Supplied assorted: why you sometimes don't choose the colour yourself
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
"5 colors", "2 models" or "assorted": what these labels on a product page mean, when the exact version really matters and how to accurately calculate quantities.
You order ten masks for a themed party. The product page states "5 colors". You assume you'll receive five pink and five black, but a box arrives with a mix you didn't choose. Nothing broken, nothing incorrectly delivered—but a surprise you would rather not have had on the night itself.
Designations like "5 colors," "2 models," and "assorted" are found in almost every category: party supplies, packaging materials, drugstores, and office supplies. They don't all mean the same thing. Below, we list the commonly used terms, with examples from our own assortment, so you know what to expect in advance.
What the designations on a product page mean
Roughly, there are three situations. In the first, you choose yourself: there is a selection menu with variants, for example, color or size, and what you click is what you get. In the second, the design is fixed: one color, one model, no choice needed. In the third—the trickiest—the title mentions multiple colors or models without a selection menu. This usually refers to an item that arrives in varying designs, or a set containing those variants together.
What it says
What you usually get
Example
Selection menu with colors or sizes
Exactly the variant you click on
Items with a drop-down list on the product page
"5 colors" or "2 models" in the title
Varying design, or a set containing the variants together
An item with two colors in the title, such as the Crazy Santa Drinking Mug 325 ml - 2 Colors (€ 7.95) or the Keychain Coffee Cups - 2 Models (€ 7.95), is best read as: this item exists in two versions. Whether you choose yourself depends on the page. If there is no selection menu and the color is important to you, please inquire via info@verpakkingdeals.nl before ordering—that saves a return.
A group that needs to look the same. Ten people in the same outfit only works if you have ten identical versions.
A color scheme at a party. If your table, balloons, and crockery are kept in two colors, one deviating item will immediately stand out.
A gift. For a single item, you don't have a mix—you have precisely THAT one item, and then you want to know which one you're getting.
The simplest solution is to choose an item that only exists in one version. The Venetian Mask Black (€ 5.95) is black, period. With the Rabbit Mask - 5 colors (€ 19.95) and the Rabbit Mask - White or Black (€ 14.95), the design is part of the choice. If you want a group to have a consistent look, the first item with one fixed color is almost always the easiest route.
Calculating with sets, bundles, and individual pieces
The second place where things go wrong is the quantity. "5 pieces," "100 pieces," and "1 piece" are mixed in the assortment, and the difference in price per piece is significant. A few examples to show how to read this:
Rose Petals - 100 Pieces (€ 7.95) — a hundred per bag. Sounds like a lot, but in practice, covers one table.
Name Candles Birthday - 100 Names (€ 1.00) — here, the hundred refers to the number of available names, not the number of candles you receive.
That last one is precisely the type of confusion you need to watch out for: a number in a title doesn't always correspond to the quantity you receive. When in doubt, read the description and, if it's a larger order, it's better to count one extra set than one too few. For small items like the Fake Mustache Set 6 pieces - 3 models (€ 5.00) or Mini Poker Playing Cards - 54 cards (€ 1.95), that extra set costs you a few euros; having too few costs you the evening.
Why sometimes there's only one left
For items that come in multiple versions, one color may sell out faster than another. What remains is a remnant: Neon Gloves 4 colors (€ 5.95) or the Ice Cube Tray 4 colors (€ 3.00) may be well stocked, while only a handful of another model remains. If you're ordering for a specific date—a party, a promotion, a market stall—order as soon as you know the quantity, not the week before.
Four questions before you check out
Can I choose? Is there a selection menu, or are the variants only in the title?
How many do I get? Does the number refer to pieces, sets, or something else?
Does the design matter? If so, choose an item with one fixed color or model.
When do I need it? Count back from the date, not from today.
Further browsing
If you want to know exactly what you're getting before you order: check Party Supplies and Fancy Dress Accessories for everything related to an evening or theme, and Packaging & Shipping for boxes, envelopes, and tape where the color is usually free but the size is not. If you're unsure about a design, size, or quantity, feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl—a question beforehand is resolved faster than a return afterwards.
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