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Our Service Pledge

I respond to all e-mails within 24 hours, and it will generally be no more than 2 business days from the time I receive your electronic payment until your item is on the way to you. If you pay by check, shipping will generally follow in no more than 3 business days. I guarantee the authenticity of all my items.

Payments we accept:

Other Information

I allow all forms of payment from my U.S. customers, including, reluctantly, personal checks. The forms of payment I accept from customers outside the U.S. are money orders in U.S. Dollars or PayPal. In general, I will consider structuring a layaway purchase on items whose total price is $500 or more. The operative word is "consider," which means that you must inquire BEFORE submitting a purchase order. Not all purchases will be available as layaways, including, among others, items in any special Ruby Lane promotions, for example a Ruby Red Tag Sale.

Return Policy

You may initiate a return of this item within 3 days of delivery. More Details

Shipping, Handling, Insurance Policy

Whenever possible, based on the Postal Service’s weight rules—with due attention to safe and secure packaging—I ship items to U.S. addresses using USPS Ground Advantage, including Delivery Confirmation. I have never had an issue with loss or damage using this method, including for fragile antiques! Unlike First Class Mail, which I used to use in situations where my customers wanted to save some money over Priority Mail, and where I used to suggest that they consider waiving insurance to save even more money, they no longer have to do that (For items valued up to $100, insurance is included with Ground Advantage!) And I believe the charges for First Class and Ground Advantage are near identical. Therefore, for that value range, I no longer ask customers if they want to waive insurance to save money. Of course, for items valued over $100, you might still want to waive insurance. if you do waive insurance, Ruby Lane structures the issue of insurance choice with a “yes” default. This means you must affirmatively DECLINE insurance when you submit a purchase order to me. I always buy this way (unless a vendor makes insurance mandatory). Just as I want to save money on the items I purchase by mail, I assume my buyers want to do the same. However, just as I will always do what my customers want in respect to the type of shipping and use Priority Mail even for very small items, they can also leave the “yes” insurance default. I don't offer an "official" combined shipping discount, based on the way Ruby Lane presents the options a dealer must choose among. If you buy multiple items from me at the same time, you may be able to save money because the shipping cost is always based on the total weight. Priority Mail could be a good choice in such a situation. IF YOU DO MAKE MULTIPLE PURCHASES, PLEASE WAIT FOR MY INVOICE. I APPRECIATE DILIGENT, FAST-PAYING CUSTOMERS, BUT RUBY LANE SIMPLY ADDS UP THE SHIPPING (AND INSURANCE) INFORMATION FOR EACH ITEM, WITHOUT TAKING COMBINED SHIPPING COSTS INTO CONSIDERATION. I KNOW THAT A PAYPAL LINK POPS UP ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED A PURCHASE ORDER THAT SAYS "PAY NOW." PLEASE RESIST THE URGE TO DO THIS! IF YOU GO RIGHT TO PAYPAL, YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE OVERPAYING. IF YOU WANT TO USE PAYPAL, AND YOU DON’T THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO PAY IMMEDIATELY, CHOOSE “PAY BY CHECK” WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR ORDER, AND I WILL CHANGE YOUR PAYMENT METHOD TO PAYPAL WHEN I SEND YOU THE CORRECTED INVOICE. ********************************** I used to ship internationally using First-Class Package International, as a general rule. If my international buyers wanted insurance, they would have to use Priority Mail International. However, international mail processing by the USPS has become so horrible since 2020, some First-Class International packages sent to customers of mine have gotten lost, leaving them with no package and no way to make a claim against the USPS. My general rule has thus been reversed, and I always recommend using Priority Mail to my international customers. Although Priority is generally much more expensive than First Class, it INCLUDES insurance for up to $200 in value, and if your item is worth more, you can buy extra insurance. I know you want to save money, but my first recommendation is going to be Priority. If you still want to use First Class International, against my advice, I will do so. HOWEVER, if your package is lost, please know that I had nothing to do with that, and you will be left with no recourse. I felt HORRIBLE when this happened to my customers, BUT YOU MUST KNOW THAT ONCE YOUR PACKAGE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE USPS, I HAVE NO CONTROL OR LIABILITY FOR WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO IT AFTER THAT. Because international transactions cost me more time to handle, and I have to pay higher fees, I add a handling fee to the cost of your purchase if you are located outside the U.S. In most cases that will not be more than $10 US. Even that amount really does not come close to compensating me for the extra time and money I must spend on sending things outside the country.