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Provided here are all my sale terms, plus additional information about my business practices that I hope will contribute to a successful transaction. If anything is unclear or doesn’t meet your needs, please ask before bidding. I try to be flexible but cannot always accommodate requests made after the buyer commits to the purchase.
Stipulations in the primary item description supercede the terms and conditions given here. The terms are subject to change and may become out-of-date, especially in store listings. Sometimes I announce changes in the payment and shipping section of my store navigation pages.
Seller's right to cancel transactions: To protect myself from gross shipping cost calculation errors, mishaps, and other unforeseeable adverse circumstances, I reserve the right to cancel any transaction. If payment has been made already, I will request a transaction cancellation through eBay and refund the payment in full. Please rest assured that I never want to exercise this right but will do so to prevent financial loss.
Offers to Buy it Now: If this is an auction listing, and you want to make an offer to purchase, please include the dollar amount with your request to add a buy-it-now price. BIN requests with a suggested price are for more likely to receive a response.
Sales tax: Illinois residents must pay sales tax (8.25%). I am licensed to do business in the state of Illinois, business authorization #3511-8741, and I pay retail tax on all sales to Illinois residents.
Form of payment: Paypal is currently the only available form of payment. Please contact me if you're interested in paying directly with a credit card.
Shipping: Buyer pays for shipping. The shipping charge and service are given below. International buyers will need to enter your location (country and/or zip code) to obtain an estimate. Shipping includes on-line delivery confirmation.
You will usually receive a automated Paypal message when the item ships - this message contains tracking information from USPS. Please note that USPS does not provide real-time tracking, only proof of delivery. USPS delivery is usually prompt, but please note that media mail takes up to 3 weeks, and USPS does not consider a package 'lost' until 3 weeks have passed. In the event of damage or loss, please cooperate and assist with the claim investigation by the carrier. I will reimburse the buyer after I am reimbursed by the carrier.
This will be shipped by USPS. Please allow a few days for packing and shipping -- I'd rather be criticized for being slow than careless.
International buyers, please use the estimator before placing a bid - international shipping is expensive, and you should be prepared to pay for the shipping service that meets Paypal seller protection requirements and provides for full insurance coverage. If the actual shipping cost is significantly lower than the amount charged, I will refund the difference. But if the actual cost, including handling fees, is higher, additional funds will be required to cover the shortfall. International rates are extremely sensitive to weight and size, and sometimes I cannot know the final shipping total until the packing is done.
To manage my time effectively, I ship in batches, usually 2-4 times per week. I make every effort to ship within 3 days of receiving payment and nearly always abide by the 7-day shipping standard set by Paypal.
One-man shop here, so sometimes I fall behind when I have spikes in sales activity, or a car breaks down, or a pipe bursts, or it rains too much, or ... you get the idea. I work very hard and want to ship promptly, but sometimes stuff backs up. I am a one-man operation, with no employees to lean on to speed up the shipping. I live in a very old house that sometimes demands copious amounts of my time without warning, so please forgive the occasional delay. I understand that you expect to receive your item promptly and give priority to meeting my obligations, but there are limitations on how much I can do in a day.
Communication: I try to send a message through ebay before shipping to confirm payment, but when I fall behind I skip this step (sorry). If your item is being shipped via USPS, you'll receive an automated message from paypal. I may also update the status on eBay. In other words, you will probably get some signal from me that everything is OK and that your merchandise is en route, but the method may vary, depending on shipping method and recent sales volume.
Please communicate all instructions through eBay, especially if you are asking me to change the item so that it no longer matches the description. For example, if you want me to remove a print from it's frame to reduce shipping costs, tell me through eBay, so it's "on the record."
Local Pickup: Local pickups are now a catch 22 for sellers. I'm required to accept paypal for ALL transactions, regardless of any limitations I might try to include in my description or agree to with the buyer (or potential buyer). The problem with paypal for a local pickup is that paypal inflexibly requires an on-line tracking record for all transactions, or seller protection is voided.
So, while I'd often be very glad to forego the effort of packing and shipping an item, but the real possibility of losing a paypal charge reversal gives me pause. (I used to pay no attention to paypal rules until pp hoisted my bum and paddled it for a $600 deadbeat several years back ... By dumb luck I was following the rules and got the money back, but since then following the rules has gotten much more deliberate).
So buyers who promise to play nice, bring cash, and not insist on paypal are sometimes allowed to pick items up locally, but please verify this with me before committing to buy. Since the shipping cost of this item is very low, local pickup will be allowed only for compelling circumstances.
Multiple items won within a reasonably close time period will be combined for shipping if possible. In such cases, please do not pay until you receive a combined eBay invoice for the items. Each additional item generally will be $1-2 above the cost of shipping the first item (more if paid for separately). Size, weight, fragility, and value all affect shipping costs, so this discount will not apply in all cases and I do not guarantee that all multiple winnings will be combined.
Payment: I accept the forms of payment shown below. Payment in full is expected within 10 days, after which I will file a non-paying bidder notification with eBay. I will gladly close these disputes after payment is received (I just want to be paid, and if I can't get paid then I want my eBay fees back). I do not accept installment or time payments except by prior arrangement (before you bid or purchase).
I rigorously follow PayPal requirements for seller charge-back protection (see gripe section above), because eBay and paypal payment and shipping restrictions entail risks that I cannot take as a normal course of business. That means I accept only payments from the countries that are covered by paypal seller protection and ship only to the address shown on the paypal transaction record. I will not make exceptions, regardless of your feedback or other circumstances. (Please contact paypal for help with adding alternate addresses to your paypal account as needed to meet your delivery needs.) A delivery signature is required for transactions with a value of $250 or more.
Shipments to APOs do not meet paypal requirements for on-line delivery confirmation, so unfortunately, I cannnot ship to military addresses. If you are unable to provide an alternate address for the paypal transaction, please do not purchase from me.
International bidders: I ship only to countries covered by Paypal seller protection. Normal international shipping method is by USPS Global Priority or Express to all non-US destinations. UPS Standard to Canada is also available ond normally used for lots weighing more than 4 lb (UPS is also available to other international destinations on request, but it's ridiculously expensive so I have yet to receive a request for it). I will attempt to provide a more economical service if possible, but Paypal seller protection requirements override all other concerns. Insurance is at the buyers expense and you must pay for the carrier and service that provides coverage for the purchase price. (Please note that the USPS insurance limit for mail to Canada is $675, so UPS must be used for more expensive purchases to that destination.)
I will accept returns from international buyers in the case of gross error on my part, but international postage is not refundable. International shipping is expensive, so please be prepared for carrier and customs costs before you bid!!
Canadian buyers: Please note that the invoice will typically give you the option to select UPS or USPS. UPS is the default method, so you need to specify one of the alternatives if that is your preference. Please be aware that UPS charges a brokerage fee for walking the package through customs and collecting the import duty. UPS does not tell me what these fees are, but I understand that the minimum charge is $20. If you specify UPS shipping, you are agreeing to pay these charges - please hold me harmless, as I have no control over them.
International Buyers – Please Note the following stipulations for Customs documents and fees:
Import duties, taxes and brokerage charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are additional and the buyer's responsibility.
Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying - I am unable to predict them reliably.
Import taxes and fees are normally collected by the carrier on delivery or pickup of the item. These are based on import laws in your country - please do not mistake them for additional shipping charges. They do not benefit the seller in any way.
I complete customs forms in a manner compliant with US law. This will be identified as "Other - Goods" with a brief description based on the item's title. I will gladly accept suggestions for describing goods on customs forms but do not guarantee that i'll use them.
I do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as ‘gifts’ - US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.
Return Policy: Unless the item is described as sold "as is," "not guaranteed to work," "for parts," or similar language, I will cheerfully accept returns and issue refunds. Please meet these simple conditions to be eligible for a refund: (1) notify me of your intent to return the item within 7 calendar days of receiving it (as documented in carrier delivery records) and (2) return it safely, in the condition in which I sent it, within 14 days of receiving the item. I normally do not reimburse postage costs but may do so if my description contained a gross error or omission. International postage is not refundable (both delivery and return are at the buyer's expense).
Disclosure of Flaws: most of the items I sell are old, used, or both. If I don't say "mint," which I use only rarely, expect to find minor flaws and maybe a bit of grime. I examine my offerings as carefully as time permits, describe and photograph them to the best of my ability, and post additional information I recieve during the course of the auction. I am not an expert on everything, and from time to time I inadvertantly overlook flaws or characteristics important to collectors, either through unfamiliarity or haste.
If you're considering a bid on this item, it may be because you collect it. In that case, you probably know more about it than I do. Please ask whatever questions are needed to verify its correctness and condition before bidding. If additional photos are needed, I will gladly provide them if I have time. My ignorance of some subtle aspect of a rare collectible does not constitute a gross error or omission. In such cases, I may accept a return and refund your money, but postage will not be refunded.
Cleanliness: I work out of my home, and most of what I list is in my living space. As a result, I generally clean items thoroughly before bringing them inside, so unless stated or pictured otherwise, you can depend on your purchase to arrive without excessive soiling and grime.
Feedback: I leave positive feedback for prompt hassle-free transactions, but please be patient. I give priority to running auctions and shipping purchases, and there are only so many hours in the day. I usually work on feedback once or twice per month, but polite reminders will prompt me into action.
If there is any problem with the invoice or item, or my terms or instructions are unclear, please contact me first, and I will do my best to clarify what I’ve said or correct any deficiency in a mutually agreeable manner. You are dealing with an honest seller, and I want you to be happy with your purchase and the conduct of the transaction.
You will note that my feedback record is not perfect, but I hope you will find it exemplary nonetheless. You can trust me to value your business and respond fairly to problems - if I weren't fair, there is no way my feedback percentage would be exemplary. If you are dissatisfied, I hope that you will contact me first before leaving feedback. If you don't think you got what I described, please suggest a resolution, and we'll go from there. If I do not accept your proposed resolution, you still have the option of returning the item promptly for a refund, subject to the return terms given above. (Items sold "as is" are not returnable under any circumstances.)
Finally, Please be generous when rating my performance. Although eBay describes a score of "4" as good, sellers with an average performance of 4 are suspended by eBay. Your consideration and assistance in maintaining my excellent track record (and keeping my account viable) is appreciated. 5 stars on all measures will help ensure that I keep searching for objects of value, interest, and beauty and offer them to you on eBay.
<Terms updated on 3/1/2009.> |
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