I gladly accept returns and exchanges with the following conditions:
- Custom or personalized orders
- Items on sale
- Made to Order items
✦ REFUNDS & EXCHANGES
All returns must be authorized by Gilded Bug Jewelry before they are sent back.
MADE TO ORDER ITEMS ARE FINAL SALE. Made to order items are any ring where the stone is chosen for your ring or where you choose your own ring size. They are considered a custom item. This is because the item is made from scratch for a specific customer only once an order is placed to that customer's size and specifications. If you have questions about a stone or the item, please email me beforehand and I will help you make the best decision possible with the needed information!
If you are not fully satisfied with your purchase and the item is not a MADE TO ORDER ITEM, CUSTOM PIECE, PURCHASED ON SALE, and is therefore eligible for a return, please message me and let me know. Any returns or exchanges must be pre approved and are allowed only within 3 days of receipt. After 3 days, the purchase is final and a return or exchange will not be given. The returned or exchanged item must be mailed back at the customer's expense. The refund will only be for the price of the item. The item must be returned in the same condition, in the original packaging, and unworn.
If an item is allowed to be returned and it arrives in damaged condition with visible wear and tear, the buyer is fully responsible as these are not allowable conditions for a return. Depending on the damage, a restocking or scrap fee will be applied to the refund. This is up to the discretion of Gilded Bug and will be fair and equal to the size of the ring, the value of the stone, and the amount of damage to the item.
✦ RINGS CANNOT BE EXCHANGED FOR A DIFFERENT SIZE.
Again, this is because the majority of my rings are made to order to a customer's specific size only once an order is placed. There are not extras of that ring in multiple sizes to be exchanged with. Each of rings is entirely hand made. The other items that are not made to order are one of a kind. This means that they are the only ring like it out there and there is nothing to exchange with it.
Etsy does not have a way to track exchanges or store credits. Because of this, I cannot do an exchange for a different item or provide a store credit as the order history will not reflect this in Etsy and there are too many potential difficulties that could arise regarding these types of transactions.
✦ ITEMS OVER $150 ARE FINAL SALE.
There must be a valid quality issue or a legitimate claim regarding returns on items over $150. These items are not returnable for Buyer's Remorse. Purchasing the wrong size or not liking the ring is the fault of the buyer and not Gilded Bug Jewelry. This policy is in place to prevent fraud as well as the integrity of these higher end pieces. Multiple pictures are listed as well as description and sizing to ensure an accurate purchase. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions about a high end purchase before making it! I am here to help!!
✦ SHIPPING ISSUES
If you have received an incorrect or damaged item in the mail, please contact me within 24 hours of receiving the shipment. In your message, please indicate your order number and describe the issue with your order. I will work with you to resolve the problem. If an item is damaged in the mail, a photo must be provided showing the damage before the item is mailed back for an exchange or refund!
If, for any reason, an item does not arrive and a Tracking Number or Customs Number was provided, a refund will not be given nor will another item be sent out. At this point, it is up to you the buyer to speak to your local post office. A receipt of payment for shipping can be provided upon request as proof of shipment.
There may be some exceptions to this rule so please do not hesitate to contact me. If USPS is the at fault party, a refund may be given only after USPS has confirmed that the package was not or could not be delivered and is being returned to Gilded Bug. These rules and policies are the same as Etsy itself.
✦ SIZING ISSUES
For sizing issues when a ring does not fit but is the correct size ordered, I only offer a return at the customer's expense and a resizing fee will be charged of at least $15. Customer will pay for all shipping fees. Sizing down or sizing up more than .5 of the existing size will result in the ring band being remade. There will be an additional expense for any order that has to be remade (minimum of $15 to cover cost of materials and labor). We will work those details out if this is your circumstance!
If the ring is taken to an outside party for resizing- all returns and refunds are null and void. There is no refund for any resulting damage. Please speak with the jeweler who has done the work at this point regarding your dissatisfaction.
✦ SHIPPING & HANDLING TIME
Each listing has a specific shipping timeframe however I do try and ship out each order within 3-5 business days. Keep in mind that once I have shipped an item, shipping time is out of my control and will depend on the efficiency of the postal service being used. Please allow up to 2 weeks for domestic orders and 5 weeks for international orders. Keep in mind that USPS does not deliver on Sundays or holidays.
If, for any reason, an item does not arrive and a Tracking Number or Customs Number was provided and the item shows "Out for Delivery" or "Delivered", a refund will not be given nor will another item be sent out. At this point, it is up to you the buyer to speak to your local post office. If USPS is the at fault party, a refund may be given ONLY after USPS has confirmed that the package was not or could not be delivered and is being returned to Gilded Bug. These rules and policies are the same as Etsy itself.
✦ INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS
COVID 19 has strongly impacted shipping timeframes, especially Internationally. Your package can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to arrive, sometimes longer. Please be aware that sometimes a customs tax is due and that the package WILL NOT be delivered unless this is paid. It is up to the international customer to be aware of any notification slips that may be left in the post box regarding the package being held at the local post office. Once an item is out of the United States, neither USPS or myself will have any additional information to provide other than what shows up on the tracking information as this package is no longer under the United States Postal Service control, but the inbound country's customs and postal services.
✦ SHIPPING ADDRESS
Please make sure that your shipping address is correct. I cannot be held responsible for shipping errors due to incorrect information saved to your PayPal or credit card account.
✦ INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS TAXES
Your parcel may be subject to a customs, duty or VAT tax. The regulations concerning whether or not your order will apply vary by country and it is the obligation of the consumer to obtain information concerning these taxes and pay them if necessary. You can usually obtain this information by contacting your postal office or customs office. Please do not request for me to falsify any information on the customs forms.
If you choose to NOT CLAIM your item or NOT PAY customs taxes and the purchase is returned, a refund will be given once the item arrives back, undamaged, and in the same condition as sent. A 10% restocking fee will be charged and then difference refunded. Shipping costs will not be refunded. No refund will be given until the item returns to Gilded Bug. This can take up to 3-6 months.
✦Please remember that I have absolutely no power over the United States Postal Service or any other international mail service. Often times, I have just as much information as you do. I cannot guarantee that any mailing service will do their job correctly or that someone in customs will not steal a package. Please do not hold me responsible for the errors of others or for the VATs you are charged. ✦
Additional Product and Order Information
✦ CUSTOM ORDERS
Custom orders are welcomed. The terms and conditions for these orders will be unique and discussed between the buyer and Gilded Bug (Katrina Alexa Designs). Custom orders as well as wholesale orders (quantities of 5 or more of the same item) cannot not be returned.
✦ HANDMADE JEWELRY
Each piece is handmade. Please remember that handmade jewelry will be different than mass or factory made items. This means that there will be slight variations and a different look to each piece than what is bought on shelf or factory made. There will be natural elements that make each piece unique as they are made by a person and not a machine.
Do not wear handmade jewelry to bed, washing dishes, during outdoor actives or exercise, etc as damage can be done to the stone, setting, or band.
PLEASE REMEMBER: All my rings should be taken off always when washing one's hands as soap can cause changes in the stone or a patina to occur under the stone. All items should be stored in a dark place and never left in the sun for the the same reasons. These are natural gemstone, untreated unless otherwise specific, and therefore can be more delicate than man made or chemical enhanced stones. Handmade items are always more delicate than casted or machine made items.
✦ STERLING SILVER
I make every ring from scratch. This means I buy sterling silver sheets and all other sterling silver elements from Rio Grande Jewelry Company in bulk. Each ring and ring band is handcrafted from these bulk items. Because they come in bulk and are being individually made to order, there is no .925 sterling silver stamp. However, each element of the ring is either sterling silver or fine silver (the bezel setting). I do not use any silver less than sterling silver.
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and is generally too soft for producing functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength while preserving the ductility and appearance of the precious metal.