What we guarantee
Workmanship
- Clean prints with proper cure, alignment, and opacity for the chosen method.
- Secure embroidery with appropriate density and underlay to suit fabric and design.
- Accurate packing and labeling based on the approved order details.
- Production completed according to the decoration method, garment type, and artwork approved before production.
On-time production
- We meet the production window we confirm at order approval.
- Production timelines begin after order approval, payment, artwork readiness, and garment availability are complete.
- If we miss our production window due to our error, we provide a fair make-good such as a rush remake, credit, or shipping refund depending on the circumstances.
Proof approval and order accuracy
Custom orders are produced based on the final approved details. Customers are responsible for carefully reviewing all order information before production begins.
Customer approval includes
- Artwork, logo, spelling, wording, and design placement.
- Garment style, colour, size, quantity, and decoration method.
- Print size, embroidery size, thread colour, and approximate layout.
- Any special instructions added before production begins.
- Final confirmation that the order is ready to move into production.
After approval
- Changes may not be possible once production has started.
- Approved spelling, artwork, placement, size, and garment selections are not considered defects after production.
- If a customer approves a proof with an error, remake costs may apply.
- Exact colour matching is not guaranteed unless a paid sample or specific production test is approved in advance.
- Mockups are visual guides and may not represent exact scale, fabric texture, thread sheen, or print feel.
Fair use of our guarantee
Our guarantee is built to protect customers from genuine workmanship issues while also keeping custom production fair and sustainable. We always review concerns carefully, but small production tolerances, normal use, and approved order details are not treated as defects.
Reasonable production tolerance
- Small placement, sizing, colour, thread, print texture, or alignment variations may occur in custom apparel production.
- Minor differences between mockups and finished products are normal due to fabric texture, garment size, garment colour, decoration method, and screen display differences.
- Small imperfections that are not clearly visible during normal wear or regular viewing distance may not qualify as workmanship defects.
- Hand-placed, heat-pressed, embroidered, or screen-printed items may have slight natural variation from piece to piece.
- Bulk order variations where individual pieces have minor differences that do not affect the overall professional appearance or usability of the order may fall within normal tolerance.
Fair claim review
- Each concern is reviewed based on the approved proof, order details, garment type, decoration method, photos, care history, and production tolerance.
- A concern must be related to workmanship, not preference, change of mind, normal wear, or customer-approved details.
- We may request the item back for physical inspection before confirming a remake, credit, refund, or replacement.
- Claims that are incomplete, unclear, exaggerated, or inconsistent with the production record may require additional review.
- Submitting a claim does not automatically guarantee a refund, remake, credit, or replacement.
What is not covered
Custom work has variables. The guarantee does not cover the following:
- Change of mind, preference changes after proof approval, or sizing selected by the customer.
- Approved spelling, artwork, placement, colours, garment style, garment colour, or quantity after production has started.
- Courier delays, customs delays, weather delays, delivery exceptions, or stock backorders outside our control.
- Colour variance up to 10 percent between on-screen RGB and ink or thread on fabric.
- Minor press marks, pre-treatment marks, or heat marks that generally relax or wash out after the first wash.
- Wear and tear from normal use, repeated washing, misuse, abrasion, or not following care instructions.
- Minor cosmetic variations that fall within normal custom production tolerance.
- Small differences in print feel, texture, thread sheen, garment reaction, or fabric surface caused by the selected decoration method.
- Concerns that are only visible under extreme close-up inspection, unusual lighting, stretching, or conditions that do not reflect normal wear.
- Approved artwork issues such as low-resolution files, thin lines, very small text, spelling, spacing, layout, colour choice, or design proportions approved by the customer.
- Claims submitted after the garment has been heavily used, repeatedly washed, altered, stained, exposed to chemicals, or handled in a way that prevents fair inspection.
- Requests for full refund, remake, or replacement based only on preference, expectation differences, or comparison with products made by another printer using different garments, methods, or materials.
- Normal aging of decorated garments, including gradual fading, softening, cracking, light peeling, thread fuzzing, or texture change caused by repeated washing and regular use.
- Bulk order variations where individual pieces have minor differences that do not affect the overall professional appearance or usability of the order.
- Damage caused by high heat washing, high heat drying, harsh detergents, bleach, fabric softeners, stain removers, or improper garment care.
- Damage caused by washing decorated garments together with rough fabrics, heavy zippers, towels, abrasive materials, or items that may rub against the print or embroidery.
- Changes caused by fabric type, dye treatment, garment colour, shrinkage, stretching, pilling, or garment reaction to washing and drying conditions.
- Issues caused by low-resolution artwork, very small text, thin lines, gradients, distressed effects, or artwork limitations that were approved by the customer.
- Customer-supplied garments that have manufacturing defects, fabric sensitivity, stains, coatings, residue, shrinkage, dye bleeding, or unknown prior washing conditions.
Sizing charts include a tolerance of ±2 cm. Embroidery placement tolerance is ±5 mm. Small variations are normal in custom apparel production.
Quality standards
Decoration methods
- DTG: pre-treatment and heat press may leave faint boxes or residue; this typically disappears after the first wash.
- DTF and screen print: light press impressions can appear and usually relax with washing.
- Embroidery: slight puckering, thread texture, and backing feel may vary depending on fabric and design density.
- We choose the most suitable method unless you specify otherwise at order time.
- Each decoration method has its own look, feel, texture, and durability profile.
Sampling and approvals
- We encourage ordering a paid sample for critical branding, franchise work, colour-sensitive orders, or large runs.
- We proceed based on your approved proof, stitch preview, mockup, or written confirmation.
- Mockups are visual guides. Final output may vary slightly depending on garment size, fabric texture, print method, and production limitations.
- For high-value or exact-match projects, a paid sample is the best way to confirm expectations before full production.
- Alignment
- Prints and embroidery are aligned to the approved template unless otherwise specified. Small production tolerance may apply.
- Opacity
- Ink coverage is selected according to fabric colour and method. Vintage, faded, or distressed looks require explicit request.
- Thread match
- Closest Isacord or available thread match is used to approximate Pantone or brand references, considering sheen and fabric tone.
- Print feel
- DTF, screen print, vinyl, and DTG each have different hand-feel. A print feeling different from another method is not automatically a defect.
- Visual inspection
- Quality concerns are reviewed based on normal viewing distance, approved order details, and practical wearability, not only extreme close-up photos.
Customer-supplied garments
We accept customer-supplied garments when possible, but they carry extra risk because we do not control the original manufacturing, fabric content, dye process, prior handling, or previous washing conditions.
Before production
- Customer-supplied items must be clean, unused, stain-free, and ready for decoration.
- Garments should be clearly labeled by size, colour, quantity, and decoration location when dropped off.
- Customers should provide extra pieces when possible, especially for high-value, delicate, or hard-to-replace items.
- We may refuse garments that are too delicate, dirty, damaged, coated, heat-sensitive, or unsuitable for the requested decoration method.
- Packaging, tags, folds, or special handling requests must be clearly communicated before production.
Risk and responsibility
- We are not responsible for manufacturer defects, fabric flaws, hidden stains, dye bleeding, shrinkage, or heat sensitivity in customer-supplied garments.
- Some fabrics may react unexpectedly to heat press, embroidery tension, adhesive, stabilizer, or washing.
- If a customer-supplied item is damaged due to a garment defect or fabric reaction outside our control, replacement value may not be covered.
- Decoration charges may still apply for work completed on customer-supplied garments.
- Customer-supplied garments may not be covered for replacement value unless the issue is confirmed to be directly caused by our workmanship.
Care to keep your guarantee
Wash and wear
- Wash cold, inside out, with similar colours.
- Tumble dry low or hang dry; avoid high heat.
- Do not iron directly on prints or embroidery.
- Avoid harsh chemicals, bleach, stain removers, or fabric softeners on decorated areas.
- High heat washing and drying may damage prints, adhesives, embroidery, and fabric integrity over time.
- Repeated exposure to high dryer temperatures may cause cracking, peeling, fading, texture changes, or shrinkage over time.
- Washing garments together with rough fabrics, heavy zippers, towels, or abrasive materials may accelerate wear on decorated areas.
- Some fabrics, dyes, detergents, stain removers, and softeners may react differently under heat and washing conditions, which can affect garment longevity.
- To maximize the lifespan of decorated garments, all products should be washed and dried strictly according to the recommended care instructions.
What to expect
- Minor shrinkage may occur depending on fabric type, washing method, and drying temperature.
- Slight colour softening over many washes is normal for water-based and DTG inks.
- Different garment brands, fabric blends, dye treatments, and colours may respond differently even under identical washing and drying conditions.
- Dark garments and heavily dyed fabrics may retain heat differently and can react differently compared to lighter-coloured garments.
- Heat-sensitive fabrics, stretch materials, polyester blends, fleece, and performance garments may require extra care compared to standard cotton garments.
- Decorated garments are wearable products, and gradual aging from repeated washing and daily use is considered normal wear over time.
- Repeated washing, regular use, friction, stretching, and drying may naturally change print texture and garment feel over time.
Failure to follow recommended care instructions may reduce the lifespan of prints and embroidery and may void workmanship-related guarantee claims related to washing, drying, or garment care conditions.
Embroidery guarantee
Stability and durability
- Underlay and density are tuned to fabric for balanced coverage and minimal puckering.
- Loose threads are trimmed; small remnants are acceptable within industry norms.
- 3D puff is available only where artwork and garment allow; small edge trims can remain after foam compression.
- Embroidery backing may remain visible or noticeable inside the garment depending on the item and design.
- Slight puckering may occur on thin, stretchy, soft, ribbed, or delicate fabrics.
Readability and colour
- Letters below 4 mm may lose clarity; we recommend larger fonts or simplified artwork.
- Pantone to thread is an approximation; the closest available thread is used to achieve consistent results.
- Placement tolerance is ±5 mm for chest, sleeve, and cap locations.
- Fine details, gradients, shadows, distressing, and very thin lines may need to be simplified for embroidery.
- Thread sheen may look different depending on lighting, fabric colour, and viewing angle.
Need absolute colour control or critical positioning for franchise branding? Request a paid stitch sample and approval photo before full production.
How to use your guarantee
If you believe there is a workmanship issue, contact us within 7 days of delivery and start a claim within 14 days. We make the process straightforward.
For event-dated orders, reach out before your due date so we can help with production and shipping plans.
Remedies and review process
Every concern is reviewed case by case. Our goal is to be fair, practical, and honest while protecting both the customer and the custom production process.
When covered
- Production error
- Wrong approved item produced
- Major placement issue outside tolerance
- Confirmed cure or adhesion issue
- Confirmed embroidery stability issue
- Clear workmanship issue verified by our review
Possible remedies
- Repair when practical
- Replacement or remake for the affected item only
- Partial credit when appropriate
- Store credit when appropriate
- Refund only when a remake, repair, or credit is not practical
- No remedy if the concern falls within normal tolerance or is not workmanship-related
Review factors
- Approved proof
- Garment type and fabric
- Decoration method
- Care instructions followed
- Photos and return inspection
- Normal production tolerance
Frequently asked questions
The guarantee covers our production timeline, not courier transit times. If a courier error occurs, we may credit shipping as a make-good depending on the situation.
Within a reasonable wear period and when care instructions were followed, we will remake or credit if there is a confirmed issue with cure or adhesion. Claims related to cracking, peeling, fading, or texture changes may not be covered if the garment was exposed to high heat, harsh chemicals, improper drying, or care conditions outside the recommended instructions.
Screens display RGB light while inks and threads reflect colour on fabric. Fabric texture, garment colour, thread sheen, lighting, and production method can all affect the final appearance. Up to 10 percent variance is normal and not considered a defect.
Different garment brands, fabric blends, colours, dye treatments, print methods, and decoration placements may react differently even when washed in the same machine, same water, same dryer, and same cycle. For this reason, identical washing conditions alone do not always confirm a workmanship issue.
Our workmanship is reviewed under the guarantee, but the garment itself may not be covered if the issue is caused by fabric sensitivity, manufacturer defects, dye bleeding, shrinkage, previous washing, coatings, stains, or unknown garment conditions outside our control.
Custom printed and embroidered products are made specifically for each order. Change of mind, preference changes, customer-selected sizing, or approved design decisions are not covered as return reasons unless there is a confirmed workmanship issue.
Mockups are visual guides. Final results may vary slightly due to garment size, fabric texture, thread sheen, print method, production tolerance, and screen colour differences.
Yes. Please contact us first and wait for return instructions. Items sent without prior confirmation may be refused, delayed, or returned to sender.
Not always. Custom apparel is not mass-produced retail packaging. Small placement differences, minor texture variation, slight thread or print differences, and cosmetic details that are not clearly visible during normal wear may fall within normal production tolerance and may not qualify for a remake.
Because custom printed and embroidered products are made specifically for each customer, full refunds are not automatically available for preference changes, approved designs, sizing choices, or normal production variation. If there is a confirmed workmanship issue, we will review the most appropriate remedy fairly.
If a confirmed workmanship issue affects only one item, the remedy usually applies only to the affected item, not the full order. We may repair, remake, replace, or credit the affected piece depending on the situation.
Another product can be helpful for comparison, but it does not automatically prove a defect. Different printers, garments, fabrics, print methods, curing methods, inks, adhesives, colours, and washing history can all affect how a product looks and wears over time.
We review post-use or post-wash concerns case by case. If care instructions were followed and there is a confirmed workmanship issue, we will help fairly. However, damage caused by high heat, harsh detergents, abrasion, heavy use, repeated washing, or improper care may not be covered.
Usually no. If an issue is confirmed on one item, the review and remedy normally apply to the affected item only. The rest of the order remains valid if it was produced correctly and matches the approved details.
Contact and return address
If you need help with a workmanship concern, return instruction, remake review, or order-related question, please contact us before sending any item back. This helps us review your case properly and confirm the correct next step.
Contact information
- Email: contact@printbarn.ca
- Phone: +1 (437) 999-9930
- Website: printbarn.ca
Return address
PrintBarn.ca
Unit 16, 877 Alness Street
Toronto, ON M3J 2X4
Canada
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