Getting Your Order Started

At National Media Services it is our goal to provide the best quality products and services each and every day, but of equal importance is the experience you have when dealing with us.  Clear communication is a vital first step towards a successfully completed order, and so we have created a Step-By-Step Guide that walks you through the process.

Take a moment and read the information below for a quick overview of the process in manufacturing your project. If you have any questions or comments please contact us and we will be happy to assist you. 

Overview Of Placing An Order

• Paperwork To Submit:

To complete on time, you'll need to provided us with some required forms:   

1. New Client Information Form: For first-time customers only.
2. Sales Order Form: If you are not providing your own company's official purchase order, you can either sign-off your National Media Services Quotation or provide a National Media Services Sales Order Form to confirm the details of your order.
3. Intellectual Property Release (IPR) Form: The standard industry anti-piracy disclaimer.
4. Credit Card Payment Authorization Form: If you want to pay by credit card but cannot do so in person you must sign this form to give us authorization to charge your credit card.

• Project Materials To Send to Us:

Here's what you'll need to send to us to start your project:

1. Your Master : Provide two content masters for duplication or replication purposes. Always keep a back-up copy yourself. Make sure it's exactly the way you want the finish product to be. If you need to make changes, please let us know. Additional charges will apply.
2. Your Artwork Files : Provide your artwork files to the specifications and on proper templates.
3. Your Downpayment : Minimum of 50% downpayment is required to begin an order.

• Your Job Number:

Contact your Sales Representative to indicate that you are submitting an order.  Upon doing so your Sales Representative will provide you with a Job Number (also referred to as a sales order/invoice number). Identify all of your project materials with your name, phone number and your Job Number.  The Job Number is for our production control procedures and it will be referenced on every aspect of your order including future re-orders.

• Order Confirmation:

Once we have received all the paperwork and project materials to begin an order, we will generate an ‘Order Confirmation’ and forward it to you via fax or e-mail.  Upon receipt, please review it for accuracy. Should there be any discrepancies please contact your Sales Representative right away.  Please Note: The Order Confirmation (preliminary copy of your Sales Order) is not your invoice.  

• Unders & Overs:

As with any manufacturing process it may be necessary to make additional units over-and-above the quantity ordered to compensate for units rejected in the Quality Control process.  It is considered fair business practice to invoice for a small percentage (not more than 5%) of product overage or underage, but you are only invoiced for the exact quantity of product you receive. The percentage is dependent on the quantity of units ordered (larger orders have a smaller overage percentage). This rarely happens since we manufacture your project in-house and control the quantities closely, but in some processes, overages/unders occur. Please contact your Sales Representative with any questions.    

• Artwork Pre-Press and Proofs:

Your supplied artwork files are expected to be supplied to our specifications and ready-to-print without any changes or modifications being required. The artwork is reviewed to ensure it is sized appropriately and that there are no obvious omissions such as lack of 'bleed' or missing fonts. We'll send you an electronic artwork proof and forward it via email for your review.  The proof gives you one last chance to review the design for accuracy and completeness before it goes to print.  Once you approve this electronic version, we'll produce an actual production sample for your final review. No surprises here. You'll be able to see how your project will be manufactured. Completed printed, duplicated, and shrinkwrapped. Your written approval must be received before we can proceed with production (a verbal approval cannot be accepted). A flight-check charge of $39 is incurred on all new orders. This includes the manufacturing of your production sample. Shipping charges for proofs are additional.

• Day Zero:

Production of your order doesn’t officially begin until all of your project materials have been received to the specification requirements. Failure to provide all required production assets to the specification requirements will delay the start of your order. If received by 1:00pm on any regular business day (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) this is referred to as Day Zero in the production timeline. Should your project materials arrive after 1:00pm, your Day Zero is the next business day.  

• Timeline:

The production timeline for your order will be dependent on the size and scope of your order. Every effort will be made to fill orders within the timeline quoted at the outset of the project, but quoted ready-by-dates are estimates only and not guaranteed. Though uncommon, delays can occur and National Media Services, Inc. does not assume responsibility for any damages growing out of or owing to any delays. Please contact your Sales Representative regarding your specific order.

We highly recommend that you do not schedule the release of your project or event prior to receiving your product. Though uncommon, delays can happen and National Media Services cannot be held accountable for such occurrences.

• When Ready:

When your order is ready you have the following options:

1. Picking up your project from our facility.
2. National Media Services to ship the goods via UPS (or other), adding the charge to your invoice.

If National Media Services is shipping your order, please provide all necessary shipping information and details with your order. Production happens very quickly, and any delay in receiving an address,  may result in your project being shipped to the wrong address.

Unless a credit account (in good standing) is in place, National Media Services cannot release any goods until the balance of the invoice has been paid in full.

• Warranty & Claims:

At National Media Services we stand behind the quality of our products and will replace any product with obvious manufacturing defects after the goods have been returned to us.  Any claims against manufactured goods must be made within fourteen calendar (14) days after receipt, and returned goods are not accepted without prior notification and authorization from your Sales Representative.  Any claims for shortages must be made within fourteen calendar (14) days after receipt of the goods. Click here for National Media Services Terms and Conditions.

» Click here to proceed to Step 1:

Submitting Your New Client Information Form