Frequently AskedQuestions
All Questions
38 questionsMerch Factory is India's leading automated Print-on-Demand (POD) and dropshipping partner, designed specifically for D2C clothing brands, content creators, artists, and modern businesses. We empower you to run a global apparel brand with zero machinery, zero inventory, and zero upfront manufacturing costs.
The process is incredibly seamless:
Design: You upload your custom graphic designs and mock up products using our browser editor.
Integrate: Connect your storefront (Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce) to fetch incoming orders into your dashboard.
Fulfillment: When a customer orders from your store, our factory prints, packs, and ships the product.
White-Label: Every package is completely custom-branded under your own name with no mention of Merch Factory.
Setting up your own branded dropshipping store takes less than 10 minutes. Here is the step-by-step checklist to launch:
Create a free account on the Merch Factory merchant dashboard.
Go to Settings -> Brand and upload your brand logo, legal name, and custom return address details.
Prepare your artwork files (we require transparent 300 DPI PNGs).
Navigate to Product Catalog, select your desired apparel (e.g., Oversized Tee, Hoodie), and customize it with your design.
Connect your e-commerce storefront under Store Integrations (we offer direct API integrations for Shopify, Wix, and WooCommerce).
Load funds into your platform wallet to automate fulfillment, or place manual sample orders.
No. Merch Factory operates with absolute zero minimums (0 MOQ). We are built to fulfill single-unit orders on-demand.
Whether you sell a single custom-printed t-shirt to a customer in Tamil Nadu or need 500 oversized hoodies for a pre-order campaign, we accommodate both scales effortlessly.
Single Unit: Printed and shipped on-demand for standard dropshipping.
Bulk Pricing: If you need stock for local inventory, events, or pre-orders, our platform automatically applies volume-based discount tiers starting at just 5 pieces.
MOQ-Free Branding: Custom neck labels and inserts can also be added to single-piece orders.
Yes, and we highly recommend it! Ordering samples is the absolute best way to experience our service firsthand.
By ordering a sample, you can inspect our premium fabric GSM, check the structural tailoring, verify color translation, and test wash-durability before launching marketing campaigns.
Sample Pricing: Samples are paid and charged at our lowest base merchant fulfillment rates.
How to Order: Simply create the product in your dashboard, click New Order, select your design, input your own shipping details, and pay checkout rates.
White-label Packaging: You will experience exactly how the parcel arrives on your customer's doorstep.
We manufacture a curated, high-end apparel range tailored specifically for premium streetwear and modern lifestyle brands:
Classic T-Shirts: 180 GSM, 100% combed cotton, bio-washed, pre-shrunk, regular unisex fit.
Streetwear Oversized Tees: 220-240 GSM, heavy-knit combed cotton, relaxed drop-shoulder tailoring.
Hoodies & Sweatshirts: 320-400 GSM, ultra-cozy fleece lining, premium double-lined hoods, heavy rib cuffs.
Zippers & Streetwear Apparel: Heavy-weight options with premium metal accents and hardware.
We utilize industrial-grade, state-of-the-art Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing technology as our primary fulfillment mechanism, alongside corporate screen printing for large physical campaigns.
Direct-to-Film (DTF): We use commercial Japanese dual-head printers running premium stretchable TPU powders. This yields incredibly vibrant colors, crisp vector lines, seamless gradients, and a soft, lightweight hand-feel that stretches without cracking.
Screen Printing: Available exclusively for offline bulk runs (25+ units). Ideal for large block-color illustrations, metallic/puff inks, and maximum cost efficiency.
No Color Limits: Unlike traditional methods, DTF prints photographic details and unlimited colors for the exact same base cost.
Our prints are engineered to outlast the garment itself. Under standard conditions, our DTF prints remain vibrant and crack-free for 90 to 100+ wash cycles.
To ensure maximum wash durability, please advise your customers to follow these premium care instructions:
Always wash the garment inside-out in cold or lukewarm water.
Use a gentle machine cycle with mild, color-safe liquid detergents.
Avoid strong chemical fabric softeners, bleaches, or dry-cleaning chemicals.
Hang dry in the shade (preferred) or tumble dry on the lowest heat setting.
Crucial: Never iron directly over the printed graphic. Iron inside-out on low heat.
Yes! Building a reputable D2C brand requires professional packaging. We offer full end-to-end custom branding solutions:
Printed Neck Labels: We can print your brand logo, care symbols, and size details inside the inner collar. Our team cleanly cuts away the generic manufacturer labels.
Custom Hangtags: Attach high-end cardboard tags with your logo, social handles, and barcode pricing directly to the apparel collar.
Custom Inserts & Packaging: Include discount cards, sticker packs, or custom poly mailer flyers. Our packing team will place them inside every package.
We accept one primary, industry-standard file format for printing:
PNG (Portable Network Graphics): Required for all digital prints, logos, illustrations, and typography. Your PNGs must have a 100% transparent background and be exported at 300 DPI unless you explicitly want a colored background box printed.
For PNG images, your files must be created and exported at 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch) at the actual desired print dimensions:
Standard Chest Print (12" x 16"): PNG resolution should be 3600 x 4800 pixels minimum.
Small Left-Chest Print (4" x 4"): PNG resolution should be 1200 x 1200 pixels minimum.
Yes! You can fully customize multiple printing zones on a single garment to design premium streetwear:
Front Print (Center Chest, Left Chest, Pocket, or Lower Stomach)
Full Back Print (Up to 14" x 18" maximum print canvas)
Sleeve Prints (Left Sleeve and Right Sleeve print placements)
Inner Neck (For custom branded neck-labels)
Each extra print zone adds a calculated printing fee to the base garment cost. The final fulfillment cost is updated instantly in real-time as you construct the mockup in our product designer.
Apparel printing is different from screen displays. Follow these expert tips for perfect color translation:
Use the sRGB color space (specifically sRGB IEC61966-2.1) when exporting design assets.
Avoid extremely low opacity glowing edges or transparent shadows. On dark garments, our printers lay a white ink base underneath. Semi-transparent pixels may print as a solid white mist.
Make sure elements have solid, high-contrast borders against the shirt color. For example, thin black text on a black t-shirt will disappear completely.
Avoid lines thinner than 1.5mm / 4px; they are too small to bind with the powder adhesive and may peel during washing.
We operate on a transparent, flat-rate pricing structure. There are no surprise costs:
Fulfillment Cost = Garment Base Cost + Print Fee (per zone) + Branding Add-ons + 5% GST
Garment Base Cost: Fixed cost for the physical blank (varies by fabric, GSM, and style).
Print Fee: Calculated based on the number of printed zones and total surface area (e.g., standard A4 vs oversized A3).
GST: In India, apparel blanks and textile printing priced under ₹1,000 attract a lower 5% GST rate. Since all base garments in our catalog are priced under ₹1,000, a flat 5% GST is applied to your garment and printing production. (Note: Shipping and courier services attract a standard 18% GST rate).
Shipping: Calculated based on parcel weight (500g steps) and destination zone, shown at checkout.
Yes, slightly. While basic sizes (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) are priced identically:
Extended Sizes (3XL, 4XL, 5XL+): Require significantly more fabric and dye material, incurring a small manufacturing surcharge of ₹30 to ₹50 depending on the catalog item.
Garment Color: Fabric colors themselves are priced identically, but dark colored garments require a White Ink Underbase print cycle, making the print fee slightly higher than white garments.
All price adjustments are handled dynamically and display instantly in the mockup designer.
Yes! While we support single-piece on-demand printing, we offer automated volume discounts for merchants stocking up, handling pre-orders, or fulfilling offline corporate runs:
Discounts start automatically at just 5+ units of the same product style.
Tiers decrease costs at 10+, 20+, 50+, 100+, and 500+ unit increments.
For massive offline campaigns (1000+ units), you can request a custom quote directly from our wholesale desk.
Discounts are applied instantly at checkout without requiring promotional codes.
No. Registering an account and integrating your storefront is 100% free.
There are zero monthly subscription charges, zero hidden platform fees, and zero software maintenance costs. You are billed exclusively for the physical orders we print, pack, and ship on your behalf.
Merch Factory applies a ₹65 minimum print charge per item. In practice, 95%+ of merchants are completely unaffected — any standard front, back, or sleeve print already costs well above ₹65, so the floor never triggers.
When does the ₹65 floor actually apply? Only when a design is very small — under roughly 8.5" × 8.5" (73 sq. inches at the standard ₹0.9 per sq. inch rate; bulk tiers have a lower rate, so the floor covers slightly larger designs). For example:
Minimalist chest logos, small sleeve tags, or necklabels — these are the only designs that hit the floor.
Standard full-size prints (front/back, 10" × 12" and above) — the dynamic area-based price exceeds ₹65 anyway, so no floor is applied.
Multi-zone orders (front + back + sleeve) — each zone is calculated independently; the total print cost is never affected by the floor on normal-sized artwork.
Can I order with just a necklabel or minimal branding? Absolutely. A necklabel-only order is a valid printed order. Even after the ₹65 minimum is applied to a necklabel, your total fulfillment cost is still cheaper than buying blanks from most competitors — because our base garment prices are that much lower.
We understand that delivery speed dictates your D2C brand's success. Our factory operates with highly consistent timelines:
Standard On-Demand Orders (1–30 pcs): Printed, quality checked, packed, and dispatched within 2 to 4 business days.
Bulk Production Runs (30–200 pcs): Typically ship within 4 to 6 business days.
Large Batches (200+ pcs): Detailed timelines are provided during bulk checkout booking.
Yes! We encourage every merchant to order physical samples to verify fits, fabric hand-feel, and color gradients.
Since every print job requires custom artwork setup, we do not provide free samples. However, you can order a sample at our lowest merchant pricing rate with no minimums:
Create a free Merch Factory account.
Design your product mockup using our dashboard designer.
Go to New Order, add the product to your cart, select your size, and input your own delivery details.
Proceed with the payment at base merchant checkout rates.
Because our printing system is fully automated to guarantee maximum dispatch speeds:
Additionally, courier details cannot be adjusted after the package status updates to "Shipped" as physical routing labels are locked.
/dashboard/ndr) or open a support ticket before the package is returned.We operate on a clear, professional operating policy split into three distinct categories:
- Real-Time Resolution via NDR Management: You receive instant notifications and have a 24–48 hour window to act via NDR Management (
/dashboard/ndr) — request a specific reattempt date, update phone numbers, or correct addresses to rescue the delivery. - Support Ticket Escalation: If the courier makes a fake delivery attempt or fails to reattempt, you can raise a Support Ticket under Shipping Issue directly referencing the NDR order for courier escalation.
- RTO Initiation: If multiple courier reattempts fail or the customer explicitly rejects the parcel, the shipment is marked as RTO (Return to Origin) and routed back to our Indore facility.
- 30-Day Storage: We scan the RTO package into your merchant inventory and store it for 30 days in pristine condition.
- Action: You can reship it to a new customer or corrected address anytime within this window by paying only the forward shipping fee.
- RTO Fees: Courier companies charge us return logistics. Thus, we charge back a standard RTO fee equal to the original forward shipping rate.
- Expiry: Items left unclaimed past 30 days (+ 3-day dashboard grace period) are automatically recycled or donated to charity.
- Timeline: Submit a support ticket within 3 days of delivery.
- Proof: You must provide a clear unboxing video or high-resolution photos showcasing the issue.
- Resolution: Once verified, we immediately print and ship a replacement at zero cost to you.
Yes, absolutely! You have complete design flexibility. You can place a single customer order containing an oversized black t-shirt (size L), a standard white tee (size M), and a premium fleece hoodie (size XL).
Our system will automatically combine the total weight, calculate the single consolidated shipping cost, and apply any multi-item volume discounts instantly.
We provide nationwide coverage, shipping to over 27,000+ pincodes in India using top-tier national logistics aggregators and direct courier accounts.
International Shipping: Automated direct international fulfillment is not integrated into our checkout. However, you can leverage Self-Shipping:
Choose Self-Shipping on the shipping step of the new order page (open to every brand, flat processing fee incl. GST).
Purchase and generate your own international shipping labels via DHL, FedEx, or Aramex.
After your order is produced, we ask you for the courier name, AWB and your shipping label link in your dashboard. Our Indore factory team will pack the item, apply your label, and hold it at our loading dock for your courier's pickup.
We provide fully formatted commercial invoices to facilitate seamless customs clearance.
We ensure complete transparency throughout the transit cycle:
As soon as the courier scans the package at our factory dock, a unique Air Waybill (AWB) tracking number is generated.
Automated WhatsApp, SMS, and Email notifications are dispatched directly to your customer under your brand name.
The AWB and live courier milestones sync instantly back to your merchant dashboard under the Orders tab.
If a delivery attempt fails, the order automatically updates to 'NDR' (Non-Delivery Report) status, triggering instant merchant alerts and appearing on your NDR Management dashboard (/dashboard/ndr) for rapid reattempt coordination.
Integrated e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Wix) are updated via API to mark the order as fulfilled and trigger native store email alerts.
An NDR (Non-Delivery Report) is a real-time exception alert generated by courier partners when an attempt to deliver a package to your customer fails. When this happens, the order status transitions from "Shipped" to "NDR".
Common reasons reported by courier executives include:
Customer Unavailable / Door Closed: Recipient was not present at the shipping address.
Incomplete / Incorrect Address: Missing street details, wrong flat number, or inaccurate landmark.
Customer Requested Reschedule: Buyer requested delivery on an alternate future date or time.
COD Amount Not Ready / Refused: Customer was short of cash or refused the package at doorstep.
Unreachable / Disputed Attempt: Courier executive could not connect by phone, or reported a fake delivery attempt.
- Request Courier Reattempt: Select a specific preferred date for the courier to reattempt doorstep delivery.
- Update Contact Details & Address: Provide corrected phone numbers or detailed landmark notes directly to the courier hub.
- Trigger Return to Origin (RTO): Proactively instruct the courier to return the item if the customer cancelled, avoiding wasted reattempt cycles.
Yes, 100%. Merch Factory operates as a completely silent fulfillment partner.
Sender Name: The shipping label lists your Brand Name (configured in settings) as the sender. There is no mention of "Merch Factory" anywhere.
Return Address: We use a neutral warehousing address in Indore for returns to safeguard your business identity.
No Invoices Included: The parcel contains no invoices, prices, or marketing materials listing Merch Factory. The customer receives a pure branded box.
While we partner with India's most reliable couriers (Bluedart, Delhivery, Shadowfax), transit incidents can occasionally occur:
Lost Shipments: If an order shows no tracking movement for more than 7 days, we open an official dispute with the courier company.
Resolution: If the courier officially declares the package as lost or damaged during transit, Merch Factory will reprint and reship the entire order at absolute zero cost to you.
Reporting: If you notice a shipment stuck, simply navigate to the Help Center in your dashboard and raise a support ticket so our logistics desk can escalate it.
Yes. If you have high-volume corporate accounts with Shiprocket, Delhivery, or Bluedart and prefer to manage your own logistics costs:
Select Self-Shipping on the shipping step of the new order page. It is available to every brand and costs a flat processing fee (₹10 + 18% GST) that covers packing and courier coordination.
Once your order is produced, add the courier name, AWB number and shipping label link (tracking link optional) from your orders table or the order page.
Our packing team applies your label and places the parcel in our Indore hub pickup bay for your designated courier driver. Tracking is pushed to your connected store.
RTO is not handled by Merch Factory on self-shipped orders.
To protect merchants from inventory losses, we offer an industry-leading physical storage window:
Scan & Log: Returned-to-Origin (RTO) items are received at our factory, scanned, and logged under Returned Products in your dashboard.
30-Day Holding: We hold your items safely for a maximum of 30 days at zero storage cost.
Reshipping: You can reship this exact product to any corrected address within this window by paying only the new forward shipping fee.
Holding Expiry: Items left unclaimed past 30 days are permanently flagged. After a final 3-day grace period shown on the dashboard, the items are donated to local NGOs or discarded to maintain factory efficiency. We are not liable for expired inventory.
We accept all major, secure Indian payment options through our encrypted checkout partners (Razorpay and PayU):
UPI: Instant transfers via GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM.
Cards: All domestic and international Debit and Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, Amex).
Net Banking: Direct integration with over 50+ major Indian banks.
Merchant Wallet: Load funds into your dashboard wallet via card or UPI to enable automated, one-click order fulfillment without manually executing checkouts.
Yes, absolutely. We operate in full compliance with Indian tax laws.
Automated Invoicing: Every single transaction, manual checkout, or wallet recharge generates a detailed, downloadable GST invoice.
Input Tax Credit (ITC): Go to your dashboard and navigate to Settings → Billing. Enter your company's official GSTIN and registered business name.
Compliance: All future invoices will carry your tax numbers, enabling your accounting team to seamlessly file for monthly input tax credits.
Cash on Delivery is a vital channel for Indian e-commerce, representing over 60% of all D2C transactions. We offer full, automated COD support across 27,000+ serviceable pin codes:
Upfront Production Payment: Since every garment is custom printed on-demand, you pay the base product and shipping fee upfront from your dashboard wallet to initiate printing and dispatch.
Customer Delivery & Doorstep Collection: The courier delivers the package under your brand name (completely white-labeled) and collects the full retail price from your customer upon delivery.
COD Fees: Courier companies charge a nominal handling fee (typically ₹30–₹40 per package) for physical cash collection and door-to-door logistics, shown at checkout.
Fast Remittance Cycle (Delivered + 4 Working Days): Once the courier marks the order as "Delivered" and reconciles the cash, we credit the entire collected retail amount directly to your registered bank account or UPI ID in just 4 working days, seamlessly returning your upfront cost and profit.
Verification Recommendation: Due to high Cash-on-Delivery RTO (Return to Origin) rates in India, we strongly advise using automated OTP or WhatsApp confirmation on your store before fulfilling COD orders to verify addresses and purchase intent.
Please plan your balances carefully:
Yes! We are built to support creator agencies and multi-brand D2C entrepreneurs.
From your single dashboard login, you can create and manage multiple separate brands. Each brand operates in its own isolated environment:
Isolated product designs and catalogs.
Distinct store integrations (e.g., Brand A connected to Shopify, Brand B to Wix).
Independent shipping settings, custom packing inserts, and neck labels.
Separate wallet balances and payout accounts.
You can seamlessly toggle between brands using the switcher at the top left of your merchant dashboard.
Yes, absolutely. Collaboration is essential for growing brands.
You can invite co-founders, graphic designers, or customer support representatives to join your brand workspace:
Invite teammates securely via Settings → Team using their email address.
Assign custom access levels (Admin, Editor, Support, Designer) to control permissions and restrict access to billing information or wallet recharges.
Teammates log in using their own credentials, keeping your primary owner account secure.
We provide structured support channels for all our merchants:
WhatsApp Support (+91 94799 29065): First line of contact for quick queries, catalog specifications, onboarding guidance, and general FAQs with zero wait time. Available to all merchants (WhatsApp messages only; voice calls are outgoing only). Automated alerts arrive from +1 (555) 908-4182.
Dashboard Help Center & Support Tickets: Mandatory for active order investigations, tracking issues, courier delivery disputes, transit damage, and print defect claims. Our production desk reviews evidence and formally processes claims during standard business hours.
Official Email Desk: Reach out via [email protected] for custom bulk B2B quotes, enterprise integrations, or legal agreements.
You do. Completely.
Merch Factory claims zero ownership, copyright, or trademark rights over any design, graphic, or brand asset you upload. You represent and warrant that you hold the legal license or copyright for the files you upload.
We enforce a strict compliance and legal safety policy. We reserve the absolute right to cancel and refund orders that depict:
Infringing content (unlicensed movie posters, video game logos, famous brand trademarks, or copyrighted artwork you do not own).
Hate speech, promotion of violence, harassment, discrimination, or illegal activities.
Graphic obscenity, child abuse materials, or content violating local Indian law guidelines.
Still have questions or need help with an order?
Our Indore operations team is available Monday to Saturday to assist you with order tracking, Shopify/Wix sync, custom neck labels, and sample prints.