Skip to main content

Samples: FAQs

Updated October 26, 2026

Answers to common questions about product samples on Fourthwall

Sample availability FAQs​

Why are some sizes or colors unavailable for samples?​

Sample availability depends on what our manufacturing partners can offer at the time. While a product may be available for sale, certain size or color variants may be temporarily unavailable for sample orders. Availability updates automatically and may change without notice.

Can you tell me when an unavailable sample will restock?​

We don't provide restock dates or estimated timelines for sample availability. Some variants may restock quickly, while others may remain unavailable or be discontinued. To see what's currently available, click Place order at the top of your dashboard, then Choose products to order.

What can I do if the sample I want isn't available?​

If your preferred variant isn't available, you can:

  • Order an available size or color to check print quality and materials
  • Check back later, since availability may change
  • Choose a similar product with better sample availability
note

Note: You cannot order samples for self-sourced products.

Does Fourthwall offer free samples in exchange for promoting the platform?​

No. Fourthwall does not run a free-samples-for-promotion partnership. Creators who order samples pay manufacturing cost only, with no markup. A few options reduce or offset what you pay out of pocket:

  • Fourthwall Pro subscribers receive $10 per month in shop credit that rolls over and never expires.
  • Affiliate+ referral credits also apply to sample orders. Learn more in the Fourthwall Affiliate+ program article.

If your goal is to promote Fourthwall, apply to the Affiliate+ program. Creators with $1,000 or more in lifetime sales qualify automatically.

Why does the samples order page show the selling price instead of the manufacturing cost?​

If you see the full selling price rather than the at-cost price, you are most likely not on the sample order page. To get to the right place:

  1. Click Place order at the top of your dashboard, then click Choose products to order.
  2. Look for the at-cost price displayed next to each product. On the sample order page, prices reflect manufacturing cost only, with no markup.

If you are on the correct samples order page and still see the selling price, contact our Support team at support@fourthwall.com with a screenshot of the page and the URL in your browser so they can investigate.

Sample order changes and charges FAQs​

I changed my design after ordering a sample. Which version will I get?​

Your sample is printed with the design as it was when you placed the order. Once a sample order is placed, design details such as the artwork, logo size or placement can't be modified, so edits you make to the product afterward don't change that sample. To check your updated design, place a new sample order after you save your changes.

If the order still shows Cancel items, you can cancel it and order again with the new design. If you don't see that option, the order has already progressed and can't be stopped through the dashboard. Learn more in Order samples.

Why doesn't my sample order total match the product prices?​

The at-cost price next to each product covers the product only. Your checkout total can differ for these reasons:

  • Shipping. Shipping is charged separately, based on the items in your cart, your shipping address and the shipping rate you select. Shop credit doesn't cover shipping, so it's always charged to your card.
  • Tax. Fourthwall calculates sales tax at checkout from your shipping address, including on sample orders. Nonprofit creators can get sales tax refunded on sample orders.
  • Shop credit. Your shop credit is applied automatically and lowers the product total.
  • Currency. Sample orders are priced and charged in USD. If your card is billed in another currency, your card issuer converts the amount.

Import duties aren't part of your checkout total. If your sample ships across a border, the destination country may charge duties and customs fees on arrival.

Damaged or defective samples FAQs​

What do I do if my sample arrives broken or defective?​

We're sorry for the inconvenience. Email our Support team at support@fourthwall.com with the details below so we can review the issue and coordinate a fix with our manufacturing partner.

What information do I need to include when reporting a sample issue?​

To resolve your case quickly, include all of the following in your message:

  • Order number. The sample order ID from your Orders page (for example, #116782). To list only your samples, click Filter, check Only internal orders, and click Apply filters. Without an order number, our team cannot match the sample to your account.
  • Photos of the defect. Attach clear, well-lit photos that show the issue plainly. Include at least:
    • A wide shot of the full item so the product and variant are identifiable.
    • A close-up of the defect itself, in focus.
    • The packaging or shipping label if the item arrived damaged in transit.
  • Location of the defect on the item. Note where the issue appears (front, back, sleeve, hem, seam, neckline, print area, etc.) so our team can flag it with the manufacturer.
  • Description of the issue. Describe what's wrong in your own words: misprint, color shift, fabric flaw, stitching issue, sizing problem, broken or missing component, arrived damaged, and so on.
tip

Pro Tip: Send everything in a single email thread. Splitting photos and details across multiple messages slows the review and may delay your replacement.

Will Fourthwall replace or refund a defective sample?​

Yes. If a sample arrives with a quality issue or visible defect, Fourthwall replaces or refunds it once Support confirms the issue.

How long will it take to receive a replacement?​

Support typically responds within 24 hours on business days. Once the issue is confirmed and a reprint approved, the replacement follows the same production time as a standard sample order, 2 to 5 business days, plus shipping time.

If you have a time-sensitive deadline, state it clearly in your email to support@fourthwall.com so the team can flag your case accordingly.

What if my sample's colors look softer or more muted than my design file?​

Softer or more muted colors are expected behavior for direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, especially on neon or highly saturated artwork printed on dark garments. DTG ink soaks into the fabric, so a print on a dark blank often looks darker than the on-screen mockup. This is a print-method limitation, not a defect, and the standard applies to every DTG order on the platform, not just samples. The sample isn't eligible for a refund or replacement, and a customer order with the same color shift won't qualify either.

To decide whether a color issue is expected DTG behavior or a real production error, use this threshold:

  • Expected DTG behavior, not a defect. The print looks softer, darker, or less saturated than the mockup on a dark garment. No action needed beyond the print-method swap below.
  • Report to Support. The wrong garment color was shipped (for example, a black tee instead of navy), or the color is inconsistent between two units of the same product printed on the same blank by the same partner.

To get a closer match to your original file, switch the product to direct-to-film transfer (DTFx), which holds vibrancy better on dark fabrics. See the full color-match reference in Print quality control standards. For a customer order that hits the "report to Support" threshold, see Returns, refunds, and quality issues.

Was this helpful?