Greetings all, I have to say, this is by far the best, and most informative forum I have ever participated in. The people here are very nice and have been a tremendous help in my t-shirt biz research. Since joining I have been quietly reading, and reading, and reading some more, until I feel like my eyes are going to pop out of my head. I would say that most of my time has been spent checking out other sites. Yesterday I found tshirtreview.com and spent quite a few hours going through every featured website and looking at every single shirt offered. I have spent countless hours checking out other sites as well, and I gotta say that I am dumbfounded that some of these sites exist, let alone sell anything. Please dont take me the wrong way; I am not a basher, and I do not want to insult anybody, or their creative work. My interest is in type tees or one liner type stuff so Im judging that kind of work here only. Now I realize that the 3 building blocks of humor in todays world is LUDE, CRUDE and SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE, but I would think it would have to mildy funny to have any chance of selling. Am I off base here? I mean who buys a shirt with a picture of a Giraffe with the caption "Deep Throat"? There are hundreds of similar not funny or even mildly clever shirts out there. I'm seriously asking; do people actually buy this stuff? Thanks for your input. Ed
I'm with you on this one. but there must be a market or no one would make them. I prefer to think that only people that may be a little delayed buy these type of shirts. Is that politically correct to say delayed?
I'm seriously asking; do people actually buy this stuff?
Yes, people buy it.
Just remember that your version of humor is different from other people's.
Just as some people will pay $75 for a t-shirt ,there are people that will pay for t-shirts that they think are funny, offensive or rude if that's what THEY are looking for.
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a say that I am dumbfounded that some of these sites exist, let alone sell anything. Please dont take me the wrong way; I am not a basher, and I do not want to insult anybody, or their creative work.]
By calling them "bad" shirts, you are doing just that.
Thanks folks, this is most encouraging. We are shooting for clever and funny without being so raunchy that you wont wear it in public, or that any reasonable parent wouldnt let their teenager out of the house with. Thats not easy for sure, but I want my shirts to appeal to the maximum number of people. I certainly agree that my idea of whats funny might not agree the next person, but I will argue till I'm blue in the face that there is a ton of garbage out there. I mean a picture of a dog with the caption "DILF"? Beastiality? Hey, if thats what turns you on than so be it, but I dont think its funny, clever, or worth putting on a t-shirt by any human standard. OK. enough rant already. Tshirthell has some humorous stuff, but I was really shocked when I read sales figures in the millions? I say that because most of their stuff is pretty risque and couldnt imagine there being that big a market. My kids are 16 and 20, very fashion oriented, and at the mall all the time. I asked them if they ever see people wearing this kind of stuff anywhere at all. They tell me no, so I'm still scratching my head on that one. Very interesting business this is. ED
Ed, look at it this way.... if you (and your kids) have never seen anyone wearing those type of t-shirts and they're selling, if you're selling tees that are funny and less risque, chances are you'll sell more than them!!!!
TBH, I found the giraffe t-shirt you described LOL funny, but that's just my sense of humour I find risque and double-entendre humour funny, as long as it's clever.
I sell a t-shirt with a picture of a wind-turbine with the words "ONE MAN WINDFARM" and it's one of my most popular lines! When I wear it, I always get smiles and/or comments from other people about it. It makes people smile and that's why I do it.
I think that we have the 'freshman in college' demographic to thank for a lot of the demand for these shirts. Mom isn't around anymore and you want the ladies to know that your down with disrespect and shock humor. They should give out one of these shirts at college convience stores when someone buys a 24 pack of Natural Ice and a slim jim. You have to love America.
Is there really a market for bad shirts? 
chrissy 
