Shipping & Returns
SHIPPING
Please note that all orders are packaged with the utmost care and attention to detail. Insurance on all purchases regardless of the amount is included in the cost of shipment. We pride ourselves on the security of our packaging.
Gemstone Publishing uses UPS as its preferred shipping method, although USPS Priority Mail and other services are available.
A tracking number is assigned to each shipment. Once your order ships, you will receive an e-mail direct from the respective carriers, providing you with a UPS tracking number or a domestic-only USPS tracking number. At this time, USPS does not e-mail tracking numbers for international shipments. You will also receive a separate shipment confirmation e-mail from our website’s automated order fulfillment system, which will include ALL tracking numbers including USPS International.
UPS is able to provide accurate and continually updated tracking on all transactions. This means you can follow your package from the moment it is picked up at our distribution center to the minute your purchase is received at your designated destination. USPS tracking has improved greatly over the past few years, though it still can be inconsistent and spotty depending on the routing and ultimate destination. Please keep this in mind if considering USPS shipping.
We offer our customers three UPS options for shipping: basic Ground shipping, with Next Day Air and Second Day Air available for those last-minute gift-giving requests. P.O. Box orders and special requests will ship via USPS Priority Mail. Shipments to P.O. boxes valued in excess of $100 require a valid phone number before merchandise will be shipped. Most international shipments will be made via USPS Priority Mail International. USPS First Class Mail International service is available ONLY for packages weighing less than 4 pounds, AND meeting strict USPS dimensional limits. Due to USPS insurance restrictions, international orders valued in excess of $650.00 MUST be shipped via UPS Expedited service.
Shipping rates are determined by integrated UPS and USPS shipping rate calculators linked to our site. These rates are generated by the delivering carriers themselves and assessed to your order based on the shipping weight of the product(s) selected.
Orders are shipped in the sequence in which they are received. The sole exception is when UPS 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air is specified, in which case such orders are given priority. At certain times of the year, such as the time of release of the new edition of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, extra time may be required for processing due to heavy order volume.
Delivery times are NOT guaranteed EXCEPT in the case of UPS 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air shipping. Shipping refunds are offered ONLY in the event of missed delivery times on 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air packages.
Delivery times indicated for USPS Priority Mail packages reflect ONLY the estimated transit time after your order has been packaged by our order processing department and picked up by our USPS route carrier. Due to varying and often unpredictable order volume, we are unable to guarantee that your order will be processed the same day that it is received.
Due to differences in daily pick-up times by UPS and USPS at our location (UPS in late afternoon and USPS in early morning), orders specifying USPS shipping may actually leave our facility 1-2 days later than a package specified for UPS, depending on time of day your order is received.
Please do not make the error of assuming that USPS shipping is necessarily cheaper or faster than UPS. While USPS rates may be comparable to or lower than UPS rates for lighter-weight packages, UPS rates are significantly cheaper for packages in excess of 4 pounds.
RETURN POLICY
Our number one priority at Gemstone Publishing is customer satisfaction. We work very hard at complete accuracy in our descriptions of all products.
Please contact us at gemstoneadmin@gemstonepub.com with any questions you have concerning the description of a product before you purchase the item. We will gladly supply as much information as possible. However, if you feel that for any reason the product you have purchased does not meet our description, please notify this office through e-mail (gemstoneadmin@gemstonepub.com).
If you wish to use the phone, please call us during business hours at the numbers listed in our contact area. All information needed to return the product will be supplied at that time.
Please note that the Buyer will be completely responsible for the cost of the return shipping and, if needed, the insurance. At no time will the cost of return shipping or insurance be reimbursed to the Buyer by Gemstone Publishing.
If returning an item, please take care in the repacking of the item for shipment. The item must be returned in the exact same condition that it was originally shipped. Return requests must be made within seven (7) days of receipt of the item.
We are willing to work with you for a solution if you have a problem with your order, but NO RETURNS WILL BE REFUNDED IF THEY HAVE BEEN SENT WITHOUT RECEIVING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FROM US. LIKEWISE, NO REFUSED SHIPMENTS WILL BE REFUNDED.
DAMAGES
Gemstone Publishing bears no responsibility for any damage to any package or the merchandise therein once that package is accepted by the transporting carrier. At that point, condition of the package becomes the responsibility of the carrier. If you receive a damaged package, you must call UPS or USPS immediately and file a claim. They will give you instructions at that time. Gemstone Publishing is unable to make this call for you.