Shipping & Returns

Payments

We accept 4 methods of payment:

• Use Your Credit Cards We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover, subject to technologically secure online verification and approval by the issuing bank, via appropriate physical and electronic safeguards. See "Your Privacy and Security".
   
• Use Your PayPal Account If you want to use your PayPal account, just select this option for your "Payment Method" and, after confirming your order, you'll be transferred to the secure Paypal site to login and pay for your items from your account funds. Please remember after completing your Paypal transaction to click the "Return to Merchant" button.
  PayPal can also process credit cards. For American Express or PayPal Plus (or even those mentioned above), even if you don't have a PayPal account, you can still select the "PayPal" option for the Payment Method. After order confirmation at CreekTreeUSA, you'll be taken to the secure PayPal site. To pay via credit card without logging into Paypal, click "continue" at the "Don't have a PayPal Account? Use Your Credit Card or Bank Account (where available)" question. This brings up the secure pages to enter the information to pay by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. After making the payment, you'll be given the option of setting up your own free PayPal account; however, there is no requirement that you open a PayPal account when paying by credit card. Please remember after completing your Paypal transaction to click the "Return to Merchant" button.
   
• Send A Check/Money Order We accept U.S. based Money Orders or personal checks, made payable to "CreekTreeUSA" (Gothic Shadows is a CreekTreeUSA shop). International Money Orders will not be accepted; our banks charge an exorbitant fee for handling them, and we still have to wait for it to clear. No shipments will be made before payment is received (personal checks must clear the bank before shipment can take place).
   
• Other For large orders over $500, we will accept Western Union transfers in U.S. dollars. Please contact us before placing your order, and we'll be happy to make arrangements with you.

Other Payment Information

• Please do not send cash in the mail !
• Sales in Texas will be subject to the local and state sales taxes.
• Prices are subject to change without notice.
• For international sales, please note that Gothic Shadows is a legitimate and professional retailer and, as such, is obliged to tell the the truth on customs forms. International addresses must be confirmed by the credit card bank or Paypal.
• There is a $25.00 surcharge applicable to all first time returned checks, and personal checks will not be accepted on subsequent orders.

Shipping

If your order qualifies for free shipping, shipping will be via the most economical shipping option. Additional shipping charges may apply if your order partially qualifies for free shipping, but contains ineligible items. If you return an item for which you received free shipping, the saved shipping charges will be deducted from the refund amount. If you need it sooner, please select from one of the other shipping methods.

We ship every day as needed, and usually within 24 hours of the payment clearing. Depending on the timing, shipping can happen the same day as the order in many cases. We ship domestically and internationally, usually through U.S.P.S. and shipping insurance is available. We also ship through UPS, since in some cases, UPS is less expensive. You will see the standard rates under your shopping cart items as you add them.

Due to recent U.S.P.S. rate changes (May 2007), U.S.P.S. is no longer as cost efficient in many cases for domestic shipping, and we have had to modify our shipping options accordingly. If there is another shipping option that fits your needs, but isn't offered, email us prior to your purchase and we can provide suitable arrangements.

Shipping and packing calculations are based on weight, size and distance, according to rates provided by the shipping service. Please note that the U.S. Postal Service does not provide tracking information nor do they guarantee ship time, but they do provide delivery confirmation. UPS does provide tracking information and guarantees ship time for many of their shipping options.

Returns

Once ordered, custom rings are not returnable as they are normally not resellable. Otherwise, if you are not happy with your goods for any reason then please contact us and we will accept them back within seven (7) days of delivery, as long as they are still in the in the same condition as they were sent to you, and in the original undamaged retail packaging and packing. If you wish to return any goods please contact us by email, and we will discuss arrangements for replacing or refunding the items. No returns can be accepted without prior notification and an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) being in place. Gothic Shadows will not be responsible for the shipping charges in such cases.

We recommend sending the item back to us with the recommended insurance coverage, for if the items are damaged during the return trip we will not deem them to be in the original condition.

All items purchased from Gothic Shadows are made pursuant to a shipment contract. This basically means that the risk of loss and title for such items pass to you upon our delivery to the carrier. However, should your order be lost or damaged in transit, we will be happy to assist you in such cases, just email us the circumstances along with the necessary order information so we can determine the proper steps to be taken.