Production & Shipping · 13 questions

Production & Shipping

Lead times, freight modes, customs duties, international destinations and rush options — full transparency on how your order moves.

All 13 Questions in Production & Shipping

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How long does production take after I approve the digital proof?
Production time depends on the printing method and finishes you choose:

• Standard production (digital printing on BOPP/PET/vinyl): 4-6 business days
• Flexographic printing: 6-8 business days
• Foil stamping: 6-8 business days
• Foil + embossing combination: add 1-2 business days on top of the foil timeline
• Foil + spot UV combination: add 1-2 business days on top of the foil timeline
• Embossing or spot UV as standalone premium finishes: 6-9 business days

Production clock starts after you approve the PDF proof in writing. Holiday peak season (Nov-Dec) adds 1-2 days. Production time excludes shipping — see freight options below. We will send you a tracking-ready photo of the packaged order before it leaves our facility.
#lead-time #production #turnaround #after-proof
What shipping options do you offer and how long do they take?
Two freight modes — the same two labels you see at checkout:

(1) Sea Shipping (25-40 business days) — $18 flat per shipment, or FREE when your order subtotal reaches $70 or more. Dispatched twice weekly, tracking becomes available after 5 days.

(2) Air Express Shipping (4-8 business days) — weight-tiered, door-to-door via DHL Express OR FedEx Express (we auto-route by lane and capacity). Total weight includes a 0.2 kg box allowance:

• ≤0.5 kg = $29 • ≤1 kg = $32 • ≤2 kg = $39 • ≤3 kg = $49 • ≤5 kg = $65 • ≤10 kg = $95 • ≤20 kg = $149

Orders over 20 kg require a custom freight quote — request via the Get Quote form.

Sample orders: Sea Shipping is always $0 and Air Express is a flat $29 regardless of weight during the Free Samples checkout flow.

Recommendation: Air Express for orders needed within 2 weeks or any order under 1 kg where the surcharge over Sea is small; Sea Shipping for bulk restocks above $70 where free shipping kicks in.
#shipping #freight #dhl #economy #express #flat-rate #free-shipping #sea-shipping #air-express #tier
Which countries do you ship custom labels to?
We ship to 180+ countries. Top destinations: USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Africa. Restricted destinations (require custom quote): Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea region, Cuba — DHL and FedEx do not service these and Sea Shipping may be delayed 30+ days. For APO/FPO military addresses, Air Express is required. Remote-area surcharge ($25-45) applies to some rural zip codes — DHL/FedEx post the lists publicly.
#countries #international #shipping-destination #dhl #remote-area
Are customs duties and import taxes included in the quoted freight?
No by default — quotes are EXW/FOB origin. Import duties (typically 0-5% for printed labels under HS code 4821.10) and local VAT/sales tax are assessed by your customs authority when the package arrives in your country. The Air Express carrier (DHL or FedEx) will email you a customs invoice before delivery — pay online or the carrier pays and bills you. De minimis thresholds (no duty/tax collected below this value): US $800, Canada CAD $20, Australia AUD $1000, UK £135, EU €150. For DDP (delivered duty paid) shipping where duties are prepaid, request on orders over $3000 — available on Air Express (DHL/FedEx) only.
#customs #duty #tax #vat #ddp #de-minimis
Do you offer rush production for urgent label orders?
24-hour rush production is available for +20% of the order total. Rush slots are limited — request through the Get Quote form with "RUSH" in the subject line, and approve the proof the same day so the 24-hour clock can start. Rush eligibility depends on the printing method and finishes (digital printing qualifies most easily; foil/emboss combinations depend on press schedule — we will confirm feasibility on your quote).
#rush #urgent #expedite #same-day #fast-turnaround
How are labels packaged for international shipping?
Roll labels: wound on 3-inch core, shrink-wrapped, packed in double-wall corrugated boxes with foam end-caps — typical box size 18x18x12 inch, holds up to 5000 labels. Sheet labels: stacked flat between cardboard sheets, packed in rigid mailers or flat boxes — never folded. Stickers: bulk-packed in poly bags, then boxed. All packages include: proforma invoice outside in document pouch, packing list, certificate of origin (China-export, on request), and HS code 4821.10 declaration. Fragile or premium foil orders get extra corner protection.
#packaging #shipping #box #roll-pack #protection
Can I split my order and ship to multiple addresses?
Yes — split-shipment is $12 per additional address within the same country, $25 per additional address for international. Each split gets its own tracking number and customs paperwork. Use case: 60% of order to your contract manufacturer, 40% to your warehouse. To set up, request "split shipment" on the quote form with addresses and quantity split percentages — we will itemize freight for each destination on the quote.
#split-shipment #multiple-address #warehouse #3pl
What happens if my order is delayed in customs?
Customs delays are outside our control but we actively help resolve them. If the Air Express carrier (DHL or FedEx) notifies a customs hold, we (1) respond within 4 business hours with any missing paperwork — certificate of origin, FDA certificate, import license template. (2) Provide a commercial invoice revision if the customs broker needs amended value or HS classification. (3) Refund 100% of shipping cost if a delay exceeds 10 business days due to paperwork error on our side. We are not liable for delays caused by incorrect HS code declared by you, or by your country's import restrictions.
#customs-delay #hold #paperwork #broker #resolution
Can I track my order from production through delivery?
Yes. You receive three tracking touchpoints: (1) Production start email with proof link and scheduled ship date. (2) Ship confirmation with photo of packed boxes and your Air Express (DHL/FedEx) or Sea Shipping tracking number. (3) Daily status updates from Air Express or weekly from Sea Shipping. For Air Express, register at dhl.com or fedex.com for SMS/email notifications (we will tell you which carrier we routed your shipment on). For Sea Shipping, we manually update you every 5 days with the carrier's scan data. Real-time GPS tracking is not available on Sea Shipping — Air Express only.
#tracking #shipment-status #visibility #dhl-tracking
Do you ship on Fridays or weekends?
Production runs Monday-Friday (closed Saturday-Sunday China time, plus PRC national holidays). Shipping dispatch: Monday-Friday only — Air Express (DHL/FedEx) pickups at 4pm China time, Sea Shipping dispatches Tuesday and Friday. Orders shipped Thursday/Friday arrive the following week. To avoid Monday dispatch rush, request "Friday ship" on your quote — we will route to a Friday morning Air Express pickup so your order is in transit over the weekend. Holiday closures (Spring Festival, National Day) are announced 30 days in advance on our homepage.
#friday-ship #weekend #holiday #dispatch #pickup
What is the cut-off time for same-day production start?
Order + proof approval + payment received before 2pm China time (UTC+8) = same-day production start for digital printing. After 2pm, production starts next business day morning. For flexo/foil, add 1 business day. This is why we often recommend early-morning quote requests for fastest turnaround. The system clock and your local time may differ — we will quote in your local time on request. Same-day start does not apply on national holidays.
#cut-off #same-day-start #deadline #time-zone
How are returns and freight damage handled?
If your package arrives damaged, photograph the box and contents within 48 hours of delivery, email photos to support — we file a freight claim with the Air Express carrier (DHL/FedEx) or Sea Shipping line and ship a replacement at no charge within 5 business days (or refund if you prefer). If labels arrive defective (print error, wrong material, missing finish), see our Quality & Reprints FAQ section for the full reprint/refund policy. Freight damage is rare (<0.3% of shipments) and our packaging is engineered to withstand typical handling.
#damage #freight-claim #replacement #photograph
Do you offer warehousing for repeat label orders?
Yes — contracted customers with $10000+ annual volume qualify for free warehousing of up to 6 months inventory at our facility. We hold your printed labels and ship partial quantities on demand (e.g. monthly drops to 5 retail locations). This eliminates your storage cost and reduces reorder lead time to 1-2 days shipping instead of 7+ days production. Inventory dashboard access is provided — you can see real-time stock levels and request shipments 24/7 through a dedicated portal.
#warehousing #inventory #contract #fulfillment #3pl
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