Want to find the best custom sticker company for custom vinyl auto stickers & decals? Here are some tips worth considering as you shop around and before you type “cheapest custom auto stickers” or “best sticker company” into the search box.
1) Be clear on what you need custom vinyl auto stickers for. There are many styles of “custom stickers”, many different material options and different print methods. Make sure you communicate where the stickers will be used beyond cars and autos, the degree of adhesion needed, and how long you want the custom stickers to hold up.
2) In order to communicate exactly what custom vinyl auto stickers you need and get the best prices, I recommend working with real people who really know their sticker stuff. Not a call center in India. Not an automated on-line system with DIY sticker design. Not a promotional products distributor who handles thousands of different products. But, the people actually doing the design work and guaranteeing the final sticker product. For the best custom sticker company make sure the representative is listening and asking the right questions.
3) The best sticker company has access to multiple sticker production methods and is not just recommending their method by default. Different print methods make sense not only for various purposes, durability and price, but also for the quantity needed. For instance, some digital sticker printing methods make sense for smaller runs but become overpriced at larger quantities.
4) Don’t forget that image matters. Not only does the quality of the sticker need to be right for your needs, but the layout and design should be optimized for the best value. Can you get free design help from professional designers? Can you get proofreading services? Can you get suggestions on improving your sticker designs? Will you see electronic proofs and be able to make as many alterations as necessary to get the design just right before ordering custom stickers?
5) The best custom sticker company will have a guarantee? Do you believe it? Do you trust and believe in the sticker people you are working with? Speaking of trust and the best sticker companies…
How Can You Trust That Custom Auto Stickers Company? Are They Really The Best Custom Sticker Company?
The other day I was surfing around checking out other “best custom sticker company” websites (you know, sizing up the competition) when I stumbled upon some graphics of car stickers on another sticker company’s homepage that we had produced at Websticker. On further inspection we found at least two more stickers showcased in their “Gallery” that we had produced. Sure, I was a bit ticked off – we work hard to design and print quality custom vinyl auto stickers for our clients. Our Sticker Gallery is 100% our work… why wouldn’t every sticker company only represent their own work? Perhaps they don’t have enough samples or aren’t proud of their own work?
This other “best sticker company” (I won’t mention the name) is obviously displaying sticker work as their own that they had no part in selling or producing. Kind of makes you wonder what they are producing? Are the testimonials on the site real? Are the sticker quality claims accurate? Obviously, a sticker company like this can’t be trusted with your project, but how would someone not in-the-know have any idea which sticker companies are reputable, shady, or actually the best custom sticker company?
It used to be easy. You needed quality custom auto stickers so you went on-line and found a handful of companies to compare that could take care of your needs. Then came digital printing, low cost vinyl plotters, and more and more companies hanging out the custom-sticker shingle. I’ve ranted before about sticker companies being less than honest. There are now thousands of options and websites, making it very difficult to decipher actual quality, expertise or even who is running the business. So, here I quickly highlight 4 peace-of-mind tips if in search of high quality custom vinyl auto stickers & decals or the best sticker company.
1) Take Names – Talk to people at the sticker company. Who is taking responsibility for the service and quality? If something goes wrong or you have questions, who you gonna call? Do you trust the people, their expertise and the printing process?
2) Check 3rd Party Reviews – Don’t necessarily believe the hand picked reviews on a website. Dig a bit deeper and look at reviews found on other websites or services. An easy way to do this is to do a Google Search for the sticker company you want to check out with the word “reviews” after it (like “websticker reviews”). You may need to scroll down a bit but you will find some reviews and ratings not controlled by the sticker company being reviewed (Yelp, Google+, Trust Pilot, etc.) Note: If you can’t find 3rd party reviews that’s probably another red flag for the sticker company.
3) Sticker Guarantee? – Is there a written company guarantee? Something to point to if there are any problems?
4) Sticker Samples – It’s impossible to tell from a picture the quality of custom auto stickers, if the sticker company had anything to do with producing it, or even if it’s even a sticker that was actually manufactured. When in doubt ask for physical sticker samples. Chances are the company made the samples sent and you have a baseline on quality if your final custom vinyl auto stickers are not up to spec.
So, to sum up – When ordering custom vinyl auto stickers know what you want out of the custom stickers (other than a great price) and only deal with sticker specific companies with knowledgeable people who are listening, offer design assistance, have access to multiple production methods and guarantee their work and time frames 100%. It’s worth a little time and research for hassle free design, consulting, and to end up with the most effective quality vinyl auto stickers & decals.
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Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at 
13 Responses
Hi Jeff, I am looking for 300 round stickers, 3″ diameter, printed with our logo. They will be attached to clothing for a 2-day event. They need to be easy to peel off a roll or sheet.
I would appreciate your recommendation on where to get these.
Thanks,
Kathi
Hi Kathi – I’d recommend our friends at Sticky Brand for this quantity of paper labels. Here’s a link to their label page Good luck with your event!
Hi Jeff.
I am starting a small online tea company and I need customized labeling to put on my plastic bags. What company or companies do you recommend in terms of quality and affordability? Thanks!
Hi Joe – The best printing options will depend on how many different designs (different teas) you have, and how many of each of those you need (quantity). If you need in the thousands per product/style than please give us a call at Websticker to discuss. If you need some smaller quantities to get started check out our friends at Sticky Brand.
I’m trying to find one that doesnt require me to get more than 5 although i’ve been feeling i may have to settle for such as i’m simply getting it for my phone.
You can get one sheet of custom stickers through Sticker You Check them out and use Code SYWebsticker10 for a discount.
Hi Jeff – The tips you provided are worthwhile. According to my point of view the most important tip is 3rd party reviews, as before trusting a sticker company one should first focus on the reviews of previous customers. Then on the basis of their reviews, one can decide whether to trust the company or not for custom stickers.
HI JEFF….I RECENTLY ORDERED A COUPLE OF HUNDERED BUMPER STICKERS THAT I DESIGNED FROM A WELL KNOW ON-LINE STORE. MY PURPOSE WAS TO HAND THEM OUT TO MY CUSTOMERS THAT BOUGHT PUPPIES FROM ME. THEY WERE CUTE AND WELL DONE….BUT I PUT ONE ON MY OWN CAR, AND IN ABOUT 2 MONTHS TIME, THE COLORS HAD COMPLETELY FADED AND IT WAS BARELY LEGIBLE.HOW DO I GUARD AGAINST THIS?
Hi Mary – The two important things from this blog post related to “durability” that should be kept in mind. 1) Print method – Screen printing is the best and longest lasting without fading, but UV overlaminates can be used to reduce fading from sun exposure as well on other printing methods. 2) Check and confirm the guarantee. It is completely unacceptable for any outdoor quality sticker to fade within the first year. The company should reprint them or give you your money back. If the colors on a sticker can not hold up for at least a year outdoors in direct sunlight – they should not be advertising it as a “bumper sticker”. Screen printed bumper stickers last 3-5 years outdoors with no laminate used. Our VSP Digitally printed stickers last for 2-3 years (with no laminate used).
i am interested in a 5 x 8 custom sticker with 2 words on it. clear background, black or white lettering. it will be used on automobile rear windshields. assuming an initial order of 50….about what range would the cost be?
Hi Anna – There are several ways to produce those stickers. You could print on clear polyester or they could be done as vinyl cut decals. 50 is the bear minimum for our bulk production methods so you may want to consider doing at least 125 for much better value. Clear polyester might then be around $1.90 each and vinyl cuts around $2.95 each. (50 of them would be around $4.92 each). Give us a call if you’d like to discuss further or get some mock-ups worked up. 802-253-2011
I want 2 simple 18″x 4″ black vinyl stickers that say SPORT to put on the sides of my truck . how do i order this sticker
Hi Allen – We recommend Speed Graphics or Decal Junky for a couple custom vinyl cut decals. Tell them we sent you.