Within the United States:

We don't want to bury you under a pile of charts and columns, but we don't think that freight should be a profit item either, but let's face it, freight is an expense, and we think it is more honest to charge you our actual costs than to hide it in the cost of the items.

FIRST - we will ship by UPS (any service) or priority mail, as you request. Since the price increase by UPS, we find we are using the post office more often. We will select the method that is the best price / performance for your order. If you prefer one over the other, just say so in your comments box. Shipments to PO boxes are, obviously, via the mail. We add a small 75 cent charge to the final actual cost of shipment to defray the cost of packing materials.

TRACKING: Our computers are linked to UPS, and UPS will provide you with a tracking number and a tracking link via e-mail to the e-mail address you supplied when you placed your order. We utilize an electronic shipment method for the post office, and all shipments have e-delivery confirmation. While we cannot track in shipment, we can tell you if a package has been delivered, or if it is in a "trouble state".

INSURANCE: We insure all UPS shipments with our own private insurance contract (40 cents per hundred, after the first $100.00). We handle all claims. Once your claim is accepted, we refund or reship to you (they pay us a few weeks later). We utilize the same insurance company for postal shipments, and handle all postal insurance claims in-house.

Here is how it breaks down:

We can request, but cannot require UPS to leave your package without a signature. UPS allows shippers (us) to require a signature, but we don't unless you request it.

Here are UPS charges for signature and other special services. If you really want one of these, just use your comments box to ask for them. The charges will be added to your bill.

ABOUT YOUR ESTIMATED FREIGHT: We have used a simple freight calculation based on the dollar value of your order. It is usually fairly accurate. If your order is unusually heavy for its value, then the estimate will be too low. For example if you order 50 hitching rings and nothing else, the estimate will be about 25% too low. Unfortunately, we cannot give you an exact freight amount through the shopping cart, as leather is a natural product, and weights vary each time a product is made.

YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS: Please be sure you have a valid shipping address when you place an order. Once you are sure, please double check. Unfortunately, customers are so used to typing their address that they sometimes miss small things like 206 instead of 602. The real problem is that UPS will charge you $5.00 for an address correction, which will appear as a second charge on your order. We don't care to line UPS's pockets with your money.

Customers outside of the United States:

We will ship by a number of methods, postal and UPS. You will get to select which one you prefer after you receive an e-mail from us with your freight quote. We will do this as soon as your order is ready to ship, or in advance if it is custom merchandise. Please read that e-mail carefully, as it has a lot of important information. Unfortunately, the new US postal regulations have done away with any type of surface transport. Therefore, you must choose from the various air charges we will provide.

We will not ship your order until you respond to that e-mail, and indicate your preference. If you find that the cost for shipping is too expensive, you may simply respond with a request to cancel the order, and nothing will be charged to your card.

All overseas orders have a $2.00 per order handling charge, instead of our usual 75 cents. This is because of the extra expense we must incur in mailing your invoice separately, and preparing customs documents. The fee is included in the rate examples below.

Customs Policies:

Due to export or import restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:
Canada over $1,200.00 (US) within 30 days
Italy
All African nations except South Africa

We make every effort to insure that your shipment is packed and identified in such a way as to arouse the least suspicion on the part of customs employees (including removing all price and identification tags, and sending your invoice separate from the package). It is your responsibility, however, to be sure that an item you order is allowed in your country. If an item is seized by your customs authorities, it is not our responsibility to get it released. If your package is returned to us, we will gladly refund the cost of the merchandise, but we cannot refund the freight charges, including return freight, if we have to pay for it. If the items are not returned, we cannot refund any part of your payment.

Thank you!