General Information
Everything you need to know about J. Charles's policies and procedures can be found right here. As always, NO charges for: set-ups, personalization or copy changes on awards, rush orders, and so much more!
- Quick Navigation
- Artwork
- Blank Merchandise
- Blanket Orders & Releases
- Brand Shapes (Custom Acrylic Awards)
- Bulk Items
- Cancellations
- Changes
- Color Fill
- Confirmation
- Consumer Products Safety Information Act
- Copy Changes
- Credit Terms
- Custom Products & Designs
- Customer Merchandise (Consignment)
- Decoration Services
- Drop/Split Shipments
- Freight Estimates
- Fulfillment Services
- Holiday Production
- International Shipments
- Insertions & Kitting
- Inventory
- Mailers
- Minimums
- Monogramming
- Office Hours
- Overruns & Underruns
- Packaging
- Personalizations
- PMS Color Matching
- Pricing
- Product Quality
- Production Time
- Programs
- Proofs
- Proposition 65
- Random Samples
- Rebates & Sales Incentives
- Returns, Replacements & Claims
- Rush Orders
- Self-Promo Pricing
- Set-Up Charges
- Shipping
- Shipping Estimates
- Secondary Locations
- Secondary Imprints
- Spec Samples
- Trademarks
- Virtual Samples
Artwork
Etching: All artwork should be black-and-white vector art to ensure the best possible etch for your products. Ideal formats include .ai, .eps, and .pdf created in Adobe Illustrator. Artwork placed or linked into these documents does not meet these requirements. Artwork should be created to hold a minimum of a 1 pt. line weight.
Printing: To ensure the best possible print for your products, all artwork should be CMYK and at least 150 dpi. 300 dpi is recommended. Artwork dimensions should be sized for the area where it will be printed. Scaling artwork is not recommended as it can introduce artifacts/pixelation thereby reducing the quality of the printed imagery.
Fonts: Simple, bold sans-serif fonts are recommended. Many serif and script fonts contain marks that will not etch properly. If copy is sent with artwork, remember to send it in outlines or accompanied by the font file. Small marks such as registration ®, copyright © and trademark ™ need to be enlarged, deleted or turned into a dot.
We can assist with artwork that does not meet these requirements or needs modification but note that excessive modifications may be subject to an art charge of $80 (C). Customer service will notify you prior to set-up if art charges will be incurred.
Emailing Art: Send to: service@jcharles.com – please compress files prior to sending via email.
Blank Merchandise
For blank merchandise, use EQP less 10%. All returned blank merchandise is subject to a 15% restocking fee. Returns are not accepted without prior authorization.
Blanket Orders & Releases
A blanket order is a purchase order that reserves stock to allow multiple delivery dates (releases) over a period of time. Customers can utilize a blanket order to take advantage of predetermined pricing and reserve stock for future use. Blanket orders are typically used to reserve inventory for ongoing programs that are fulfilled in smaller batches (releases).
Requirements:
- Blanket orders will be held for up to 1 year from the date of order.
- The remaining items at the end of the 1-year term may be fulfilled in full per the customer’s requirements or returned to inventory with a restocking fee of 15% of the remaining value.
- Customers without credit terms or in bad credit standing with J.Charles are subject to prepayment on blanket orders.
A new purchase order must be submitted for each release. Please reference the original blanket order using your purchase order number or our sales order number. Releases are subject to shipping and other additional service charges.
Brand Shapes (Custom Acrylic Awards)
Pricing is calculated by drawing a rectangular border around the artwork. The total area of the rectangle is used to determine the appropriate pricing tier.
There is a strict 10 piece minimum.
Each Brand Shape request includes two concepts free of charge. Additional concepts or excessive revisions are subject to our standard art charge of $80 (C) per hour.
Laser cutting acrylic can produce a slightly wavy edge due to heat generated by the laser. This is more visible on thicker pieces. Please note that this is inherent to the process and not considered a defect.
Lead time 10-14 business days.
Bulk Items
Items offered in bulk packaging must be ordered in multiples of their case quantity. The case quantity is listed in the first column of the pricing table.
Cancellations
Cancellations must be submitted in writing via email. If an order is cancelled before any proof/artwork has been started, there will be no charge.
We do not accept cancellations on items already produced. All items produced will be billed in full.
We reserve the right to cancel orders, with notice, under the following conditions:
- No response to a proof after 30 days
- The order has been on hold for more than 30 days due to a lack of information, such as shipping addresses, artwork, personalizations, etc.
Changes
We understand change is a part of life and will always do our best to accommodate order changes in an efficient manner without additional charges, but certain situations may warrant charges to cover costs incurred from any work performed on the order.
If production has begun and some or all of the items have been produced, cancellation fees will apply. See the Cancellations section for more information.
Color-Fill
Color-fill is available on most items in our catalog for $10.00 (C), per color, per item, per location. Choose from the color palette shown below. All items in the catalog depicted with color-fill include color-fill as shown at no extra charge.
PMS color matching is not available on color-fill. Please see our selection of available colors below.
Please note that FDA regulations do not permit color-fill on items to be used for consuming food or drink.
Color swatches are approximate, and may vary slightly from actual color-fill paint.
Confirmation
Orders are promptly acknowledged via email with an order confirmation document for your records. Please review the document carefully for any discrepancy between your purchase order.
Our order confirmation document implies your approval and supersedes all terms and pricing on the customer’s PO. Discrepancies and disputes must be resolved prior to the production of your order. Any changes will be reconfirmed for your records.
Consumer Products Safety Information Act
The Consumer Products Safety Information Act (CPSIA) sets rules and guidelines for all children’s products. J.Charles sells no products intended for use by children and therefore is not subject to CPSIA regulations. For more information on CPSIA guidelines, go to: www.cpsc.gov.
Copy Changes
There is no additional charge for copy changes on award items. All non-award items such as paperweights, drinkware, etc., will incur a charge of $8.00 (C). The product page on the website and catalog will indicate if copy changes are free.
Credit Terms
We offer strict 30 days net terms for qualified accounts only. Accounts consistently past due, or those not eligible for an open account, will be set-up as prepay customers.
Accounts receiving payment terms must pay invoices via check or ACH. Credit card payments for invoices bearing credit terms will be assessed a 3% processing fee. We accept VISA, Mastercard and American Express.
If you wish to use your credit card to pay for your order and avoid the 3% processing fee, a card must be kept on file and will be charged immediately after your order ships.
COD orders are not accepted.
Late Fees: A late payment fee for 5% of the full invoice may be assessed for delinquent invoices.
Collections: Invoices exceeding 90 days past due will be sent to collections. A collections fee for 30% of the full invoice amount will be assessed.
Custom Products & Designs
J.Charles offers custom design services for glass, crystal, and acrylic products. For custom acrylic, see our Brand Shapes. For all other custom products, see below.
When requesting a quote for a custom-designed products, please provide the following:
- In-hands date
- Budget
- Quantity
- General direction such as descriptions, sketches, ideations, themes, etc.
- Art files including logos, images, graphics, icons, fonts, colors, brand guidelines, etc.
Understand that most custom products are manufactured overseas and have lead times between 90-180 days based on material availability, location, logistic conditions, and time of year. Rushes can be accommodated by utilizing air freight or domestic sources but can increase the cost – often significantly.
Prototypes can be requested and will be billed at net cost plus shipping.
Customer Merchandise (Consignment)
J.Charles offers fulfillment services and will warehouse, decorate, and ship customer-owned merchandise.
See the Decoration Services section for more information and pricing.
Decoration Services
J.Charles will decorate and fulfill customer owned merchandise that is shipped to our facility. A one-time setup fee of $60 (C) applies to all orders plus individual run charges as defined below.
Large items such as awards, vases, decanters, trays, etc. can be decorated using a single process (deep etch, laser etch, or digital print).
Qty: 1-9 | $33.00 (C) |
Qty: 10-50 | $31.35 (C) |
Qty: 50+ | $29.80 (C) |
Small items such as drinkware, paperweights, ornaments, etc. have a minimum of 12 pieces and can be decorated with a single process.
Qty: 12-49 | $12.00 (C) |
Qty: 50-249 | $11.40 (C) |
Qty: 250+ | $10.85 (C) |
Secondary locations, secondary methods, and color fill are available and follow pricing as defined in their respective sections of this general information.
Drop/Split Shipments
There is a $10.00 (C) charge per destination after the first destination, plus actual shipping cost.
Names and addresses must be provided in Excel per our specifications. Please contact customer service for the Excel template file or download it at:
www.jcharles.com/downloads/drop-ship-template.xlsx.
Freight Estimates
See the Shipping Estimates section for more information.
Fulfillment Services
J.Charles offers fulfillment services and will warehouse, decorate, and ship customer-owned merchandise.
See the Decoration Services and Insertions & Kitting sections for more information and pricing.
Holiday Production
For all orders with proof approval by December 1, we guarantee shipping (not delivery) by December 15. Please be aware that expedited freight charges may occur during the holiday season to meet firm in-hand dates.
International Shipments
Customers must choose a carrier and provide an account number for billing. J.Charles is not responsible for researching and quoting shipping companies. There is a $25 (C) service charge per destination. The customer must establish declared value for the air bill. If value is not stated on the PO, we will use catalog pricing. Any duties, taxes, etc. charged back to us will be billed to the customer; these charges may be billed 90 days or more after shipment.
J.Charles does not provide shipping estimates for international shipments.
The following additional information is required to process international shipments for each address.
- Recipient's phone number
- Recipient's email address
- Full billing address for the third-party account number
Insertions & Kitting
Insertion and kitting services are available free of charge with a qualifying purchase from J.Charles.
Please note that we do not offer custom boxes. The provided items will be securely packed in the master carton along with the J.Charles merchandise. If you wish to use a custom box, you must purchase from a third-party vendor and ship to J.Charles.
When shipping items to be kitted with J.Charles product, please send the items to customer service's attention and note your purchase order number on the packing slip.
Inventory
J.Charles makes every effort to maintain sufficient quantities to meet product demand; however, all orders are subject to product availability. Please refer to the inventory lookup tool on each product page or contact customer service.
Mailers
Shipper safe mailers are available free of charge.
Minimums
There are no minimum quantities for awards and some large gift items. Minimums are communicated in the first column quantity of the pricing table for all items. A less-than-minimum charge of $60 (C) will be assessed on items that do not meet their respective minimum.
The less-than-minimum charge does not apply to programs (see the section titled Programs for more information).
All items that do not have minimum quantity requirements are noted on the product page on the website and catalog.
Monogramming
Monogramming is available for the majority of our items with no set-up charge. Include the list of initials or names and desired monogram style with your purchase order or artwork submission. Contact customer service for further information.
When monogramming multiple items with different initials, names, dates, etc. there is a personalization charge of $8.00 (C).
Office Hours
Our office hours are from 8:00AM to 5:00PM EST M-F.
Overruns & Underruns
We ship exact quantities.
Packaging
All items (except bulk items) are packed in attractive gift boxes suitable for giving. The type of gift box varies by item and is noted in the product details of the catalog and website.
General descriptions of our packaging can be found in the packaging section the catalog and on our website by visiting:
https://jcharles.com/packaging
Personalizations
There is no additional charge for personalizations on award items. The page on the website and catalog will indicate if personalization is free. All other items are $ 8.00 (C).
PMS Color Matching
We can provide an approximate match for $80 (C) per color, per order for printed items.
Please note that any match is considered an approximation and exact matches cannot be guaranteed.
We do not offer PMS color matching for color-fill.
Pricing
All prices are subject to change. Please see our website for the current price.
Blanket orders and existing purchase orders are grandfathered on pricing changes based on their original order date.
Product Quality
Etched items are all hand-etched via sandblasting. Variations in texture may occur and are not considered defects. Due to the various glass and crystal manufacturing processes, please be aware that bubbles, flow lines, chill marks, and other variances are acceptable and not considered defects. For specific information on each item, please refer to the item, then refer to our Material Reference.
All dimensions shown are approximate and may vary slightly from piece to piece.
Production Time
Please allow approximately 5–7 business days after proof approval to produce a typical order. Unusually large or complex orders may require additional working time and will be estimated on an individual basis. Ship dates cannot be guaranteed for orders that are held up due to credit and payment issues, lack of artwork, missing shipping information, art approval, etc.
Proofs
Digital proofs are provided free of charge for all orders. We proof all orders, even exact repeat orders, unless otherwise requested or arranged.
Due to the unique production cycle of recognition products, and to allow us to produce rush orders, your proof will arrive approximately one business day after your order acknowledgment. Proofs must be approved as soon as possible to prevent any delays regarding the ship date.
Pre-Production Proof: A production proof is a fully etched/imprinted physical item part of an in-house order sent for approval before production. Production proof cost is net EQP plus shipping. Please allow approximately 5–7 business days for production after approval.
Virtual Sample: See the section titled Virtual Samples.
Programs
Use catalog end-quantity for pricing. Please mark all orders “Program” to ensure proper billing.
Proof of the program must be provided prior to launch. Please send a copy of the catalog, brochure, or link to the website in which the item(s) will appear.
As always, inventory is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly recommend placing a blanket order to reserve inventory for your program to ensure product availability throughout its duration. See the Blanket Orders section for more information.
Less than minimum charges are waved on programs.
Proposition 65
Lead Crystal: Proposition 65 requires us to warn California residents that consuming food or beverages that have been kept or served in lead-crystal products, or handling products made of lead-crystal will expose you to lead or lead components, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Items containing lead-crystal are labeled with the Prop 65 warning on the product page.
Random Samples
Use end-quantity (A) for pricing. Random samples must be ordered before 1:00p.m. (EST) to ship that day. Samples requested with specific logos are not considered random samples.
Random samples can be sent on a 30-day memo bill when individual samples (not the total order) net $25 or more. Memo bill items must be returned within 30 days in order to receive a credit on the product (not freight). Memo billing does not apply to spec samples or pre-production proofs.
Rebates & Sales Incentives
Any rebates or other incentives for customer sales performance are considered on a case-by-case basis. All rebate programs must be approved in writing by company stakeholders in advance. Accounts must maintain good credit standing with J.Charles to qualify for new rebates and use existing balances. If an account is more than 30 days past due, any remaining credit balance will be voided.
Rebates are only issued via credit memo. No exceptions.
All rebates expire within one year of the issuing date.
Returns, Replacements & Claims
No returns will be accepted on decorated merchandise. There is a 15% restocking fee on all returned blank merchandise. Returns are not accepted without prior authorization.
Inspect all contents of your shipment immediately. Requests for returns or replacements must be filed with J.Charles within 7 days.
All claims for breakage must be made by the receiver with the freight carrier. The receiver must save the outer carton(s) and inner contents and notify the carrier immediately for prompt inspection. Title to goods passes to the purchaser at the F.O.B. point, and all recourse for damaged goods rests with the carrier and not J.Charles.
J.Charles can only guarantee safe delivery to the original shipping address. We are not liable for damage to items reshipped by the recipient.
Rush Orders
Rush orders are accepted, when possible, based on production availability. There is no additional charge for rush orders. However, expedited shipping may be necessary. Contact customer service for available production time.
Self-Promo Pricing
Items are priced at 10% off EQP net and must be exclusively used for self-promotional purposes.
Set-Up Charges
There are no set-up charges. An art charge billed at $80 (C) per hour may apply in exceptional circumstances. For more information see the section titled Artwork.
Note: Copy changes and personalizations are not considered set-up and charges still apply. See the Copy Change and Personalization sections for more information.
Shipping
All orders are F.O.B. Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati The default shipping method is UPS Ground with freight charges added to the invoice. A standard selection of expedited services is available upon request.
Orders can be shipped via FedEx if a FedEx account number is provided.
You may provide your own UPS or FedEx account number for shipping charges.
Shipping Estimates
We offer shipping estimates via website, phone, and email. However, we cannot be responsible for the accuracy of estimates, as market conditions fluctuate frequently and without warning.
Our website has a shipping estimate tool that provides the estimated cost and transit time. You can access this tool by clicking on the tab labeled Shipping Estimates on each product page. To use this tool, provide the destination zip code and desired quantities for the item.
Shipping estimates can vary significantly from actual invoiced charges. J.Charles is not responsible for any variance to any degree.
J.Charles does not provide shipping estimates for international shipments.
Secondary Locations
For a single imprint in a secondary location on a single item, the cost is $9.00 (C) per location, per unit.
Secondary Imprint Methods
For more than one imprint method on a single item (e.g., both etching and printing), the cost is $9.00 (C) per method, per unit.
Spec Samples
Use end-quantity pricing for cost of item plus freight. Please allow 5–7 business days for production.
Trademarks
All liability for required trademarks on submitted art and copy rests solely with the customer, not J.Charles. It is accepted by J.Charles as being in full compliance with all laws regarding copyright, patent, trademark or any similar protection. Pictured products, graphic designs and logos only represent our ability to duplicate art and to illustrate our imprinting techniques. These designs are not available for use or sale unless expressly authorized by their owners. No product endorsements should be inferred. For a complete, current list of restricted logos, visit: www.asicentral.com/unauthorized-logos
Virtual Samples
Virtual samples are provided at no charge. Excessive revisions may be subject to an art charge at a rate of $80 (C) per hour.