When will my credit card be charged? TOP
Right away when the order is placed.
We have always had items paid for at the time an order is placed. All of the tools are custom built for the customers in the order received. The demand for these tools created a production wait time that used to fluctuate from about 1 1/2 weeks to about 3 weeks depending on the size of the particular wave of orders to come through. If your order was part of a large wave of orders that came through in just a couple of days. The result is that your order is one of the ones that will most likely take the full wait time to be delivered.
We apologize if our policy of charging your card when you placed the order was not explained sufficiently or rather was not conveyed clearly enough. I realize most vendors charge when items ship, however, our tool orders are treated like custom builds.
We never really have a ready stock on hand. The policy evolved from when we were taking orders at shows only. There we take full payment up front. On PayPal we make it one transaction and it is paid up front. When the internet became more widely used and sales rose we kept the same policy out of convenience and efficiency. Our customers like to avoid any last minute delays that might keep their tool from arriving a day later than absolutely necessary. Trying to get in touch with each customer and arrange a final payment for their tool is something that would add a great deal of "last-minute" type work and would predictably cause unnecessary shipping delays, and be a wasteful use of our time. Therefore, splitting the purchase into two parts is not a satisfactory solution. For this unique business with just the two of us here to make and do everything, we have found our way to be the best way although it has sometimes caused people to ask the question "Why?"
For us to bring these items to you, you place your order and that ensures your spot in the production line. We almost always fill orders within the specified wait time and if we don't, we do our best to make it right with the customer. We have never left anyone hanging and never will. Good customer service is important to us and we just want to do what is needed to help you to get and enjoy the benefits of these tools in the fastest way that we possibly can. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Scott and Monica Bouwens
Why should I join your e-newsletter mailing list? TOP
About two times a month I will be sending out our colorful and informative newsletter via e-mail. It will be a way for me to notify you of when we put up new beads for sale on our website, new tool innovations, sales, our upcoming shows, and more. Give it a try, you can easily unsubscribe by following a link on the newsletter if you choose to stop receiving them.
What forms of payment do you accept? TOP
Paypal, Visa/MC, Discover, Money Order/Cashiers Check
What is your return policy? TOP
Tools.....30 day money back guarantee
Beads....please return within 15 days of purchase for credit or refund.
Shipping and Insurance are not refundable.
Do you accept custom orders for beads? TOP
No, I'm sorry we do not. Gotta go with the flow when it comes to glass.
Do you ship outside of the US? TOP
Yes, we do. Choose Global Priority or Global Express Insured mail at checkout. Please be prepared to pay all customs duties and taxes applicable. Global Priority does not offer a tracking number or insurance, so choose at your own risk.
What shipping methods do you use? TOP
Right now we only use US Priority mail and Global Priority mail. I may be adding more options when I have time to do more research. US Priority mail comes with free delivery confirmation, but if you want insurance, you'll need to follow the link at the top of the checkout page to add the appropriate amount to your order. Sorry, insurance is not an option with Global Priority mail.
How soon can I expect my order to be in the mail? TOP
Beads....I usually ship within 1-3 business days from date of purchase.
Tools.....Current wait time is 4-5 weeks until ship date. Get your order in now to secure your spot in the production line.
Is your shopping cart secure? TOP
Yes, it absolutely is secure. You can tell by the https: instead of http: when you get to the page where you enter your cc info.
We use the Mal's e-Commerce shopping cart. It is a well-known and trusted shopping cart system. Your credit card numbers will never be sent via e-mail. It is all held safe in the Mal's system where I go to finalize the trasaction and process your order. To learn more about Mal's, click on our View Cart graphic on the left of any page and scroll to the bottom and follow the Mal's link.
Do you have a warranty on your tools? TOP
The EMS is warranteed against manufacturing defects. We feel that 90 days is a sufficient period of time to determine if your tool is working properly and is free of manufacturers defects. We have our motors made specifically for us and they are overbuilt for this purpose and should last and last without any problems, but if your motor goes out, I'll replace it for free up to two years from time of purchase....after that it will be a small charge of $20 plus shipping to have your motor replaced. If your tool is damaged and needs to be repaired, please contact us for assistance. Some things are fast and easy to remedy yourself, others need more attention and would need to be sent in for service. We try to return service orders promptly because we know how attached you have become to your new tools. Costs vary depending on type of service required.
What is lampwork? TOP
This information has been copied from The St. Louis Lampworkers Society.
"Lampwork" is the craft of making small objects from glass that has been melted in the flame of a torch. The "lamp" in lampwork came from the oil lamps and blowpipes originally used in seventeenth century France and Italy.
The craft of glassworking began with the Syrians around 1700 BC and the Egyptians around 1450 BC. The people of Hellenistic and Roman times perfected glass technology to such a point that intricate portraits and mosaics were made into tiny beads. In medieval Europe, glass making and lampworking was a secret passed from father to son. The secrets of glass making were and still are jealously guarded in Venice, which became the glass and beadmaking center of the world during the Renaissance.
The first book on glass making was published in the 17th century by a Florentine glassmaker named Antonio Neri. Beads then became relatively cheap to produce and were carried as ballast in the trade ships of early explorers and used as currency at their destination. Glass beads were exchanged for furs, tobacco and sugar in the Americas and for slaves, ivory and gold in Africa.
