I'm considering using a local printer to print up some of my designs then try to sell them to test the waters, see if my designs will sell.
I realize this is a very open-ended question, but how do I approach this printer? Do I walk in and say, "Hi, I want this design on x amount of shirts because I plan to resell them?"
Now, won't the printer say to himself, "Geez, that's what I do for a living."
How much would be a good price for such a purchase?
I'm thinking a light colored shirt, or black or dark red.
Like I said, it is an open-ended question. Figured I'd start with this before I jumped into the deep end of the pool by spending a couple thousand on a heat press and everything that goes along with that.
Printing is what printers do - it doesn't matter whether you're planning on selling the shirts you get from them, or giving them away as a corporate promotion. Maybe I'm not reading your post correctly, but it doesn't sound like you want to do anything out of the ordinary. It's a normal job, shouldn't have any problems with any printer.
I realize this is a very open-ended question, but how do I approach this printer? Do I walk in and say, "Hi, I want this design on x amount of shirts because I plan to resell them?"
Yes, that's basically what you would say. You don't have to mention that you plan to resell them, but it doesn't matter if you do say it. It's not like a big secret you have to keep.
You do need to tell them how many colors in your design so they can give you an accurate quote.
Screen printers print every single day for people who are reselling t-shirts. That's their job. To print for people who need t-shirts printed for all different kind of reasons.
Quote:
Now, won't the printer say to himself, "Geez, that's what I do for a living."
No, a printer prints for a living. They sell "printing services". They don't sell printed designs or resell printed designs. Someone brings them an image and they print it on t-shirts.
Quote:
How much would be a good price for such a purchase?
No way to tell with the information you've given You really need more specifics to get a quote: quantity, t-shirt brand/color used, how many colors in the design to be printed on the front/back/sleeves.
To get an idea if one printer is charging too much, you can just take the same design around to 2-3 different printers and ask them for a quote on the same job and see the variance in pricing.
What you're looking for is called contact printing, so when you approach other printers, you ask if they do contract screen-printing, and if so, do they have a price list? Also ask to see some samples of their work. If your initial orders will be small quantities, less than a dozen pieces per design, you may want to consider a contract DTG (direct to garment) printer. Since this technology is very new, you won't find this type of printer in every town, but check the T-Shirt Classifieds link on the right side of this page for a contract DTG printer. There are several very good DTG printers that hang out in the DTG section of this forum.
What you're looking for is called contact printing, so when you approach other printers, you ask if they do contract screen-printing, and if so, do they have a price list? Also ask to see some samples of their work. If your initial orders will be small quantities, less than a dozen pieces per design, you may want to consider a contract DTG (direct to garment) printer. Since this technology is very new, you won't find this type of printer in every town, but check the T-Shirt Classifieds link on the right side of this page for a contract DTG printer. There are several very good DTG printers that hang out in the DTG section of this forum.
Agreed! To try and screenprint a small quantity and sell them is sheer suicide! The setup fees(films, screens, artwork, etc.) alone will kill any profit margin that you may have thought you were going to make.
Question about using an outside printer... 
You really need more specifics to get a quote: quantity, t-shirt brand/color used, how many colors in the design to be printed on the front/back/sleeves.
