Sales Terms
All about ordering, shipping, and returns...
Here’s where you find everything you need to know about interacting with and ordering from DOLL-WORLD:
- The regions where we sell and ship
- Payment methods
- Minimum order amount
- Shipping methods and calculating shipping
- Return and refund policy
- Debunking the myth of “Free Shipping”
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Placing Orders ... Shipping and Returns ... and the "Free Shipping" Myth
Sales Terms at DOLL-WORLD
SELLING REGION
No international sales outside USA. At this time we are selling/shipping only within USA, including Hawaii and Alaska. Currently we are NOT selling/shipping to any international areas outside of USA – this includes not shipping to Puerto Rico or Canada. International shipping fees are atrocious, and the extra customs requirements can be excessive. In the future, we may consider adding other selling regions, including international areas, to our selling regions.
Please contact us if you live in Puerto Rico or other areas outside our USA selling zone before attempting to buy from DOLL-WORLD. Automatic shipping calculations are not set up for purchases outside USA.
ONLINE PAYMENTS ONLY
Credit cards and PAYPAL payments accepted. All valid major credit/debit cards are accepted through the PAYPAL portal. No PAYPAL account is required when using a credit card. However, buyers with a PAYPAL account may choose to pay for purchases using their PAYPAL account or PAYPAL credit account.
All payments are secure. We accept payments online through a secure PAYPAL payment portal. We do not collect payment information through the website portal and only receive shipping information from PAYPAL.
One payment only per complete order shipped. Multiple items shipped together can save on total shipping cost as opposed to shipping items separately. Likewise one single payment per complete order saves on payment processing fees charged by PAYPAL for each individual payment we receive. When planning to buy multiple items, MAKE ONLY ONE PAYMENT TRANSACTION for the entire purchase and avoid payment fee overcharges. This helps us keep costs down and pass on the savings directly to our buyers by maintaining reasonable pricing. If you place two separate orders with a day or two between each order, we may choose to hold the first purchase and ship both orders together, provided we haven’t finished processing the first order before the second order is placed.
$25.00 minimum purchase threshold. All complete orders must total $25.00 or more in merchandise before shipping cost is added. This helps us maintain a reasonable balance between sales revenue, payment processing fees, and shipping charges. Also, a minimum purchase threshold helps customers get the most for their shipping dollars by ensuring that the total purchase amount is more than full shipping, and the full shipping amount averaged across items purchased is reasonable. Nobody wants to pay $9.00 shipping for two items that total $2.75. We want all our customers to get the most benefit for their money spent.
SHIPPING
We generally purchase all shipping online and use USPS shipping service. We charge shipping by the pound to reflect how the carrier calculates shipping costs. However, many factors affect the calculation, including weight, distance, and type of service, as well as insurance coverage. Below we discuss various aspects of shipping and explain how we calculate shipping cost. We also address the unicorn myth of “free shipping” in the FREE SHIPPING MYTH section.
Planning purchases to optimize shipping costs. Shipping is calculated by weight, so it’s better to buy as much as you can by total weight to get the most items for minimum shipping cost. Shipping cost increases with each pound of the package, so buying up to a pound of items (including shipping container weight) makes more sense than just buying one or two lightweight items and still paying for a pound of shipping.
EXAMPLE: If you buy some lightweight doll clothing and reach the $25.00 minimum merchandise amount, you may be able to purchase more lightweight items (like shoes) and pay the same shipping amount for all of it. Essentially you’d be getting more items shipped for the same shipping cost as buying fewer items.
Insurance and tracking. USPS Priority offers delivery tracking/confirmation with insurance up to $50.00 value. For merchandise valued at more than a few dollars above $50.00, extra insurance is required at an additional cost. We generally choose shipping services that have tracking and insurance coverage included.
Shipping time. Once we receive payment, we pick and package the order for shipment, purchase shipping service, then deliver the package for shipment. This process can take a day or two. Our goal is to ship as soon as practical (usually within one to three business days) after the payment has cleared and we receive confirmation from PAYPAL to ship. PLEASE NOTE THAT ORDERS PLACED BEFORE/DURING/AFTER HOLIDAYS CAN BE SUBJECT TO DELAYS IN PROCESSING AND SHIPPING. Expect at least a day or two longer to get your order. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE SHIPPING TIMES since we cannot control outside events such as weather or other conditions that may affect a shipping carrier’s ability to deliver your order.
We reuse shipping materials. New boxes may look neater, but they cost money. When practical, we will reuse/re-purpose good boxes and packing material to help the environment and save on up-front costs. This helps us pass on savings to you by maintaining reasonable merchandise prices.
How we calculate shipping cost. We charge shipping during the purchase process but have no idea what combination of items will be ordered until the order is completed. Therefore we must estimate the shipping total electronically to be included in the payment for the order. This estimate is calculated based on the following factors:
- Total weight of packaged order. We weigh each item and list the weight on our website so that shipping can be calculated automatically by total weight of items in an order.
- Added packaging. An estimated weight for expected packaging – shipping box and packing material – is added. Estimate of weight is based on size and typical packaging for the largest items in an order.
- Oversize charge. USPS imposes an extra charge for shipping boxes over a certain size, and that estimated oversize charge will be included for large items likely to require an oversize shipping box.
- Total sales price. Merchandise total is used to calculate insurance cost to be added.
- Shipping amount by zone. Once the total estimated weight of the order, including shipping materials, is calculated, the appropriate shipping rate is applied, based on weight and distance from our shipping location. Insurance cost is added, then the total shipping charge is included with the merchandise purchase price.
We do our best to keep shipping costs affordable and ask for understanding on this issue. The fact that we offer some unusual or hard-to-find items at very reasonable prices may offset the pain of paying for shipping, but we also advise all our shoppers to plan their purchase for maximum shipping advantage.
RETURNS/REFUNDS
As a general rule, all sales are final, and items are sold as is, as described. However we strive for 100% buyer satisfaction and will do our best to negotiate mutually satisfactory resolutions to ensure everyone has a pleasant buying experience. Please note specifics of our return policy to ensure you are happy with your purchase.
Contact us within seven days of item’s delivery to arrange for refunds and returns.
Return for wrong item shipped. Errors do happen from time to time. If we ship the wrong item, we will pay for return shipping of the item and ship the correct item at our expense. If the correct item cannot be shipped, we will refund the original purchase price of that item including shipping cost paid at the time of purchase, prorated by weight if other items were shipped with the incorrect item.
Return/refund for item with serious defects not disclosed at time of sale. We photograph all items when we list them for sale and also when we package them for shipment, but can make mistakes and miss something. If we ship an item that has serious flaws that do not meet the quality expectations of the sales description, we will pay to have it return-shipped and refund the original amount of purchase including shipping cost paid by the buyer, prorated by weight if other items were also shipped.
Return/refund for “changed my mind.” Items returned without cause will be subject to a 10% restocking fee. The original purchase price will be refunded, but shipping cost paid at the time of purchase will not be refunded. The customer is responsible for return shipping and returning the item in the same condition as sold. No refund will be given for items that are not in the same condition as sold.
Refunds for items damaged or lost during shipping must be negotiated with the shipping carrier and only up to the amount insured. Proof of purchase (to establish item purchase value) and shipping container damage may be required, so keep receipts and original packing materials.
ITEM DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
The nature of items we sell. We sell a variety of items in various conditions.
- Used condition. Many of the items we sell are preowned and may not be in pristine condition.
- Never removed from package. Items in unused/unopened condition will be listed as “new’” or “never removed from box,” even when the items may be several years old from original date of manufacture, and may have significant package defects.
- Refurbished, OOAK, etc. Items restyled, refurbished, customized, or modified in any significant manner from stock factory condition may have structural alterations, surface finish changes, or other non-factory attributes. Unless otherwise noted, such items will be in good usable condition with no obvious flaws we think would detract from the item’s desirability.
- Surplus items and parts. We occasionally sell surplus damaged items for parts to other customizers and will note item defects.
We’re hobbyists, not experts. We do our best to accurately describe each item, photograph and describe specific flaws we think may impact the desirability, and give an honest representation of the item’s condition. But we are hobbyists, not experts, so our opinion of desirability is subjective, and we cannot guarantee an item will fulfill the expectations of others. We are also human, so once in a while we may miss something unintentionally. Because of the imperfect nature of preowned items, they are sold as is, as described, without the expectation of return or refund except as noted in our refund/return policy. If you have questions about an item, email us and allow 24 hours for response.
Debunking the Unicorn Myth of FREE SHIPPING
FREE SHIPPING IS A GREAT MARKETING SCHEME
“Free shipping” is rarely ever free. Shipping isn’t cheap, and it’s rarely ever “free,” despite the claims of “free shipping” offers. Whether it’s the seller or the buyer, someone ALWAYS pays for shipping, and there’s no getting around it. If the carrier doesn’t get paid to ship, the carrier doesn’t ship. Period. Shipping expense, especially for online stores, is a necessary evil and an unavoidable cost of doing business. Vendors who consistently offer “free shipping” still have to charge their customers for it, or they’ll eventually go broke. There are many ways to make it appear as if shipping is “free” when it actually is not. So how does “free shipping” actually work?
Everybody loves free shipping. Savvy sellers know everybody loves free shipping, because nobody likes spending their hard-earned money to buy shipping. You can’t eat or wear or listen to or play with shipping, so it seems like a throwaway expense. Nobody likes throwing away their money. But if it’s free, that’s an altogether different situation. Who doesn’t love getting free stuff? And that’s why the lure of “free shipping” is so enticing. It almost always guarantees a sale, whereas someone might think twice about making a purchase when shipping cost is involved. The illusion or promise of “free” is always an instant winner in the eyes of buyers … even when it’s not really “free” at all.
GIMMICKS TO MAKE SHIPPING SEEM FREE
Adding shipping cost into merchandise price. The common marketing opinion is that it’s better to hide the shipping cost rolled into the merchandise price to give the illusion that the customer is getting something “free.” An experienced vendor can estimate shipping cost of every item pretty accurately, then boost the price of merchandise by a certain percentage to cover expected shipping cost, so customers still pay for shipping. When shopping online, it’s best to compare all options, including the total price with shipping cost included. It’s very rare to find a “free shipping” item priced cheaper than the total for the same item with a declared shipping cost included. If the shipping actually was “free,” items offered with free shipping would be $8.00 to $12.00 cheaper, depending on the type of item being compared. And they’re rarely if ever cheaper. So the shipping cost really isn’t “free.” Even though it is advertised as “free,” the cost of shipping is still being paid in the asking price of the item.
TOP OF FREE SHIPPING MYTH SECTION
HOW CORPORATE SELLING PLATFORMS FORCE SELLERS TO OFFER “FREE SHIPPING”
Selling platforms like Ebay and Etsy learned a long time ago that selling fees are bigger and better if they’re based on total sales price, including shipping charges. Once upon a time, a seller on these platforms could price a sales item ridiculously low, but charge ridiculously high shipping to avoid paying fees on the bulk of the sale. Ebay and Etsy smartened up real quick and closed that loophole by charging selling fees on the total sale, including shipping. But because these platforms quickly realized “free shipping” was a great way to entice buyers, they now force their sellers to offer free shipping or face obscurity on the selling platform. No exposure to customers means no sales, so many desperate small-time sellers have realized they are being squeezed out of business in favor of high-volume resellers who can absorb the shipping cost as part of doing business on these platforms.
Ebay’s method of forcing sellers to offer “free shipping” is to bestow a “Top Seller” badge to vendors with a high volume of monthly sales when they offer free shipping. Vendors with “Top Seller” status get preferential listing exposure, even when sales feedback isn’t the greatest. On Ebay, “Top Seller” doesn’t necessarily mean “ethical” or “good” seller. It just means a seller agrees to Ebay’s demand to offer free shipping.
Etsy likewise compels sellers to offer “free shipping” or get lost in the search algorithm. Etsy also gives preferential exposure to sellers who pay extra for the privilege of appearing at the top of the customer’s product search results. Sellers who pay for top exposure get even better customer exposure over sellers who may also offer free shipping, but cannot afford to pay for that top search exposure. This extra search result expense, plus offering free shipping, plus regular fees to list items and fees when items sell all combine to make selling on Etsy a cost-prohibitive endeavor. Couple that with sellers who sell cheap stuff from resale vendors in China or salvage sellers, and the small-business handmade craft seller doesn’t stand a chance because they are priced out of the market that is flooded with junk by sellers whose number one concern is their bottom line. Volume over quality wins every time, but doesn’t guarantee customers unique handmade items that Etsy was once known for.
Corporate apathy. Ebay and Etsy, as large corporations, don’t care that some small sellers on their platforms will be forced to price themselves out of the market and alienate customers with non-competitive higher prices to cover “free shipping.” Etsy and Ebay entice more sales on their platform by forcing individual sellers to offer “free shipping” while charging the sellers a fee on the total sales price – including shipping cost. The more people these platforms entice to shop, the more selling fees they earn. That’s big business at work, making passive income off small sellers and forcing them to eat the cost of shipping while paying a fee for the privilege of selling on the platform. All the risk and expense of doing business is lumped onto individual sellers, while the selling platform makes money no matter how the individual seller fares.
TOP OF FREE SHIPPING MYTH SECTION
AMAZON’S CORPORATE GREED IS ON A RAPACIOUS RAREFIED LEVEL
Amazon is especially predatory when it comes to “free shipping.” Amazon often undercuts other outlets by offering “free shipping” even when the shipping cost eats into Amazon’s own profit margin. Amazon takes a loss on the shipping specifically to drive competitors out of business in order to create a monopoly and get more sales. After many years of taking a loss to eliminate competition, Amazon now makes an astronomical profit of literally billions of dollars every year. The profits are so excessive, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and former CEO, could shell out a sweet $21 MILLION to board a rocket and spend eight minutes in the lower atmosphere of space. That type of frivolous personal indulgence in spending millions of dollars goes beyond wasteful, it’s criminal when considering how that money was procured – by benefiting from the labor of others without sharing the profit.
Part of Amazon’s profit plan includes squeezing costs at the individual seller level. Many vendors pay a premium for the privilege of selling on the Amazon platform. To stay price-competitive AND offer free shipping, these vendors work on a hairline profit margin that can break their business if they get too many returns. On many items, they may actually lose money with the free shipping perk, but eat the cost as part of doing business with Amazon. While this business model is unsustainable, there are many more vendors lining up for their chance to make big sales on the Amazon platform. They too will someday find the business model untenable, but that’s the price of paying for the exposure to potential buyers on the Amazon platform. Meanwhile, Amazon is swimming in profit at the expense of it’s own vendors.
Primed for profit. Don’t forget all the Amazon customers who pay for Amazon Prime accounts. They are paying in advance for “free shipping” as well as other perks like Amazon video streaming. Only people who place excessive orders will earn back their subscription cost in free shipping. Those who do not place enough orders to justify the subscription cost are essentially paying the shipping costs for Prime subscribers whose “free shipping” exceeds the cost of their Prime subscription.
Amazon workers and delivery people pay a heavy price. Through the sheer volume of sales and by shortchanging workers, Amazon maintains a ridiculous profit cushion that allows it to take occasional losses with “free shipping” and still make billions in profit every year. Across America, Amazon is the undisputed leader in paying its workers peanuts compared to CEO and top management pay (400 to one and higher!). Amid strict worker control and union-busting activities to prevent workers from sharing a larger portion of the profit from their own labor, Amazon keeps its “people” costs as low as possible while diverting profit from wages and benefits to pure corporate profit. As “independent contractors,” delivery people must pay for their own delivery vehicle and make deliveries within the allotted time or face firing by an automated bot text so Amazon doesn’t have to bother with using another paid employee to auto-fire the least respected worker – the delivery person. This atrocious worker treatment helps Amazon support the “free shipping” myth that draws customers, while stealing wages and benefits from its own low-level employees. Every time someone buys from Amazon, they are supporting this oppressive uber-capitalist system.
Who’s actually paying for “free shipping” from Amazon? Let’s do an honest review of Amazon “free shipping.” When someone buys something from Amazon and gets “free shipping,” the shipping is actually being paid for by independent sellers, some Prime subscribers, and Amazon workers. As with any worker-oppressive system, many sacrifice so the few can live in unearned luxury. Considering all that, “free shipping” isn’t really “free” then, is it?
TOP OF FREE SHIPPING MYTH SECTION
WHEN DOLL-WORLD OFFERS FREE SHIPPING
As hobbyists, we’re on a budget. We must pay for shipping on every order we process – either out of our own pocket or by passing on the cost to the buyer. Under certain circumstances we may offer to pay for the shipping on orders over a specific amount to encourage more sales, or pay for shipping on higher-priced items that have a better margin to allow us to discount the price by the cost of shipping. However, if we offered free shipping on every order, we’d be giving away some items in the order to pay the shipping cost. We might be able to do that once in a while, but not all the time. If we did, we’d end up giving away about 50% of revenue on small-dollar sales, considering additional fees associated with making those sales. Those fees include the upfront cost of a transaction processing fee for every sale, and the back-end cost of maintaining a domain and website. The business model of taking a loss on shipping may be a negligible profit concession for a large corporation that experiences a high volume of sales and has a more flexible expense structure, but it is not a viable option for a small personal business like ours, because our revenue margin is too narrow.
Alternatives to the myth of “free shipping.” We try to price our items fairly, given the market, but many items we sell are priced well below the original price paid to acquired them. For us this is a recuperative business model – we’re trying to recuperate a small portion of the money we’ve invested in items among our collection that we’ve chosen to send to other homes. We consider that an expected loss as part of the process of doll collecting. So, the best we can do is try to keep shipping costs affordable and hope our customers understand that free shipping sounds nice, but it isn’t a real option for us on most sales. If we could find a way to truly offer “free shipping” without tricking our customers or giving away the farm, we’d be all over that, because who doesn’t love to get something free? Even if it is just shipping cost. Until we find that magic formula to offer free shipping and still maintain our business, we’ll be charging shipping and offer thanks in advance to our customers for their support and understanding.
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DOLL-WORLD!
