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traps
The Five Cheap Traps
1
The Peeling LogoDurability vs. price
Pitch: “Same design, €3 vs €7. Big savings on 500 pieces!”
€3DTF on cheap cotton, heat-pressed at lower temp
€7Embroidery on quality fabric, proper stitch density
Cheap500 × €3 = €1,500 + replacement €1,500 + damaged relationship
Quality500 × €7 = €3,500, client happy, reorders 2,000 next quarter
RuleCheap becomes expensive when the item is meant to last.
2
The Rush Fee SurpriseTimeline vs. price
Pitch: “We can do it in 3 days, no extra charge.”
Skipping quality check, outsourcing to unaccountable shops, no time to fix if wrong.
RuleYour sleep, your stress, your professional credibility — the real cost.
3
The Hidden SetupQuote vs. total
Pitch: Sticker: €4.50/piece
€4.50 + €80 digitizing + €50 color changes + €60 rush + €120 shipping + €40 sample = €6.25/piece
RuleAlways ask for “all-in delivered price.” Sticker price is fiction.
4
Single Point of FailureSupplier reliability
Pitch: “We're a small shop, personal service, great prices!”
One embroiderer, no backup. If sick, your order stops. If overwhelmed, you're waiting.
RuleCheap small shops are fine for small, non-critical orders. Mission-critical work needs redundancy.
5
The Correction CascadeError compounding
Pitch: “We'll fix it, no problem!”
2 weeks to fix, €200 shipping back and forth, client gets half on time, you spend 10 hours on emails.
RuleOne mistake is fixable. A pattern of mistakes is a supplier who doesn't have their process sorted.
list
When Cheap Is Actually Fine
- 01One-time events — giveaways, conference bags
- 02Short lifespan expected — cotton bags
- 03Non-critical branding — internal shirts
- 04Ample time buffer — 2 weeks to fix if needed
- 05Supplier history — you know their “cheap” is “reliable”
table
The True Cost Formula
Price × Risk Factor = True Cost
| Factor | Multiplier | Applies when |
|---|---|---|
| Client-facing | ×2 | Client logo, client event |
| Deadline-critical | ×1.5 | Event date, no buffer |
| Quality-sensitive | ×1.5 | Workwear, long-term use |
| Single supplier | ×1.3 | No backup option |
ruleThe One-Third Rule
Start with middle third. Build relationships.
- Bottom third
- Cutting corners you haven't discovered yet
- Middle third
- Fair price, fair value, reasonable expectation
- Top third
- Premium pricing, maybe premium value, maybe just ego