wOrdering and Shipping
Ordering/Confirmation
Please include the order number, mineral specimen number(s), and price with all correspondence. Upon completion of your order, the shopping cart will automatically copy both you and [email protected] with the order. I will then confirm mineral specimen availability and total due with a second e-mail. If you have any problems with ordering online, you can always e-mail or call me to place your order.
Layway Options:
For purchases of $1,000 or more, we offer a layaway option for established customers. Here is how it works:
- A 25% down payment is paid when the layaway is initiated.
- The remaining 75% is divided into monthly payments of an equal amount. This is determined by the buyer and Rick. Unless agreed upon up front, layaways cannot exceed six months.
- The monthly installments are applied to the buyer’s credit card on file until the layaway is completed.
- There is no penalty for early payment. NOTE: Cancelled layaways are subject to down payment forfeiture.
- Upon completion of the layaway, the specimen is shipped to the buyer.
- There is a no return policy on layaways but items may be exchanged for other specimens if desired.
The layaway option is a great way to add to your collection over time and it’s also a great way to purchase more expensive specimens for your mineral collection. A layaway can be paid off early if desired and can be added to at any time. Many of our clients use open ended layaway schedules as a way to continuously build their mineral specimen collections over time. In this format, specimens will be shipped out intermittently as they are paid for.
Contact Rick if you would like to discuss layaways in more detail.
Shipment
We generally utilize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for shipment. Orders from within the U.S. are generally send via USPS Priority Mail (2 – 3 days delivery) unless otherwise instructed. Specimens valued over $500 will require insurance at $2 per $100 in value. Non-U.S. orders will be sent via USPS parcel post unless otherwise arranged for (postage fees will be higher). The customer is to pay the full amount of the shipping costs. Shipping costs are based upon the final weight of the package and the ship to location. In general, a package weighing less than 1 pound will cost $10.00 or less (first class mail is available for many shipments as long as they are under 1 pound total weight) to ship within the U.S. To send a package weighing less than 1 pound outside of the US will cost around $30. Packages in excess of 1 pound will be more expensive and Rick will contact you regarding actual shipping cost once the package is put together. International shipments will be sent first class mail will not be insured unless you request a different method (for additional fees). To insure international packages over $250 you must be willing to accept customs declarations at the insured value.
Payment Methods Accepted
We accept all major credit cards (via Square) or direct payments via PayPal. We also accept domestic checks and will ship when funds clear. If you have an established relationship in good standing with UCMinerals, we are willing to ship upon receipt of payment (i.e., before the check clears). We also accept money orders.
Guarantee
My reputation is based on your satisfaction. I work hard to provide complete detailed descriptions and accurate photographs of each mineral specimen. I also check color for accuracy (on my equipment). If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason, simply notify me by email or phone and I will make every effort to resolve the issue.
Refunds/Returns
For shipments in the US, I will fully refund your purchase price (not including shipping) for any mineral specimen returned in the condition in which it was purchased (including all labels). For shipments outside of the US, there will be a 10% restocking fee charged to cover the extra time that the specimen is not available to others. NOTE: if paying via credit card, there will be a 3.5% restocking fee to cover the credit card fees (which are not refunded to me if I refund the purchase price of the specimens), to avoid this, you can choose to pay via check, Money order, or Paypal (which will refund all fees if you are refunded). If you should decide to return a specimen you must notify me within 10 days of receipt the package. It is imperative you pack the mineral well as we will only refund specimens returned in the condition in which they were sent (including all labels). If you do not insure the package, we cannot be responsible for damage caused during re-shipment.