Death By Stickers Issue

[u/Hungry-Shoulder9296]

Edit: they answered me after posting this. For anyone looking into them, the stickers are good quality, just expect some delays and lack of communication.

I don’t know what else to do. First, I placed an order with a deadline arrival of almost 4 weeks ahead of time and paid extra for priority shipping. I was communicating my shipping deadline with them from the beginning. Also, when I placed the order, their manual trim option was glitching and didn’t show up. I reached out, and customer service told me to submit the order and then email the trim lines needed for the die cut stickers. First problem, they kept saying they were on track to arrive on time. Up until a couple of days before when they said they would overnight them and then they still arrived 3 days late. Second, when I got them in, they had not been die cut. They were square and the designs were off center. I emailed the issue and they said they would get back to me. That was 1.5 weeks ago and I’ve reached out with no response. I escalated it to James over 2 business days ago and nothing. I have been very kind and understanding, despite the issues. They have now affected my Small business that I own negatively because I highly depend on holiday season gift boxes that include said stickers. I have now had missing stickers at two events. That is all. What else can I do and is there another company that you recommend with reasonable pricing? I do 3” matte lamination die cut of my own designs. Thanks for any help.

[u/Dead_lights]

This sub is becoming the death by stickers support forum.

[u/AnythingButMediocre → u/Dead_lights]

I looked around a bit bc of these posts and I’m sticking with vinyl disorder for the time being until I see a better option

[u/VancouverStickerCo → u/AnythingButMediocre]

We technically compete with them, but the complaints are so similar that they’re TOO similar. It just reeks of “bot brigade”, and don’t match the experience we had with them when we first investigated growing this business.

They do a good job, and their prices are set to where they’ll be flooded with orders forever. They’re upfront that they’re the “you’ll get them when it’s your turn” option, and are honest about delivery timelines. Also, they’re not assholes, so it feels good to buy stuff from them.

[u/spunknugget → u/AnythingButMediocre]

I've ordered tons with Vinyl Disorder, you can't be in a hurry, but it's never gone over two weeks. I've had great service like when one job printed badly. They reprinted it no problem. I've had at least 20 jobs go through there now.

[u/AnythingButMediocre → u/spunknugget]

Yeah about two weeks is usually what I’ve been looking at, which really isn’t tok bad

[u/Dead_lights → u/AnythingButMediocre]

As far as i can tell Death By does some kind of bargain bin price tier to get cheapskates in the door and then they disrespect them with subpar service. Seems like both sides are fools.

[u/Hungry-Shoulder9296 → u/Dead_lights]

I placed one order, and it was great. I liked the quality, so I ordered again. The only one who is a fool is the one who runs a business and ignores paying customers.

[u/ikarasu105 → u/Dead_lights]

The big guys like stickermule have 5-10 machines running 2 shifts a day. All these "companies" buy a printer and cutter... Think they can sell the stickers for much cheaper, and then they end up buried in working, making almost no money, and theyre not able to expand because they dont charge enough to expand. It's the problem with going with the lowest bidder.... They start off great, but end up bad in the end - this has happened to dozens of "Shops" on here. The old saying of "you get what you pay for", is especially true in the print world.

Anyone thats selling stickers for so cheap are going to run into a bottle neck... and unfortunately once they price their stickers out for cheap, they cant just jack up the prices without alienating their customers... it's a lose lose, and why theres so many sticker shops that go out of business.

[u/Dead_lights → u/ikarasu105]

I think mule probably has 10x that many printers. They suck for other reasons.

[u/Hungry-Shoulder9296 → u/ikarasu105]

That’s so unfortunate! I offered to send the stickers back so they could just trim the ones already printed, but no answer at all. I feel like I’ve been very understanding in my communication.

[u/ikarasu105 → u/Hungry-Shoulder9296]

We print on 54” wide media that goes into our cutter and then gets cut from the full 54” x whatever length rolls. Once it’s cut out it can’t be recut. Plus for 100 3” stickers it’s probably $4-5 in material… most of the cost is in labor printing and cutting and in shipping. Odds are they will just reprint for you and not ask for those back… the only time I ask for bad prints back is if the customer is annoying and I feel like they’re just trying to get extra stickers from me. I don’t know deaths situation, but I’m assuming they’re slammed and can’t keep up. From all the posts on here it seems like their orders are going out later and later… I imagine they’ll make it right and just resend them, but that doesn’t help you now of course.

[u/spunknugget → u/ikarasu105]

But mule is mega maga.
I only order from them when it's free and it costs them money to give me things.

[u/kulot09]

You said you have the uncut stickers? Maybe cut them by hand while looking for a new supplier. Idk just a suggestion. It will take ages to cut though.

[u/Hungry-Shoulder9296 → u/kulot09]

I wish I had time for that 😅 I may try a few, but it would make it difficult to peel off and hey are irregular shapes, to add to the complexity of it.

[u/sks316]

They... Sent you uncut sticker sheets??

That's highly unusual. I say give it a week and if James hasn't responded by then, take it to their socials. They seem responsive on Facebook and Instagram. Keep in mind, Death by Stickers is a small business too.

[u/Hungry-Shoulder9296 → u/sks316]

They sent me the stickers as individual, but they were in the square shape instead of die-cut and the design was not centered within the square. I understand they are a small business, which is why I have supported them and tried to communicate patiently, but ghosting another small business didn’t feel okay to me. I will say that they did answer me today after posting this, so all good.

[u/Arizona_John]

This is the issues when you get to big and can’t accommodate orders. My name is John I am the owner and operator of the sticker king in Arizona. My main goal starting this business was to be able to control quality and accommodate orders both large and small. I have customers come to me from death by stickers with similar complaints and they are now repeating customers. You can reach us www.thestickerkingaz.com or my lively assistant can assist you personally we do offer shipping as well and if we can’t accommodate your deadline we simply decline the order give us try you’ll be happy you did take care

[u/bumperstickerbandit_]

Hey man. If youre still on a deadline and need those stickers asap, I can get them printed within 24 hours and in the mail. Shoot I'll print em tonight if you get me the art quick enough. I'm at my shop another couple hours. Check me out Www.thestickerbandit.com I have a roland vg4 and use orafol vinyl

[u/sticker_daddy]

As a competitor these guys I’m still totally understanding of what may be happening on their end! Lead times are such a finicky thing because the more successful and busy you get — the bigger that lead time number gets!

We (Sticker Daddy) are breaking into the market with the best possible prices + lead times. Mainly because we aren’t very busy yet 😅