What is a bobblehead?
A bobblehead doll is a type of collectible doll.
Its head is sometimes over sized compared to its body. Instead of a
solid connection, its head is connected to the body by a spring in such
a way that a light tap will cause the head to bobble, hence the name.
(from wikipedia)
These
bobbleheads have become a staple in sports premiums. Used primarily as
a retail item from the late 1960's and 1970's, baseball teams in the late
1990's reintroduced the item as a giveaway item. Many assumed the
fickle tastes of fans would cause bobblehead popularity to fall over
time, but that has not been the case. Many teams' promotions calendars
still center around their bobblehead giveaway.
The
items are widely collected and traded. Many websites offer trading and
commentary about recent releases, and many judge the success (or
failure) of the giveaway by the value of their bobbleheads on eBay the
following days. Some bobbleheads are found for hundreds of dollars the
following day.
Why are your bobbleheads better than others I might find?
We think we have three primary advantages: Our expert carvers, great pricing, and top quality
Carving:
Undoubtedly you have seen bobbleheads that you can't identify. With
other manufactures, the true likeness of your bobblehead is lost at the
first step of carving. We are confident that our carvers are the best
in the industry. Fine details, exacting scale and lifelike facial
designs make our bobblehead carvings the best you will find.
Pricing:
We have researched several bobblehead options and are confident the
only way to get better pricing is to get an inferior product. Like many
premiums, you will get what you pay for. Paying for expert carving and
careful shipment will certainly pay off in the long run when your fans
have a keepsake they can be proud to showcase.
Top
Quality: With the expert carving, hand painting and top-quality resin,
your bobblehead will look and feel like a true keepsake. The proof is
in the finished product. Ask your TEAMmate Sales Representative for
details on getting one of our quality bobbleheads in your hands.
What are your production time lines?
- From the submission of your photos
- Prototype: carving clay finish 5 days after artwork has been received: Electronic Proof
- Mold and painting for final version: 2-3 days
- Photograph proof via email: 5 days
- Production: 30 days after we get your approval notice for our prototype
- Shipping to US port: 15-18 days
- Shipping product to your door: 7-10 days
- Approximately 9-11 weeks total
How long does it take to get my order?
Approximately 9-11 weeks
Is there a chance my bobbleheads will have lead paint?
Our factory in China is aware of the lead concerns. They use paint that
has been thoroughly tested and approved. We have copies of the lead
testing reports that were completed on our paint manufacturer on file.
What are these bobbleheads made of?
Our bobbleheads are cast in a resin material. This resin holds detail
well and has a solid weight, which establishes value in the hands of
your fans.
Can I see a proof of the design before you start producing the final product?
We rely on electronic proofs, sent to our clients via email. This
includes an email proof of the carving and a second set of email
photos for the painting. This allows us to confirm the look and design
of your bobblehead without the high cost and delays associated with
sending physical samples. For all confirmed orders, we also send clients
a random sample of one of our bobbleheads so you will know the quality on which you can rely with your finished product.
How many colors can I use in the design?
We do not have a limit on colors and we paint to match your photos as closely as possible.
Can I do detailed logos?
We have a process for detailed and small logos.
For these small designs, we can apply a decal (which we often refer to
as a "tattoo"). This is good for very small logos, for example, a team
logo on shorts. There is a small charge for the addition of a decal,
but it is minimal.
What do the bases look like?
We create the base to meet your needs. We do not have a stock base you
must use, rather we build to meet your needs.
Can I have a custom pose?
Your entire bobblehead is customized to meet your
needs. In addition to custom crafting your Bobblehead, our TEAMmate
Sales Staff will offer you helpful advise on poses to avoid. Some poses
dramatically increase the chance of breakage and problems in shipping.
We work hard to prevent that, since a bobblehead damaged in shipment can
spoil a great premium giveaway.
How tall are the bobbleheads?
7 inches and 4.5 inches are our standard sizes, however we can customize your size to meet your needs.
Can I get a RUSH order?
No. We have created some smaller orders and air
shipped them to the States, however we prefer not to do that since the
costs are so high. Our time lines are created to allow for slight
changes and tweaks in the initial carving stage, to allow time to dry
and pack, ocean shipment, and local delivery. Late delivery is the
worst end result, so we work diligently to avoid that. RUSH orders are
extremely difficult to process and guarantee....and it takes our focus
off delivering great bobbleheads on our posted time lines to other
clients.
In our experience,
condensing the time lines in order to RUSH the order along causes
problems and limits our ability to create the best bobblehead possible,
which is our goal with every order.
Where do you produce the Gameops.com bobbleheads?
Our bobbleheads are carved, molded, hand painted and packed for shipping in China.
How are the bobbleheads shipped?
We ship bobbleheads via ocean freight to a port in the US. From there,
ground transport delivers the bobbleheads to your physical address.
Can I get a sample?
When you begin the order process, our TEAMmate sale staff will help you with a sample. We do not offer free samples.
Are there extra costs not included in your price?
Our prices will include all aspects of your order: Carving, molding,
hand-painting, special requests, boxes, box printing, and packaging.
There are no surprises.
What is a mold charge?
We add the mold charge in with your price. Some manufacturers charge
this after the fact, so it can be challenging to determine the actual
cost per bobblehead. Our prices are always PER BOBBLEHEAD, plus
shipping. No surprises. Be sure when you compare prices that all your
bids include everything.
What special options do you have for my bobblehead promotion?
Consult with your TEAMmate Sales Contact for all the options. They
include special packaging, GOLD versions painted on a limited number of
your order for Grand Prizes, JUMBO versions for sponsors, custom bases,
custom bobblespots, and more.