broder bros.
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365 Posts
I signed up for an account with them, but found their prices to be higher than most places so thats why I decided not to use them.
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4,310 Posts
I've used Broder Brothrs for years and still do. I switch between them and One Stop (http://www.onestopinc.com). Broder almost always has everything I need and because I have used them for years, they give me a little bit better than case pricing on everything. Even so, the prices for One Stop are comparable and I get case pricing with them for everything as well, even ordering only 1 item.
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951 Posts
Just becuase the catalog prices are higher from any particular company, doesnt mean that they really are more expensive. With most of the t-shirt wholesalers, everybody pays a different price. Call them up and ask for better prices, and they will usually give them to you.
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4,310 Posts
I don't see why not. Just talk to them and see if they would give you case pricing. 800-521-0850 or http://www.broderbros.com
Broder is the largest wholesaler in the country I believe (followed by Bodek & Rhodes and San-Mar). They bought Alpha last year and will probably merge the two compaines in the next years.
Like Jon said, everyone gets different prices. If you do large volume it becomes all about your relationship with them. If you always chase price around to 10 different suppliers, you'll build any rapport with any 1 supplier. Doing some volume (not much) means you can get case pricing. I'm not sure where you are in Ohio, but they should be a 1 day ship to you. They have a good on-line ordering system and a wide range of products. Once you learn the idiosyncracies of a praticular supplier (their cut-off time, their free shipping deals, their specials and sales) you'll end up saving more in the long run than a few pennies per shirt here and there.
disclaimer: Broder is my #3 supplier so I am not overly biased in their favor.
Daxman
Like Jon said, everyone gets different prices. If you do large volume it becomes all about your relationship with them. If you always chase price around to 10 different suppliers, you'll build any rapport with any 1 supplier. Doing some volume (not much) means you can get case pricing. I'm not sure where you are in Ohio, but they should be a 1 day ship to you. They have a good on-line ordering system and a wide range of products. Once you learn the idiosyncracies of a praticular supplier (their cut-off time, their free shipping deals, their specials and sales) you'll end up saving more in the long run than a few pennies per shirt here and there.
disclaimer: Broder is my #3 supplier so I am not overly biased in their favor.
Daxman
Ok I had stopped using Broder Bros because they seem to have a problem following up with orders. I placed an order on a friday, with a 1 day delivery which I expect to be shipped out on Monday, received on Tuesday. I called to find out about the package, they say it shipped, but when you track the shippment, UPS says they recieved the information but not the package. So they tell me they'll call me back with information.... NO call. I call back and they tell me that UPS lost the package on me... NO Not me you... But they will have to file a claim that takes 10 days and they'll refund me then, but in the mean time I have to place another order... Don't think so. Just thought you should know, they don't accept responsibility for their mistakes, it's always someone else.
Ken
Ken
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538 Posts
Alpha, Broder & NES are all under the same umbrella now. I used to use Broder (they had the closest warehouse), but they closed that one and opened up a new one (under Alpha) that is closer in another direction, so now most of my orders go through Alpha.
I've found them to be reliable, the website easy to use, and respond to complaints fairly & quickly.
I sometimes use VATS (Virgina T's) and SanMar for things I can't get through Alpha/Broder.
I've found them to be reliable, the website easy to use, and respond to complaints fairly & quickly.
I sometimes use VATS (Virgina T's) and SanMar for things I can't get through Alpha/Broder.
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564 Posts
There are a few things we have to consider - cost of goods, special discounts, proximity of warehouse, customer service - just to name a few things. When it comes to promotional product suppliers (for decals, water bottles, etc.) we bounce from company to company for price and nearest supplier. Those suppliers are going to care far less about me because I rarely order from them. Our company has a good relationship with Broder because we almost exclusively use them for garments. We know and converse with our rep on a normal basis. I think the key is building a relationship. Someone is more willing to help you out if you have a good relationship with them.
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40 Posts
i've always wanted to but again always so much more expensive. unless buying a very large volume i feel out of place asking them to lower their price when without trying a item is double what it is elsewhere. great selection though as it seems.
my shop is only a few miles from broder/alpha. they have a nice showroom with all the garments on display and a 350,000' warehouse that has 26' tall racking. i call and 2 hours later it's ready. two miles away is bodek&rhodes. they have a smaller showroom and warehouse, but they have sodas and snacks and the girls at the counter are hot. it's next day from sanmar reno and most LA suppliers. i have a denco screen print supply close by and it's next day from midwest in hayward. got all the stuff i need except customers. stan
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40 Posts
see and we have the opposite, going in blind on everything we work with so it takes us that much longer. if we had half the utilities that people in CA have it would be so much easier.
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955 Posts
I use to use Broder pretty much exclusively. I spent over $125,000 per year with them. They changed their warehousing somehow and all of a sudden nothing I ordered was shipped correctly. I had an order over nighted once and they shorted it. I did not get a call that is was going to be shorted until the next morning. Well duh! When the order was placed I was told it was in stock and there would be no problem. This kind of stuff happened several times in a row. We call and talked to a rep, and were told the problem would be taken care of. It wasn't. Now we spend in the neighborhood of $250,000 a year with other venders. Broder did not respond with us until we quit using them 3 months after the fact. We have ordered them a couple of times this year, and still had the same problem. It's too bad because they have some good products, but the service I got was pitiful after they changed something. What ever it was, it cost them my business. I know that there are bigger fish but this fish is still growing.
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955 Posts
We had this problem with all the warehouses. The problem may be taken care of by now, but I can't go back with the history we had. I can't rely on them.
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564 Posts
We just got a wrong shipment from the ATL warehouse. Most of our stuff comes from Dallas though. We have had very few minor problems over the years with Broder, but the positives outweigh the negatives (in our case). Hope you are happy where you are now, Mike. Getting burned enough makes you gun shy.
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