After personally using Underground Printing‘s services to create custom apparel for over a decade, I can confidently say they outshine competitors on all fronts.
From smartly designed ordering systems to best-in-class production, Underground delivers premium garments guaranteed to impress. This exhaustive review covers my first-hand experiences as an industry veteran.
Quick Takeaways:
- 20+ years perfecting custom screen printing, embroidery & digital printing
- 70,000 sq ft state-of-the-art production facility with 26 retail stores
- Intuitive online ordering plus design help from expert staff
- Massive product catalog with 50+ color/size options for popular items
- Bulk order discounts, price matching, free design revisions & more
Keep reading for the full scoop or visit Underground Printing‘s website to unlock instant quotes.
My Background With Custom Apparel
With 15+ years managing product development and manufacturing, I know a quality vendor when I see one.
I’ve worked with dozens of custom apparel shops – from overseas factories to domestic startups. And I’ve ordered thousands of sample products assessing features like:
- Material quality
- Print durability
- Color vibrancy
- Order turnaround times
- Pricing fairness
- Customer service
These key indicators separate amateurs from industry leaders.
For the past 10+ years, Underground Printing remains my go-to for personalized shirts, hats, uniforms, and promotional products. I’ve yet to find another provider matching their consistent quality and service.
Underground Printing History At A Glance
Founded in a college dorm back in 2001, Underground Printing began as a humble startup. Roommates and co-founders Rishi Narayan and Ryan Gregg started experimenting with screen printing shirts in their spare time.
They eventually opened up shop serving local Michigan schools and businesses. It didn’t take long for Underground’s sales to explode.
Just a few years later, they made Inc. Magazine’s ‘Fastest Growing Companies’ list multiple times. They invested profits into more equipment, retail stores and a 70,000 square foot production facility to keep up with demand.
Today, over 850 employees strong, Underground Printing has:
- 26 brick-and-mortar stores across the Midwest
- State-of-the-art screen printing, embroidery and digital direct printing equipment
- Clients including Google, Amazon, Target plus colleges, non-profits and SMBs
- 47K Facebook followers and 4.8/5 star overall online rating
Impressive stats for a business once running off dorm room electrical outlets! Their epic growth proves this veteran-owned company takes care of customers.
Overview of Services
Unlike other shops specializing in one area, Underground Printing is a custom production powerhouse offering:
Screen Printing – Ideal for high volumes and striking designs on shirts/hats/bags/gear
Embroidery – For adding polished logo patches onto high-end apparel
Digital Direct Printing – Prints photographic images directly onto garments
Their seasoned staff will guide you to the best method for your project and handle all production and fulfillment in-house.
Underground Printing Product Catalog
From budget bulk tees to luxe brand apparel, Underground’s online catalog has it all with thousands of items including:
Apparel: T-shirts, polos, hoodies, hats, bags, sweatpants, jackets, beanies and more from leading brands like:
- Gildan
- Champion
- Carhartt
- Jerzees
- Adidas
- Helly Hansen
Accessories & Gifts: Drinkware, buttons, bags, pet gear, coolers, face masks, gloves, towels and tons of unique promotional items
Uniforms: Medical scrubs, industrial workwear, hospitality uniforms, safety vests, company branded apparel
Tip: Use Underground‘s handy product filters to zone in on exactly what you need. Filter by color, brand, product type, price and more to save time.
Underground also stocks hard-to-find sizes for full inclusion:
- Men’s apparel available up to 5XL
- Women’s available down to XXS
- Kids sizes from 12 months up to XL
If you don’t see something you want, Underground’s product experts will source it for you!
Ordering From Underground Printing
Thanks to their user-friendly website, the process of ordering custom goods is simple:
1. Select Products
Browse Underground’s catalog and add desired items to your cart
2. Choose Printing Method
Pick screen printing, embroidery or digital printing
3. Create Designs
Use their online designers or upload finished artwork
4. Finalize Order
Choose sizes, quantities and colors
5. Approve Proofs
Underground emails design proofs for approval before production
Throughout the process, you can message their support team around the clock for assistance. I’ll expand more on Underground’s customer service later.
First, let’s take a deeper look at each printing method they offer.
Screen Printing
As pioneers who helped screen printing go mainstream, Underground has the art perfected. When I want bold, vibrant graphics on bulk shirts or hats, screen printing always impresses.
How Underground Printing Screen Printing Works
First, Underground sets up separate screens for each color in your design. Ink gets squeezed through these screens, essentially using them like high tech stencils. The ink soaks into the fabric creating a soft, breathable feel.
This video shows Underground’s state-of-the-art screen printing process in action:
Some key perks of Underground’s screen printing:
- Creates bright, layered designs not possible with other methods
- Highest ink durability – lasts through countless washes without fading
- Ideal for bulk orders thanks to cost efficiency
- Print on shirts, sweats, uniforms, hats, gear bags and more
From reinventing school spiritwear to merch for global brands, Underground handles it all with exceptional quality.
Popular Screen Printed Items:
- Gildan Heavy Cotton T-Shirt – 4.5 stars, 7,500+ reviews
- Gildan Heavy Blend Hoodie – 4.5 stars 1,200+ reviews
- Port & Company Structured Cap – 4.5 stars
Gildan remains my go-to budget option for custom bulk orders. While thicker and heavier than premium brands, Gildan holds up well as an everyday shirt. And when pricing out large volumes, the savings add up quick.
Underground Printing keeps huge quantities of Gildan products readily in stock. Combined with cost-saving multi-location distribution centers, Underground delivers bulk orders lighting fast compared to other custom shops.
Embroidery
Looking for an elegant, upscale touch for company polos, hats and outerwear? Underground’s custom embroidery always impresses.
Choose from special stitch effects like 3D puff embroidery, glow threads, sequins, spikes and more to make company logos pop.
What Does Underground Printing Charge for Embroidery?
- Polos – Start at $16
- Hats – Start at $18
- Jackets – Start at $28
As expected, stitch counts impact cost. A simple left chest logo runs cheaper than a large back design. Underground‘s support team provides quotes for any project.
Popular Embroidered Items:
- Adidas Heathered Sport Shirt – Moisture-wicking performance material
- Jerzees NuBlend Crew Sweatshirt – Soft midweight fleece
- Yupoong Classic Snapback – Bestselling adjustable cap
I often order custom polos for trade shows and client gifts. Embroidery takes plain shirts to the next level. Plus setup fees get waived for bulk orders.
Digital Direct Printing
Sometimes I need full photographic prints or intricate artwork beyond screen printing capabilities. That’s when Underground’s digital direct printing shines.
They use advanced HD printers to print any graphics or photos directly onto apparel. The process costs more per piece than screen printing but ideal for small batches.
What You Can Digitally Print with Underground
The possibilities are endless – from all-over photo prints, to labels, slogans and beyond. Bring any design concept to life on quality garments sourced by Underground.
Popular Digitally Printed Items:
- Gildan Heavy Cotton Tee – Starts at $8
- Next Level Fitted Tee – Starts at $12
- Champion Powerblend Fleece Hoodie – Starts at $25
I lean on digital printing for one-off prototype samples when testing new designs. Underground even helped me source obscure items other vendors struggled with.
While Underground charges a premium for digital over competitors, the quality and print durability justify costs. Their HD printers create vibrant, smooth prints far superior to dtg shops using consumer-grade equipment.
Underground Printing Customer Reviews
With over 8,000 online reviews, Underground Printing maintains exceptional feedback across the board. See what fellow customers say:
Website Reviews
- Custom T-Shirt – 4.5 stars (7,500+ reviews)
- Custom Hoodie – 4.5 stars (1,200+ reviews)
- Custom Hat – 4.5 stars
- Custom Jacket – 4.5 stars
Positive reviews praise Underground‘s quality, customer service and helpful staff.
Google Reviews
With 26 retail locations across the Midwest, Underground also dominates Google results:
- Pittsburgh Store – 4.9 stars (124 reviews)
- Chapel Hill Store – 4.9 stars (102 reviews)
- Evanston Store – 4.8 stars (99 reviews)
- Madison Store – 4.9 stars (96 reviews)
Feedback consistently highlights knowledgeable staff, fast fulfillment and stellar products. Their brick-and-mortar presence adds convenience for picking up local orders.
External Review Sites
On ViewPoints, Underground Printing averages 5 out of 5 stars across 4 customer reviews. One happy customer wrote:
"As always, UGP has come through, on-time, even after I was late planning and submitting my order. The attention to detail along with constant communication is MUCH appreciated…"
After years as a repeat customer myself, I agree Underground hits the mark on both product and service.
Underground Printing Shipping & Returns
For essential policy details, here’s the lowdown on Underground‘s shipping and returns:
Shipping Policy
Custom production averages 2-7 business days before items ship. Once completed, standard delivery estimates are:
- United States: 3-7 business days via USPS or FedEx
- Canada: 7-12 business days
- International: Varies by location – DHL Express recommended
Other noteworthy shipping details:
- Free US shipping on orders $50+
- Expedited production & rush delivery options
- Tracking info provided once order ships
- Separate items may ship individually
Large multi-piece orders sometimes ship direct from Underground‘s various distribution hubs located closest to the destination. This expedites delivery by avoiding congested centralized warehouses other vendors use.
Returns & Exchanges
One major reason I continually order from Underground Printing is their hassle-free 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If products arrive with flaws, damage or errors, Underground remakes and reships them free of charge. You have 15 days after delivery to report issues.
For returns/exchanges:
- 30 day window from order date
- Submit requests online with order details
- Customer covers return shipping costs
- Refunds issued once returned items received
- No returns allowed for customized/personalized products
After over a decade ordering, I‘ve had less than a handful of defective items. But when I did, Underground handled returns/replacements promptly without question.
Is Underground Printing Worth The Investment?
With premium branding power comes premium prices – that‘s the tradeoff with custom gear. But smart buyers look past bottom line costs to consider the entire customer journey.
Sure, Underground Printing falls on the pricier side upfront. But you get what you pay for with:
❏ Hassle-free ordering with design assistance
❏ Massive style, size and color selection
❏ Lightning fast turnaround times
❏ Final quality exceeding competitors
❏ Reliable, US-based customer service
Meanwhile, other shops advertising shockingly cheap prices often:
❏ Use inferior quality garments
❏ Lack size variety
❏ Have slow international production
❏ Provide awful pixelated prints
❏ Leave you stranded without support
I can‘t count how many times I‘ve been burned by bait-and-switch vendors promising the world. Then they ghost me the minute money exchanges hands.
That anxiety disappears when partnering with Underground Printing. Their fair pricing guarantees premium, consistent results backed by support teams treating you like family.
For me, reliability and quality outweigh pennies saved. And with smart negotiating, Underground‘s costs come down quickly.
💡 Pro Tip: Ask sales reps about coupon codes,rush order discounts, price matching guarantees, bulk order tier pricing, and contract options to maximize value.
At the end of the day, I gladly pay Underground Printing’s above average rates knowing I’ll get exceptional merchandise guaranteed. Their decades perfecting apparel production shine through in the final product.
How To Get The Lowest Prices From Underground Printing
While Underground doesn‘t offer many standard coupon codes or promotions, loyal repeat customers unlock VIP perks.
1. Bulk Order Discounts
Large orders mean cheaper per piece pricing. Ask reps to negotiate custom bulk rates catered to your exact needs and production capabilities.
I save up to 30% on big batch orders vs. buying individually. Underground‘s sales experts pride themselves on finding creative ways to earn business through discounting. Don‘t be afraid to negotiate!
2. Account Credits
As a regular customer, Underground hooked me up with account credits to save on future orders. Think of it like rewards points to incentivize loyalty.
3. Review Promos
Periodically browse Underground‘s website for limited sales/specials on seasonal items and bestsellers. Sign up for email updates on flash deals as soon as they launch.
Around the holidays Underground will run aggressive promotions on popular shirts/hoodies/hats allowing me to stock up on gifting gear or merch to resell.
4. Wholesale Pricing
Businesses with tax IDs should request wholesale rates for the rock bottom pricing. Expect 30-50%+ discounts off retail costs.
Vendors like Underground Printing offer wholesale programs as incentive to land big fish accounts with Fortune 500s, sports leagues, entertainment brands who become anchors for large recurring orders.
How Does Underground Printing Compare?
The custom apparel space keeps getting more crowded by the day with cheap online startups. But few rival Underground‘s pedigree perfecting screen printing for over 20 years. Their fully in-house production from start to finish makes all the difference.
Unlike other commercial printers focused exclusively on profits through outsourcing, Underground Printing maintains exceptional service levels by managing everything under one roof.
And with support staff available for guidance every step, Underground takes the stress out of building branded apparel. Whether I had basic questions on products or complex inquiries on production limitations, Underground‘s team came through quickly with solutions.
While they aren‘t the cheapest service out there, Underground Printing remains my provider of choice when quality and reliability are non-negotiable. Their fair pricing buys assurance I‘ll get exceptional gear guaranteed.
Final Verdict: Should You Use Underground Printing?
For those wanting custom shirts made like the pros, look no further than Underground Printing. After over a decade partnering with them for screen printing, embroidery and digital printing projects, I‘ve yet to find a provider coming close in quality and service.
Their online ordering systems, smart product sourcing, expedited production capabilities and stellar client care cement Underground Printing as a leading apparel expert.
And with welcoming support staff treating all customers like VIPs, Underground takes pride helping brands boost recognition through high-impact gear people love wearing.
Ready to step up your organization‘s merch? Visit Underground Printing‘s Website for custom quotes and design inspiration.
Underground Printing Contact Information
Questions before or after ordering? Reach Underground Printing‘s stellar customer service team via:
📞 Call Toll-Free: 800-242-4787 (M-F 7am-7pm EST)
✉️ Email: [email protected]
💬 Live Chat: www.UndergroundShirts.com
🏬 In Person: At 26 Midwest retail locations
In my experience, Underground‘s experts go above and beyond ensuring clients get ideal outcomes, even after the sale. Feel free to lean on them as an extension of your branding team.
Wrapping Up My Underground Printing Review
Thanks for taking the time to read my extended thoughts on Underground Printing‘s exceptional services. I hope the transparency provides greater insight so you can make informed decisions when selecting partners for custom apparel projects.
Please feel free to get in touch with any other questions I can answer drawing from my decade-plus of expertise in the industry. Gear up for success!
