Worst Sub Mugs ever....

[phoenixalpha]

Had a customer wanting 50 mugs. No problem. It's Friday, needs them for Tuesday morning 9am for a promo. Not a problem. I have 50 blanks odd in stock, I'll order some replacements Monday. Makes up 50 mugs on Saturday. Not a breakage, not a blow out or any issues, standard trusty BMS mugs. Good old reliable mugs.

The customer calls on late Saturday... "errr... can I add in another 20 mugs for Tuesday 9am. I really need them." I know Ralawise do sub mugs and dispatch on a Saturday. OK I say not a problem and I order 36. Mugs arrive today, I put them off until later in the day when it's a bit quieter and I can concentrate. So... first mug. works like a dream. Second mug a bit under pressure, so in the bin (oh the design is pretty much a solid black with a logo and some text), don't change pressure, in another mug. 15 seconds in... BANG. The mug shatters quite explosively, propelling the handle section across the room like a bullet to smash on the floor. FFS... maybe a few issues with these mugs, I've got plenty to spare. More mugs follow more mugs, either in the bin due to breaking up after seconds in the press, some actually only being held together by the paper on the mug, others under pressure smears at the top, at the bottom, around the handle, never the same place twice, never repeats its problem. I looked at two mugs side by side and the edges *before* I put them in the press were wavy, I could see daylight through the sides of the mugs when together as they met at the top, moved out, met in the middle, moved out and met at the base.

SO.... long story short. 36 mugs later, 18 sheets of sub paper & ink, 2 hrs gone. FIVE acceptable mugs from THIRTY SIX. Had to call the customer and explain. He reasonably ok with it. Ralawise on the other hand are getting a fantastic call tomorrow morning to complain bitterly.

Moral of this long winded bitch... I will never use Ralawise again, even in an emergency for mugs. I'm back to BMS mugs come hell or high water.

[socialgiraffe]

Does anyone know who the mug supplier is for Ralawise?

[phoenixalpha]

It says ORCA DURHAM on the box if that's any help.

[phoenixalpha]

Also says ORCA COATING on the bottom with a picture of a Killer Whale

[phoenixalpha]

Oh and I forgot to say... to add insult to injury, the last mug out the box, had a huge big chip out of it the size of my thumbnail.

[socialgiraffe]

Could be one of a number of suppliers, however the suppliers I know that do have the whale on the bottom are reputable suppliers so I would be surprised if it was them.

Personally I would go back to your account manager at Ralawise and explain how you have been in the business for years etc and that the mugs they are supplying are not to standard. The very least they should do is give you a credit for the problems you have had. I recently had a problem with Ralawise that cost me about £250.00 in profit for some urgent garments for a meet and greet event. The upshot was that Ralawise sorted me out because they admit it was their error.

However, I am not a fan of people like Ralawise also supplying what they call "add it on" The sales staff are trained in garments not dye sublimation products and they know nothing about the process. This means that if there is a problem then there is not much info they can give you as they simply do not know.

Sorry to hear of your problems and the only thing I can suggest is if you post a message on the forum to see if anyone is close who has some spare mugs.

[phoenixalpha]

Thanks socialgiraffe, I will be having a long and detailed moan to Ralawise this morning. I don't think I'd like to be the CS member picking up my call this morning.

Remember I said to add insult to injury about the last mug having a huge chip? Nope the last straw was finding BMS were out of standard mugs until the 6th. Damn... now need to find a decent stopgap for a few days.

[bms]

Thanks socialgiraffe, I will be having a long and detailed moan to Ralawise this morning. I don't think I'd like to be the CS member picking up my call this morning.

Remember I said to add insult to injury about the last mug having a huge chip? Nope the last straw was finding BMS were out of standard mugs until the 6th. Damn... now need to find a decent stopgap for a few days.

we might be able to pull 1 box, possibly 2 together if you give Scott a call. I have a couple of open boxes that I've been using for demos and there may be a few more dotted around. Tell Scott I said to look in the office at No 50 (he'll know what you mean!).

[tlworkwear]

The mugs from Ralawise are supplied by Magictouch, I've ordered some before and was not particularly happy with the quality. Sorry to hear about your struggle with them. I have switched over to BTC for all my garment supplies now and they have been fantastic from the off and very helpful, even matching and in some cases beating the discounts being offered to me previously by Ralawise.

[purpledragon]

we might be able to pull 1 box, possibly 2 together if you give scott a call. I have a couple of open boxes that i've been using for demos and there may be a few more dotted around. Tell scott i said to look in the office at no 50 (he'll know what you mean!).

good god man no ....... Not office number 50 ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh