BLUF: Find a different patch company to go through, such as Badass Patches. Quality, pricing, and punctuality is typically far better than Aviator Gear.
Our unit was looking for a new, updated patch design so we chose Aviator Gear, as it was one of the first options to pop up on Google. It ended in us never putting the product in full production and receiving a full refund.
The process is fairly straight-forward. You send them an idea/drawing, the dimensions, and the material (PVC or Embroidered) so that their artists can create a production-ready product from their line. I sent them a professionally drawn render of our idea so they knew exactly what we wanted. They also ask you to suggest a date you need the product by. SUGGEST is the key word here; don't expect to receive your product for at least 2-3 months after it is approved. Here is why:
- As mentioned in some other reviews, they seem to take your idea and run it through some sort of AI image generator, taking the creativity and quality out of the picture. Oftentimes the image they send you and the actual product look NOTHING alike.
- Communications are very sparse and untimely. Their liaisons communicate over email and oftentimes don't respond for 4-5 business days and typically respond between the hours of 0000-0400 (CST). By the time you respond to them, you're waiting at least a week to move on to the next step.
- For their product quality, they claim to have extensive experience with creating military patches that match the regulations employed by the DoD. We went through 7 different production artworks, mostly because they were not adhering to regulations or seemingly were disregarding the instructions I was giving them. Combined with the delayed email response times and you're looking at a pretty frustrating creation process.
- Compared to their competitors (like Badass Patches), their pricing is up to $2.00-3.00 higher per unit for a lower quality product.
At the end of the day, we DID receive a full refund, so that is why I am giving them a two-star review. However, the process is so untimely, I'd say you're better off using your time elsewhere and with a company that cares more about their products. read more