yeah, i did some simple shirts front and back for field hockey this year. and this is what it is they need to have a lock in number usually like 12 when they know your buying at least 12 each shirt is cheaper (ours were around seven dollars) why it costs more for the first shirt as you say is because making the shirts don't cost a lot of money its making the template that does, and switching the ink. for instance if we put black ink on a red shirt and a white shirt it would be cheaper than putting black ink on red shirt then red ink on a white one. at least thats the info the guy gave me.