So, what exactly IS 'Acceptable Quality?' ...

[webtrekker]

Hi. I've been sublimating 11oz mugs and moneys boxes for a few weeks now. What I've found is that they vary enormously. Some barrel out, and some curve inwards, and it's often I see both effects on the one item! I also see items with tiny black dots in the glaze or small dents or chips.

What I'm trying to determine is: what would you consider 'acceptable' for a customer, whether on ebay or other? All of you selling thousands of these a week - do you never get the problems I'm having? If I was to sell thousands I'd have hundreds of what I deem 'rejects.' How do you measure 'quality' in the mug/money box game?

Thanks.

[Lucifax]

Are you buying good quality mugs to start with? You can't produce a good quality product if your blanks are junk. Saying that though, I recently had to swap my mug supplier from BMS to Subli because of the very reason you mention suddenly rearing it's ugly head on their European RN mugs. A shame as we really liked those mugs until then and never would have considered anything else even to save money.

I wouldn't send anything out that wasn't perfect. End of the day it's your reputation on the line.

[GoonerGary]

How much are you selling them for? Budget or are you asking a decent price? These are gifts and who wants to give a recipient a chipped mug? We live in an online feedback world, where our reputations can be sunk by selling substandard products. Customers have complained to me when I've accidentally sent a mug with a 2mm chip or an ugly misshapen mug. So I thoroughly inspect them, reject them and ask for replacements. I collect boxes of rejects like crazy.

[socialgiraffe]

Just to add my two pennies, it depends on where you are purchasing from. Those who are selling thousands have done extensive research into good, reliable and consistent suppliers and have stuck with the supplier that meets their needs and their standards. When purchasing blanks, it is not always about price (not that I am accusing you of that).

[webtrekker]

Thanks for the replies.

As I say, I'm fairly new to the game. I originally bought 108 110z mug blanks from ebay for experimental purposes while I learned the ropes and set up my equipment. They were classed as 'AA' standard, which I took as being good, and worked out at 72p each. Now, I have managed to get some decent prints on them, but the odd chips and black specks seem to be on about 10% of them. That doesn't seem much, but if I was printing say 100 mugs a day, I'm going to end up with a measurable amount of scrap at the end of the week.

So, basically, ...

• How likely are suppliers to accept rejects back for replacement/reimbursement?
• Is there a 'AAA' or even a 'AAAA' standard?
• Can uneven mugs be pressed in a mug press with maybe a silicone sheet to even them out?
• Should I be spending a good deal more than 72p on a mug?

The last point is particularly important to me as I have seen sellers on ebay offering a personalised mug for as little as £3.19 with FREE POSTAGE! I send everything by Royal Mail 2nd class and, even without using recorded delivery, it costs £2.85 just for the postage, so how can anyone possibly do this, taking into account all the scrap they'd have by using cheap mugs, and still turn a profit?

So many questions! ..........................

[GoonerGary]

Stop shopping and selling on eBay for starters. Ignore whatever AA rating marketing nonsense. Decide where you want to be in the market, budget volume or high end product. Buy every mug and decide which one you like working with.

[Lucifax]

If I were you I would send them back, the AA rubbish is complete nonsense. Open a case with ebay after you return them as they are definately not what they claim to be. Put any failures in the case to fill it up. Ebay nearly always side with the buyer so you should get a refund.

Spend £1.20 ish per mug with a proper supplier and you shouldn't get any rejects at all. As you already found out, it's cheeper in the long run and you can have confidence in your finished product.