Policies

PRICE

I think my stuff is priced fairly for the time I put in. All prices are with out tax (if any) and shipping.

A sales tax is collected for all items sold to or shipped to an address in Nebraska. That tax is 5.5 % state tax plus any local jurisdiction tax that applies.

Postage and insurance (see policy) is added at actual cost.

I may offer for large dollar orders (above 1,000 dollars U.S.) or an order of more than one of the same item some percentage price reduction.

GUARANTEE/WARRANTY

I try very hard to not make junk. Sometimes I make a mistake. OOPS

If that mistake can be repaired with out impairing the value or quality it is.

Some mistakes are throw aways. Sad but true - it has happened.

Here is my approach to quality. Others may guarantee a product to the front door. I guarantee my stuff - PERIOD.

I will repair, replace, or refund fro any defect or OOPS in quality, materials, and workmanship. Send it back: You pay shipping/insurance to me - I pay ship/insurance back to you.

This guarantee/warranty does NOT apply to: intentional damage (beat it with a hammer and expect me to repair/replace - don't think so), fire, theft, natural disaster, act of God.

SHIP AND INSURANCE

Very simple. I use USPS for delivery. They go everywhere. Probably same delivery time as others.

Ship and insurance charges are actual. Unlike others I do not charge a 'percentage' or fee based on dollar sales. What USPS charges me to deliver an article is what i charge to ship.

Items are always shipped insured. Just makes sense. For that reason a shipment must be inspected on arrival. If damaged the local USPS location will assist in claims.

An item returned is on your dime. If I make repairs or replace under the guarantee POLICY, I ship at my expense.

WOOD

The decorative articles offered are made of deciduous hardwood.

I take no offense to conifers. I just do not use (the only exception is aromatic cedar used for planter boxes and as an inlay strip rarely) non deciduous hardwood.

I buy wood from a sawyer in my area. The hardwood is flat sawn/quarter sawn. The wood begins as all rough sawn - kiln dried. I machine/mill the stock to an appropriate thickness.

What I have available and what I use are those hardwood species native to the high plains area of the U.S. Some species of hardwood native to the U.S. but not native to my part of the U.S. are not commonly in my inventory, ie. mesquite.

The prices advertised are for decorative articles made from wood commonly available to me.

The prices do not reflect the cost/price of any 'exotic' hardwood. An 'exotic' hardwood by definition is not native to the U.S.

'Exotic' hardwoods are available to me through suppliers. Cost/price of any decorative article with 'exotic' hardwoods incorporated would be repriced to reflect the higher costs of the 'exotic' hardwood.

PERSONALIZATION

by this I mean addition of letters or characters to a decorative article. this addition make it the piece special or intimate.

personalization can be addition of a names, initials, and/or dates. examples can be seen in the corian - sports- section.

I have added names of some of the grandkiddies to corian articles.

most articles cut with scroll saw, ie. two dimensional decorative articles - can be personalized. it becomes difficult to personalize toys - those for big people and small people.

a few things to keep in mind:

personalization is an added cost. it is not calculated in the original sell price.
consider with care what and where to personalize. the space available is the limiting factor.
always contact me prior to this. i need to understand what is to be added.
once personalized the entire piece is yours. You just bought it 'as is'.

COLOR/FINISH

For toys I make that in my opinion may be purchased/used by small children - my approach is simple: NO Finish. I sell most toys as raw wood.

There are finishes on the market that are promoted as child safe. may be. i know the first thing a small child does with an object is put it in the mouth. So. I do not add finish to the wood. A disadvantage: the raw wood will stain. If you eat spaghetti next to my toys and sauce splashes over it will leave a stain.

I now add color to most of the flat pieces. I think it gives the piece a three dimensional look. My understanding - the paint I use is American made. The paint is either a latex or petroleum base. Until the paint is completely cured and dried out there may be an odor from VOC.

The most common protective stain I use is a penetrating oil. A Watco natural. And this may also have some residual odor until completely cured or dried out.

The final protective step is a urethane spray. Tye urethane is a top coating to protect against normal wear, and scuff. Keep in mind this urethane does not have the hardness of a diamond.

It will scratch. So I make no guarantees for the various finishes beyond the manufacturer's guarantee/warranty.

Friday, 23 December 2011 14:58