tag Image File Format	.tif		Corel® Paint Shop Pro	.psp
Portable Document Format	.pdf		Corel DESIGNER®
Portable Network Graphics	.png

 

Do I pay the digitizing setup fee every time I place an order?

No.  You pay to have your artwork digitized only once as long as you use the same logo, generally on the same type of garment on future orders and do not significantly increase its size.

 

Can I use the same logo for shirts and caps?

You can use the same logo for shirts and caps, likely though, with some modifications because caps and shirts are not stitched in the same manner.  Cap logos are stitched from the bottom-middle  in an upward and outward direction.  This prevents buckling.  Shirts on the other hand are flat and are stitched differently.  Cap logos can usually be no taller than 2.25" tall, while shirt logos may be taller.  If the logo was initially digitized only for use on shirts and you want to put it on caps at a later date, we may need to edit the original file at rate of $25/h.

 

Can a logo be resized from a left chest size to a full back size (and vice versa)?

Generally no, unless you want the logo to be the same size as the left chest design.  Logos can be resized a little bit (usually about 10%) without incurring an additional charge.  Changing from a left chest size to a full back size would require a completely new digitization of the logo.  It can't just be "clicked and dragged" from one size to another. 

 

How do I get my logo to you for a quote?

Send an email to orders@mustang-designs.com with your logo attached.  See above for the formats we accept.  Tell us what size you want your logo to be and what you want to put it on (caps, shirts, fleece, etc.).  No more than 3.75" x 2.00" is standard for logos wider than they are tall [or vice versa], or 2.50 inches on a side is standard for logos as wide as they are tall.  Often, the limiting factor in a logo's size is small lettering or a thin, small part of the artwork. If we think something needs to be changed, we'll let you know. 

 

I want a logo but do not have one.  Can you create one for me?

Yes and we have a collection of over 5,000 designs to choose from.   We will work with you to select the perfect image.  Once you have an image that meets your needs, you can add lettering to create the perfect logo.  Just tell us what you want and we can design it.  We charge $25.00 per hour for creative design and editing.  

 

Do you provide a proof of the logo so I can see it before you embroider my items?

Yes. We email you a digital image sew-out of your artwork, or send it by snail mail it if you prefer, for customer approval prior to starting production work.  This ensures you are completely satisfied before we send your order to production.

 

Is there a limit on logo size for embroidery?

Yes.  Square left chest logos are generally less than 2.5 inches in length and height.  Circular left chest logos are usually less than 2.5 inches in diameter.  Finally, left chest logos that are wider than they are tall are usually less than 3.75 inches x 2.00 inches.  Cap logos can be no larger than 2.25 inches tall by 4.5 inches wide. Visor logos can be no taller than 1.25 inches or wider than 4 inches.  Full back logos can go up to 11 inches x 11 inches.  We only recommend putting them on materials no lighter than a sweatshirt.

 

What payment methods do you accept? Do you accept PO's?

We will accept Checks, Money Orders, MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover Card.  Because of the custom nature of embroidery, all checks must clear prior to initiation of a project.  Thus, check payment may add as many as 7 days turn around time to an order.

 

Can you match my logo colors?

Yes.  While there are over 1000 Pantone colors and not nearly that many thread colors, we are very knowledgeable in matching thread colors to logo colors and will work with you to ensure you are satisfied with the thread colors used for your logo.  If you know your logos Pantone colors, take a look at or thread conversion chart to begin identifying the appropriate thread color for your logo.

 

I want a shirt/hat that’s not in your catalog on your website. Can you get it?

Since we have access to hundreds of brands, we will likely be able to obtain the specific item that you are looking for. Contact us for details.

 

Can you embroider the backs and sides of caps? Can I get more than one location embroidered on a shirt?

We can definitely embroider cap backs, sides and multiple locations on shirts.  Additional charges will apply.

 

Do you have any minimum order size?

We have no minimum order size, but apparel and embroidery both cost less in quantity.

 

What size orders can you handle?

We can handle any size order – from 1 to as many as you need. 

 

Can I purchase items without embroidery?

Yes, you can purchase items without embroidery.

 

Do you charge sales tax?

We are required to charge sales tax within Arizona.

 

What is your return or exchange policy?

MUSTANG DESIGNS takes pride in the quality of our work and the quality assurance processes we have put in place to eliminate in-house errors.  We stand behind every piece of work we complete.  However, due to the custom nature of our work, all sales are final  If you are not satisfied with your order, we will gladly exchange defective items to ensure satisfaction.  We will assume responsibility for manufacturer and decorative defects and will replace defective items promptly.  Customers will assume responsibility if a decorative defect resulted from an error provided to us by the customer, or if the final proof contained errors but was approved by the customer.   In this case, the customer will assume all additional correction charges including shipping.

 

All requests for exchanges must be made within 30 days.  To request an exchange, a customer must send an email to returns@mustang-designs.com with the following information: your name, invoice number, the items to be exchanged, and the reason for returning them.  We will promptly review your request and issue you an Exchange Authorization Number if warranted.  We will then send you a prepaid shipping label for you to use. Once you have received your prepaid shipping label, mark your Exchange Authorization Number clearly on the box and ship the package to the address on the label.  No exchanges will be accepted without a Return Authorization Number.  Orders returned COD will be rejected.  We will notify you of your exchange status via email once we have received and processed your return.

 

How do you ship?

We use UPS ground unless you specify a higher level UPS service.  We can use UPS 3 day, 2 day or next day for an extra charge.

 

How long does UPS Ground service take?

We ship from our facility in Mesa, Arizona so the following applies:

· Shipping to the Western 1/4 US - 1 to 2 days.

· Shipping to the Western 1/2 US - 2 to 3 days.

· Shipping to the Eastern 1/2 US - 3 to 4 days.

· Shipping to the Eastern 1/4 US - 4 to 5 days.

 

Do you embroider patches?

Yes, we can embroider patches and emblems.

 

How do you handle Copyrights?

When you submit artwork to us, you imply that it is in full compliance with trademark and copyright laws. We will not reproduce any design without the copyright holder’s permission. When purchasing from us, you hold us harmless for any and all claims that result from any item produced for you, including attorney fees.