- Question: Do you ship to where I live?
- Answer: Yes! We ship to all locations in the United States and Canada; plus, we ship anywhere in the world!
- Question: Am I eligible to buy from Rings & Things?
- Answer: Rings & Things is a wholesale distributor and our customers include retail bead stores, professional craftspeople, manufacturing jewelers and serious bead addicts. Washington state schools, institutions and residents must be charged sales tax on the wholesale price, unless they are buying for resale and have a current, signed tax certificate on file with us.
- Question: Do you have a minimum order?
- Answer: We have a $25 minimum order, and a $4 processing charge on orders between $25 and $50. The $4 processing fee allows us to keep our everyday wholesale prices low, yet still process small orders. Normal shipping charges still apply. This charge does not apply to back orders.
- Question: What if I only need a few items?
- Answer: If you want an item we carry, but our ordering minimum doesn't work for you, we suggest these options:
- Join or form a local bead society (or other jewelry-related arts organization). Together, you can place a group order that meets our minimum requirements. Odds are you'll meet a professional crafter who already buys from us.
- Go to your local bead store, let them know what you want and where to find it, and convince them this item will sell in their store. If they sell online, let them know we love to link to our customers' Web sites. If the item costs $5 in our catalog, it will probably cost $10-15 when you pick it up at a retail store. That's still considerably less than our $25 minimum order, plus $4 small order fee, plus shipping and insurance!
- Question: I would like you to send items directly to my customers. Do you offer drop shipping?
- Answer: Rings & Things does not normally drop ship because it does not typically work well for our type of goods. Occasionally there may be a situation in which drop shipping would work well for both you and Rings & Things. For more information, consult our page on drop shipping.
- Question: I'm concerned about SPAM and identity theft. If I order from you, will my personal information be secure?
- Answer: Yes! We do not sell, rent or share our mail or e-mail lists with anyone. Also, any information sent through our online store is encrypted by Secure Sockets Layers (SSL). For more information on data security, see our privacy statement.
- Question: What are the ways I can order from Rings & Things?
- Answer: To order over the internet, simply go to our online store and type searches for items or click links to browse. Our online store includes 1,000s of full-color images, plus information on over 18,000 styles, sizes, and colors of beads and other jewelry-making supplies. More information about ordering online.
To order by phone, call our toll-free order line: 1 (800) 366-2156 (from the US and Canada) for friendly, personal service. Our sales team is ready to take your call from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
To order by mail or fax, fill out the order form provided in our catalog. Or, print a copy of our printable order form. Also, you can ask us to send extra order forms (for future use) when you make an order. Send faxes to 1 (509) 838-2602. Send postal mail to:
Rings & Things
PO Box 450
Spokane, WA 99210-0450
- Question: Where can I find my customer account number?
- Answer: Your customer account number is usually listed on your catalog or last invoice:
This number is not your online store account username (see below). If you can't find your customer account number, be sure to tell us the exact name under which you ordered last time.
- Question: What's the difference between a customer account and an online store account?
- Answer: Your customer account is a number we generate when you order from us for the first time. We process all orders (phone, showroom & online) using customer account numbers. An online store account is an information-saving option you create with a username of your choice to save time during online-store checkout.
If you had an online-store account with us before July 1st, 2008, you will need to create a new one. Why? Because our current store consists of entirely different software, not just an upgrade of old software. Creating an online-store account will now give you access to wish-list and online-order-lookup features, as well as save you time when filling out your info for online orders.
- Answer: Yes. Our online store functions normally during these times. However, during holiday closures, no staff are on hand to pick, package or ship incoming orders. So, while you can place an order online at any time, your request will not be processed right away. Normal warehouse operations resume the first business day after a listed closure, and that's when we begin to process waiting orders. The same holds true for returns during holiday closures.
- Question: How do special orders work?
- Answer: For information about special orders – and to inquire about the viability of special requests – see our special orders page.
- Question: What is a factory pack?
- Answer: A factory pack is a package we pass on just as we received it from the factory. The time we save by not opening, inspecting or repackaging the contents translates to better prices for you. The number of beads in a factory pack depends on the size of the bead.
Our factory pack prices are extremely competitive, and as such, are only available under the following conditions:
- Orders between factory-pack quantities will be rounded up. For example, if one factory pack contains 120 dozen beads and you order 200 dozen beads, we will round up your order to 240 dozen beads (two factory packs).
- If a factory-pack is not in stock at the time you order it, you will be responsible for shipping costs when it is sent to you. (Factory packs are not handled like standard backorders).
- No returns are accepted on opened or partial factory packs.
- Question: I have an ordering question not answered here or in your online-store FAQ. How can I contact you with my question or concern?
- Answer: For additional questions, concerns, or comments about an order you are considering placing, please contact our orders department.
- Question: What forms of payment do you accept?
- Answer: For the quickest service, we recommend MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express. For domestic (US) orders, we also accept checks over the phone, or prepayment by money order. For Canadian orders, we also accept prepayment by check or money order in US funds. For international orders outside Canada, we also accept prepayment by money order or wire transfer. At this point in time, we do not accept PayPal™.
- Question: Do I need to provide my full credit card number each time I order?
- Answer: Not necessarily. If you've ordered from us before, and you're using a credit card you've used with us before, then we only request the expiration date, last four digits of your card, and CVV code.
- Question: Do you ship to where I live?
- Answer: Yes! We ship to all locations in the United States and Canada; plus, we ship anywhere in the world!
- Question: How much will shipping cost?
- Answer: We offer a vast array of shipping options because what works best in rural Alaska often isn't what works best in downtown Atlanta. Browse our variety of domestic and international shipping options to see what works best for you. If you're still unsure, call our sales staff at 1 (800) 366-2156 and we'll help you pick the method that best fits your time-frame and budget.
- Question: Do you insure your shipments?
- Answer: Yes! Every package that leaves our warehouse is insured. However, not all shipping variables can be calculated by our online store, and the shipping cost listed when you submit an online order is an estimate that does not include insurance. To calculate your insurance costs, please refer to our domestic (US) shipping insurance chart.
- Question: Do you have a small order fee?
- Answer: We have a $25 minimum order, and a $4 processing charge on orders between $25 and $50. The $4 fee on orders under $50 allows us to keep our everyday wholesale prices low, yet still process small orders. We know there are times when, despite your best planning, you need a few essential items in between regular orders. Normal shipping charges (see above) still apply, except for back orders.
- Question: I would like you to send items directly to my customers. Do you offer drop shipping?
- Answer: Rings & Things does not normally drop ship because it does not typically work well for our type of goods. Occasionally there may be a situation in which drop shipping would work well for both you and Rings & Things. For more information, consult our page on drop shipping.
- Question: What is a "gross"?
- Answer: 1 gross (1GR) is 144 pieces (12 dozen). Other common jewelry units of measure.
- Question: I want to buy a whole ounce of crimp beads, but the online store only lists them as "1-9 0.1oz and 10+ 0.1oz." How do I make sure that I get a whole ounce?
- Answer: When an item is offered by the 0.1oz, with a price break at 10 0.1oz, the "10 0.1 oz" is really one whole-ounce bag, not ten individual 0.1oz bags (unless we're almost out of them, and you get our last ten small bags).
- Question: Temporarily Unavailable? What does that mean?
- Answer: If an item is marked Temporarily Unavailable, then there is a (hopefully temporary) glitch in the manufacturing equipment or trade route. We are not sure if or when it will be back in stock, so at this point we will not back-order this item. But, we are looking for alternate items in case this exact item remains unavailable.
- Question: Will this work with that?
- Answer: Post your question on our Bulletin Board for answers from both our experts and your fellow jewelry craftspeople about how certain items work with other items. Or, call us toll-free (from the US or Canada) at 1 (800) 366-2156.
- Question: Do you have ...?
- Answer: If you've already searched our online store and still can't find what you're looking for, then ask us to search our stock for you. We might have a small amount in our showroom, or we might be calling the item by a different name.
- Question: Could/will you carry in the future ...?
- Answer: If you're looking for an item you know we don't currently have, add it to our Wish List.
- Question: Why does your online store sometimes list a different price than your catalog?
- Answer: Prices in various markets (for example base metals, precious metals, oil, and even labor and foreign currency) can fluctuate greatly, and unexpectedly. This fluctuation causes prices for certain items (gold-filled and sterling beads; platings and wire; plastic bags; etc.) to either rise or fall. Discrepancies between prices listed in our print materials and our online store typically reflect such changes in world markets. As a result, our online store listings show the most up-to-date prices.
- Question: Do you offer quantity discounts?
- Answer: We provide quantity price breaks for many items, most of which are listed in our catalog and online store. Ask about price breaks for 10, 25, or 50 gross of most findings; masses or kilos of beads; and full boxes of Austrian crystal. With some items, larger quantities may need to be special ordered.
- Question: How do special orders work?
- Answer: For information about special orders – and to inquire about the viability of special requests – see our special orders page.
- Question: I have a product question not answered above. How can I contact you with my question or concern?
- Answer: For additional questions, concerns, or comments about our products, please contact our orders department.
- Question: I just ordered online. What type of service can I expect from an online order?
- Answer: A human being reads every order before charging anything to your credit card or shipping your order. We pay attention to comments that you include with your order. When you click to "submit" an online order, our online store sends you an auto-confirmation, and sends the live order to us. We then reply during our normal business hours to let you know your order's ship date. If any questions arise during processing, we will attempt to e-mail or call you before shipping the order.
- Question: I have a question or concern about an order I just placed. How do I contact you for assistance?
- Answer: For questions, concerns, or comments about a recently placed order, please contact our orders department.
- Question: I should have received my order by now, but it hasn't arrived. Who do I talk to?
- Answer: For help tracking an order that hasn't arrived, please call our customer service department at 1 (800) 864-8861. If you shipped via UPS and have your order number, you can track your package. If you ordered online in late December, you may have ordered during a holiday closure.
- Question: There's a problem with an order I just received. What should I do?
- Answer: To discuss problems about orders you've recently received, please contact us online or call our customer service department at 1 (800) 864-8861.
- Question: What is a pre-order, and how does pre-ordering work?
- Answer: Sometimes we have all the images and information on a new item long before we have the inventory in-house. Pre-ordering allows you to reserve some of that stock even before it arrives at our warehouse.
When your order includes pre-ordered items of $10 or more, we ship the in-stock items on your order immediately, then ship the pre-ordered items when we receive them. We offer free shipping (via the most economical method) for pre-ordered items. If you add items to a waiting pre-order, we charge shipping only for the weight of the newly added items (this usually adds up to less than a dollar).
We do not provide a pre-order option for international orders, or for items under $10.
- Question: Something I ordered is on back order. How do back orders work?
- Answer: If we can't ship a complete domestic (U.S) order, we will back order items costing over $10, provided we expect them back in stock within 60 days. Please let us know if you would rather we cancel the item from your order, or substitute a similar item. We automatically cancel out-of-stock items from your order if they cost less than $10 (unless you tell us they are emergency items).
Please keep track of your backorder(s), so you don't reorder an item that's already on its way. We offer free shipping (via the most economical method) for backorders of $10 or more. If you add items to a backorder, we charge shipping only for the weight of the newly added items (this usually adds up to less than a dollar).
Factory packs are not handled like standard backorders. If a factory-pack is not in stock at the time you order it, you will be responsible for shipping costs when it is sent to you.
We do not provide backorders on international orders.
- Question: What is your return policy?
- Answer: To receive full credit, refund or exchange value for returned merchandise, the following rules apply:
- Merchandise must be returned within 30 days of when you received it.
- Merchandise must be in its original condition (i.e. unopened, unused, undamaged).
- Closeout, limited stock and road-show-only items are not returnable.
- Merchandise will be credited at the original purchase price.
- Merchandise credit may be applied in the following ways:
- Credit to your Rings & Things account for future purchases.
- Credit towards an enclosed order (please remember to include shipping in your calculations).
- Credit to your card if you paid by debit or credit card.
- Rings & Things refund check if you paid by check or cash.
If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader (download it free here), and the above criteria apply, simply print and fill out a Merchandise Return Form and send it to us with the goods and a copy of the original invoice. Around holiday closures, expect our returns processing to be delayed (see below for details).
If you wish to return merchandise that is more than 30 days old or is defective, shorted, opened, or damaged due to shipping, please call us toll free at 1 (800) 864-8861 for authorization. Also please call if you have further questions.
- Question: What if I need to return something during a holiday closure?
- Answer: You can send us a return at any time. However, during holiday closures, no staff are available to process returns. Our longest closure takes place over the Christmas and New Year holidays, when we perform our year-end inventory. Any returns not processed by December 23 or 24 (depending on the year) will not be processed until our normal work schedule resumes, either January 2 or 3. Watch our Web site for listings of specific holiday closure dates.