FAQ & Shipping

Accepted Methods of Payment
Art Blog Subscription and Shop Specials, Contests, and New Item Updates
Backorders
Custom Designs
Customs
Exchange Rate
How to Pay Using PayPal
Natural Variation
Privacy
Returns
Sales Tax
Security
Shipping and Handling

Accepted Methods of Payment

You can pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, E-Check (using your bank card), and PayPal. All payments are made through PayPal, but you don’t need a PayPal account to pay using a credit card or certain bank cards. PayPal is an internationally-trusted, secure payment gateway that protects your information by ensuring that merchants never see your personal account information.

Please Note: Paying through e-check works just like a written check, NOT interac. This means that it can take up to 10 additional days for your order to be processed while waiting for your payment to clear. Unfortunately, I cannot process any orders until I receive payment.

Art Blog Subscription and Shop Specials, Contests, and New Item Updates

You can subscribe to my blog via e-mail (enter in the box at the top of the page) or rss (look for the little orange icon in your browser’s address bar). I will never distribute or sell your e-mail or contact you outside of blog updates. Unsubscribe easily at any time.

Another way you can keep informed of specials, free contests (like this one), and new items is through my MindGarden Facebook Page or through Twitter.

Backorders

Due to demand, I may occasionally need to obtain more jewelry components to finish creating a piece for an order. This may create a delay of about two weeks. Most often, though, the actual delay is more like a week to ten days. I will e-mail you immediately of any delays and, if it will be a problem for you, give you a full refund for the backordered pieces.

Custom Designs

I love working to craft a piece that reflects the character of the person it’s intended for. If you are interested in couture jewelry or accessories, please contact me with the details of what you’re looking for and we can work together to create something unique.

Customs

I mail your order as soon as I can, usually between 2-4 days, but some additional delay can be caused by customs. Because I am sending you items that I have sold to you, I cannot mark the customs label as ‘gift’.

Exchange Rate

All prices are in Canadian Dollars. The exchange rate is the rate charged by your credit card, or by PayPal, depending on which payment option you choose.

How to Pay with PayPal

Sometimes paying online can be a little confusing. To pay using a credit card or bank card, please take the following steps:

  1. Once you have clicked on the ‘Checkout’ button, verified your order (on the Verify Your Order page) and entered all your relevant data, click on the ‘PayPal, Click Here to Buy’ button:
    (this button is an example only)
  2. You will be taken to a new page that looks like this (click on the image to enlarge it):

    If you would like to pay using PayPal, login and pay as usual. If you would like to pay using any other method, click on the grey ‘Continue’ button underneath the credit card logos on the left

  3. You will be taken to a new page that looks like this (click on the image to enlarge it):

    I believe that you can pay with your bank card here if it has a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express logo on it. I could be mistaken though (sorry, I’ve never used this feature myself!).

    Fill in all of your information as it appears on your bill or statement. This is to verify that you are the actual holder of the card and that it hasn’t been stolen and used for fraudulent purposes. Once you have entered in the payment information, click on the ‘Review Order and Continue’ button. If you have problems continuing, chances are there’s a little error in one of the fields you entered. Double-check that you have entered your billing/statement address and that all of your information is correct.

  4. You will be taken to a screen like this:

    Click on the ‘Pay Now’ Button

  5. The following screen will appear:

    If you wish, click on the ‘View Printable Receipt’ link under the orange button. Once you are done with this page, click on the ‘Return to Merchant’ button and you’ll come back to a ‘Transaction Results’ page on this site.

  6. That’s it, you’re done! Welcome back! You will receive 2 e-mails: One from PayPal confirming your payment and a Purchase Receipt from me.

Natural Variation

Each item is individually handcrafted. Each gemstone and pearl is unique. Each handmade bead, though using the same technique, is also unique. Every wrap of silver, every strike with a hammer is a unique moment in time using unique materials. Each piece, though it may use the same materials, will have slight variations. Such is the beauty of handmade items.

Privacy

I take your privacy very seriously. You will not be contacted through the information you provide except in reply to a request or comment submitted through the contact form, or to confirm details about your order. Because of the secure nature of the payment method I use, I never have access to your financial information.

Returns

It’s very important to me that you are happy with your order. If you would like to return an item for an in-store credit, you may do so, providing it is unworn, unwashed, and in its original condition with tags attached up to 14 days from the day I send it to you. There are no returns on custom pieces, special orders or sale items. Shipping and handling fees are non-refundable. Please contact me before shipping to let me know that you are returning an item, include a copy of your receipt with your return, and use the original packaging, if possible. I’m sorry, but I cannot be responsible for uninsured items lost in the mail, so please insure it before sending.

Sales Tax

All Canadian residents will be charged an additional 5% GST and BC residents will be charged 7% PST.

Security

When you pay using PayPal, your banking information is secure. PayPal uses technology that makes your private information completely unreadable to everyone except the banks (and credit card companies) you need to complete your purchase. They make it impossible for fraudulent purchases to be made using your card (and I never see your financial information). PayPal is one of, if not the most, trusted online purchasing gateways.

To tell if a site is securely encrypted (safe to send your private data over), look for a little closed lock symbol with the page address (URL) in either the bottom right hand page of your browser window (FireFox), or immediately to the right of the address bar at the top of your browser window (Internet Explorer). You can see this symbol on every page of PayPal where your information is being processed.

Shipping and Handling

Base shipping to Canada is $3.
Base shipping to US and Everywhere Else is $4.

Sometimes, for large or heavy items, small additional charges may apply. These additional charges will be noted in your shopping cart.

Orders are usually shipped between 2-4 days after purchase, but may take up to 10 days (I do hand craft everything myself :) . Custom and special orders may take slightly longer. Items are individually wrapped and securely packaged in either a padded envelope (jewelry, journals, and accessories) or cello and backerboard (art prints) to prevent damage in transit. All items are sent via Lettermail through Canada Post and I will e-mail you to let you know when they’ve been sent.

If you wish to purchase insurance or upgrade to Priority Courier or Xpresspost, please write a note to me in the ‘Additional Instructions’ box on the ‘Verify Your Order’ page indicating your preference. I will send you a PayPal invoice through e-mail to cover the additional shipping charges.

Please note: I have never lost a package in the mail. However, strange things do happen. It’s documented! :) Unfortunately, I cannot be held responsible for items lost in the mail. If you would like to ensure your package delivery, I recommend buying insurance and/or upgrading to Priority Courier or Xpresspost.