Can I Save Money by Buying My Own Shirts?

Matt Tenbush on August 5, 2026

Can I Save Money by Buying My Own Shirts?

A behind-the-scenes look at wholesale pricing, buying power, and why your printer can often save you money.

We’ve heard it hundreds of times.

“I found these shirts online for a great price. If I buy them myself, can I save some money?”

It’s a fair question.

On the surface, it seems logical. If you remove one step in the process, shouldn’t the overall project cost less?

Surprisingly…

The answer is usually no.

Let’s take a look behind the curtain.

Retail vs. Wholesale

The biggest difference comes down to how shirts are purchased.

When you shop online or walk into a retail store, you’re paying for much more than the garment itself.

Retail pricing includes:

  • Brick-and-mortar stores
  • E-commerce websites
  • Warehousing
  • Employees
  • Advertising & marketing
  • Shipping

Every one of those costs gets built into the price you pay.

Buying by the Truckload

Now compare that to how a commercial decorator purchases apparel.

Austin Screen Printing doesn’t buy one dozen shirts at a time.

In an average week we print nearly 30,000 impressions on approximately 15,000–20,000 garments.

That adds up to hundreds of thousands of garments purchased every year.

Because of that volume our suppliers compete for our business.

That means:

✔ Volume discounts

✔ Program pricing

✔ Mill-direct incentives

✔ Preferred freight programs

✔ Early access to inventory

The more we buy the better pricing we receive.

And that value gets passed along to our customers.

But I Found It Cheaper Online…

Sometimes you might.

Clearance sales happen.

Closeouts happen.

Special promotions come and go.

There are certainly exceptions.

But for current, in-stock apparel we’re often able to purchase the same garment for less than retail pricing because of our wholesale relationships.

And if there is a better option available, we’ll gladly recommend it.

Our goal isn’t to sell the most expensive shirt.

It’s to help you find the best value for your project.

More Than Just the Shirt

When we source your garments, you’re also getting:

✔ Garment recommendations

✔ Color matching

✔ Inventory verification

✔ Replacement support

✔ Warranty assistance

✔ Vendor relationships

✔ One point of contact

If there’s an inventory issue…

     we handle it.

If a shipment is delayed…

      we handle it.

If substitutions become necessary…

      we handle it.

That’s all part of the service.

The Bottom Line

Could you buy your own shirts?

Absolutely.

In some situations it even makes sense.

But before you spend hours searching online let us take a look.

You may be surprised how competitive wholesale pricing really is.

And if there’s a better option we’ll help you find it.

Because that’s what partners do.

Let Us Do the Shopping

Finding the right garment shouldn’t be stressful.

We’ll compare options, check inventory, recommend the best value, and help you maximize your budget—all at no additional cost.

Bring us your idea. We’ll help you find the right shirt for it.

Austin Screen Printing & Austin Embroidery

Proudly serving Austin since 1975

Helping customers make informed apparel decisions for 50 years.