Frequently Asked Questions
About Your Order
Do I need to fill out everything on the order form?
Please fill out as much as possible on the order form. If pertinent information is missing a sales representative will contact you to get the rest of the information before your credit card or account is charged.
How can I pay for my order?
You can:
- Call us at (859) 261-2035 and pay with a Credit Card over the phone
- Pay with a Credit Card online
- Mail us in a Check to PO Box 72430, Newport, KY 41072
- Send a Wire Transfer
- Set up a Credit Account with us
How long will it take to receive my order?
Because we manufacture everything to order, production times can vary. Usually 2-4 weeks during the off-season, and 6-8 weeks during the busy season. Call today to get a free quote and estimate of when your tags will be shipped.
Do you have any discounts?
We offer quantity discounts at 500 and 1,000 tags. We sometimes place coupons in magazines, or offer special discounts to our email subscribers.
Can I get my order shipped to me faster?
Some orders may be rushed shipped for a fee or part shipped. Call us at (859) 261-2035 and ask if your order is eligible.
For laser etched tags we have a new Stock-n-Lase program which allows you to buy your tags blank, we stock them here at our warehouse, then when you are ready, you give us a call and we will laser etch your tag and ship it within a week. https://nationalband.com/custom-laser-etched-tags/stock-lase/
If I am thinking of a product that I don’t see, are you able to make it for me?
Even if you don’t see what you are looking for, there is a good chance we can still make it for you! We are an innovative identification solutions provider and because we are a manufacturer, have the ability to accommodate requests, to a certain extent. Call today at (859) 261-2035 to talk with one of our tag specialists!
How do you pick a shipping provider?
We ship through UPS, FedEx, DHL or Parcel Post. If you have a UPS account you would like to use, please let your sales representative know. If you need any kind of special shipping please call us at (859) 261-2035 to see if it is possible.
Why can’t you auto send a quote same day?
We create each quote individually so that we can get you the best price! You should receive an automated email saying we received your quote request within 24 hours of placing it and then you should receive your quote within 1-3 days after that. If you did not receive your quote after 3 days of placing it or did not receive your automated email saying we received it, please call us to make sure it went through.
When I order 1 box, why don’t you understand how many I want?
As a manufacturer, we make the tags and bands in house, they are not sitting in a box ready to go. Bands and tags are packaged in boxes after being produced based on weight. This is why we need to know the exact number of bands or tags you would like instead of the number of boxes.
Other
What type of fastener should I use?
For Rabies Tags:
- We offer S Hooks, Split Rings, an Split Rivets
For Tree Tags:
- We offer Wire bundles and Black Zip Ties for hanging the tree around a branch.
- If you plan on using a nail, we recommend using an aluminum one, with holes in the top and bottom of the tag in the center.
For Industrial Tags:
- We offer Wire Bundles, Black Zip Ties, Adhesive Backing, S Hooks and Split Rings.
- If you plan on using Pop Rivets, please remember to use the next size hole up from the size of Pop Rivet you are using.
Promotional Tags/ Keychains:
- We offer Ball Chains and Split Rings to finish your keychain.
View all of our fasteners here: https://nationalband.com/fasteners-accessories/
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Para hablar con una representante en español llame al 1-859-261-2035 y marque 2. Puede también escribirnos a [email protected]
Picking Your Tag
What size band or tag do I need?
Bands – If the band is going to go on a bird or small animal’s leg, you will need to the size of the leg. We will need you to measure the leg yourself, because every animal is different. For a general bird leg sizing chart, you can use: https://nationalband.com/bird-chart-2/
Tags – If you plan on putting the tag on a shelf or piece of equipment you will need to measure the surface and see what room there is for a tag. If your tag is going on an animal such as a pet, our style 137 round 1-1/4” tag is our most popular size.
Our rectangular tags come in heights of (inches):
- 1/2”
- 5/8”
- 3/4”
- 1”
- 1 1/4”
- 1 1/2”
- 1 7/8”
- 2 1/8”
- 3”
Every height comes in a width ranging anywhere from 2 1/8” to 5 7/8” (inches).
Other shapes and sizes may be viewed here: https://nationalband.com/all-dog-tag-cat-tag-shapes/
What material is best for me?
There is a big difference between the metals our tags are made of!
- Brass is a dense metal that is heavier in weight, shiny, has a gold color and is non-corrosive.
- Plain Aluminum has a silver color to it when plain and is one of the only metals that can be easily formed into other shapes without losing its durability.
- New Black UV Stable Aluminum is best for tags that are going to be outside.
- Our Colored Aluminum comes in plain, red, blue, green, orange, gold, purple, black, white and yellow.
- The Stainless Steel 430 series is dense, magnetic, shiny and slightly corrosive.
- The Stainless Steel 304 series is dense, non-magnetic, dull and non-corrosive.
- Inconel alloys are oxidation and corrosion resistant materials well suited for service in extreme environments subjected to pressure and heat.
- Monel is a group of nickel alloys, primarily composed of nickel and copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon. Stronger than pure nickel, Monel alloys are resistant to corrosion by many agents, including rapidly flowing seawater.
When looking at tags keep in mind that not all types of materials or colors are available in all sizes.
Compare tag finishes here: https://nationalband.com/tag-finishing/
Do you have blank tags for sale?
Yes! All of our tags are available blank. We also sell hand stamps so you can stamp them yourself!
What size holes & slots do you have?
We offer 12 different hole sizes and 9 different slot sizes. The standard is 1/8” hole, either one in the center, left or right side, or two 1/8” holes in the center left and right side. See layout and other size options here: https://nationalband.com/holes-and-slots/
How thick are your tags?
Aluminum: .050” – 1/2 hard temper
Aluminum: .064” – 1/2 hard temper
Aluminum: .040″ Black UV Stable (black on one side only)
Brass: .036” – Alloy 260 70/30 – 1/2 hard temper
Brass: .040 “ – Alloy 260 70/30 – 1/2 hard temper
Brass: .064 “ – Alloy 260 70/30 – dead soft temper
Stainless Steel: .031” – Type 430 2BA finish (Shiny, attracted to magnet, slightly corrosive)
Stainless Steel: .030” – Type 304 2B finish (Dull, not attracted to magnet, non-corrosive)
Stainless Steel: .048” – Type 304 2B finish (Dull, not attracted to magnet, non-corrosive)
Stainless Steel: .048” – Type 430 2BA finish (Shiny, attracted to magnet, slightly corrosive)
Cold Rolled Steel: .025”
Cold Rolled Steel: .048”
For reference, view them here: https://nationalband.com/tag-thickness/
Designing Your Tag
What’s the difference between laser etching and stamping?
The difference between laser etching and stamping is that for laser etching the lines are etched into the surface of the material. On anodized and colored aluminum, the characters will change color from the base color to white(like the QR code below). While for stamping, the characters are pressed down into the material, leaving a deep mark in the metal. Laser etching is the only option for bar codes, data matrix, and QR codes, while stamping is a great option for sequential numbering!
What type of barcode do I need?
How long can the URL be for a QR code?
The shorter the URL the better because long URLs will make the QR code too dense to scan. Typically 19-29 characters is optimal. Learn more about density and how to shrink your URL for free here: https://nationalband.com/barcode-density/
Can a data matrix only go on a certain size tag?
We can place a data matrix on any size tag as shown below, but the bigger the tag, the easier it will be to scan it.
Do you have any scanners to go with my linear bar code or 2D data matrix?
Below are the spec sheets for the two scanners we currently have:
https://nationalband.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/ds4308-hc.pdf
https://nationalband.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CS4070-Spec-Sheet_Final-bluetooth.pdf
Call us today at (859) 261-2035 and ask about our Scanner Loan Program that allows you to try before you buy!
Many of our tags are compatible with scanners you may already have, call today and request samples to test out with your current scanner
Can I put my logo on a tag?
Yes! (Note: All logos will be saved for future use.)
For a stamped logo there will be a one-time charge for a customized logo stamp of around $250+. These are custom-made from an outside company and take about 2-3 weeks to receive. Stamped logo submission directions: https://nationalband.com/stamped-logo-samples/
We can laser etch any logo easier and faster, but will need you to send it to us in the correct format. For logos that do not convert easily to black and white there is a one-time graphic design fee around $150. Laser etched submission directions: https://nationalband.com/custom-laser-etched-tags/logos-artwork-layouts-for-laser-marking/
How much text can I fit on a tag?
Each tag is different and can hold different amounts of text. Most of our products of the website have a “Numbering/Stamping” tab to the right of the picture, this will give the stamping specs available for the specific tag. If you have any questions about how much text you can fit on a specific band or tag, give us a call at (859) 261-2035!
Stamping details, characters per inch: https://nationalband.com/stamped-tag-2/
Laser etching allows for more freedom as we can easily shrink or enlarge your text to give it the best fit on your tag. Learn more about the fonts and layouts here: https://nationalband.com/custom-laser-etched-tags/logos-artwork-layouts-for-laser-marking/
Here are several ways to contact us:FAQ didn’t answer your question?
Email Us
We are happy to help! Email us and we will respond within 2 business days.
Call Us
We’re happy to talk with you! Give us a call at (859) 261-2035.