How to compare uniform quotes line by line
To compare uniform quotes, send every company the same order sheet, then compare the delivered total for the whole kit, not the price of one jersey. Line up each quote on the same nine lines: garment and fabric, decoration, names and numbers, size upcharges, art and setup fees, shipping, a delivery date in writing, the reorder price and minimums.
This page gives you those nine lines, a worked example with made-up numbers, and a free side-by-side worksheet you can copy or print. No email is needed.
Send every company the same request
Most hidden costs come from quotes that price different things. One company quotes a jersey only. Another quotes the jersey with names, numbers and shipping. Before you ask for prices, write one order sheet and send it to everyone:
- Sport and garments per player. For example, one jersey, one pair of shorts and one pair of socks.
- Player count and sizes. Count youth and adult sizes separately. Add a few spares if you want them.
- Names and numbers. Say whether you want names, and where numbers go (front, back, shorts).
- Logo and colors. Send the same logo file and color list to each company.
- Decoration locations. List every spot you want decorated, like the chest, back, sleeve or shorts leg.
- In-hands date and address. The date players need the uniforms, and where they ship.
Then ask for an itemized quote. A single number for “the package” makes it hard to see what’s in it. For help with sizes, use the youth jersey size chart before you build the size list.
The nine lines to compare on every uniform quote
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Line | What to ask | Why it changes the total |
|---|---|---|
| Garment and fabric | Which brand, style or fabric is quoted? Is it the same item in each quote? | A cheaper quote may be for a lighter or different garment |
| Decoration method and locations | How is it decorated, and how many locations are included? | Extra locations are often priced on their own |
| Names and numbers | Are they included? Is there a charge per player, per side or per item? | A small per-player charge adds up across a roster |
| Size upcharges | Do larger sizes cost more? Which ones? | Your size list decides how much this adds |
| Art, setup and proof fees | Is there a charge for art work, setup or a proof? Is it charged again on a reorder? | One-time fees can sit outside the unit price |
| Shipping | Is shipping included? To one address or to each family? | It’s easy to leave out when you compare unit prices |
| Delivery date in writing | Is the date the day it ships or the day it arrives? When does the clock start? | A late kit can cost you a rush order or a game in old uniforms |
| Reorder price | What does one more kit cost for a player who joins later? | Late adds and replacements happen every season |
| Minimums | Is there a minimum for the first order? For a reorder? | A reorder minimum can force you to buy kits you don’t need |
Add tax and any other required charges to the total too. Then check that nothing is counted twice, for example numbers that are already in the kit price.
Decoration is where quotes differ most
The same design can be quoted with different methods. Sublimation, screen printing, embroidery and heat-applied numbers each price and wear differently. If two quotes use different methods, you’re comparing two products. Ask each company to quote the method you want, or ask for both. Our guides on sublimation vs screen printing and embroidery vs screen printing explain what to check for each.
Worked example: why the cheaper jersey can cost more
This is a made-up 15-player team ordering a jersey and shorts for each player. The two quotes and every number below are invented to show the math. They are not real prices from any company.
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Line | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey and shorts, 15 kits | 15 x $42 = $630 | 15 x $52 = $780 |
| Numbers, front and back | 15 x $6 = $90 | Included |
| Player names | 15 x $5 = $75 | Included |
| Size upcharge, 2 players in adult 2XL | 2 x $4 = $8 | None |
| Art and setup | $75 | Included |
| Shipping to one address | $45 | Included |
| Delivered total | $923 | $780 |
| Cost per player | About $61.53 | $52.00 |
Quote A has the lower kit price, $42 against $52. Once names, numbers, the size upcharge, setup and shipping are added, it costs $143 more for the team.
Now add one player who joins in week three. Say Quote A reorders at $58 a kit with a six-kit minimum, and Quote B reorders one kit at $52. One late player costs $348 with Quote A, unless you bought spares, and $52 with Quote B. That’s why the reorder line belongs on the worksheet.
Questions to ask before you pick a quote
- Is this the delivered total? Ask the company to confirm the number includes every line on your order sheet.
- Is the date when it ships or when it arrives? Get the in-hands date in writing. To work back from your first game, use the uniform order timeline.
- Will we see a proof of every piece first? It should show names, numbers and colors before production.
- How long is the price good for? A quote that expires before your registration closes may change.
- Who do we call if a size is wrong or an item is missing? Ask for the name of the person who handles it.
- Does the reorder use the same design file and colors? A late player should match the rest of the team.
Some leagues set rules for number size, placement or color. Check with your league or state association before you lock the design, so no quote has to be redone.
Uniform quote comparison worksheet
Free to copy or print. Fill in one column per company, using the written quotes for the same order sheet.
Team and sport: ____________________
Players and spares: __________
Garments per player: ____________________
Date players need uniforms in hand: __________
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Line | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company and quote date | |||
| Quote good until | |||
| Garment and fabric (brand, style) | |||
| Decoration method | |||
| Decoration locations included | |||
| Names: price per player | |||
| Numbers: price per player, which sides | |||
| Size upcharges, which sizes | |||
| Art, setup and proof fees | |||
| Shipping, and to where | |||
| Tax and other charges | |||
| Delivered total | |||
| Delivered total divided by players | |||
| In-hands date, in writing | |||
| Proof of every piece before production? | |||
| Reorder price for one kit | |||
| Minimum, first order | |||
| Minimum, reorder | |||
| Who to call for a wrong size |
Lines that were missing from a quote and had to be asked about: ____________________
Our choice and why: ____________________
Approved by and date: ____________________
Where Secondslide fits
If you already have a uniform quote from another company, Price Check shows whether Secondslide can beat it.
Secondslide makes full-custom sublimated uniforms delivered in as little as three weeks, with no order minimum. It also outfits programs with Nike, adidas, Under Armour, New Balance, Mizuno and other major brands. You check a proof of the full set before you approve it. Confirm the delivery date for your own order in writing. See custom team uniforms and custom jerseys for the details, or browse the Secondslide catalog to start a quote.
Common questions
What should a uniform quote include?
The garment and fabric, the decoration method and locations, names and numbers, any size upcharges, art and setup fees, shipping, tax, a delivery date in writing, the reorder price and any minimums. If a line is missing, ask for it before you compare.
Should I compare the price per jersey or the total?
The delivered total for the whole order. Divide it by the number of players if you want a per-player number. A low unit price can hide fees that are charged on their own.
How many uniform quotes should we get?
Two or three is enough for most teams, as long as each one prices the same order sheet. More quotes on different items won’t help you decide.