FAQ’s

1. What’s this blog about?

I post ideas and designs that are hockey-centric. This is a spinoff of my first blog www.davesgeekyideas.com, where hockey often took center stage. I also arrange custom hockey jersey orders that feature my geeky designs, which is a popular draw.

2. Tell me more about the jerseys.

I design geeky jerseys. They involve a popular property like Game Of Thrones or Voltron, and I try to make the jersey design look as though it belongs to a regular hockey team. I strive for a simple, wearable look. Sort of ‘original six’ inspired.

So here is the deal: I’m not a merchant or a store, I do not keep geeky jerseys stocked or anything like that. At any given time, I arrange a few custom orders for people to join. Because they are made in batches, I have to put together team orders. These take time, so I only offer 3 or 4 jersey designs at any given time. Each offer is available for a limited time.

These are non-profit. I make the design and layout voluntarily, and I also place an order for a jersey or two myself. Because team orders require a minimum number of jerseys to get made, I need others to join me to make the order possible. So far, every jersey design I’ve offered has met the quota. Woot!

3. I want that jersey! How much??

I’ll post lots of designs, but only a few will be available at any given time. Some will never be available to purchase, due to legal reasons.

4. So what jerseys are available?

All offers that are current will be displayed as the first post on the front page. If there is nothing present, there are no offers currently.

5. How do I order?

For each offer that is currently available the order instructions are included in the post. Essentially you pick your style, size, and custom name and number selections. You then email that info to Rinkgear along with your name and shipping address. Rinkgear would then respond within 5 business days with an email invoice which includes a link that will take you to their Paypal portal, where you can pay by credit card or Paypal (of course).

Once the order window is over I update the post to say “Order Closed” and delete the order instructions, to help prevent orders after the deadline.

UPDATE: Rinkgear has an online store now! I’ll just a post a link to it and you can shop there.

6. Order Confirmation?

The current email ordering system doesn’t have much in the way of automated notifications. When the order closes, Rinkgear or myself will send you an email confirming payment and your order. If you want to know if your payment and order have been received sooner than that, email Rinkgear with a confirmation request and they will get back to you.

UPDATE: Rinkgear’s online store will provide real-time order confirmation.

7. How long until my jersey arrives?

From the day the order closes the jerseys will take 4 – 6 weeks to produce. These are made from scratch and are customized with your name and number, which is time consuming.

Usually I have an order window that is 1-month long, which is to ensure few people miss out. The jerseys aren’t produced until the window is closed, so potentially if you order early you could be waiting for 2+ months. Please be patient, I know that is a good length of time but the jersey is worth it.

If there are any delays you will be notified. Keep the long turnaround in mind if you are moving!

8. I missed out! Will it be available again?

Some jerseys are popular and due to high demand they will make repeat appearances. You’ll have to be patient and wait for the next order opportunity. Usually a popular jersey design will take a few months off between orders.

I really don’t know when a particular jersey design will return. The problem is I have a lot of designs I want to do. So it’s a month-to-month deal. Disclaimer: blog is run by an artist.

9. Can you add me to a mailing list to let me know when that jersey will be back?

I’m sorry I can’t. There are too many people who want particular designs, which makes it difficult for me to stay on top of. Please check back every few weeks and you might find your jersey available again. Feel free to e-mail me and ask if a design is coming back, and I could straight-up tell you “Within a few months” or “No, the Howard the Duck jersey will not be back; it wasn’t very popular.”

10. Why are the jerseys so expensive?

The jerseys are actually the best price I can find that allows for my custom designs and the customization of the name and numbers too. Other vendors wanted $130+ for each jersey, and then an additional charge for each letter and number. They also wanted me to use blank NHL jerseys only. Also Rinkgear was the only vendor who would mail to individual customers, while everyone else would only send the whole order to one address (for the team). So pricing and service-wise I got lucky on many counts, not to mention good quality.

Rinkgear can offer jerseys for $60-$65 that are sublimated (printed). We found the majority of people wanted embroidery and twill numbers and letters and a fully-constructed sweater. That comes at an added cost. We can’t offer different price points for each design, because that would complicate the order system even further — best to stick with one option.

But for those who think these custom jerseys are still expensive, I’d like to compare to licensed NHL jerseys, which start at $130 (with no name and number) and can get up to $300 or more for authentic jerseys.

11. Alright, why is shipping so expensive?

It’s air freight express, for both domestic and international orders, which takes 3 – 7 business days.

International shipping is $45 because of the air freight option. It is about half the cost for ground shipping, but that takes 3 – 5 weeks for delivery. I made the call to make the pricier air freight the only option. This was to make the order system simpler, but also to get your jerseys to you quicker at the end of a long production cycle. Perhaps down the road multiple shipping options will be available, but for now it will only be the one.

12. I need help with measurements.

I recommend you take a shirt you already own and lay it flat and measure. Best to go a bit oversize for a hockey jersey – they look better slightly loose. These are hockey jerseys after all, not dinner jackets.

13. I don’t know what size to get for my wife.

This is an extremely dangerous query for both of us. I’d rather help you defuse a live bomb. See #11 above and measure her favorite sweater, then hope for the best. But I don’t have to remind you the extreme danger you’re in when presenting a jersey to her that is too big or small.

14. I need a larger size that is not listed, can Rinkgear help?

Yes they can do custom sizes for adults. You’ll have to take measurements like those shown in the sizing chart. Additional fees may apply. Email Rinkgear for more information.

15. I want to change my name and/or number for my order! Can I do that?

You may at anytime before the order closes, and there is also a grace period of a few days within the order closing that you can email Rinkgear and request a change. After that it’s too late. Check for typos, I cannot stress that enough!

16. Do you take requests for designs?

Sure! I got bullied into making the Doctor Who jersey that way (kidding). Some designs I can make work, others I can’t (Flinstones? Yabba-dabba-don’t). This blog is here to stay, so I can’t drop everything and make a design for My Little Pony right this instant, but a few weeks or months down the road I’ll post it and you Bronies will be happy.

17. Hey thief! How do you get away with this??

I don’t! Again I’m not making any profit, just arranging a custom order of which I am also a customer. I try to keep my designs as vague as possible too. If I am asked to remove a design I will. I’ve also gotten into the habit of writing IP holders and asking for permission – I’ve gotten a few responses (mostly no).

To me this is a form of cosplay, as many people opt to put a character’s name on their back. In my opinion this is sort of a fandom, where every design I post is usually for something I really love. I don’t see these as products but large personal billboards for things we like, be it Game of Thrones or Voltron or Zelda or what have you. I hope large companies see these as fan expressions, not infringing.

I don’t have big aspirations of turning this into a mega-business, I rather like the small scale we are currently at. I do hope geeky hockey jerseys become more commonplace eventually.

If anyone had jerseys like these available I wouldn’t be going through all this effort. Maybe Reebok will take notice.

18. Will you design a jersey for me and my friends for our own custom order?

This is happening more and more often! Yes, if you and your buddies want me to make a Power Rangers hockey jersey design for you, I can. As long as you put together an order of at least 10 jerseys and order it through Rinkgear. My fee is that if it’s a cool jersey you can buy me one too. If it’s a jersey I’m not interested in my design fee ranges from $100 – $300, depending on how complex you want your design. These are for team orders that are shipped to one place. Rinkgear can provide you a team order quote. Email them for pricing info.

19. Do you have a spare jersey I can buy?

Each and every jersey is spoken for when a batch is made, so no extras are available. However, on rare occasions Rinkgear will end up with a cancellation or a mistake jersey (like a wrong size), and they will sell it on eBay. I suggest you keep a watchful eye on Rinkgear’s blog at www.rinkgear.wordpress.com for the odd deal.

20. Hockey is so not geeky…um…you dropped your gloves…what the…? Hey! HEY! LEMME GO! OKAY! OKAY! I retract that last statement. I hate arguing with Canadians.

That settles that. If you have any questions not covered here please email me! Cheers, -Dave