We understand that everyone wants to get the best deal they can when purchasing promotional products (swag) for their marketing, safety, human resources programs, etc. However, you can go too far with this and end up either with a product you don’t want to use because it is so cheap it doesn’t work well, is poorly assembled, or just doesn’t look good. There are other times when you don’t receive your product at all.
Scenario One
Let’s start with the latter part first, not getting your items at all. It is not uncommon for Promo Hounds to get a last-minute request for help with swag for an upcoming event because the company with which they were dealing came up short, let them down, at the last minute said the promos would not be there in time. 9 times out of 10 these people checked with 2 or 3 suppliers and chose the cheapest one and it doesn’t turn out well.
You should be getting updates from whoever is supplying your swag as to when to expect a proof, when your items are scheduled to ship and when they should arrive. Ask for it if they are not providing it.
I should add there are times when the supplier, not your distributor, comes up short at the end, but that is rare. This is not your distributor’s fault.
Scenario Two
Now when it comes to shopping around for the cheapest item you can find, that often has unhappy endings as well. Here’s a recent example.
We had a client looking for some of the small hand-held and battery-operated fans. These particular ones also had a light to them that showed when the fan was on. The client actually sent us a link to one they’d found on another site. We ordered it for them. They got them. Many did not work.
You definitely cannot tell from an image online what the quality of an item is.
This fan came from a supplier with whom we do not normally work. Most the suppliers on our web site are ones we know and trust. That’s why they are there. In this case since we are not as familiar we do not have as much sway on getting the client a refund. Trying to save a few dollars might end up costing them more.
I know it sounds contrite but in the swag business price truly is reflective of quality, either of the item or the supplier. You have to be very careful!
We are still trying to work this out for the client but it is not resolved yet.
We also recommend, if you are not in a rush, asking for a sample of the item before ordering. Promo Hounds for instance will provide 1 per order request at no charge.
If you are dealing with a distributor who is way less expensive than others then ask for some reviews of their service, or references.
If it seems too good to be true, maybe it is. That axiom holds very true in the swag business.