Discuss the wholesale blanks industry: Factory direct, custom labels. You can also use this forum to locate a wide variety of wholesale products including t-shirts, hoodies, mousepads, coffee mugs and other imprintable products.
I've put in an order with xpres (in the UK) for vinyl and they want to speak to me on the phone first before they'll let me buy anything. The same goes for numerous tshirt suppliers. I've only been able to get shirts and vinyl from mdpsupplies with no questions asked.
Sometimes just knowing the right thing to say is enough. It will depend on the company. But sometimes all it takes is a conversation, explain what you're setting up, what you're planning with the blanks (doesn't need to be too specific), etc. Some companies are strict on proof, some aren't.
__________________ "Ah, Henny Penny," said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and I must go and tell the king."
Well I just told the truth - that I was starting up. She did ask me what cutter and heat press I had so maybe that was her way of sussing me out as it were Anyway, looking forward to this xpes vinyl. I've heard good things.
I want to know who I'm doing business with, especially if there's credit involved.
Have you got a website to point them to, it helps a lot in verifying a person's existence in the trade.
Many reasons, wholesalers shouldn't sell to the general public, that would undercut their own dealers and is bad business practice. There is often an agreement that they don't do that.
They may not want to deal in small lots, they're expensive to administer.
There may be territorial agreements, limits on where they are allowed to sell.
Larger users generate less technical support calls because they're more experienced and have more people.
Many reasons, wholesalers shouldn't sell to the general public, that would undercut their own dealers and is bad business practice. There is often an agreement that they don't do that.
If I was a member of the public as opposed to a start-up business, where am I supposed to buy vinyl from? What dealers would they be undercutting?
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They may not want to deal in small lots, they're expensive to administer.
So just set a minimum order size/price? Plenty of wholesalers do this.
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There may be territorial agreements, limits on where they are allowed to sell.
They can see this from the address you give on your order. Or just state on the website "we don't ship to..."
You're arguing with Dave as if he sets the policies He's just describing how (and why) it is.
As Dave touched on with the technical support comment, it's not just an issue of agreements and quantities (though that can be enough) - it's the fact that retail customers can be a pain in the *** to deal with, and many people who can afford not to deal with them, would rather not.
As you touched on with "plenty of wholesalers do this", there is no single universal wholesaler policy. But you're experiencing some of them act one way, and some another. Dave's post explains some of the reasons why.
__________________ "Ah, Henny Penny," said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and I must go and tell the king."
Sorry, I didn't mean to be argumentative. I just find it slightly strange to have to speak to someone before they'll sell me something, that's all. It's no big deal though
Sometimes it's their way of getting info from you, they now know what heatpress and cutter you own and can send you offers that they think would be of interest to you. They like to know things about your business so they can try to sell you further things for your business. Just simple marketing.
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trying to help, sometimes i don't!
Yeah I think that's probably part of it. She asked what kind of things I'd be printing and when I said tshirts and hoodies she said she'd send me out some swatches of their fashion/glittery/shiny vinyl. Looking forward to that
Starting up and buying supplies 
He's just describing how (and why) it is.
