Pin FAQs

Where are the pins made?

They are made in China, as all enamel pins are. Most companies based in the US have theirs made in China too, they just don't say so. We would rather be upfront with you: there are no good US options for this specific product. What we can control is who we work with, so we visited the factory in person and made sure everyone there is paid well and works regular hours.

Are the workers paid fairly? Is the factory a sweatshop?

Fair question, and one we wanted answered ourselves. You can see our trip to the factory on our how pins are made page. Short answer: yes, they are paid fairly, and no, it is not a sweatshop. Everyone is paid above industry standard and works normal days.

Who do I email?

The contact page has our quote form, or email us anytime at orders@alchemymerch.com. A real person reads everything.

Why Alchemy?

We care about your art and the products you want to make, and we consider ourselves your production partners. Everyone on our team has run their own brands and helped thousands of people make products. We take the time to answer your questions and make suggestions that help your merch come out looking its best.

Alchemy is your safety net for overseas production. If you have ever blindly contacted someone overseas, sent money, and hoped for the best, you know that stress. Especially when the product doesn't turn out right. If something goes wrong on an Alchemy order, we cover it.

We have produced over 5 million pins with our factory and built that relationship over years, including in-person visits. An artist reviews every order before anything is made. If something about your design won't translate well to a pin, we will tell you early and suggest a way to make it work. When we recommend certain sizes or metals, it's because we want the thing that arrives at your door to make you proud.

How long do pins take to make?

About 4 weeks from proof approval to your door. For the curious, here is what actually happens at the factory, in minimum business days (real timing depends on order volume):

Soft enamel: mold 1 to 2 days, die strike and assembly 1 to 2 days (die-cut zinc alloy adds 2 to 4), polishing 1 day, plating 1 to 3 days, coloring 1 to 3+ days depending on complexity, quality check and packing 1 to 2 days. Backing cards add 1 to 2 days.

Hard enamel: similar, with 2 days of polishing and longer coloring for complex designs. Added printing or sequential numbering adds a few days.

Can I do a rush order? I needed them yesterday.

Sometimes, and there are no rush fees. Soft enamel can often be rushed, hard enamel usually cannot. Tell us your hard date and we will ask the factory directly whether it's possible. If it is, we will chase it. If it isn't, we will tell you straight rather than take on a job we know can't be done. If you need full color fast, our Rush UV Printed Pins run 12 to 14 days.

Worth knowing: pins are a multi-step handmade product, and there is no machine to jump ahead of. The factory is closed weekends, proofing takes a few days, and overseas transit is real. No amount of money gets pins to you in a week, but if your date is humanly possible, we will do everything we can to hit it.

Some of my pins arrived damaged or flawed. What can I do?

Take a deep breath and send us an email. We will make it right. Pins are handmade, so issues can happen, and every order is backed by our 100% money back guarantee. If the factory made a mistake, we remake the order and toss in extras for the hassle. If you are unhappy with the product for any other reason, you can ship it back to us for a full refund.

Do the pins pass Prop 65 testing for California?

Yes. We have a certificate covering all materials used in production for retail sale in California, happy to send it if you need it.

Can I get fewer than 50 pins of a design?

Technically yes, but the cost for 25 or 35 pins usually lands close to the 50-piece price, since 50 is the minimum that makes a run worth the factory's time. If what you really want is a hard sample run first, usually 5 pins, we can get you a quote. Pricing for those starts at $150 for the 5 pins.

Do I see a physical sample before production?

Every order gets a free digital proof with unlimited revisions, and nothing is made until you approve it. Beyond that, the factory sometimes uploads in-production photos, and we pass those along when they do. If you want to check the real thing first, we can request an inked sample for you to see before the full run is produced, which adds about 3 to 5 days to production.

What's the difference between hard and soft enamel?

Soft enamel is what you are probably most familiar with: raised metal lines with recessed enamel, so there is some texture to it. Hard enamel is filled, baked, and buffed down smooth with very little texture, and it uses a plated metal that can hold up to the buffing.

Are reprints cheaper?

Yes. Reorders of the same design save a flat $50, since your mold already exists, and they skip the proofing round, which speeds things up a little.

Can you ship internationally?

Yes, and shipping is included in your price anywhere in the world. International orders normally ship direct from the factory, which typically gets them to you about two weeks faster than routing through us first.

What kind of art works best?

Simple, clean, bold lines. Think of it like a logo: it needs to translate at a small size. Tiny lines and details get lost in a metal mold, and colors cannot touch each other without a metal border between them, like walls keeping the enamel where it belongs. A good test is printing your art at actual size at home.

I have a lot of colors and my design is very detailed. Can we still make pins?

Yes, with UV printed pins. UV printing gives you full color, including gradients and fine detail, on a flat pin sealed with a thin clear coat. When your art isn't friendly to molds and metal lines, it's a great option.

Can I get my logo on the back of the pins?

Yes. It adds a flat $40 regardless of quantity, because it's essentially a second mold. Printed back logos run about the same, email us for exact rates.

Can I use the same back stamp on multiple designs?

Yes. As long as it works at the same size, you pay the $40 once and we reuse it across your pins, including future orders, at no extra cost.

What kind of file do you need?

Vector art is ideal: AI, EPS, or vector PDF. If you don't have that, no problem. Send the best file you have and we can usually create a clean vector from a good sized, clean image in almost any format.

Can you help me with my art?

Send us what you have and we will tell you honestly if it's usable. Converting clean art into a production-ready file is part of what we do on every order. If your art needs significant work, there may be an art time charge, and we will always tell you the cost before anything happens. We prepare files for production rather than design from scratch, but if you need original artwork created, there are plenty of affordable design services out there we are happy to point you toward.

I've got this great idea (traced image from a TV show or movie). Can we make it?

No. We have no interest in making products of unlicensed artwork. We know there are plenty of places that will make them for you. We are not that place. If it's legitimate parody or an original artistic take, we might be OK with it. Intellectual property is something we value deeply. Just because something is part of pop culture does not mean someone didn't put years into creating it, and profiting from their ideas is not OK in our eyes. We can't recognize everything, but if we do, we won't make it.

Will you make fan art pins?

No. It's still not your property. Legally you can sell a single piece of fan art you made, because that is considered a private commission, but merchandising it into 100 pins or prints or shirts is a different thing. We know you see everyone selling rip-off pins, but we don't want to make them. We wouldn't make pins for someone who stole your character or artwork, so we give every artist the same respect.

What makes a pin die-cut?

When a pin's shape is simple, the factory uses an iron base metal under the plating. When a shape is more complex, with cut-in areas or holes, like jagged hair or the cut-out between two legs, they use a zinc alloy base instead. Zinc is softer, so it allows cleaner cuts and finer detail. It costs a bit more because of the material and the hand-sanding those shapes need.

Do the pins come on backing cards?

Not automatically. Pins come individually bagged. Backing cards are available as an add-on on every pin product page with exact pricing by quantity. Standard card size is 80mm x 54mm, with a larger 100mm x 75mm option, printed on 14pt stock.

Can I trust you with my art?

Yes, and we take this personally. Any art you send us is protected. Our founder ran a brand carried in over 300 retail stores and has been knocked off himself, so we understand that IP is everything. If you want us to sign an NDA, we will. None of your products get posted in our gallery or on social media until you have officially released them.

Where do pins ship from?

Most orders ship directly from the factory to your door. Orders that route through us ship from our office in Phoenix, AZ, usually via UPS. Either way, shipping is included in your price.

Alchemy Merch
orders@alchemymerch.com