FAQ

FAQ — Ordering and Shipping:

Do you charge $9 shipping for each flag or the whole order?
Generally, we charge $9 shipping for the whole order, whether one flag or ten.

Do you charge sales tax?
We only charge sales tax for customers purchasing from Illinois.

Do you accept tax exemptions for schools?
Currently we do not collect sales tax on orders from other states. We are happy to send any Illinois schools the tax exemption forms.

Which delivery company will be shipping the package?

Most orders ship via UPS, FedEx or US Postal Service.

How long will it take to receive the products?

For most items, we can ship same day from our warehouse, and you may receive your order within 2 – 5 business days. If an item is not in stock, it may take 3-5 business days to get the item in for shipment. If we are unable to ship within the week, we will contact you with an estimated ship date.

Can I pick up my order?
Local customers are more than welcome to pick up your order from our place of business at 765 Kimberly Dr, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

Can I view my product in person before I purchase it?
Stop by our location in Carol Stream, IL during normal business hours (Mon – Fri, 8am-4:30pm CST). You may want to call us at 866-879-1776 before you come to make sure the item you would like to see is in stock.

Do you offer coupons, and how do I get one?
Periodically we send coupons to our email subscribers. Sign up for our newsletter to ensure you receive coupons next time we offer them.

FAQ — Flag materials:

What are your grommets made of?
Our American-made flags feature durable brass grommets. Brass may darken and lose its shine as it ages, but it will retain its strength.

Some overseas manufacturers use less expensive metals, such as aluminum and stainless steel, but outdoor conditions corrode these metals. Nothing is as durable as brass over time.

Do you reinforce the grommet side of flags?

No. Additional stitching or reinforcement on the grommet side of the flag is unnecessary. It doesn't improve the flag's performance or durability.

Instead, the fly end (opposite the grommet side) of flags 8' by 12' and larger may be reinforced for an additional charge. Because the fly end is most likely to be battered in windy conditions, reinforcement of the fly end improves the flag's life.

What are the different flag fabrics, and which one is best for my needs?

We sell flags in six types of fabric: Nylon, Nyl-Glo, Polyester, Tough-Tex, RePatriot© and Cotton.

Nylon: is a lightweight fabric with a sheen. It is light enough to respond to any breeze and is perfect for people who want a constantly moving flag. Nylon is the most commonly used flag material.

Nyl-Glo: is a brand name for nylon treated with a SolarGuard® product designed to prevent the flag's colors from changing. While the treatment doesn't prevent fading, it does keep the blue from turning purple and the red fading to pink or orange. Nyl-Glo flags have a one-year guarantee for colorfastness.

Polyester: is a heavy-duty fabric designed to withstand strong winds. The loosely woven, two-ply polyester thread forms a porous material that allows wind to pass through it instead of constantly beating it. This durable fabric has a matte finish that resembles a vintage cotton flag. This fabric is not suitable for hanging on a house-mounted flag pole.

Tough-Tex: is a brand name for polyester fabric made with the same SolarGuard® treatment as Nyl-Glo.

RePatriot©: is made in the USA using plastic bottles that have been recycled into Repreve rPET. It is a durable material with colors that will last twice as long as a traditional nylon flag. At least 15 bottles are used for each flag. No imported oil by-products are used.

Cotton: is a natural fabric that gives a vintage look to a flag. Because cotton flags don't weather well, we only recommend them for ceremonial and indoor use.

What is the denier of your nylon flags?

The 200d nylon used in our flags makes them durable while still light enough to flutter in the breeze. 200d nylon is the standard fabric for flags made in the USA.

Officially, denier measures the diameter of the thread used in a fabric. Practically, denier is the weight (in grams) of 9000 meters of the specific fiber. That’s approximately five miles long. The denier of most fabrics ranges between 40 and 80d.

What is a “single reverse” flag?

"Single Reverse" flags are made with a single layer of fabric, allowing you to view the design from both front and back. The image and text read correctly on the front, while the back side displays the image in reverse. All US manufacturers produce their flags (state, military, historical and international) in "single reverse." In other words, when you view the back of flag, the image and text will read backwards.

What is a double sided flag?

On this type of custom-made flag, the text reads correctly from both sides. It is made by sewing two printed flags back-to-back, with a liner sewn in between to prevent shadowing. Please note, all this material produces a heavy flag that requires more wind to pick up and fly. Double sided flags also cost at least twice as much as the standard single reverse flag.

Why do you only have “single reverse” flags in stock?

The standard for USA military and government flags is "single reverse" which means that the flag is printed on one side, the inks bleed through the material so that the design is seen on both sides, but the design on the back reads in reverse. Most people read it in reverse without realizing it. Until they purchase a flag, many people don’t even notice that a design which includes logos or mottoes read backwards on the back side of the flag.

The one exception is the POW flag, which is offered in both single-reverse and double seal. The double-sided version is a single reverse flag with a second POW/MIA “seal” appliqued on the back of the flag so that it reads correctly on both sides.

What size flag should I order?

The most frequently ordered flag size is 3'x5'. The most common reason for returning a flag is that it is too big for where you want to hang it. For example, a 5’x8’ flag doesn’t sound that big, but it is the size used on a 30’ tall flag pole and will be way too big for most home uses.

Give us a call at 866-879-1776 and one of our knowledgeable staff will help you determine the correct size flag for your needs.

FAQ — Types of Flags:

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor flags? Can outdoor flags be used indoors and vice versa?

You can identify outdoor flags by the grommets on one edge. These flags are sturdy enough to withstand outside weather conditions without being damaged. However, it is perfectly acceptable to display an outdoor flag inside or hang them on a wall.

Most indoor flags have a pole sleeve (to slip over the pole on which it is displayed) and gold fringe around the edges. They are not made to be flown outside because the wind will damage the flag and fringe. Indoor flags are intended to be used for auditoriums, podiums, parades and other ceremonial use.

Do we carry 45 degree angle flags?

We don’t carry angle flags. These are mostly made in Europe where historical preservation restrictions prohibit the use of traditional signage to mark the location of a street front business.

What is an attention flag?

Attention flags are large, brightly colored flags designed to grab the eye of a passersby. They are usually rectangular or pennant-shaped and provide a great way to make your business stand out.

Attention flags are distinct from a feather flag or other types of banners.

What hardware do I need for displaying my flag?

We recommend that you display your flag in one of the following ways:

One method is to hang the flag on a pole attached to the house at a 45-degree angle. We sell everything you need to display your flag, both individually and as a kit. The kit includes the flag, the pole, and the bracket that attaches to the house (click here to view flag kit). This type of pole should only be used with nylon flags, as the weight of a polyester flag may damage the pole.

The second display method involves installing a flag pole into the ground. Again, we carry a wide range of options, from a simple 20-foot lightweight pole for residential use to various commercial weight poles. These poles are sold with all the hardware you will need for hanging your flag.

Why don't you carry flags poles that go on back of vehicles?

We feel that driving with a large flag attached to the back of your vehicle can be unsafe.

However, we do carry car flags, small flags that attach to the car door or window. These small, lightweight flags allow you to express your patriotism without posing any significant risk to your vehicle or others.