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Plates FAQs
Below you will find everything that you need to know about ordering custom printed plates from Totally Promotional!
General Information
+ Contact Us
- TotallyPromotional.com
- Phone (toll-free): 1-866-795-4657
Phone (local): 567-890-6042
Fax: 419-586-6589
Email to: Customer Service
+ Terms and Conditions
- Our Terms and Conditions provides you with extensive information on general matters, privacy and other policies, and details on the security of our websites.
+ Promotional Codes and Offers
- Please see the Contest & Promotions page on our website for all current promotional codes and offers.
+ Military and Charitable Discounts
- We do not have specific programs or special offers for charitable organizations or military personnel. However, please submit your request to our Customer Service Department and we will let you know if we can help in any way.
+ Product Samples
- To receive plate samples, please click here to fill out a form with the required information. Some limitations and/or charges may apply.
Design and Artwork Questions
+ How do I design my plates?
- Start your order by choosing a plate, the quantity and a desired production time. Next insert your zip code and select a shipping method. Then choose the color of the product (unless the product is color specific) and an imprint color. You can choose to customize your plates with a design from our gallery of custom-designed artwork or email your artwork to us at a later time. If you’d like, you can upload your artwork or describe to us your plates design in the "Special Artwork Instruction" box and one of our Graphic Designers will help you create it. We prefer to receive EPS, AI and PDF vector formats but can sometimes accept JPG and PNG files in high resolution.
- You also can click here to email your artwork.
+ Can I make changes to your art design template for my plates order?
- Yes. Simply specify the changes you wish to make in the “Add Special Request” section when you go to checkout.
+ What are the requirements for submitting artwork for my plates order?
- We recommend you send vector files, including EPS, AI, PSD or PDF formats. If those are not available, please send us the highest resolution file you have. Our production method requires at least 150 dots per inch at print size. A low resolution file may need to be converted or your artwork may need to be redrawn. Converting or redrawing artwork could add extra time to production and require an additional charge. We offer to typeset text and create simple artwork at no charge.
+ What fonts can I choose for my plate design?
- We have about 250 fonts to choose from for your plates in our Font Selection section. If you want to use your own specific font, you must first convert it to outlines (graphics) in programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw before sending it to us. We have other fonts not listed in our library; if you submit a font name, we will use it if available or search for something similar.
+ Can I get help with my plates artwork?
- Click here for our plates artwork tips. You also can contact our Graphic Designers for free artwork advice.
+ Can you explain your Design Ideas Tool?
- Our Design Ideas Tool is a gallery of pre-created designs that can be used to customize your plates with names, dates, events, etc. All you need to do is choose a category to browse, select a design you like, add your information into the text fields and preview it.
+ Can I use copyrighted or licensed material?
- We never knowingly reproduce copyrighted material and will not accept any liability for copyright infringement while producing your plates order. It is the customer’s responsibility to obtain proper permission for reproduction of logos, trademarks and copyrighted material.
- We will consider but cannot guarantee the use of submitted artwork that is similar to the copyrighted or trademarked design you desire. Our Graphic Designers can help you create a design to your satisfaction.
+ Can I get a proof on the plates I ordered?
- Your FREE proof will be sent to you through email, usually the same day you complete your plates order, depending on the time of day we receive it. When you receive the proof, please contact your Graphic Designer to approve your design or have changes made to your satisfaction.
+ Can I see my plate proof in a different color?
- Yes. You can work with your Graphic Designer to change the item color or imprint color on your plate proof.
- Note: Due to the variations and settings in each computer monitor, the actual item and imprint color may be slightly different than what you see on your computer screen.
+ Will you keep my artwork on file?
- The artwork we receive is generally kept on file for about two years.
+ Can you help me decide which product and imprint colors will look good together?
- The product color and imprint color with the highest contrast are usually best (ex., a black cup with a white imprint color). When selecting an imprint color, you can check our Low Contrast Color Chart on the Product Details page to see which imprint colors are not recommended with your product color.
Product Questions
+ What are your plates made of?
- Our plastic plates are made of high-density polyethylene and high-impact polystyrene. They are available in banquet, lunch and dinner sizes. Our paper plates are coated and available in dinner and lunch sizes.
+ Can I order multiple colors of plates?
- Yes! Just choose the number of plates and the color(s) you desire. You must order a minimum of 100 plates per color. No additional charges are applied if you order multiple plate colors of the same item if they have an identical artwork and imprint color.
+ What is an “imprinted” plate?
- An "imprint" refers to the 1-color design, logo or text that is printed on your product. You can choose a design from our Design Ideas gallery or send us your own artwork.
+ What type of printing process is used to imprint on plates?
- Totally Promotional uses pad printing to imprint on plates. Pad printing involves the use of a soft silicone pad to imprint an image on the plate’s surface.
+ Can I get plates with multiple color imprints?
- Unfortunately, no. Our paper and plastic plates can be imprinted with one color. However, we offer a variety of imprint colors to choose from on each item's Product Details page.
+ Are the colors of the plates the exact shade as I see on my screen?
- The colors that appear on your computer screen or on a copy that you print out will not be the exact Pantone Matching System Color of our products or imprint because all printers and monitors are calibrated in different manners. We suggest you request a sample.
+ Can you match the color I need for my plates?
- Our full line of products and imprint colors are available in a variety of colors. However, we can’t provide an exact Pantone Matching System Color match on our 1-color imprint plates.
+ Can I color-match between plates and other products?
- We cannot guarantee color-matching from one product to another or from product to imprint color due to the various printers and printing methods per product. We suggest you request a sample.
+ Is there a minimum amount of plates that I can order?
- Yes. The minimum order quantity can vary and is listed on the product details page for each item.
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Delivery Questions
+ How much will delivery costs be for my plates order?
- The estimated delivery cost for your plates order is shown after you choose a product. Click on the item you would like to customize, enter the desired quantity and your zip code. The various delivery methods and costs will be shown.
- It is important to contact your Account Representative if you need a special delivery method or have special delivery instructions for your order.
+ What are Estimated Delivery Dates and Guaranteed Delivery Dates?
- Guaranteed Delivery Dates
Your Guaranteed Delivery Date is the date you will receive your order when choosing rush production and/or rush delivery times. This date could change in lieu of holidays or if adjustments are made to the order/artwork after the initial proof, depending on when the order is finalized. Fees for our rush service will be refunded if your order does not arrive by the guaranteed date. - Estimated Delivery Dates
This is the approximate arrival date of your order when using Standard Production and/or Standard Delivery methods. This date could change depending on current production capacity, adjustments to artwork after the initial proof, and when your order is approved and paid. If you need a guaranteed arrival date, we recommend you select rush production and/or rush delivery times.
+ How will my plates order be delivered?
- All of our orders are delivered via United Parcel Service (UPS), the United States Postal Service (USPS) or DHL from our production facilities throughout the United States. All orders ship via ground service unless an expedited method is chosen or requested by you to meet an event date. All quoted delivery costs are estimated and can vary.
+ When will I receive my plates order?
- The arrival date of your plates order depends on a few factors:
- •The day and time that your plates order is approved. Your chosen artwork, delivery method and payment data must be approved by 11 a.m. Eastern Time on business days.
- •The chosen delivery location. Typical transit times are one to six days, depending on location. You also can check the estimated delivery date on the product page.
- Once your order leaves our production facility, all delivery mishaps are the responsibility of the delivery carrier, United Parcel Service (UPS), the United States Postal Service (USPS) or DHL.
+ Is there a way I can tell if my plates order was delivered by United Parcel Service (UPS), the United States Postal Service (USPS) or DHL?
- Our products are delivered by UPS, USPS or DHL. An order tracking number with letters and numbers that generally begins with “1Z” is likely a UPS shipment. A tracking number with all numbers that often begins with “94” is likely a USPS shipment. A tracking number starting with “93” is likely delivered by DHL.
+ Can I request drop shipping for my plates order?
- We can take requests for drop shipping (delivering to a location that is not your own, ex., delivering directly to a client or customer's location) and can ship multiple products to multiple locations. However, this may incur an additional cost to you. You must send an Excel spreadsheet or Word document with the full ship-to addresses and specifications if your plates are being delivered to multiple locations.
+ Can I request blind shipping for my plates order?
- Yes, we can accept blind shipping requests. You must indicate this on your order or discuss it with your Account Representative. Please be aware that we cannot 100 percent guarantee that your plates order will ship blind due to the process of delivering our products.
+ How can I change the delivery address or delivery time for my plates?
- You must contact your Account Representative for any changes you seek to make to your order. Once your order is in production, we may not be able to accommodate those requests.
+ Do you ship plate orders to Canada?
- We currently cannot ship plate orders to Canada but are working to change this.
+ Do you ship plates to Army Post Offices?
- Yes, we ship our plates throughout the U.S., including to military APOs. Due to military requirements and rules, we cannot guarantee when your order will be received but can guarantee the date it will ship.
Order Questions
+ What is the status of my plates order?
- The date your plates order will arrive is based on several factors:
•The production time
•Delivery method and destination
•Our deadline, which is 11 a.m. ET - Check the status of your order by entering your order number and the email address of the person who placed it.
- * Production and delivery times are based on standard business days.
+ What is standard production time and how long will it take?
- Our production time is the period it takes to produce and print your plates order in our production facility. The time is based on business days, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
- We require that your FREE artwork proof be approved and your payment processed before 11 a.m. Eastern Time before production can begin. Our Product Details page displays your current production time options and the estimated delivery date for your plates order, depending on the location to be shipped.
+ When can I expect a confirmation email?
- You will receive a confirmation email after placing your order online. Email messages can land in junk/spam folders so we recommend you check those folders if you haven't received your confirmation email.
- Please note that this email is not a confirmation that your order is in production. If you did not approve your order when placed online, you may receive a proof via email that you must approve before we can begin processing your order.
+ How can I obtain help with my plates order?
- We recommend you Live Chat with a Customer Service agent or call our Customer Service Department at 1-866-795-4657 for help with your order.
+ Can I make a change to my plates order?
- We recommend you contact your Account Representative for any changes to your plates order. You have the ability to make multiple changes to your order during the proofing stage. However, after it is in production we may not be able to accommodate any requests.
+ Which credit cards do you accept?
- We accept the most popular U.S.-based credit cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. We also can accept some purchase orders from schools, government agencies and other groups that may have restricted payment options. Contact your Account Representative for more information.
+ Can I pay via NET-30 Terms or a purchase order?
- We do allow eligible customers to pay via NET-30 terms and/or purchase orders. In order to be considered, you need to place an order through our website and choose the "pay later" option so we have the full details of your planned order. Let your assigned Account Representative know that you want to apply for NET-30 terms or pay by purchase order, and a form will be sent to you to fill out. Your information must be reviewed and approved before we can proceed with your order. If you want to pay with a purchase order, you must first be approved and are required to send a copy of your signed PO with an amount that matches your online order.
+ How do I finalize my order?
- If you place an online order and are given the option to “Approve Design” online, your order is considered finalized when you:
1. Click “Approve” for the artwork
2. Enter credit card payment information on the checkout page
3. Click on “Place Order” - If you choose the Pay Now option at checkout, but were not given the option to approve your design online during the checkout process, you will be assigned to an Account Representative who will email you a proof and sales order to review. To finalize this type of order, you need to email your Account Representative with approval of your proof. We cannot put this type of order into production until we have written (email) proof approval and have processed your payment.
- If you choose the Pay Later option at checkout, you will be assigned to an Account Representative who will email you a proof and sales order to review. To finalize this type of order, you will need to pay for the order via the payment link that your Account Representative will send you. Once your payment is submitted, it is considered approval of the proof and the order will be sent to production. If proof approval is emailed and payment has not been made, the order cannot be sent to production.
+ Can I order different amounts than those listed in your Quantity/Price graph in the ordering process?
- Yes! You can order the exact amount you need as long as it is above the lowest minimum quantity shown.
- The date your plates order will arrive is based on several factors:
How to Use the Customize A Design Option
+ How do I move my text left or right?
- Simply add a space(s) before and/or after your text by using the space bar on your keyboard when entering text into a specific field.
+ How do I delete a text field from my design?
- If you do not want to include a certain text field on your design, simply leave the field blank/empty.
- Your design will appear exactly how you type it in the fields. You can click the "View Design" button to preview how your design will look.
+ How do I make my text smaller?
- Making the appearance of your text in any field smaller can be done by adding equal amounts of space before and after the specific text. You can use the space bar on your keyboard to add these spaces.
- For example, if you would like the name "Kim" to be smaller in size, simply add a space before and after "Kim."
- Please note that we do have a maximum character limit and minimum text size. If you exceed any of these limits, you will receive an error message.
+ How do I make my text larger?
- Due to how the text conforms to fit within the available text area, you currently cannot make your text larger. If you would like your text to be larger, please click the "Add Special Request" button on the cart page and one of our talented graphic designers will alter the design accordingly and send you a proof to approve.
+ What can I do if my text is overlapping the design or another text field?
- You can try changing your text to all capital letters, or add spaces before and/or after your text to move it to the right or left to avoid overlapping. If you still cannot get the design you love, please click the "Add Special Request" button on the cart page and one of our talented graphic designers will alter the design and send you a proof to approve.
+ What can I do if I want my names or other text switched in two of your text fields?
- If you would like to switch the information that you are prompted to give in the text fields, simply type the names where you want them to appear.
+ How can I change a text field or add an additional text field?
- You cannot change and/or add any additional text fields at this time. However, you can input different text than we have labeled.
+ What can I do if my names do not fit in the design or they size down too small?
- If possible, try a shorter version of your name or a nickname. For example, "Kimberly" could be shortened to "Kim." If you do not want to shorten your names or cannot get the design to work with your names, click the "Add Special Request" button on the cart page and one of our talented graphic designers will alter the design for you and send you a proof to approve.
- Please note that your credit card is not charged until after you approve your proof and the order goes into production.
