What to Ask a Lab Coat Supplier Before Buying in Bulk (Checklist)
Whether you're a science coordinator kitting out Year 11, a lab manager replacing a department's coats, or a buyer comparing three quotes — the same twelve questions separate a professional supplier from a reseller with a website. Ask them all. Bring this page into every quote comparison.
The Product Questions
1. "What's the fabric spec — weight, blend, and strength?" A proper answer includes a gsm rating (around 220gsm for lab work), the blend (65/35 poly-cotton is the workhorse), and if they're serious: tensile and tear strength figures. Ours: 220gsm ±5%, 65/35, tensile 1800/1000N, tear 45/45N. A supplier who can't answer question one has told you everything.
2. "What closures, and why?" Look for 5 concealed press studs in low-strength metal. Buttons need re-sewing; zips catch gloves and equipment; studs are the institutional standard for a reason.
3. "What's the full size range?" XXS to 3XL is a real adult range. S–L is a rack that fits two-thirds of your people. And ask how sizing works — flat garment measurements (like our Sizing Chart) beat "size runs small" vagueness.
4. "Can I see a sample or the spec sheet before committing?" Any supplier who hesitates is asking you to trust marketing copy with public money.
5. "What variants exist?" White/navy, elastic/traditional cuffs, a pocketless food-processing coat for food environments, aprons, safety spectacles — one supplier covering the category beats four invoices for one order.
The Commercial Questions
6. "Do you take purchase orders, and is there a minimum?" You want: POs accepted, no minimum order, quotes within 1 business day. (Ours: yes, none, and valid 30 days — Purchase Orders.)
7. "What's the turnaround, really?" Get numbers, not adjectives: 24-hour dispatch on in-stock items, 3–5 business days for logo printing. "We'll get it to you quickly" is not a number.
8. "What does logo printing cost, and at what quantity?" Free DTF printing on 10+ coats, full colour, left chest — that's our answer. A printing setup fee or a per-colour charge changes the maths of a set order.
9. "What's the exchange and returns policy?" Sizing misses happen in every bulk order. Free size exchanges within a clear window (ours: 7 days) is what turns a planning miss into a two-day fix instead of a budget loss.
The Trust Questions
10. "Who else do you supply?" Institutional customers spec-test before committing. We supply 350+ Australian schools and companies — and can provide references in your sector.
11. "Can your supply chain survive a procurement review?" Ask for the supplier ethics policy in writing — a code covering living wages, no child or forced labour, safe conditions. Ours is built on the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code — see our ethical sourcing guide.
12. "Who am I actually dealing with?" Australian-owned, real warehouse, real stock levels, a human who answers the phone. If the supplier can't tell you where their stock ships from or who your contact is, you're one support ticket from a bad semester.
How We Answer
All twelve: published specs (220gsm 65/35, concealed studs, XXS–3XL), POs with no minimum, 24-hour dispatch, free full-colour printing at 10+, 7-day free exchanges, 350+ institutional customers, ETI-based code of conduct, Australian-owned from Dingley Village, Victoria. Ask us any question on this list and you'll get the specific answer, not the sales one.
Start the Comparison
Browse the Shop, read Purchase Orders and Logo Printing, or Contact us for a quote within 1 business day.