In order to clear up any misconceptions or misunderstandings or outright falsehoods, we have compiled a few Frequently Asked Questions.
1. What is the brand of wrap vinyl that Design8 Studios uses?
For Signal, we use ONLY 3M 1080 Conform wrap vinyl and 3M 680CR Reflective Orange vinyl for vehicle wraps. This Custom Blue 3M wrap film is used EXCLUSIVELY for Signal. Design8 Studios owns the custom color formulation, and licenses it's use to Signal. No one else in the world can use this specific color of Blue 3M 1080 Series. This is YOUR brand color, and ONLY your brand color. Same with the Reflective Orange. We own the color formulation for that color as well, and ONLY Signal can use that color of 3M 680CR Series. This is YOUR brand color, and ONLY your brand color.
2. What is the warranty period for a Signal vehicle wrap installed by Design8 Studios ?
Good question! All wraps produced and installed by Design8 Studios are warranted for a period of not more than 24 months from the date of installation. Perforated window graphics installed by Design8 Studios are warranted for a period of 12 months from date of installation. If your vehicle is used for extended periods in winter over salt-covered roads, you must clean the wrap regularly. Salt and brine will destroy the wrap material if left for extended periods. The same will apply for vehicles used in hot, dry climates. You must keep the wrap clean of dirt and dust. Failure to properly maintain the wrap voids any and all warranty. If you do experience any failures of the material or parts of the wrap begin to pull away from the vehicle, you MUST notifiy Design8 Studios IMMEDIATELY as soon as the problem is found. Failure to do so will void any and all warranty. We will not warranty any wrap material failures beyond the 24 month period. NO EXCEPTIONS. Warranties are non-transferable when the vehicle is sold to another franchise. If your wrap was installed by a 3rd party shop of your choosing, we WILL NOT warranty the installation due to lack of control over how that shop installs the wrap. NO EXCEPTIONS. If installed by anyone other than Design8 Studios, 3M will only warranty color fade on vertical surfaces for 5 years, and horizontal surfaces for 2 years. It is recommended that you replace your hood & roof wrap (if installed) every 3 years. (every 2 years in high heat regions)
3. Ive heard that Design8 uses Arlon vinyl, is that true?
COMPLETELY incorrect. We use ONLY 3M 1080 Conform in the Custom Blue Formulation and 3M 180C for vehicle wraps, and we use the custom formulation for the 3M 680CR Orange Reflective vinyl also owned by Design8 Studios and licensed to Signal as well as Oralite White Reflective vinyl for Signal Security items. It's pretty amazing that anyone NOT in the graphics/sign business is instantly an expert. If you want to know the truth, just ask us. We have nothing to hide, WE are the experts.
4. Why does it take 10 business days to ship out my order?
We do not keep any items "in-stock". Vinyl material has a shelf-life. ALL Signal items we provide are custom made-to-order. With regards to Signal orders, we shoot for a 10 business day turnaround on vehicle wraps. With regards to Signal signage, since all signage is custom made to order for each specfic franchise, we still have a 10 business day turnaround. We produce several hundred orders a month here at Design8. We have customers and clients across the country that go well beyond Signal. We provide graphics and signage for the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, Kiewit Construction, Godfather's Pizza, Home Instead, The Maids, Hello Garage, etc etc etc, just to name drop a bit. We have a constant heavy workload beyond Signal and that necessitates the 10 business day turnaround. All of our customers and clients experience the same 10 business day turnaround. Yes, the LA Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, etc....WNBA, NCAA Men's and Womens National Basketball tournament, NIT, etc etc etc .....ALL wait 10 days while their orders are produced and then shipped.
6. Why is shipping a high cost?
We only charge what UPS charges us to ship. Keep in mind that wrap kits must ship in an oversize package. UPS has determined what defines an oversize package. Shipping will naturally be higher with an oversize package. We also must insure the package for $1500 due to the value of the wrap material used. UPS adjusts rates on a daily basis. What it costs to ship on Monday, will be different on Tuesday, and different again on Wednesday. We have NO control over what UPS charges for shipping. The system is updated automatically by UPS. It's no different than buying a tank of gas on a Tuesday, and you drive by the station on Wednesday and the price is different.
7. My perforated material on the windows of my patrol vehicle is peeling, why?
Most likely, this is due to improper or inadequate care of the graphics and cleaning of the wrapped vehicle. In order for the graphics to last throughout their service life expectancy, they must be kept clean. Proper cleaning of the vehicle that's been wrapped, and has perforated window graphics will ensure the graphics last the full expectancy. Hand washing, and not pressure washing is the most effective way to keep the wrapped vehicle clean. Failure to properly clean the wrapped vehicle will void the warranty on the wrap. Also, keep in mind, that the wrap is NOT paint. It's vinyl and by it's very nature, NOT permanent. If after several years, the material begins to lift, or peel back, then it's probably beyond it's service life or hasn't been cared for properly. If your wrap is new, or less than one year old, and there are problems like this, you'll want to check with your installer to be sure they handled the installation correctly. We are a 3M Certified shop, and employ only professional wrap installers who have several years each, installing wraps on all sorts of vehicles. Rest assured, we installed it correctly. If you do have any issues with a wrap that Design8 Studios installed, CALL US FIRST. We'll work with you to get the issue resolved. Keep in mind that we will NOT warranty perforated material installed by a 3rd Party installer. We will, however, continue to warranty perforated material installed by Design8 Studios for a period of 12 months, if the failure was due to installation or workmanship.
8. What does the VPDU do and why do I need it?
The VPDU - Vehicle Power Distribution Unit - is installed to be able to distribute vehicle battery power to any aftermarket item installed in your patrol vehicle after the ignition is turned off. Such as a beacon light bar, spotlight, radio, or other electronic device. The VPDU acts as a failsafe to prevent overdraining of the battery in the event these peripheral items are left powered on. The VPDU will provide power to these items for between 2 to 8 hours maximum, AFTER the ignition is cut off. That time is adjustable in 2 hour increments. When we install equipment here at Design8, we set the VPDU to the default 2 hours. This lets you know that your vehicle's expensive battery will not drain to the point of destroyed if the equipment is left powered on. All the aftermarket items are wired to the VPDU, and the VPDU is wired to the vehicle battery. Acting as a timed automatic "switch" of sorts. If you choose not to install the VPDU, you accept the risk of damaging the vehicle battery, or possibly the vehicles electrical system. You also accept that you will void the manufacturers warranty for incorrect installation of vehicle equipment. We accept zero responsiblity for how you wire the equipment. Signal Home Office has mandated that all Signal upfits are to include the VPDU. Just a note about VPDU's.......they RARELY, if ever, go bad. If you are experiencing problems with a VPDU that's already installed, there is likely another issue. That's not saying the problem is not the VPDU.....only that we've NEVER seen a VPDU go bad.
9. One of the equipment parts seems to no longer work, how do I get a replacement ?
First, it must be determined if the part is in warranty still. Most of the equipment we sell has a 12 month limited warranty. Secondly, the failed part cannot be covered by warranty if the failure was caused by improperly installing the part or end user error. Third, ANY warranty claim MUST be handled thru the manufacturer ONLY. We are NOT allowed to process ANY warranty claims. We can assist you by giving you contact information to the Tech Support of the part in question. The manufacturers DO NOT allow us to handle ANY warranty work for them. Warranty coverage is also subject to the Manufacturers discretion. We have NO control over what the Manufacturer chooses to do regarding warranty coverage.
If it is determined that the part is no longer within the warranty period, or the failure was caused by end user error or improper installation, you will need to purchase a new part at regular price. Design8 Studios will absolutely NOT be responsible or liable for ANY installation performed by a 3rd party. Absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS.
You will need to contact Design8 Studios to get the process started for warranty coverage. We will send an email, with you included, to the manufacturer of the specific product's Tech Support. Tech Support will reply and take over at that point. If it's determined the part is still within warranty, the Tech Support personnel will then process and ship a replacement part directly to you. Tech Support will require information from you regarding the part. Specifically, the serial number, and when the part was purchased and installed. You will be responsible for ANY AND ALL installation costs of the replacement part.
Design8 Studios will also NOT be responsible for ANY warranty claim regarding Sound Off Signal lighting equipment. Absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS. You will need to contact Home Office for warranty claim on any Sound Off Signal equipment.
10. I chose Next Day Air or 2nd Day Air for my shipping method, but I still didnt receive it the next day or after 2 days from the day I ordered it, why?
Regardless of the type of shipping you choose, we still have a 10 Business Day production time. We have a heavy, constant workload and simply cannot turn around any order for you to be able to receive it in one or two days. Items we offer for Signal cannot be produced in one or two days anyway. We always try to ship before that 10th business day, but due to workload, we must have that set turnaround period of 10 Business Days. Signal branded items are not the only items we produce at Design8 Studios. We do not refund shipping charges for UPS failing to deliver on time. We always suggest using Ground service anyway. UPS DOES NOT GUARANTEE NEXT DAY SERVICE OR 2nd DAY SERVICE.
12. You've sent me a Custom Estimate, what do I do now?
You will need to click the link in the email that you received from the portal system to take you back to your Portal account. Once you're within the Estimate itself, FIRST you must Approve the Estimate, if you are satisfied everything is correct. Next you will need to Make Full Payment on the Estimate which will then cause the system to automatically convert the Estimate to an Order. The order then goes to Design8 Studios for fulfillment. WORK WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE ESTIMATE IS FULLY PAID FOR. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please check that your shipping address is correct for that order. We are not responsible for your failure to input the correct shipping address.
13. How will my purchase show up on my credit card statement ?
Good question. You will see "CUSTOM PRODUCT FULFILLMENT CENTER" shown on your statement with the dollar amount of your purchase. Please keep this in mind, and compare to your recent order before initiating a dispute for fraudulent activity with your credit card issuer. If you aren't sure, ask us. We have no control on how it shows up on your statement. The credit card processing service we subscribe to uses that as a descriptor when the charge is made to the card account.
14. Can I do a split-payment arrangement for an order, where I pay a percentage down, and the remainder at a later date?
No. Unfortunately, we can longer accept any sort of split-payment arrangement. ALL orders must be paid for in full, prior to the start of any production. No exceptions.
As always, if anyone EVER has any questions, we encourage you to contact us. We have been in business since 1995 and have the knowledge and experience to be able to provide a superior product. Many of our employees were involved in the sign and graphics business well before vehicle wraps were ever invented. In fact, Design8 Studios wrapped the first vehicle in Omaha, and the region. We were wrapping vehicles before other companies existed. In this day and age, when just about anybody can buy a printer and roll of wrap material and call themselves a wrap shop, quality will always rise to the top. We've wrapped hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles and know what we're doing. We are a 3M Certified shop, we understand how the material works and what it takes to apply it CORRECTLY to a vehicle. When it comes to installing equipment, we have installed equipment in several hundred Signal patrol vehicles. We understand how the equipment functions, and we have developed the correct installation method that has not failed. We have never had a failure due to our installation method.
