Saturday, July 11, 2009

T-Shirt Preferences

Today we started selling a new t-shirt referencing a joke John made a few days ago in his vlogbrothers video, and one that the nerdfighters picked up right away. Because this joke has "gone viral", and many people asked for it in the comments section, we wanted to get a t-shirt out asap for it.

Rather than print a set number of shirts up front and wait two weeks for them to be shipped to me, we decided to leave the shirt up for sale for 48 hours. At the end of the 48 hours, we'll take the shirts down and then print however many shirts are ordered.
This is a bit different from how we did it the first time (having a limited print run and selling until we sold out).

There are a few positives and negatives to both.

OPTION A

Printing a set number of shirts up front and selling them when they're ready means they ship immediately. But when we printed 200 shirts, they sold out in 6 hours. So a lot of people who wanted them couldn't buy them.

OPTION B

Allowing orders for 48 hours and then printing whatever is ordered ensures everyone who wants one gets one. But it also means we have to make you guys wait two weeks before I can start shipping them. To help with this wait, I had the idea to include an immediate download of a Chewie for Prez song, which John and Hank both thought was a good idea.

Due to printing costs and the non-infinite room available at my house, we can't keep five sizes of shirts in continuous stock.

So, which option do you prefer for future t-shirt designs?

43 comments:

  1. I like Option B. I was one of those who missed out on the first run of shirts because I was away from my computer that day.

    It might take longer to ship, but I really don't think most people would mind waiting a little longer if it meant they got a shirt that they really wanted.

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  2. Definitely B...
    But if the orders get too high, maybe change the time limit to 36 hours? But either way, I think B is the best way to go.

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  3. Option B. I'd be fine waiting 2 weeks (whats 2 weeks anyway, thats practically nothing in the greater scheme of things) to ensure that as many people as possible who want to participate in Nerdfighteria can do so.

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  4. I prefer B. (:

    Not that I can buy a shirt right now anyway... *poor!*

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  5. Option B, but I would advertise the 48 hours for a day before hand, so everyone who wanted to buy it could get the chance.

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  6. At first I would have said option A immediately, because I figured with option B if people don't order in the two days they're out of luck. However, as you said with option A - the shirts sold out in six hours anyway, so it's even worse on the time limit front that option B. xD

    So yeah, I'd choose B, I'm sure people wouldn't mind waiting the two weeks for it anyway, most of the fans are really dedicated and awesomeness personified, after all. xD

    And hey, who knows, one day DFTBA records could become like a billion dollar/pound company and then you can buy a big old warehouse to keep shirts in. xD

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  7. Option B.
    I'm sure waiting longer is much more bearable than missing out alltogether.
    x

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  8. B. It would give me more time.

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  9. Option B!
    I never mind waiting for post.
    Besides, Option A is a little cruel on those living in different timezones. Vlogbrother videos are oftentimes uploaded whilst I am in the land of nod.

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  10. Option C.
    Print more than 200 t-shirts when you can. Because boy, I don't like either of those options a lot.

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  11. Option B definately. Good things come to those who wait after all :)

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  12. Definitely Option B.
    Waiting two weeks for shipping is a lot better than not getting the shirt at all.

    Honestly, it would be nice if shirts were available to order for longer than 48 hours though. =D

    Hopefully, you guys will be able to make shirts available in a more permanent manner eventually. :)

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  13. For more people to be able to get the option to buy one, Option B is better. I'm sure a lot of us wouldn't mind the wait.

    But once the t-shirt part of DFTBA picks up, will shirts be available for longer? Or are these very short runs going to be the only option?

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  14. B is way better.
    2 weeks isn't that long. :]

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  15. Option B ftw!!!
    DFTBA

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  16. Option B. I wouldn't mind the wait.

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  17. Option B, definitely.

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  18. I like option B better. I don't mind having to wait a few more weeks to get the shirt as opposed to going to order and finding they are all sold out only a few hours after they are released.

    I do have a suggestion however...Personally I am unable to order a shirt at the moment because I have no address to give you to ship it to for a few more weeks. I am moving back up to school and my apartment complex is refusing to release my address to me right now. This issue got me thinking that maybe you could reopen the orders at a later date for those who were unable to order in the 48 hour period. If it is possible to print multiple designs in a shipment, maybe you could open sales again for different shirts and allow people to order who were previously unable. Maybe right before the holiday time so people can order them as gifts. If this suggestion of mine is not possible, well then I'm sure DFTBA Records will release some other awesome shirts I will be able to buy in the future!

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  19. Option B seems to be the consensus vote...

    And who am I to go against the consensus?

    'B' is definitely the best option. Fortunately, you're making shirts for a crowd that won't hold that 2 week wait against you because they are all made of awesome.

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  20. Option B would be best Alan! Thank you for allowing us to choose which option. Proves yet again how nice of a guy you are.

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  21. I'm going to go with the crowd on this one and say option B. A two week wait combined with a free song that gets stuck in your head is nothing. Plus, it means that my chances of running into someone I didn't previously know was a nerdfighter have increased. It might be a little more work for you in terms of having to display your folding skills to an even larger group of people, but I think the masses have a mentality of "If you print it, we will buy." So in terms of sales, it's probably a better deal for you guys.

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  22. Option B sounds good, but once/if situations allow, it might be an idea to have one t-shirt design permanently in-stock: the "vanilla" design, if you like. Obviously this may never be possible as you'd have to find a place to store them and you would have no guarantee that the stocks would be taken up but it would be nice to have at least one design on-sale at all times.

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  23. This option is better but you could possibly combine the two. Like start off by printing like 50 of each size or whatever and say that if you are in the frist 50 of your size you get it right away. I think then you only have to have a time frame for people to order.

    Hope you figure something out!
    ~homskllet

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  24. Option B, and like Jennifer said, it'd be nice if you could advertise that you're selling a new shirt a day or two beforehand. That way people have a little bit of head's up and can get online to place their order.

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  25. I don't think I'm alone in saying Option B! As long as there's perhaps a little advanced notice though, like a video or newsletter a few hours before you open sales?

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  26. I prefer a blend of both really, sometimes it's cool to have a "limited edition" of something, where you know only 200 are in existence in the world, however there are some things that would work better if a lot of people got them and it was sort of a unifying force rather than a super high demand sort of thing....

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  27. I kind of like Ariel's idea of re-releasing designs. I know I talked to a lot of people who didn't have the money for a t-shirt when you put them on sale, so they couldn't get one, and 48 hours is not enough time for them to get said money. So if you released a shirt [in either A or B, I really don't have a preference] with a later re-release date planned, said nerdfighters would have the opportunity to save up money and have it for the next release of it.

    As far as A or B, I like them both and I think you should use your judgement per shirt. I feel really special having a DFTBA shirt when I know that only 200 other people have them, but I also like the idea of being able to know that I'll be able to buy one as long as I order within this time period rather than having to beat out others and catch my mom as she's walking out of the house. :)

    But B is almost unanimous, so I have a feeling you'll be doing that.

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  28. Option B is wonderful, so we know certain sizes won't sell out fast.

    However, I would strongly recommend advertising like a week before the sale goes up, rather than springing it on us. Also, please leave it up for 72 hours, instead of 48. 3 days is a nicer time limit.

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  29. For T-shirts in a limited amount, I would definatly say option B.
    I wanted a DFTBA t-shirt but they were all sold out =(
    So at least this way everyone that wants one can get one. Although maybe leave them up for sale for a week, instead of just 2 days.

    <3

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  30. As some others have said, I support Option B over Option A, but I would prefer advance notice of a sale under option B.

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  31. I like option 'B' with an advance notice of sorts :)

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  32. Definitely B. I agree with Paisley though, advanced notice please!

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  33. Option B, but give us a few days notice before you start taking orders.

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  34. Option B for sure, with advance notice. :)

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  35. I prefer B, but (and forgive me if I'm wrong and just missed this) but I never remember seeing any mention of the whole 48 hoyurs rule. Luckily I ordered mine in those 48 hours - PHEW! - but this is the first I've heard about that. So just some warning of that would be good in future =]
    Anyway, can't WAIT for the tshirt, although it's definitely worth the long wait XD

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  36. what about you keep a continuous stock but just have less stock, so rather than have 200 Ts (Obv have them for the first release because demand is so high) But after the intial rush just keep 15-20 in stock and just reduce as demand does.

    Otherwise Option B:)

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  37. I prefer B but it would be awesome if DFTBA records could send and e-mail out that the shirts are avalible! Just a sugestion to make more money.

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  38. Option B, for all the reasons mentioned. Maybe A occasionally for special things or something? XP

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