Ordering and shipment questions:
How can I place an order or suggest a trade?
First, send an email requesting any additional information you need before making the decision to buy; for trades, let me know what you propose via email (with pics). I try to respond to all emails within a day or so (sometimes within minutes!), but as I get older (and I am) illness, vacation, brain fog, etc. may make quick responses difficult.... When and if you've decided to purchase, please send me an email with a description of the item(s) you'd like to purchase - please include the item #'s, your proposed method of payment, and your shipping address. Assuming the item has not already been placed on hold or purchased (the website may not be quite up-to-date - I'm old and retired, remember...), I will put it on immediate hold for you. I will then reply to your email with the total price of your order, including shipping and insurance. For trades, we'll each pay our own shipping charges....
How can I pay you?
Upon receipt of my email with the total price of your order, U.S. customers should send full payment via personal check, money order, or credit card through Paypal (tigerowner@gmail.com); if you are already a customer in good standing, items will be shipped upon receipt of payment. International customers should (wherever possible) use Paypal; I pay a fee on payments sent this way, but the currency exchanges are transparent. Alternatively, wire transfers can be arranged, but if that payment method is used I may have to uplift prices a bit... If you are a new customer, and elect to pay with a personal check, shipping may be delayed until your funds clear. Items will be held pending receipt of payment for 15 days after the email payment request is sent; if payment is not received by that time, the item will be released to sale availability.
When and how do you ship?
Orders typically ship within 1 business day of receipt of payment; however, occasional personal or business travel may delay shipment (I will let you know via email if this is likely). You will also be informed of any potential delays of this nature when the order invoice information is sent to you via email. All orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail, unless other arrangements are requested and approved in advance; no handling charges for any shipments, either U.S. or international are applied. The best values in shipping at present are the various flat rate boxes offered by the U.S. Postal Service; for example, up 20 lbs. of specimens can be shipped to arrive within a few days in the U.S. for approximately $17. International shipments can take a bit longer, and can cost $70+ for 20 lbs. of material; however, that's still quite a bargain, assuming you fill the box....
What if I don't like the item(s) on receipt?
The item(s) should be inspected by you upon receipt, and any damage incurred in shipping reported to me immediately; I require insurance only on expensive, unique items, but it can be purchased optionally on any shipment. Any item(s) may be returned (at your expense) for any reason within 14 days of shipment to you for a full refund of the purchase price only (less any shipping and insurance fees, which are not refundable); the refund will be sent immediately upon receipt of the item(s) by me in the same condition as shipped. In over 22 years of selling/trading mineral specimens on eBay and this website, only three of my specimens have been returned; to get an unbiased view of my customers' satisfaction with my specimens, please check out my eBay feedback.
Do you offer discounts for multiple purchases?
My free shipping offer is, in general, my chosen method for offering a discount. However, the individual specimen prices shown are only my best guess at the retail value of the specimens, and as such you should feel free to make an offer on any specimen or specimens; while I accept some offers, I also reserve the right to turn yours down or make a counter-offer. In addition to free shipping, a small discount based on the number of items and the total $ amount purchased may be offered. However, each case is different, and any discount can only be quoted after seeing the list of items to be purchased. I offer a special free shipping offer for U.S. customers purchasing multiple eBay "buy-it-now" specimens which can be shipped in one package, and this offer also holds for website purchases; international customers meeting this criterion receive a substantial discount taken from the actual cost of shipping.
Can I contact you by phone?
Yes, although the most reliable way to get me is through email, you may call (610) 203-9453 (my cell phone) from 9AM-5PM EST, Monday through Friday; if I can't immediately respond, please leave a message with your name, phone number, reason for calling, and best time to return the call. I'll return your call as quickly as I can.
Jim Simpson (tigerowner@gmail.com)
