International Orders
*Please Note: We are sorry to say that with some international orders we may require advance payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order. In these situations, credit cards will not be accepted. Depending on the item ordered and its destination, we may or may not require this advance payment. As a result, it may be best to send us an email asking if this would apply with your order.
(This does not apply to APO and FPO orders or orders from Canada, the UK or with most European countries. All these orders can be paid with a credit card as long as we can verify the billing address of the credit card. The billing address is the address where the credit card statement actually goes to. In addition, we have to be able to ship your item to this billing address. Of course, with APO and FPO orders, we would obviously be sending your item to that particular APO or FPO address.)
Unfortunately, we have had some difficulties with several recent international orders resolving frivolous complaints. We have found that shipping outside the United States simply makes it too difficult to resolve problems with unscrupulous individuals who attempt to take advantage of their distance from the States by trying to "beat the system".
In addition, all sales involving orders leaving the Continental United States will be "final". No refunds will be given. This includes orders going to Canada, the UK, Alaska and Hawaii.
We sincerely regret if we have to adopt this "advance payment" policy with your order. It's sad when improper behavior of a few individuals affects honest people. However our company has made a corporate decision to reduce the risk that is associated with international orders.
We understand that this "advance payment" policy with certain international orders might very well cause someone not to want to place their order. We realize that few people will want to send a money order to a foreign company that they know nothing about, especially with no chance for a
refund. However, if you read some of the customer testimonials under the
"Testimonials: Why Buy From Us" link, you can see that many, many people enjoy doing business with us because of our integrity and the quality of our products.
In addition, we will be glad to send you the email addresses of a couple of our international customers who would be more than happy to recommend our company. They will have all paid in advance with a cashier's check or money order. Please email us
(here) if you would like these names.
Different Shipping Rates Apply for International Orders
Due to the extra time, money and effort necessary to prepare and send international orders, our online listed shipping rates do not apply with international, APO, and FPO orders.
(We consider anything outside the 48 Continental United States as “International”. This includes Canada and all United States territories, states, and possessions, such as Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. In addition, even though APO and FPO shipments are first sent to a U.S. address, they are still considered as "international orders" as explained
below.)
Normally, with local orders inside the Continental United States, UPS comes by our office every day to pick up our orders. The whole process of “packing and sending” takes less than 5 minutes.
On the other hand, all international, APO and FPO orders are shipped using the United States Post Office and are priced according to the weight and destination of the package. In addition, since Post Office orders take longer to process than our regular orders, an extra handling charge of $5 may be added to the actual postage for all international orders.
Please note: The shipping or postage charges that you will be paying is the actual amount the post office will charge us, plus the $5 extra handling fee if it applies to your order. If you have ordered things from the United States before and if you know the weight of your package, you will probably have some idea of what the postage will be. If you want the weight of your package, please contact us here. (These shipping charges that we charge will not cover any duties or other charges that Customs or other agencies may charge.)
As a reference for those shipping to APO and FPO addresses, a ten pound box will cost $15-$20.
International Refund Policy
We are sorry to say that our normal refund policy does not apply with international orders, APO or AFO orders, or any other order sent outside the continental United States. As a result, all sales involving items shipped outside the 48 continental United States are final; no refunds will be given on any such order.
Quality Is Rarely An Issue
We can understand how someone might not want to order something if they are not allowed to return it, especially when they have paid so much postage.
Fortunately though, "quality" is rarely an issue. 99% of our customers love our products. Out of hundreds of orders each year, we have only a handful of returns, with the vast majority of those simply being a size issue.
Constant Communication
To help ease one’s concerns, before we would actually send out your international package, we will probably have emailed each other at least 3 or 4 times. We are usually in constant email communication with each and every one of our international customers.
Our last international customer was in Japan. We probably had 10 emails back and forth before we actually sent their package.
We recently sent a blanket to Ireland. Again, we had at least 10 emails back and forth confirming the order, address and quality of the product.
Rest assured, before we ship out your product, we will have eliminated most, if not all, concerns about ordering from us.
Occasionally, we will actually attempt to “talk” some of our customers out of ordering because we feel that they will not be satisfied with the product for some particular reason. Whether it’s size, practicality, or whatever, if we even remotely think our customer will not be satisfied, we will try to persuade them from ordering.
Most Customers are Confident that they will like the product
Rest assured, that before we actually send you something, there will be little question or hesitancy on your part that you are making the right decision.
We would prefer not sending the item if our customers are not 100% sure that they are going to like it. So far, we have a perfect record! Every one of our international customers has been more than pleased with our products or services.
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