How to request a card reprint from a vendor

Had to request a reprint twice across my orders. The process is different from requesting a reship for a non-delivered package, and the approach that gets results quickly is different too.

What qualifies for a reprint

Production defects — not the ones you approved on the proof but errors introduced during printing. A barcode that does not scan on any app. A UV feature that is missing entirely rather than just slightly different from the genuine card. A visible color registration error in the card face printing. Photo printing that is blurry despite a high-quality submission. These are production errors rather than template choices and most vendors acknowledge them as covered by their quality guarantee.

What does not qualify for a reprint at most vendors: information that you approved on the proof and later decided you wanted changed, template elements that look different from what you expected but are consistent with the vendor's design approach, or quality differences that are within normal variance rather than clearly defective.

How to write the request

Lead with your order number and the specific defect. Include a photograph clearly showing the defect — for a barcode issue, a screenshot of the scan result from multiple apps showing the failure. For a printing defect, a photo under the appropriate lighting that makes the issue clearly visible.

Be specific about what failed: "The PDF417 barcode on the back fails to decode on Cognex, QR Scanner, and iOS native camera. All three apps report no barcode detected despite adequate lighting and stable hold." This is more actionable than "the barcode does not work."

Response expectations

Most vendors respond to well-documented defect reports within 24 to 72 hours. Production defects with photographic evidence are usually approved for reprint without dispute. The replacement production time runs the same as a new order — expect the reprint to take as long as the original. Some vendors expedite reprints; most do not.