Customer supplied garments are blanks the customer brings for you to decorate; shops that accept them usually set intake checks, a damage and spoilage policy the customer signs or accepts, and pricing that covers the extra handling, because the shop cannot replace an item it did not supply.

Key rule: if you cannot replace it, put the risk in writing before you touch it. This page is general information, not legal advice; have an attorney review any policy or waiver you use.

Part of the business and pricing guides in the DAX Learning Hub. Decorating for other shops and brands at wholesale is a different arrangement, covered in Contract Decorating.

Published by DAX (Decorated Apparel Expo) · Last updated: October 2026

Customer Supplied vs Shop Supplied Blanks

Writing a Customer Supplied Garment Policy (Not Legal Advice)

Shops that accept supplied garments usually publish a policy and ask customers to sign or accept it before work starts. Published shop policies commonly cover the same few points:

1. The work is done at the customer's risk, and the shop does not replace or reimburse supplied garments that are damaged in production.
2. A spoilage allowance: a small share of pieces that may be lost to normal production problems without credit.
3. How misprints are handled, often a credit for the decoration cost rather than the garment cost.
4. Reactions the shop is not responsible for, such as dye migration, shrinkage, scorching, press marks or manufacturer defects.
5. Intake rules: an itemized list of sizes, colors and styles, sorted and unbagged goods, and fees if they are not.
6. Testing: the shop may print one piece first, or require a test, before running the order.
7. The right to refuse items the shop judges unsuitable or too risky.
8. How acceptance happens: a signature, an approved quote, or payment and drop off.

Laws differ by location, and some liability cannot be excluded. Use this list as a starting point for a conversation with an attorney, not as finished wording. This is general information, not legal advice. Record the policy version and the customer's acceptance on the order form.

Intake: Count, Inspect and Test

Count every supplied piece when it arrives and compare it to the customer's itemized list of styles, colors and sizes. Note shortages, overages and visible flaws before production, and tell the customer right away. A short intake record, with counts, flaws found and photos of any damage, protects both sides if questions come up later.

Check fiber content and care labels, look for coatings, special finishes and earlier decoration, and set aside anything that looks worn or delicate. For unfamiliar fabrics, decorate one piece first and, where practical, have the customer approve or test wash it before you run the rest. Ask customers to send spares when the final count matters. Route the job through your normal job ticket and shop floor flow with the intake notes attached.

Pricing the Extra Risk

Supplied garment jobs remove the garment margin and add handling, so price the work as decoration plus handling. Common structures include a per piece handling fee for supplied goods, sorting or unbagging fees when items arrive mixed or individually bagged, a higher minimum, or decoration prices set separately from shop supplied jobs. Setup and screen charges usually still apply.

Pick a structure, publish it, and apply it the same way every time. How setup fees, rush and minimums fit together is covered in Setup, Rush and Minimum Fees.

When to Say No

Declining is a normal part of a supplied garment policy. Shops commonly turn away items they judge unsuitable for the decoration method, items that have been worn, washed, altered or already decorated, very high value or sentimental pieces the customer cannot afford to lose, and fabrics the shop has not tested with its process. Offer a shop supplied blank as the alternative, or ask for a spare piece to test.

The right time to have this conversation is before the customer buys anything. Shops that accept supplied goods often ask customers to check with them before ordering their own blanks, so the shop can confirm the garment suits the decoration method. A two minute question about fabric, color and quantity saves an awkward call after a batch of the wrong shirts arrives, and it is a natural moment to explain the policy and the fees.

Frequently Asked Questions About Customer Supplied Garments (FAQ)

Should a print shop accept customer supplied garments?

Many do, with a written policy, intake checks and pricing that covers handling. Others decline or set minimums. Decide based on your risk, capacity and customers.

What should a customer supplied garment waiver cover?

Usually customer risk, no replacement of supplied items, a spoilage allowance, how misprints are credited, material reactions, intake rules, testing, the right to refuse and how acceptance happens. Have an attorney review it; this is not legal advice.

Do shops charge more for customer supplied shirts?

Often the decoration is priced separately and handling or sorting fees are added, since there is no garment margin and intake takes time.

What happens if a customer's shirt is ruined?

That depends on the signed policy. Many policies state that supplied garments are not replaced or reimbursed, and some credit the decoration cost for misprints beyond the spoilage allowance.

Which garments are risky to decorate?

Unknown or delicate fabrics, coated or specially finished items, garments prone to dye migration or shrinkage, previously decorated or worn pieces, and one of a kind items.

Supplier note: figures here are hedged starting points that vary by garment, ink, paint, film and equipment; confirm every setting against the supplier or manufacturer spec sheet, the product label and the garment care label. Policy terms, fees and allowances vary by shop and location; this page is general information, not legal advice.

Browse more guides in the DAX Learning Hub, and check cities and dates on the DAX show schedule when you are ready to see blanks, equipment and shop software in person.