How to place email (or fax) orders:

    We especially appreciate email (or fax) orders.  This way we have a hard copy of your order for immediate reference.  We also can refer to this later in case there are any mistakes in your shipment, or any questions about your original order.  Email (or fax) orders require a lot less effort on our part, and it eliminates a lot of errors that can crop up in miscommunication.  If you wish to order by email, you can click on the link "Email Order" and begin typing your order.  Please include the following information at the beginning of your order:

Full Name (and your business name if you have one)
Shipping Address (and your billing address if this is different)
Phone Number (day, night, and cell phone if these are different)
Manner of Payment (options described below)
Preferred shipping method (options described below)

    Once we have your shipping address, phone number, and manner of payment on file, you do not need to resupply this to us.  Be sure to tell us if any of this information has changed.

Organizing your email (or fax) orders:

    It is especially helpful for us if you group all your items together in your email, first by style number, and then by size, color.  This reduces the time required to put your order together, and it makes invoicing your order a snap.  When orders arrive grouped by color, or haphazardly written in paragraph form, it takes considerable effort for us to sort it all out, and many times mistakes crop up.  Here is a typical example of a well organized order:
 

5301-4mm: FP-AB, 3AM, 2FU, VO  (The "FP" means full factory package, and the "3" here means 3 of our gross packages.  When you are ordering just one package of an item, like VO, it is not necessary to write a "1".  We understand that you want 1 package.)  (Take note that these are all in the same price category.)

5301-4mm: JON-AB, SI-AB, TAN-Sat   (Note that these are also 5301-4mm like the ones above, but they are in a different price category.  Also note that the first and second groups have been separated by a line space.  This gives our eyes a rest, and it is easy to distinguish the different groups.)

5301-6mm: CR, AM

5601-4mm: CR, FP-CHR, FP-AB, SI, 2TAN

5820-6mm: Silver-CR, AM  (Note that we need to know the plating for any rhinestone rondelle that you order.)

5820-6mm: Gold-CR, SI
 

The meaning of a "gross":

    A "gross" is a packaging term that means 144 pieces (a dozen-dozen).  Often our customers make the mistake of thinking that a "gross" means "1 package".  It is true that for the 5301-4mm "1 gross" does equal "1 package", but for the 5301-6mm "1 gross" means "2 packages" because we package the 5301-6mm in packages with 72 pieces.  Please be careful when you use the term "gross" that you use it correctly.  We want you to get the correct number of pieces that you want.

Manner of Payment:

    Credit Card:  Most of our customers pay by credit card.  This is a very convenient manner of payment both for you and for us.  Once you give us a credit card number, we keep this number on file so that you do not have to transmit this number each time you order.  It saves us time, and it adds to your security.  When transmitting your credit card number to us, you can call us on the phone and give us the number, or you can give us the number in 2 or more separate email messages for security.  It is also completely secure when you fax us the number.  If you use more than one credit card from time to time, we keep them all on file and you can indicate which card to use by giving us the last 4 digits.
    We accept VISA, Master Card, AMEX and Discover cards.  Please note, however, that AMEX and Discover charge us a considerably higher fee to process their cards, so we prefer VISA and Master Card.  If it is all the same to you, please use one of these two cards.  This helps keep our costs down, and ultimately your costs as well.

   PayPal:  You may also pay via PayPal.  This is a bit more time consuming and costly than via credit card.  Instead of just processing the charge and shipping your package right away (with a credit card), the following must take place: 1) We inform you of the cost.  2) You send us your PayPal payment.  3) We process your payment by contacting PayPal online and wait for the online processing to acknowledge the payment and then make the deposit.  4) Then we ship your package.

    Bank Transfers:  We accept bank transfers for orders over $500.

Shipping Methods: (Within the US)  Please note that if you do not specify a shipping method, we normally will make an "executive decision" on what is a reasonable shipping method for your order.  We take into consideration the cost of the various shipping methods, the time for delivery and the security of the shipping method.  We try to give you the best value for your money.  We prefer that you tell us which shipping method you want.  This takes the guess work out of the equation for us.

    Priority Mail (USPS): Most of our smaller orders ($75-$300) are shipped via Priority Mail.  This is a fast inexpensive way to ship our packages.  For packages less than 1 pound, the cost is $4.05 plus the insurance.  To most destinations your package arrives in 2-3 days (not counting Sundays and holidays).

    First Class (USPS): For packages weighing less than 13 ounces, you can save some money when we ship via First Class.  For example, a first class package weighing 6 ounces will ship for $1.52 plus insurance.  You will save $2.33 over the cost of Priority Mail.  First Class shipping tends to be a little slower, about 1-2 days longer to most locations.

    UPS Ground: This is an inexpensive way to ship heavier, more valuable packages.  Shipping times vary from 1-7 days depending on how far you are away from us.  Insurance rates for UPS packages are $0.35 per $100, with the first $100 free.  This is considerably less than the insurance rates for USPS.

   UPS 3-Day: A little more expensive than Ground, but shipment is guaranteed in 3 days (not counting weekends and holidays).

   UPS 2-Day Air: More expensive than Ground, but shipment is guaranteed in 2 days (not counting weekends and holidays).

   UPS Next-Day Air: A lot more expensive than Ground, but shipment is guaranteed to arrive in 1 day (not counting weekends and holidays).  For emergency shipping, you can receive your package on Saturday for an additional $10.

Shipping Methods: (Outside the US)  For international customers, please go to our web page "International Orders".

Common Mistakes: There are a few mistakes (or omissions) that frequently occur with email orders.

    1. Plating for Rhinestone Rondelles and Pave Balls:  Please note that items 5820 and 5830 require size, color, quantities and plating.  The plating choices are silver, gold or rhodium.  If you do not include this with your order, we have to contact you to find out what you want.  Take note that rhodium plating has a silver look, but is not as bright as silver plating.

    2. Full Name:  We receive many orders with just your first name (and a few that have no name).  We can usually determine who you are from your email address, but it saves us time if you include your Full Name with your order.

    3. Minimum Orders:  Please remember that our minimum orders are $35.00.  For orders between $35.00 and $75.00 dollars, there is a $5.00 service charge.

 
How to place phone orders:

    We enjoy receiving phone orders.  We love the personal contact with our customers.  On the other hand, we appreciate orders that arrive via email or fax because we then have a written record of the order, in case we make a mistake, or you do not get what you wanted.  We realize that for many orders, it is important to call us, so that we can answer any questions you might have about our products, delivery times, shipping methods, and so on.

    When we receive orders over the phone, we do the best that we can to be sure we know exactly what you want, and we write it down immediately.  Our staff is trained to listen carefully, and we try to get your orders exactly as you want them.  It will help us a great deal if you are carefully prepared and organized before you call.  We appreciate it when you know the style number for the items you are ordering.  We also appreciate it when you clearly state the colors, and include any coating (e.g. "AB") that you want for each item.  Also please state clearly the quantity of each item.  If it is a factory package, please be sure to state this clearly for the item.

    One special note regarding "AB".  On occasion we receive phone orders from customers who want all items to be with the AB coating, but this information does not quite get communicated to us.  For example, we receive some phone orders where the customer says, "I want AB."  Then they might say "Emerald, Sapphire..."  They meant that they wanted "Emerald AB" and "Sapphire AB" but we have written:  AB, EM, SA.  The first "AB" was interpreted by us to mean "crystal AB", and for the subsequent colors we did not realize that they wanted these with the AB coating.  If you want everything in AB, please be sure to say this carefully....  "I want everything with the AB coating."  If you just say "I want AB" we may well not know what you mean.  Also at times the customer will begin by saying, "Emerald AB, Sapphire AB, Amethyst AB" but then say "Jonquil, Siam, ..."  They wanted these with AB too, but just stopped saying it.  Often we catch this and ask, but sometimes we don't.  If you state each item carefully, you will get what you want!

    It is especially helpful for us if you group all your items together before you call, first by style number, and then by size, color.  Here is a typical example of a well organized order:
 

5301-4mm: FP-AB, 3AM, 2FU  (The FP means full factory package, and the "3" here means 3 of our gross packages.)  (Take note that these are all in the same price category.)

5301-4mm: JON-AB, SI-AB, TAN-Sat (Note that these are also 5301-4mm like the ones above, but they are in a different price category.)

5301-6mm: CR, AM

5601-4mm: CR, FP-CHR, FP-AB, SI, 2TAN

5820-6mm: Silver-CR, AM  (Note that we need to know the plating for any rhinestone rondelle that you order.)

5820-6mm: Gold-CR, SI

        We look forward to hearing from you.
        Warm regards,
        Rainbows of Light