8 Questions to Ask Lorry Sticker Printers Before Paying Deposit

1. "What vinyl do you use? Cast or calendered?"

Cast vinyl (3M IJ180, Avery MPI 1105) is industry standard for heavy vehicle wraps. Calendered is cheaper but conformability is weak on lorry contours. A printer who avoids the answer or replies vaguely — red flag.

2. "How long is your work warranty?"

Reputable installers offer 6-12 months warranty against installation defects (peeling, bubbling, edge lift) — not against material wear. A printer offering "lifetime warranty" on everything is too good to be true.

3. "Can I see previous work in my industry?"

Professional printers have years of portfolio. Ask to see case work specific to your lorry size and industry. A vague "we have many clients" answer is worth following up on.

4. "Install at your workshop or my location? Travel cost?"

On-site vs in-workshop install has cost and quality implications. A climate-controlled workshop gives more consistent results for full wraps. Outdoor install is possible but weather-dependent.

5. "How many free design revisions?"

Standard is 2-3 free revisions. More than 3 = printer may be under-skilled or your brief is very unclear. Less than 2 = printer isn't flexible.

6. "Mock-up before deposit?"

Professional printers provide a basic mock-up (1-2 concepts) before asking for deposit. Anyone demanding full payment before showing design — usually uncomfortable making revisions.

7. "What's the removal cost when I want to change?"

Future planning. Properly applied sticker removal: RM200-500 per lorry. Badly applied: RM1,000+ to strip residue. Ask upfront — if the answer is unreasonable, the printer may use hard-to-remove adhesive.

8. "Can I see a physical sample of the vinyl?"

Legit shops keep samples. Cast vs calendered, gloss vs matte all feel different. Insist on physical samples — printers who avoid usually downgrade material without telling.