thelivesandlovesofmaggiethecat web store FAQ section

There are several ways to get the reduction depending on how much of a hurry you are in. 1. The easiest way is to use Google checkout. Checkout as though you are paying the full amount. Google sends the information to me and I charge you the discounted amount. 2. If using Paypal the fastest way is to go directly to Paypal and check out paying the total shown for your cart. I will then issue a Paypal refund for the excess shipping. Make one Paypal payment for the whole cart. Speed depends on how fast Paypal notifies me. It is usually immediately but not always. 3. If you want a firm shipping quote before you buy, email me with the numbers of the items you want to buy and I will send you a total. Make sure your email spam filter is open to allow my response to get through. 4. I will give you a refund on shipping whether you ask for it or not as long as all the items are going to the same address at the same time and one payment is made.

Please be considerate if you have not received your package and it was purchased right before a holiday or in winter. If I am snowed in or know your package will be slow in arriving, I will email you. However those emails sometimes get weeded out as spam. Please email me if you are concerned. Things like that happen about once a year. Generally I mail Monday to Friday from Canada. That is most packages. There is no mail pickup between 4pm Friday and 4pm Monday so if you purchase on Friday night or the weekend, there is no mailing until Monday. I mail every two weeks from the USA for heavy items, item I don't trust going through customs, and breakables. Please note that during December I schedule my last mail day before Christmas as the last day Priority Mail can be expected to deliver your gifts in time for the holiday. I do not make special trips to the post office for a single package so if speed is of the essence, email me before buying. I can arrange for courier service if you are willing to pay for it. I NEVER MAIL ON SATURDAY.

Canada is a problem. Shipping within the country is costly as Canada has a minimum package rate of $9-14 for anything up to a kilo in weight. If you don't require insurance, I will mail small flat items like hankies, scarves and small linens in envelopes as letter mail. There is a chance your item will arrive with postage due if it is more than a half inch thick. So far that has never happened. I prefer jewelry to be insured as it is too easy to lose or steal. It can be sent registered mail within Canada if the package is less than 1/2 inch.

Yes I do but you must pay via Google Checkout or Paypal. Delivery times are approximately 5-7 days by air and 4-6 weeks by boat. This does not include holiday periods. Insurance is required for valuable items and anything breakable. Items from Canada have insurance included in the basic shipping rate. Signature required mail can be arranged but it is expensive.

For packages up to 13 ounces, I use First class mail. For books I use media mail but if the book fits in a flat rate Priority mailer, that is recommended, particularly if the book is over a pound in weight. Items that weigh over 13 ounces and are not books go by Priority mail. Canada Post is used for Canadian and international mail and lightweight mail to the USA.

It doesn't really pay. Priority boxes, labels and Ty-vek envelopes are free. I can't always find a good free box to use for Parcel post. If I have to buy a box, the cost to you will be more than if I use Priority mail with the free packaging supplies.

The shipping charge you see listed is based on the following: Actual shipping/postage fees Delivery confirmation--if mailed from USA. Insurance on breakables and valuable items. You can request it however on any package. Email me. Padded envelopes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts etc if used. Border fees, gas etc. I round up to the next dollar. I charge a small token amount for handling as described above. I don't charge for the time it takes to prepare your package or drive it to the post office. The fees listed above are what you get charged.

I will accept returns under certain circumstances. 1. I send you the wrong item. Return the package to me and I will refund all money or send the correct item at no additional expense to you. 2. The item is not as described. This is not likely to happen as I take great pains to describe fully and accurately but if I do miss something glaring, contact me within 3 days of receipt describing the problem, and return in original packaging for a refund. If it is a genuine problem I will refund shipping. If it is an excuse to return the item, I won't. 3. You hate it. Your mate hates it. The dog runs from it. I'll take it back if you return it immediately but I won't refund any shipping. 4. You changed your mind but threw out the packaging and packing slip. SAVE YOUR PACKING SLIPS. I CANNOT ACCEPT RETURNS WITHOUT THEM. I may have to bring the returned item back across the border and that packing slip is my proof that I am not the buyer. If you have thrown it out, print out a copy from your computer. 5. You haven't received the item yet but decided you don't want it. DO NOT OPEN the package when it arrives. Mark return to sender and drop it in the post office. That way you don't have to pay return shipping. You get no refund till the item has been received by me. No refund of any shipping in such cases.

Everyone has their own definition for these terms and most definitions are a bit fuzzy. Antique is generally considered to be over 100 years old but few people consider an item of 95 years to be merely vintage. I tend to consider antique as before WWII. Vintage is at least 1 to 2 generations old but the tail end is rather less clear. I consider it as from World War II until the end of the Viet Nam war. I do use the word loosely however. Sometimes I use it to mean an item is not new. Previously owned does not mean an item is old or even used. It means someone else owned it and either sold it to me or donated it to a charity. I buy nothing wholesale or retail on sale. Many of my items have never been used even if they are antique. However, unless they still have the store tags, I list them as used. I am by no means an expert on age of the items I sell. I do some research, make my best guess, and pass it on to you. You are welcome to correct me or ask questions.

I have a large vocabulary so lots of words mean the same when it comes to condition. Let's start at the top with the best condtion keeping in mind that almost nothing I sell is factory fresh. Everything has been handled by at least 2 people. Me and the person who sold it to me. Here are terms I use from best down. 1. (mint, as new, like new, store fresh, superb, unused) 2. (excellent, nearly new, may be unused, carefully used) 3. (excellent vintage condition, very good, near fine) 4. (slight signs of handling, has lost some of its glow, still lots of life left, has age crazing, very faint stains, pin holes) Lower than this I don't go unless it is an unusual piece or offered for crafters and I will so indicate in the description.

eCrater technology is not set up to allow for optional insurance. This is how I handle it. 1. Pricy breakables, items with glass and listings of multiple breakables in one package have insurance included in the shipping price as does jewelry over $20.00. 2. If you are combining items and the merchandise value is over $25 or includes uninsured breakables, part of your shipping total will be applied to insurance. The insurance charged is exactly the amount I am charged by the insurer. 3. If you wish any special security such as special handling, express, courier, signature required, or registered mail, please request it prior to purchase. I will do everything possible to accommodate your requirements. I require signature for packages with a value over $100.

If an item shows $0.00 for shipping, it means shipping is included in the price of the item worldwide. Because it is awkward for buyers outside USA and Canada to buy instantly, I have started including worldwide shipping in the selling price of some flat lightweight items. If it is a scarf, hanky or flat unbreakable piece of jewelry that doesn't require a box, quite often there is only a few cents difference in international and North American shipping. These items in future will have shipping included. (This includes insurance on items over $25.00 in value.) I will gradually change over the items already listed but that will take some time. Combined shipping of multiple items with shipping included will bring you a rebate after checkout. This could be a considerable amount as I charge only the actual expenses incurred in shipping. Should you need to return an item, any refunds will be reduced the amount of postage shown on your package when it arrives. If you combine a shipping included item with an item with shipping extra, your total cost will be fairly calculated. That has to be done on a case by case basis. You will be informed of the discount by email.