SALES POLICIES - Website & Auction Sales

Nobody likes the fine print, but we feel it's important to provide you with detailed information about our selling policies so there are no misunderstandings. Yes, rules are "icky", but we need them in order to provide the best, most professional service for our customers. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us to discuss them. 

1. CONTACT:  We will notify the buyer of the total amount due (including shipping & insurance) within 3 days of an ended auction, negotiation or order. The buyer is required to e-mail their shipping address (no PO boxes) to us within 3 DAYS of this notification as confirmation of the transaction. We reserve the right to cancel the sale or relist the item if we do not receive a response within 3 days.
2. PAYMENT DATES:  Payments must be received within 10 DAYS of notification by the seller, unless other prior arrangements are made. Seller reserves the right to cancel the transaction if payment is not received by the 10th day, and put the item back up for sale.  Payments may be extended, depending on the circumstances.  Layaways available upon request (see #11 below). Please contact us for details.
3. PURCHASES :  Because of the higher risk of internet fraud due to stolen credit cards, we reserve the right to hold shipments on orders over $250 until we speak to the buyer by telephone to verify their identity and intent to buy.  If verification cannot be made within 10 days of the purchase date, the item(s) will be returned to inventory for resale, and a refund issued less a 20% restocking fee.  This restocking fee is not refundable, but may be converted to store credit upon request, at our discretion.
4. SHIPPING:  Buyer is responsible for paying shipping charges.  Our item listings quote the cost of insured shipping via UPS Ground within the continental USA, which can take up to six business days depending on your location (see Time in Transit Map).  We will be happy to give you a price for 2nd Day or Express if you need your item faster, or if you live outside the continental USA.  Small and/or inexpensive items may be sent via the US Mail at our discretion.  International shipments are sent insured via the Post Office only.  PLEASE NOTE:  UPS shipments are processed 5 days a week, Monday thru Friday.  Post Office shipments are sent 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) excluding US National Holidays.  We will provide you with a UPS tracking number after shipment so you can check the status of your shipment online at any time.
5. PAYMENT METHODS:  We accept Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Personal Check, Cashier's Check, Western Union, or Cash in US Dollars from buyers with USA addresses. If you choose to send cash through the mail (not recommended), it is at YOUR RISK! Credit Card, Cash, and Money Order payments will ship the next business day if received by 5pm Monday thru Friday.  Payments received after 5pm Friday and before 8am Monday are packed on Monday for shipment on Tuesday.  Personal Checks will delay shipment up to 10 business days, or until funds clear both banks.  Credit cards can only be processed online (not by telephone) via PayPal.  International customers may only pay in US Dollars by international Money Order issued by a bank (not Postal Service or retail store), or with Western Union.  Due to the increased risk of internet fraud due to stolen credit cards, we reserve the right to deny 3rd party shipments, payments from unconfirmed and/or unverified credit cards, buyers under age 18, high value shipments over $200, and/or shipments outside the United States. Buyers who send us an NSF (bounced) check will be charged an additional $25 processing fee.
6. INSURANCE:  Insurance is required on all purchases and we automatically include it in our quoted mailing costs.  This is for your protection and ours in the event the item is lost, stolen or damaged in transit.  We normally self-insure items under $25 which are mailed through the US Postal Service to help minimize paperwork and a lengthy claim process.
7. RETURNS:  All items are sold "as is", and the sale is final once the item has been shipped.  However, returns may be accepted if the item is significantly different than it was described due to an error or oversight on our part. Please contact us within 48 hours of receipt of shipment to request a refund and receive return instructions.  Do NOT mail the item back until you contact us first -- unverified returns will not be accepted or refunded.  The item must be in the same condition as shipped, returned in the protective packing material we used, and mailed with insurance. Refunds do NOT include shipping, packing or insurance charges in either direction.
8. DAMAGED ITEMS:  Please inspect your purchase for damage immediately upon arrival.  If the item is damaged, the buyer is required to keep the item, all packing materials, the original shipping box, and contact us within 48 hours of receipt in order to process an insurance claim for reimbursement.  DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY!  These items must be made available for inspection by the shipping carrier before an insurance claim reimbursement can be issued.  Insurance claims normally take an average of 10 business days to resolve, but may take as long as 30 days, depending on the carrier.  International insurance claims can take up to 90 days, maybe longer depending on the country.  Therefore, we ask for your cooperation and patience during the insurance process in the unlikely event a claim is necessary.
9. PACKING FEE:  All buyers pay a non-refundable packing charge for each item, even if multiple purchases are combined in a single shipment.  Very fragile items requiring additional care and packing materials may incur a higher charge.  This fee is included in the shipping price quoted in our listings. We do not make money on packing fees -- they are added so we can provide the very best bubble wrap and styrofoam packing.  After all, we want you to receive your purchase in excellent condition.  In spite of rough handling, and sending over 2,500 items all around the world, we have only had five damaged items in the past five years!
10. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Please contact us to obtain an insured postage quote to your country, as the shipping costs provided in the item listings are to continental USA addresses only.  Due to international fraud risk on credit card payments, we will only ship internationally to a CONFIRMED PayPal verified address when you pay online via credit card. International shipments may only be paid for in US Dollars by a Money Order issued by a BANK (not Postal Service or retail store), PayPal or Western Union.  All international shipments, and US military APO and FPO shipments, are sent via the US Postal Service.
11. LAYAWAY:  Layaway terms may be available on high value items upon request, but must be arranged BEFORE bidding or submitting a purchase order.  As we are promising to hold an item for a significant period of time, layaway payments are *NOT* refundable, but may be converted to store credit upon request, at our discretion.  The maximum layaway period is 6 MONTHS.  If items are not paid in full within 6 months, payments will be converted to store credit, and the items will be put back up for sale on the website.  Please visit our FAQ page or contact us for more information on layaways.
12. FEEDBACK:  We leave feedback for our auction bidders.  Depending on our sales volume, it may take up to 14 days after your shipment for us to leave feedback, so please be patient.  Assuming you are satisfied with our transaction, your positive feedback will be greatly appreciated!
13. PRICES & DISCOUNTS:    All prices and shipping charges are subject to change without notice.  We reserve the right to cancel or end specials, discounts and/or promotions at any time, at our discretion, without prior notice.  No double discounts, combined discounts, or price reductions on items purchased before the special or sale began, or items on layaway.  Shipping not included in discounts unless specifically stated.
    
    LAST, BUT NOT LEAST...
    
    We want you to be happy with your purchase. If you have any problems or concerns, please bring them to our attention right away. We will do whatever possible to insure that you are satisfied with every aspect of the transaction!

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