Frequently Asked Questions
What is P.M.B.Q. and what is their mission?
We are a Panda Lifestyle Brand created from the heart of artist Phuong-Mai "Mai" Blasich. P.M.B.Q. initially started out as an artist brand, but our mission has expanded to Make a Pandariffic Life—a safe, cozy space where everyone is accepted for who they naturally are.
P.M.B.Q. also cares very much about sustainability, which is reflected in our commitment to sourcing ethical and eco-conscious products and working within our local communities.
What is P.M.B.Q. Studios?
P.M.B.Q. Studios is an art studio founded by Phuong-Mai "Mai" Blasich. We're located in sunny San Jose, CA and have been drawing pandas since 1999. Mai first saw the pandas at the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington D.C., and instantly became inspired by the magical black-and-white creatures. This inspiration is what fuels our artwork, which we're honored to share with you.
What is Pandaline?
Pandaline T-shirts was the name of our former online t-shirt store that we ran for a number of years. In 2016, we decided to get simple and go back to our roots as P.M.B.Q.
How much is shipping & handling?
Orders less than $45.00 (before sales tax) are charged a shipping and handling fee of up to $8.50, shipping via the US Postal Service.
Orders that are $45.00 (before sales tax) or more ship for FREE via the US Postal Service.
International orders are not available at this time, but we're working on it!
Do you charge sales tax?
By law we are required to charge sales tax to orders shipping within California. Currently the rate is 9.35%.
What is the printing process for the t-shirts?
Our shirts are 100% designed San Jose, CA, U.S.A.
The printing process is one of two ways:
- Screenprinted by hand in small batches in San Jose, CA
- Custom printed on demand, by hand and just for you
Both printing processes have excellent washability and vibrancy. Should you experience unsatisfactory quality after a single wash, please contact us at shop@pmbq.com with your concern. We stand by our products and printing processes and want to make sure that you are a happy P.M.B.Q. customer!
How should I wash my t-shirts?
Like with any t-shirt that you love, you should wash it inside-out, cold, and line-dry. Avoid fabric softeners and bleach; they are the enemies!!!
You should note that every shirt will fade if you wash and wear it a lot. So if it’s your favorite shirt, we recommend you get a backup :) (Or do what we do…look for a new favorite shirt when you old one wears out :)
Will you expand your size run to offer Kids’ sizes, Extra-Small, or over 2XL?
We do offer a small selection of designs that are custom printed by our custom on-demand print partner.
As for the extra sizes, we will occasionally experiment with demand. Feel free to email us your request at shop AT pmbq.com
I remember seeing a design I really liked a few years ago. Will it ever come back?
We print in limited quantities, so what we have on hand is all we have. However, if you saw a character of ours you liked awhile ago, he or she will eventually come back in another design :)
How long will it take to process and ship my order?
Your order takes 3-5 business days to print and process. We ship via U.S. Postal Services, which takes 2-5 business days. If there are no backorders, you can typically expect your order in 5 days at the earliest, 10 days at the latest.
What are your business days?
Our studio processes orders Monday through Friday. Please bear with us, as we’re often juggling graphic design gigs at the same time :) Sometimes we do answer store emails on the weekends, though.
Do you ship internationally?
Currently, P.M.B.Q. Studios operates and ships within the United States.
We do not offer international shipping at this time, but we are working on it!
Do I have any alternate payment options?
We accept credit cards and PayPal only. We do not accept checks or money orders.
Can I make a return or exchange?
If you are dissatisfied, please contact us at shop AT pmbq.com within 7 days of receiving your order. We will gladly return or exchange your product as long as it is in brand-new, unused condition, and as long as you return it within 30 days of lodging your complaint.
We cannot return or exchange Art Commissions, those are final sale items.
We cannot refund return shipping. We’ll let you know how much your shipping charges are once you contact us.
How do I make a return or exchange?
E-mail shop AT pmbq.com within 7 days of receiving your package and explain the nature of the situation. You will receive instructions on how to return your products. Please send your brand-new, unused product(s) back to us within 30 days.
The shirts/products are not what I expected. Can I get a refund?
We stand by our products and craftsmanship. If you are not 100% satisfied, and as long as your products are in new, unworn/unused condition, we will be happy to refund or exchange your purchase. Just email shop AT pmbq.com within 7 days of receiving your order if you are not satisfied. If you do not contact us within 7 days of receiving your order, we cannot guarantee that your refund or exchange will be processed.
Please note that purchases of original artwork commissions are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Please note that shipping & handling costs are NON-REFUNDABLE.
I have a question that you didn't answer! Can I get an answer?
Sure, just drop us a line at shop AT pmbq.com and we'll get back to you within 48 hours.