azdecals

There's the rub with ebay's new policy. You cannot ship a first class envelope from Paypal, and you cannot get delivery confirmation at all on frist class envelope. So you have to ship first class thick envelope/package. I think it's $1.64, BUT it actually has to be a thick envelope/package. If you try to ship a #10 envelope, even paying the higher rate the post office will not deliver it. So you have to "stuff" the envelope with something to make it thick enough to "qualify" for the higher rate, and "free" delivery confirmation. I see why the post office is losing money. They won't deliver an envelope that you put TOO much postage on?!?! azdecals

Sounds like you've figured most of your issue out. One other thing I'll point out (that Banner John told me a few years ago). Make sure whatever surface you are laying your banner on, while applying the vinyl, is rigid. I was using my pool table with terrible results, then I started using a piece of plywood under the banner and that really helped a lot. azdecals

This is pretty much how I do it. And yes, when I get a "My decal hasn't show up yet" I just ship another one. I get one "lost" about 4 times a year (maybe less). Out of those 4, 90% never let me know if the orginal showed up eventually (and I don't ever get them back) Still not sure what I'm going to do with ebay's new tracking requirment, but I'll probably go back to the thick envelope shipping out of paypal with DC. Which BTW, I always shipped out a second one even with DC when I was shipping that way before so I didn't really see the need in charging buyers more. Now it makes sense because of the TRS issue. azdecals

Same here. It was for a Jr. Pee Wee team. Worked well and didn't have to replace any (for one season). azdecals

I have a question for all you ebay sellers. When I first started selling on ebay I was using paypal to ship my 9"x6" envelopes. It worked pretty well for a year or so, then i started getting more and more returned because they didn't meet the "large/thick" envelope requirement. I was being charged ~1.44 at the time with "free" delivery confirmation. Any that got lost I just resent new ones. It was (and still is) my understanding that even with DC ebay will side with the buyer and refund thier money if there is a dispute. I should also point out that I was charging 1.99 shipping for a 3.99 decal. (and getting dinged for high shipping on my DSR) At some point I decided to get a stamps.com account and start printing regular postage $.45 stamp, and I lowered my shipping fee to .99 for one decal, or free for two or more. Sales have been steady and increased some over the last year or so. So here is my problem. With ebay's new "requirement" to have tracking/DC info on 90% of shipments, what are you guys doing to conform to the new policy? I realize I can TRY to increase my price to cover the shipping (as ebay suggests), but that still leaves me with the issue of my mailing envelopes not being big enough to meet the large/thick envelop/package requirment. Are you guys just going to tell ebay to pack sand and not worry about the tracking/DC (and lose your TSR) or have you come up with a way around this requirement, or figured out how to ship a 5x5 decal in an acceptable envelope/package? azdecals

Skeeter, are you buying the cardboard or are you cutting them yourself? If you are buying them can you point me to where you are getting them? I was looking for cardboard inserts when I found the boxes I mentioned earlier. azdecals

I know I probably need to replace the blade, but I haven't replace my blade since i got my cutter in '09. I average about 50 decals a month, with some months being 300 decals. I've done shirts, banners, and signs, but no more than maybe 50 of each. I did do 8 24"x36" signs with reflective vinyl a few months ago also. I do increase the pressure every once and a while, but I'm not cutting thru the backing and if I weed the designs right away, and use new vinyl, I don't have any problems with weeding. If I wait a day, it turns into a complete PITA though. azdecals

I've read about ppl doing the peanut in the envelope thing. I was concerned it might cause a problem with the decal? Have you ever had any issues with that? Now that you mention the format of address label, when I started I was using plain paper, which when taped to the 9x6 envelope would have the address on the "short" side. I changed to long thin labes that are oriented to the long side and thats probably when i started having problems with them getting returned. My volume is so low the 20% discount I could care less about, but the TSR and the search preference is what I'm having a hard time giving up. Within certain catigories you can have drop down menus for colors (and sizes). I haven't gotten around t redoing my listings to use this option. I think it might be handy since i "think" most folks find my listings via search instead of category. I've found some 9x6x1 1/4" boxes on line for 20 cents each. I might do that instead of the peanut thing and see how sales go with the higher price. Luckly the've lowered the sales volume requirements (for now) that might off set the loss in sales due to price. azdecals

I'd eat the difference. As others have said chaulk it up to OJT. If you feel like you just HAVE to charge the guy, then it'd be best to call him as soon as possible and let him know what is going on. Don't wait unitl you've got so much time tied up into the sign that now it's double what it was going to be. If you do a good job for this guy, he'll likely tell 2 or 3 people. If you try to charge him more than the tought it was going to be, then hold his sign hostage until he pays, He's going to tell 30 people what a crappy job you did. azdecals

I did a bunch of 88% poly and 12% spandex shirts for a volleyball team.. I used siser easyweed and the usual temp. They came out ok with no problems. Most of my wicking running shirts are 100% poly not sure what the under armor shirt are. azdecals

I bought the small epson. As Banner John said.. that sucker is noisy. I also bought the recommended printable vinyl for the durabrite inks, as well as static clings and tatoos. I haven't tried any of them yet. As soon as I do I'll post the results also. azdecals.

FYI... For those looking for the workfore 1100 epson has them onsale at thier website for $149 again. Free shipping. Sale ends 12/5. http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=63084675 I just picked up the refurbed WF30 to try this out. It was 39 bucks from epson with free shipping. azdecals

not sure, but trying to find fonts is probably my LEAST favorite thing to do. I'm not sure if I found it here, but someone posted a link to a cool site that helps identify fonts. www.whatthefont.com It's helpful, but it stears you toward the pay sites for the fonts it identifies (ive noticed) azdecals ETA: Derrr... i just realized that site was hosted at myfonts dot com. No wonder it alwasy wants you to buy them. :-)

How do you cut this stuff? Can you just usa a regular utility knife? THanks for the recommendation I called N Glantz this morning and they do have it in stock here in town. I'm working on setting up the account now. azdecals

I had a request to provide a quote for signs on "6mm rigid PVC". These signs are ~8' long x 12". I assumed they meant coroplast until I started looking for it online. It seems that most places sell it in 4mm although the coroplast sign does say it comes in 6mm. I'm looing for the 4'x8' sheets. Is there a standard for "6mm rigid PVC" substrate? and where is a good place to get that stuff? I'm set up with fellers locally but thier online catalog only lists small sizes. azdecals

Cool! There is a branch office in phx and I requested a logon to thier website just before I posted this. Hopefully they'll have it in town here. Thanks for the info! azdecals

When you refer to siser ew you are talking bout the EXTRA ( for leather and nylon) right? No I just used the regular easy weed, not the extra. I did the ~12-15 shirts, I also did one of my wifes running skirts, and another shirt as a test before I signed up for these team shrits. The skirt and the test shirt (my daughter wears) are still holding up well. The regular stuff seems to work well on the polylycra blend. I haven't tried any nylon yet. (if I do I'll get the extra) azdecals

what kind of shirt are you using? The only time I had this problem was when I was pressing large patches of vinyl on to cheap (light weigh) 100% cotton shirts. I did a few gildan "heavy cotton" shirts for my daughter. I switched to ultra cotton (6.1oz) and that's all I use. I use siser easy weed since i started doing shirts and it works great. I did get the fellers house brand once, and it sucked. I still have about half a roll of that. azdecals

I was out hitting the yard sales with my son this morning. One of the yard sales had a bunch of vinyl, most of it on 15" rolls. I asked how much. I only wanted a couple of colors (my neighbor want's some "girlie" colors I don't nornally keep on hand). They were all nicely displayed on a ~6' rack. The lady said she wanted $5 a roll. While I was pondering if I wanted to spend $5, she then pops up with "I'll let you have all the rolls AND the stand for $70". I REALLY needed the stand. I said "Would you go $60 for all of it?" It was in my truck about 2 seconds after she said yes. :thumbsup: There are 31 rolls of avery, some new all with atleast 1/2 still on the roll, 6 24" rolls, and the 6' standrack that will hold 32 rolls on each side. azdecals

Looks good. Sounds like you came out ahead on the trade! (well at least if it had been my house ) azdecals

Yeah I was stoked. I sure didn't expect to run into vinyl stuff at a yardsale. It was my son's first outting (he's 7) and I was telling him you have to stop at all of the yard sales cause you never know what you will find! azdecals

I was wondering the same thing. I've never seen them at the usual places I buy banners. I just assumed folks just put vinyl on the backs side of regular banners? azdecals

My daughters highschool team is the Tigers... I've been looking all over thier website for the Tiger to use in making her a volleyball shirt. She tells ME "dad it's just the bengals logo" DUH! (although her team is black and purple). This is a design I came up for the football team. I figured you guys could use another football design this being the season and all. I'll post a better pic once I get it cut tonight. azdecals tigers_football.EPS tigers_football.EPS

Are you creating those logos? If so make the output be black and white instead of black and red. Red and Yellow are the two toughest colors to try and vectorize in SBE. If I have an imiage that are those two colors I won't even try, I'll just make it from scratch. azdecals

Looks good! I see you finally solved the tiling problem you had when trying to cut the large text. What did you end up doing to resolve the issue? azdecals