Which Online T-Shirt Maker is Best?
 

My apologies if there's a better section for this post to be in. If so, I shall fully comply with the almighty moderators.

I have an idea for an amusing t-shirt, something I could probably sell to geeks and make a few bucks. I've used iron-ons before, but the results are kinda crappy. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good online service for taking your design and making/selling shirts for you. I know about cafepress, but I couldn't help thinking there might be a better option.

A quick google found these sites... that are all cafe press competitors

http://www.zazzle.com/ -- looks the most like cafe press and seems to do exactly what they do.

http://www.99dogs.com/ - I'm not impressed with the site.. but

http://www.spreadshirt.com/ --



http://www.printmojo.com/

I don't remember which one of the makers ended up using one of our members in a photo without her permission. Someone else maybe recalls it.

I know the company, but I wont repeat the name. They make offensive/witty t-shirts and sell them to disaffected youth. They stole a picture of one of our users wearing one of their shirts and used it on their site without permission, then proceeded to laugh in my face when I tried to reason it out with them.

I believe it was http://www.tshirthell.com/ that used the photo without permission.

WhiteDevil, are you going to first go to a graphic designer, have your design made up, and then go to a silkscreener?

Also, you should do some research to choose your shirt brand, style, minimum order size (do you have a wholesalers and/or retailer's license?), shipping costs, and available sizes and colors.

that's sort of the benefit of those places like cafe press -- the owner of the store doesn't need to keep an inventory, the site does all the work - including shipping, and receiving payment...

Ahhhh, I see. Convenient.

Yeah, it looks like they make it pretty darn convenient. I think the hardest part is just putting together the image I actually want on the shirt in photoshop, from there I should be able to just choose some specs for the shirts from the site (color is the main one, methinks) and upload my image to them. Hypothetically I just do that and *plants tongue firmly in cheek* watch the megabucks roll in.

*stares at Stiltzkin blankly.*

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I know Threadless will take submissions for new designs frequently, and they cater somewhat to the "geek" demographic. It may not be entirely what you're looking for, but perhaps worth a shot. :)

Cafepress did an excellent job putting my Harley pic on a tshirt. What's also good about them is you don't have to pay upfront for color charges or a minimum order. Submit your picture, set up an account, set your own price and sit back.
I used a local printer for tshirts and still have about 10 I never sold and can't now as the novelty of the shirt's purpose wore off. :(

Theres a website, www.threadless.com that accepts user submitted designs and will pay $1500 + $500 worth of other stuff if they choose to print your design. The designs are voted on by anyone and the highest rated designs are bought by the company. If you think your design it good enough you should check it out. I can't speak for quality of service because I haven't bought anything from or submitted anything to them.

I'm sure someone will buy them on ebay.

In case you were considering spreadshirt.com, I ordered a "Double True" t-shirt from them (as in the SNL Lazy Sunday skit) as a gift. Even though the person I was giving it to said not to worry about it, the quality was very poor. The slightest stretch would start to destroy the logo on the front. I'm sure it would be a mess after about 3 or 4 wears.

I doubt it. They say 'I've been banned by the PTOC' with a red slashed circle over the PTOC and around the circle 'the few the proud the banned':lol: (It was a car club war thang)

Someone would still buy them either becuase they'd make up thier own meaning behind "PTOC" or expressly because PTOC would be meaningless (or at least have no obvious meaning).