How to
How to approve a strike-off — pre-production sample sign-off
A 7-point inspection checklist used by brand and procurement teams in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara: exactly what to verify on a physical sample before releasing bulk production.
What a strike-off actually is (and what it isn't)
A strike-off — also called a pre-production sample or PPS — is a physical piece built on the actual production line, with your artwork, your substrate and your print method. It is not a digital mockup, a generic blank with a sticker, or a Photoshop render. It is the only reliable preview of what 500, 5,000 or 50,000 units will look like. For any corporate merch program in Mexico, the strike-off is the artifact that decides whether a purchase order ships or stops.
Indicative cost: MXN 600 to 1,500 per piece, fully credited if you proceed with the PO within 60 days. Lead time: 5–8 business days. Delivery: 2–4 days to CDMX, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Querétaro or Tijuana via DHL Express, FedEx Mexico or Estafeta. For clients operating under IMMEX, the strike-off can be imported under a temporary import regime where applicable.
Why does it matter? Because skipping the strike-off is the leading cause of waste in corporate merch. A misprinted polo that arrives at your client event in Polanco or your annual convention in Cancún does not get returned — it gets paid for twice (production + replacement) and your reputation takes the hit. The strike-off costs a fraction of that error.
Before you sign anything, make sure three things are clear: the signed technical brief, the Pantone codes with their thread or ink equivalents, and a documented tolerance with your supplier. Without those three, even the most careful strike-off can miss the point.
The 7-point sign-off checklist
- Color fidelity — compare the strike-off with the official Pantone chip under natural light or D50 (5,000 K). Target ΔE ≤ 2.5 for hero brand colors. Photograph the sample next to the chip and archive that image with date, batch and strike-off number.
- Logo position and size — measure with a ruler from seams and edges. Recommended tolerance: ±3 mm on tees, hoodies and tote bags; ±1 mm on bottles, tumblers, notebooks and USB drives.
- Print quality — look for missing pixels, broken lines, ink bleed, halos and registration shifts on multi-color screen prints or embroideries. Flex the print 5–10 times to expose cracks.
- Substrate quality — confirm weight (e.g. 180 g/m² vs 200 g/m² on tees), finish (matte, satin, gloss) and paper stock on notebooks. Weigh and measure; do not trust the eye alone.
- Hardware and accessories — zippers, buttons, snaps, caps, magnets: operate each 5–10 times. A closure that fails on the fifth cycle will fail in your customer's hands.
- Label and compliance — fiber composition, care symbols, NOM-050 marking where applicable, and REACH / SVHC declaration if the product crosses to Europe under USMCA / T-MEC.
- Packaging — if you ordered custom packaging, verify the mailer, box or bag carries the correct artwork and the contents fit without forcing.
How to document sign-off (so it lives on paper)
Reply to the strike-off email with one of three sentences, written exactly: "APPROVED" to release production; "APPROVED WITH NOTES" to release but apply specific corrections, listing each; or "REJECTED — REVISION" when a new strike-off is needed. The written reply is binding. File a copy in the procurement folder, cc the cost center owner and the supplier. Once approved, any change triggers a new strike-off cycle.
For teams in Mexico invoicing under CFDI 4.0, the strike-off is billed as a pre-production service with its own UUID; when credited against the final purchase order, the corresponding complementary CFDI is issued. Keeping both receipts avoids headaches during audit.
Common pitfalls that cost real money
The first mistake is signing off from a phone screen, looking at photos, without the piece in hand. Screens always lie a little: color looks colder, detail drops out, texture disappears. Approve only with the physical sample under a desk lamp and natural light when possible.
The second mistake is leaving stakeholders out of the loop. Brand manager validates color and logo, procurement validates quantity and price, and a senior stakeholder gives final sign-off. If only one of them signs, sooner or later production has to be repeated.
The third mistake is mixing tolerances. If you accept ±5 mm on position, you cannot later claim ±3 mm. Define tolerance before the strike-off and measure it on the piece, not on the digital artwork.
The fourth is forgetting the 16% IVA (VAT) in the quote. A strike-off quoted at MXN 1,200 plus IVA ends up at MXN 1,392; factoring that in from the start avoids approval getting stuck over a few pesos.
Tools, templates and references
Downloadable checklist: at the bottom of this guide we share a PDF template with the 7 inspection points and a written sign-off form you can adapt for your team. Print it and attach it to each purchase order.
Recommended gear: D50 (5,000 K) light lamp, official Pantone chip for the hero color, digital caliper or steel ruler with nonius, a good-light phone camera, kitchen scale (to verify substrate weight), 10× loupe for print inspection.
Technical references: NOM-050 for textile labeling in Mexico; ISO 105-C06 for wash colorfastness; ASTM D5034 for tensile strength on tees; REACH SVHC for pieces crossing to Europe under USMCA or T-MEC.
Suggested decision window: 3 business days to approve after receiving the strike-off. Beyond that, the production slot may be reassigned and the timeline slips. If you need more time, say so before, not after.