[zdaudert]

I am just starting to compare some of the shirt printing companies like CafePress and Zazzle. Last week I ordered a pretty simple, two color design from Zazzle and I was really disappointed by the quality when it arrived. There are very noticeable "streaks" vertically through the entire print area with a slight "whitish" line between the actual design color. It almost looks like stripes. It was printed onto a "Basic American Apparel Navy Blue" shirt. The design is a solid blue circle with the map and text in white on top but as you can see the solid blue background circle is really streaky. Here are two pictures of the print:

imgur: The Simple Image Sharer
imgur: The Simple Image Sharer

So, is this normal for Zazzle? I wrote to them and this was their response:

"Thanks for providing your image of the product you wish to return. Unfortunately the attached image does not sufficiently indicate a Zazzle error, damage or defect. As such, we cannot authorize the issuance of a prepaid return label. However, we are still willing to take the product back for a refund and for further examination of the issue you are claiming as a reason for your return. If upon receipt, our returns department deems that the returning product was subject to a Zazzle error, damage or defect, we would be happy to credit you for the original shipping charge (attached to your order) and offer you discount code for free ground shipping on a future order* (as a concession for any shipping charges incurred in sending the product back)."

Any input on this would be appreciated or suggestions on ways to get shirts made "on-demand" with higher quality.

Thanks!

Zach

 

[alvin6661]

to me it looks like the ribs of the shirt are cause for the lines that you see. this is pretty normal for zazzle and cafepress.
good luck

 

[char]

I have also seen results like that when the original image is of poor quality.

 

[chobay]

Like the other poster said, it looks like it's caused by the ribbing in the shirt. That's why I prefer to print on AA 2001, not the ribbed shirts. What I find more troublesome is the blotchiness of the white. Borderline on the opaqueness, and lots of shirt fibers sticking up..

 

[jcshirts]

Good info.