Shipping Charges

Shipping charges are based on the Shipping Services offered and selected.  When you receive your invoice or if you pay immediately via PayPal, you are presented with your Shipping Options. Make your selection based on how quickly you want your purchases and on what you want to pay.  If I do not offer a particular Shipping Option that you'd prefer to use, email me with your preferred Shipping Option and I will do what I can to satisfy your request.  Use the Shipping Calculator within each Item Description to determine exactly what your Shipping Charges will be.

Please note that we suggest you purchase Shipping Insurance to cover your purchase(s) in the event of damage enroute.  WE CAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITEMS ONCE THEY HAVE LEFT OUR HANDS.  If your shipment is damaged, notify me and I will forward the Shipping paperwork and Insurance Claim Information to you so that you can deal effectively with the Shipper.

A Handling Charge is added to each Item purchased.  Please see the following section for an Explanation of the Handling Charge(s).

Why a Handling Charge? Fees?  Costs?

I wanted to let all Customers and potential Customers know where and when we here at Stark Raving Glad! Home Decor Store add charges to their orders so that is NO confusion at checkout time.  I wanted everyone to be aware of these "hidden" costs because I was raised to believe that honesty really IS the BEST POLICY.

Whenever you purchase anything from us a small, basic handling charge is added to each item's shipping cost.  These charges range from $0.30 to 4.00 for MOST items, and only in RARE cases which are explained below, do we exceed a $4.00 per item handling charge.

SHIPPING SPECIFICS

Our store is set up so that if you purchase more than one item from us within 30 days (and we've not already shipped out a purchased item to you), you can combine all your purchases for our Standard Shipping Discount.  This means that any First Item Purchased will ship out at posted USPS Rates and any additional items added to that order will ship out anywhere from $2.00 to $6.00 less than their normal 'single ship' rate per item.  On sales and shipping of multiple items, our Handling Charges per item are adjusted so that you pay only the greater of the handling charges and we either eliminate or greatly reduce the charges on subsequent items.  These Charges are added to the 'combined' shipping charges for your total Shipping Cost(s). If you are purchasing multiple items at one time, please Request an Invoice from us so that we can make the necessary adjustments to the Shipping and Handling Charges prior to your completing the transaction. If you do not contact us for an invoice and you pay immediately, these adjustments will be made post-payment and a Refund on the overpayment of Handling Charges will be issued at that time.

Why add a Handling Charge at all?  Aren't we making enough off the actual Item Cost? 

To be honest, because we price our Fine Collectible and Home Decor Items to be among the lowest and most reasonably priced on the Internet, our profit margins are not large at all.  We consider an item's acquisition cost, plus our overhead (yes, even though we are Internet based, we still have SOME overhead, i.e., packing boxes, bubble wrap, tape, paper, labels, etc.) and we add a small profit so that we can earn a living and continue to be contributing and productive members of American Society.  We believe that our profit margins still allow us to claim to have some of the Best Prices for Fine Quality Collectibles and Home Decor Items available on the Internet today!  After profit margins are factored into item prices, we still have to clean, examine, pack or repack purchases, which takes my time and quantities of supplies.  That is why our items carry a Handling Charge.

If you are a frequent Customer in Good Standing, I am willing to discuss and possibly reduce my handling costs based on effective, friendly and positive communication between us.  If you wish to discuss a reduced Handling Charge on your purchases, please email me at starkravinglad@comcast.net and we'll see how we can exercise our commitment to you to keep you happy and satisfied with our Merhcandise and our Services.

As I stated above, our Standard Handling Charge per item will exceed $4.00 only in the following example(s);

* - You have purchased a relatively expensive piece of Crystal or other fragile or breakable item and your purchase requires that an above average amount of time and packing materials must be used to ensure Safe Delivery to your home.  These Handling Charges will range between $3.00 and $8.00 per item (or per order if we've reduced each item's Handling Charge based on our communication with you).  So far, I've not felt the need to charge more than $8.00 per item or per order for Handling, and as of now, I don't expect to have to in the future.

* - Very Large or Very Large and Breakable Items may require me to add a Greater than $8.00 Handling Charge.  The Larger Charges will apply to entire sets of China or other large and/or complicated Items.  Packing entire sets of China require a great deal of time and packing materials and I do not build these costs into the actual Item asking price.  If you wish to know the Handling Charge on Sets of China or other large and/or complicated Items, please email me prior to your purchase so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises waiting for you when you "checkout".

* - All orders that are shipped outside the United States of America have an extra $4.00 added to their Handling Charge/Shipping Charge.  This is to cover the added packing strategy of double-boxing each item, added additional protective packing materials and longer packing time.

* - We treat all our Merchandise with Great Care so that we may offer only High Quality, Excellent Condition Collectibles and Home Decor Items for your consideration and we want your purchases to arrive to you in Perfect Condition.  This is why we Pride ourselves on our "ATOMIC PROOF" packing methods, and this is why we add our very reasonable Handling Charges to all SRG items.  We know you appreciate our efforts in having your purchases arrive undamaged and that is why we will continue to pack extremely effectively and why we MUST continue to add a Handling Charge to each Sold Item. 

Other than our Handling Charges, you pay only what is necessary for the USPS or other Shipper to get your purchases from us to you. There are no other Hidden Fees, Costs, etc.

RETURNS

All Sales are Considered FINAL.  All our merchandise is Sold as Described.  We do our BEST to accurately describe each item and any problems, flaws, damage, etc.  Prior to completing a purchase please email me with any questions you may have about the Item, its specifics or condition, Shipping and Handling Charges and/or Our Return Policy.

Returns are accepted for One Reason ONLY.  We will Accept Returned Merchandise ONLY in the event that you feel that your purchase was NOT AS DESCRIBED in the Item Description.  In order to prevent any surprises on the receiving end, we make every effort to accurately describe our Merchandise including any pre-existing damage or flaws.  Please ask questions prior to completing your purchase if you are uncertain about the item quality or condition. We will be the final arbitrator of whether or not an item meets the conditions for a Return and consequent refund.  There are NO returns on Record Sales!

If we accept a Return based on the fact that you feel the Item was NOT as described, we will refund your total purchase price minus the initial shipping charge(s).  Shipping charges are NOT refundable in any case either initially or when you Return an item.  This is subject to negotiation after discussion with us, but in MOST CASES, Shipping Charges will not be absorbed by us. You must notify us via the Message System within 7 days after receiving your purchase(s) in order to Return an Item and obtain a Refund for the initial Item(s) cost.  Upon notification of an impending return, we will email you with the Return Shipping Details.  Returned Items MUST be packaged properly and securely and arrive back to me in original condition.  Once I've received the Returned Items, I will credit your PayPal Account, minus shipping costs, if that is how you initially paid, or I will send you a Check for the Refunded Amount, minus Shipping Costs.  If you paid with a Bank Check or Money Order I reserve the right to issue a Refund using my Personal Check.  PLEASE email us with any questions you may have about an item or our Policies prior to completing your purchase.

I trust that I've effectively explained our Policies on Shipping and Handling Charges, as well as our Return Policy.  Please email me at the address above if you have any additional questions.  Our Business Relationship can be Wonderful and Mutually Rewarding if you are completely aware of an Item's Description, its Shipping Costs, and what your options are in the event you are not satisfied with your purchase.

We Welcome you as a Customer and we are committed to providing Quality Collectibles and Home Decor Items for your consideration at Great Prices with Superior Service!

Thank you.  Mike, at Stark Raving Glad! Home Decor Store