Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding our general policies and the additional options we offer at Black Knight Press. If you have any further inquiries, require a custom quote, or need more information about a specific product, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Shipping & Production Information
Shrink-Wrapping:
All daily calendars are shrink wrapped prior to boxing. Other items can be shrink wrapped at a cost of $.30 (t) if desired. In an effort to reduce environmental waste, we sometimes reuse corrugated cartons for shipping product.
Shipping:
Our preferred shipping method is UPS Ground or truck (for shipments over 1200 lbs.) from our Tennessee factory. Shipments bill at published rates or discounted hundredweight rates (for shipments over 200 lbs.). UPS is our preferred shipper for all orders. Shipping carriers rely on accurate address details for successful deliveries. For instance, omitting crucial details like floor numbers in multi-story buildings can hinder delivery attempts. Other carrier services may be arranged upon customer request with an additional processing/handling charge. Any pickup charges will be charged to the customer, and the customer bears all responsibility for loss, damage, and/or the requested carrier’s failure to meet their service commitments.
Overrruns/Underruns:
Due to the difficulty of manufacturing exact quantities on most of our products, we reserve the right to over-run or under-run of up to 5% of ordered quantity which is an industry standard. However, custom orders utilizing special inks adhere to the printing industry standard of +/- 10%. You will be billed for the final quantity of items shipped to you after all overruns/underruns are accounted. Should you require an exact quantity, an additional 3% surcharge will apply on your order.
*Please note, name personalized calendars are shipped in exact quantities. No overruns can be produced since we produce a calendar for each name on the order.
Rush Orders:
We prioritize meeting our customers’ urgent needs whenever possible. If accommodating a rush delivery does not disrupt our production process (leading to excessive overtime or additional rush order expenses), we will fulfill the rush order without imposing any surcharge. However, if fulfilling a rush order incurs extra costs, any associated surcharges will be provided on a case-by-case basis upon quotation. Rush orders are generally not considered in our peak season of October – December.
Errors/Corrections:
Clients are required to submit claims for defects, errors, or damages in writing within ten (10) business days following the delivery of the complete order or any part thereof. In instances where an error arises due to factory fault, we are committed to rectifying the issue by repairing or replacing the product or providing a refund. Additionally, standard ground freight costs are typically covered by us. It’s important to note that the consideration is contingent upon adhering to the ten-day claim period mentioned above. Any claim placed beyond the claim period will only be considered at our discretion.
Finally, we view requests for discounts as a signal of dissatisfaction, indicating the product does not meet the customer’s needs, hence making it our last resort in providing customer satisfaction. Discounts will only be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For errors attributable to the customer, we may extend the option to rerun the order at a discounted rate to help alleviate the financial impact of the error.
Artwork & Order Information
*PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR PO DOES NOT DICTATE PRODUCTION TIME. CHECK YOUR ORDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE EXPECTED SHIP DATE BASED ON OUR CURRENT PRODUCTION TIMES.
Calendars with week numbers:
Our calendars follow the United States calendar rules. Sunday is the first day of week and Saturday is the last day of the week. The first week of the year is the week that contains January 1st, the first day of the year. If you wish to have anything different an artwork set-up will apply along with a run charge.
Artwork Recommendations:
We require print-ready artwork for all our products.
Faxes, photocopies, business cards, newsprint, or art requiring resizing, scanning, typesetting, or editing are not considered print-ready.
Not meeting these specifications will delay your order or may incur additional costs.
If non-print-ready submitted art requires modifications or typesetting and we have an editable file, additional work may incur a fee of $100 (t) per hour or, in some cases, a flat fee of $30 (t) for typesetting or modifications.
For custom monthly photo calendars:
-Label each picture according to the respective month (e.g., 01_January, 02_February).
-Submit a print-ready multi-page PDF of images in the correct order without printer’s marks and including a 1/8” bleed area if applicable.
Art containing text or logos:
-Submitted in vector format (PDF, EPS, AI) to ensure optimal results.
-Convert all text to outlines/curves to avoid font issues.
In cases where vector art is unavailable, rasterized images for logos and text should be 900-1200 dpi, sent at 100% or larger of the finished print size, and submitted in JPG or PNG format.
For custom calendar designs:
-Supported programs include Adobe Suite CC or a print-ready PDF with a 1/8” bleed (if applicable) but no printer’s marks.
-Aggregate final art files into a single .zip folder. Files less than 10 MB can be emailed to art@bkpress.com. For files over 10 MB, use wetransfer.com, including the PO number in the transfer name.
Note: When vector artwork is requested, please ensure that the files provided are originally in a vector format, such as .eps or .ai. Changing a file extension from a raster format (e.g., jpg, png, tif, psd, jpeg) to a vector format will not convert the file type.
While we strive to review all artwork, Black Knight Press cannot be held accountable for color, resolution, or trimming errors due to files not meeting specifications.
How to submit your art & PO for a calendar order?
Check out the infographics we created to guide you in the order process for our custom photo or name personalized calendars.
Method of Imprint:
Digital printing. We cannot provide exact matches for PMS colors.
Production Time:
Production times vary by product, quantity ordered, and time of year. Your PO does not dictate our production time. An expected ship date based on our current production times (assuming timely responses and approvals throughout the order’s process) is given at the time the order acknowledgment is sent to you. If a delivery time is important, please discuss the production schedule with our customer service department prior to placing your order.
Production times during the months of October-December are about 15-20 business days and vary based on order volumes. Production time begins once all and any missing details/items on the order are submitted/cleared, AND your print-ready artwork and files necessary to produce a proof have been submitted.
All times are based on business days and office hours: Monday through Friday 8 am – 4:00 pm Central Standard Time, excluding all national and federal holidays. If a Purchase Order/ job is submitted and approved on a weekend, the job will begin production on the next business day.
In addition, while production time includes entering your order into our system, proofing, printing, cutting, binding, etc., it does not include mailing or shipping transit times. If you are having the order shipped, you should allow additional business days for delivery based on the shipping method selected.
Order Acknowledgements:
All Purchase Orders should be sent to orders@bkpress.com for order entry. Upon receiving your PO, our orders department will manually transcribe your order details into our system and generate an order acknowledgment. This acknowledgement should be received on your end within 24 hours of us receiving your order. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact the Orders Department.
While we make every effort to minimize errors, the manual transfer of data from your Purchase Order’s format into our own system’s format can sometimes result in discrepancies. The Order Acknowledgement does not require an approval but does demand thorough review, and we highly recommend acknowledging it for accuracy.
If any discrepancies in pricing or item details arise, are found missing, or are unclear, we will notify you through the order acknowledgement e-mail or via phone. Your response will be crucial to ensure processing of your order. Please contact us if you identify errors during your review that require corrections or alterations to the address, items, or any other aspect of the order.