Hi all, well this is my first ever post here, although I've been a frequent visitor for at least 6 months now, maybe more I can't remember. I've used this forum for research of
DTG, users experience with various companies, and based upon that made the decision to go with
DTG Kiosk.
Well first of all I would like to Thank Rodney, and all the members here for all their work and input on these forums, you do a great job and have helped me out no end with everything I've read here.
Ok, now I've read the forum rules, and I understand it fully I'm hoping that the following will be taken as review of my experience, and constructive criticism, in a view to possibly helping others in the future with their choice to buy either
DTG or embroidery products from YES LTD.
Before you read the full post, I would like to say I did still buy a Kiosk and I am pleased with it.
Here is my experience:
Well first of all I contacted many companies for viewing and samples of the machines including end products various machines have made, some companies where slower than others in getting back to me, and some like CAD Systems - Europe's distributor of T-jet never even got back to after numerous attempts to make contact.
YES LTD, where by far the quickest and most responsive, inviting the next time to come and see the
DTG Kiosk, Express and Bullet machines. I was impressed with the white inks, as my business mainly revolves around dark garments, the prints where pretty spot on, they used my graphics to test with along with their own, to show me how our end products can look.
Mark the sales chap there was pretty spot on too, got back to me as and when requested, but then again his job is sales, and every sale is money in the bank.
Right here was the first problem, although the prints were excellent on the eyes, I took them home and washed them to make sure this was the right product for me, ohh dear the prints where sticking together and coming off, I explained this to them, they stated it could be a pre-treat problem, sent me some more out. Same again, and then again.
Now we had a problem, but still I kept faith, I then went down there with the samples which was sticking together and coming off. Upon meeting one of the Directors (I won't mention his name to save him embarrassment), he kept insisting this had only happened once before with a customer whom came in a few days before me, and that it must be a machine wash problem, I confirmed the setting of my washing machine, 40 degrees, etc, etc, the soap powder used. He then asked if I had used a tumble Dryer, no as my answer. He then insisted it had to be one of these factors and that it couldn't be fault of the machine, however he would launch further investigation into it. although indirectly he was calling me a lier, and saying the fault must lay with me, but yet all my screen printed stuff in those same washes where fine.
Ok, so I then receive a phone call, "We've sorted that problem", they blamed something I seem to recall it being a batch of inks. I then requested another sample. Great it was perfect, it washed over and over again with no problem.
Ok, so the order went in, I decided on a Kiosk with a view to expansion should the business continue to grow as it has done.
They got the training in, in quick time too and I had the machine by the end of the week, fantastic. I had the machine before Christmas, and the Christmas sales where good on these T-shirts, not to mention the hoods too.
But there were of course teething problems, I told them I was away for a month over Christmas, they said just let them know and they would talk me through the shut down procedure, I did, but they didn't tell me I needed spare bottles to move the inks into whilst I flushed the system, so hay ho, I had no spare bottles, but the tech guy talked me through how I could do it and leave it standing, The white ink when back into the original bottle, the pipes leading to the head where flushed and clean, the other cmyk inks however remained in the bottle for a month. Hey they said this should be fine.
Ohh when I got the machine, they also sold me a spray gun for applying pre-treat, forgot to change the plug thought didn't they so it was fine to work in the European two pin plug, but not the UK's three pin plug. At my expense I bought one of those little adaptors.
Now lets rewind a little to when I first got the machine.
The first prints where good, I use still getting used to the print pro software settings to get more vibrant colours, and all was going good, then about 3 hours in, my prints where looking faded, I tried more pre-treat it was ok, you see they advise to water the pre-treat down 50/50 I find it better to have 75/25 at least I know my prints will be better. but still I had problem with prints, so did a test bar print, noticed some nozzles not firing, called tech support and spoke to Tony he advised how to clean further. I did and it was fine.
Right did all the recommended close down of the machine, then a clean when I'm ready to start again, but hey ho had problems with the print again. Another test print of the bars, and notice nozzles not firing, did a clean it again, it was fine for a short while, then it would start again.
I must of logged over 30 hours on the phone to tech support before Christmas, but hey support was spot on, patient, willing to help, and of course friendly. Well except three of four occasions, when tech support where busy, I left a message and no one returned to my call, so I had to call again.
Anyway this problem of nozzles not firing kept happening, mainly on the whites, but this is more than likely because the white ink was set to multi-shot dot, and I'm led to believe it's also thicker than the other colour inks.
You wouldn't believe the amount of ink I've had to waste on test prints, yeah there only little bars, but it all mounts up, then there is also the automatic head cleans as well. Boy these inks are expensive the white ink alone for a litre costs £160, I believe that's something like $300+ - Liquid money ehh.
Ok, I have my break away, a month later I come back.
The same bloody problem, continuous head cleans, both manual and automatic as advised in the correct manor.
Now here is the part that drove me to finally post today, I feel other potential customers to this market should know and it will help in their decision to buy and from which company.
Ok I get a decent size order in Saturday, I close the printer Saturday as you are advised too, Did a few jobs Sunday, and closed the printer as recommended, didn't do anything Monday except the normal clean and to ensure there was cleaning solution in the bay (where the head sits when not in use). Then early hour Tuesday I went to work on an order (the decent size one), ok there was no magenta firing at all now. I did all the cleaning stuff again, still no joy, and again and guess what again. I then closed the printer and cleaned it as recommended, waited for tech support to open. I called, they were all in a meeting, was told the meeting was nearly over, approx 1 or more hours later, still no reply, I call back again to speak to Andy, he advised me of a way to flush the head, I tried that, no and some of the nozzles then started to fire but not enough, I then called back for more advice, tried that didn't work, called back again to speak to Gordon, he spoke me though back flushing of the plastic bay thingie above the head (I can't remember the name of it for the life of me now, lol).
I got more nozzles to fire, but still not enough, we then agreed for me to bring it in the next day, so I did, cost me some fuel too, wasn't best please about that.
Right we're on Wednesday now, well that's if you've not fallen asleep reading this, lol. We arrive and Gordon spends a fair few hours looking at it, and hey this guy was spot on. I then had one of the Directors in - You remember the one above which indirectly called me a lier.
I mention all these problems, his tech support are aware of them, he then mentions the head is not covered under the warranty, you can see the ££££ signs in his eyes. It's £325 for a new hear, approx $640 USD I believe.
This was a persistent problem from the first time it was plugged in, he showed me a sample bar print from when the machine was made available and the bars looked great, but the prints wasn't.
He then said he would go 50/50 with me on the cost of a new head, he then said he didn't know what the cause was, but indirectly again implied it was my fault. Do all you readers see the pattern emerging here. Any way we had a heated debate, and brought up all these points, but still he was not budging, I said how about I pay £100, as this was not my fault, he said no of course, and then continued with indirectly calling my a lier again, when I brought this point up he then stated "I'm not having this conversation any more", you should of seen the fire in my eyes, if this machine didn't need fixing, well I'm sure you know what I was thinking then and still am.
I'm fuming that I'm having to pay for a persistent problem which occurred from purchase to be fixed.
Now I'm a small business, I don't let any one touch the machine, after all it cost me approx £12,000 without heat press, and I'm gonna make sure nothing happens to it, heck it got more care and attention than my partner, which she didn't like lol. (I just did a currency conversion that's,
$24,622.43 USD)
That's a lot of money.
All in all I have to thank Tony, Andy and especially Gordon the tech support, if it wasn't for them I would never of used this company.
Although I haven't mentioned Tony's name enough, he was there from the start with Mark (sales guy), talking me through everything. And as for the owner of the company, well I'm sure you know my opinion, but I guess it's your decision. There are as they say always two sides to a coin/story, and if you ever decide to use this company, I'm sure you'll make your own mind up.
It's also a shame about the staff member whom resigned from YES LTD today, I guess bumping heads wasn't his favourite too.
Any way lets sum this one up now, ohh boy what an essay.
The
DTG Kiosk, fantastic machine when it's working correctly, even with all the head aches, I still feel it was the right decision, I would recommend it to others in the industry.
Right, now I guess it's time to get my first T-shirt off since the new head has been added.
I hope you have all found this post informal, constructive and that it may help in your decision of purchasing a
DTG Machine.
Now I have a question, you know my feelings, lol. I'm led to belive that all
DTG inks will work in different machines, what company other than YES LTD would you recommend to purchase inks from. Or what about imports from American based company,
Once again thank you to Rodney and all the guys on here for posting, your posts have been a great help to me.
Kind Regards.
DTG Kiosk - YES LTD And some thanks 
Do you have 
