Do You Have a Returns Policy, Guarantee, or Disclaimer?

by Vicki

I'm trying to find information on writing disclaimers and return policies for jewelry shows.

I have my first show coming up soon and I'm unsure of how to begin writing the information.

I plan to have an attorney review the documents, but would like to see an example of what others have done to cover themselves at jewelry shows.

Thanks.

Vicki

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Do You Have a Returns Policy, Guarantee, or Disclaimer?

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Customer Policies
by: Rena

Hi Vicki,

While these pages aren't written-out examples of policies and disclaimers, I think you'll find some valuable info for deciding on your own policies:

How to Handle Difficult Jewelry Customers

Jewelry Business Customer Service

Help with Jewelry Party Returns Due to Breakage

How to Build a Good Jewelry Business Reputation (has a section on jewelry returns policies).

Hope this helps! :o)

What I do
by: Terri

I actually don't have a written policy at shows. However, I did when I started. I just typed up a sign that said, "Unused items(tags still attached) can be returned within 7 days of purchase for full refund or exchange."

As to guarantees, I will fix/replace at no cost anything that happens to my items as a result of normal use/wear with the same or similar quality materials, or provide a refund up to a year. I don't have this in writing.

For really good customers, I fix at no cost even if they dropped the item and broke it (e.g., lampwork glass), if I still have some left over materials. Otherwise, I charge them for retail cost of the materials.

Look on the etsy site. There are lots of jewelry shops with policies you can adopt.

Mine are at:
http://starseedjewelry.etsy.com

Refunds, Returns, Exchanges, and Repairs
by: Madame Magpie

I don't have set policies. Each situation is different and I would prefer to handle each one separately.

My written policy is pretty much this: if anything ever goes wrong with this jewelry for any reason, please get in touch and we will solve it.

When it comes down to it, I'm pretty generous about repairs. I began silversmithing as a repair jeweler and, as such, the description of a failure will usually tell me if it was my workmanship or customer misuse.

If it was my mistake, I correct it immediately. If it was a failure due to misuse that could have been prevented by better design, I usually fix it at no charge (I consider it the price of a structural design lesson) and accompany it with a friendly lecture about jewelry care. Flagrant abuse gets served with a repair bill, of course, if the piece can even be fixed.

Returns, Refunds, and Exchanges I also handle one at a time. I do my best to get to the root reason for why a piece of jewelry has come back. This is valuable information.

If "I want to return these earrings" actually means, "These earwires aren't working as expected" I can change the earwires and make my customer happy instead of taking back the earrings and issuing a refund.

The instant I determine that the customer really doesn't like the earrings and there's nothing I can do to change that, the refund happens. I do not wish to have unhappy customers for any reason.

As small businesses, we can provide the luxury of personalized and attentive service. Make that a selling point.

return policy
by: Here Today Beadworks

I don't have a written return policy for shows, but if anyone asks I always tell them the same thing I have on my etsy site - yes I take returns, shipping is your cost, and if you change out pieces alot I will do like the expensive jewelery houses do and charge use-rent :) I have had no exchanges so far and only a couple repairs - learning experiences in materials and design both times. I have a written policy on my etsy site, see heretodaybeadworks@etsy.com, since that is one of the things I look for when shopping on-line.

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