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Frequently Asked Questions:Do you accept custom orders? Q: Do you accept custom orders?A: NO! I did for many years and it eventually just about killed the artist within me. I'm still working on a backlog from the days of yore... So please, do not send me an email asking if I will consider taking on just one more. I very much appreciate and am humbled by those inquiries... but I will never, ever accept custom orders again. Never. Ever. Back to top Q: Why is shipping so expensive?A: First of all I live in Sweden (a European country in the far north)- not everyone is aware of that! It means that all foreign parcels do cost quite a bit to ship. When I have a sales item available I look at the current exchange rate. The Swedish Postal Service charge a minimum amount for airmail parcels to the US, size of parcel and weight is of no importance. After that there are increases depending upon parcel weight - those increases are quite small and thus a Trad sized resin will not cost a whole lot more than a SM sized ditto to ship, strangely enough. At this time, the base fee is apprx $35. I also do not ship without insurance. That is a set fee regardless of value and equals (at time of writing) about $15. Quite simply - $50 is the minimum postage if the model is sent in a box that necessitates parcel shipment... which is basically any and all models larger than SM size. (Note: If sent as a parcel the item will always be double-boxed). Stablemate sized models can now be sent as "large letters" as long as the height of the box doesn't exceed 10 cm (apprx 4 inches). This is cheaper than the regular airmail parcels, and they are insured as well as long as they're sent by certified airmail. A "large letter" will generally cost about $25, but it also has to be sent single-boxed in order to fit within the sizing limits. Please note that just about every time I end up paying out of my own pocket - I usually set the postage cost a bit lower than the actual cost as I don't want to overcharge. Also, the rates stated above are valid for parcels to the US and Canada only. If you live in any other country, please email me for shipping quotes. Back to top Q: How long until my parcel arrives?A: If you live in the US, generally in between 5-10 business days. Every once in a while it will take longer than that, sometimes up to three weeks but that is very rare. Back to top Q: What if the item arrives damaged or broken?A: Insurance applies unless my packing is deemed substandard by the PO (if so I will refund the purchase price and shipping costs, but only after I have received sufficient proof that such is the case and have received the item back). It is is imperative that you hang onto all boxes and packing materials if the item arrives damaged as they're needed as evidence. If you have tossed them out and can't file an insurance claim due to it, that's your loss. I make sure to pack very well (always double boxed, except for large letters) and during my 20 years of shipping models only a couple have arrived damaged/broken. Back to top Q: You state I'm responsible for any and all customs taxes. What does that mean?A: If you're do not live in a country that belongs to the European Union (in other words, if you live in the US, Canada, Mexico and so forth) your local Customs authorities may want to charge you a certain amount for buying something from outside your country (if you will, a "penalty" for not buying locally). This rarely very happens (I take certain precautionary measures) - in fact, it's only happened once in 20 years that I know of! That (US) customer had to pay apprx $40 in taxes, and it was a very expensive item. She received a bill a while after having received the item, but I may well be that your state or country demand that you pay customs taxes upon receipt. It is not something I can possibly keep track of, nor do I want to considering how many countries there are on this earth of ours. Besides that one time, I do not know of any other customer of mine that has had to pay customs taxes. It may happen again though... so if you're worried about the possibility of having to pay a bit of extra, please check with your local post or customs office for more information. I do not ship uninsured, nor will I write a lower value than the actual one (ie declared value) on the customs form as that information is part of the insurance documentation. I will not, under any circumstance, reimburse you for any Customs Tax(es) you may end up paying, nor will I accept that you return the item to me for a refund due to your unwillingness or lack of ability to pay for such charge(s). Any and all Customs Tax(es) are your sole and complete responsibility. Back to top Q: Do you do repairs/updates/alterations on your own work?A: As for updates/alterations, no. I simply don't have the time. I am usually willing to add markings to a sales models if the customer would like me to though, just ask me. Unless I feel that it's completely unsuitable for the model in question I'm happy to accomodate. Please read more here. Repairs: Only if there are special circumstances. I do NOT do repairs if, for example, the damage is in an area that can easily be fixed by someone else with adequate skills (a clean break on a black-painted leg, a broken eartip, etc). However, if it is a complicated repair or touch-up, for example a large scratch or a complex break in an area with a lot of variation (such as on a dapple grey) I usually prefer it the I'm the one who does the repairs. Back to top Q: So if I would like you to do a repair, what do I do? What does it cost?A: Please follow these instructions: 1) Send me an email describing the damage (please be detailed) and how it happened. If possible, supply photos. 2) I will let you know as soon as possible if it's a repair I'm willing to do. If so, you will receive further instructions on shipping etc. 3) I charge a base fee of $40 (regardless of size of the model and extensiveness of the damage) for the first hour, plus an additional $20-40/hour, depending upon how complicated the work is. You are also required to pay all postage costs. I can not give you an exact quote until I've personally inspected the model. I will however give you a rough estimate based on your description. Payment is due within ten days of my notification that the repairs have been completed. Back to top Q: What is your stance on alterations?A: I abide by and refer to VARA and international copyright laws such as the Berne Convention. I do NOT allow alterations to be made to my work if said work was sold or completed after January 1st 2003. (Works bought or completed preceding that date... hey, go ahead and do what you want with it.) Touch-ups of scratches etc and repairing breaks are OK, but adding or altering markings etc is absolutely prohibited. Remember that I have every international legal right to demand this and that violation of this policy is regarded as a crime. I will not take legal action against anyone who violates this policy, but rest assured that he/she will never be able to buy from me ever again (if I find out about it...). Back to top Q: What types of payment do you accept?A: PayPal - credit cards and checks, but only from users with a confirmed shipping address! I will accept PayPal from users that do not have a confirmed shipping address if you can provide me with a) at least 5 (five) well-known and reliable hobby references or b) if you have an eBay or mXc feedback consisting of at least 30 positives (with no excessive negative/neutral feedback). US International Postal Money Order - the pink one is 100% OK, even tho many US postal workers will tell you that it's not accepted in Sweden. It is accepted as long as the payee has a special account set up with the Swedish postal company (which I do). You do not have to buy the special version that has to clear the main office! I can accept a couple of other ways of payment as well, but you must check with me first! I can not accept international bank cheques/money orders, just as an example. Back to top Q: How long until my item is sent?If you pay by PayPal: I need the payment to clear to my bank account first, which usually takes about 5 days. eChecks require an additional clearing period, about 5-7 days. If you pay by US IPMO: I require that the MO is sent by certified airmail (usually arrives within 3-10 days) and it must clear to my account before I ship (an additional 7-10 days). I ship the first business day after payment has cleared. I will not, under any circumstance, ship until payment has cleared to my account no matter what payment method you opt to use. Back to top Q: Do you offer a return guarantee?A: Only if the item is not as described, or if my packing has been deemed substandard by postal inspectors (should the item have arrived damaged broken, see What if the item arrives damaged/broken?). Back to top Q: Is your work open live show quality (LSQ)?A: My works have won uncountable championships in the toughest possible open live competition in at least six countries over the past two decades, including NAN Championships and multiple Top Tens. However, there will always be one judge or another that won't care for my work and that won't regard it as open LSQ. That's life! I personally know of several top-notch customizers that have experienced problems with their customers due to the opinions of judges, and I'm not willing to hop down that troublesome road myself. Thus, I do not explicitly guarantee my work to be open LSQ. I let the records speak for themselves, but that's it. Back to top Q: Can you provide me with references from past customers?A: Absolutely! Just send me an email! Back to top Q: Do you accept trades and/or time payments?Trades: Preferably not. I'm a full-time student so I really need the cash! Every once in a while I will accept part-trades if you have an unpainted resin body that I'd like to work on. I am NOT interested in plastic bodies. Email me if you'd like to know what's on my wish list. Time payments: Yes, as long as the item I'm selling is priced at $500 or above and is sold via this website/my mailing list. I do NOT accept time payments if I'm selling the item via eBay (unless stated otherwise in the auction details). I require a non-refundable 50% down and the remaining 50% to be sent within 30 (thirty) days of the first payment. With time payments there is also an additional 10% fee (ie, if the selling price is $500, I will add $50 for a total of $550 plus postage/insurance). Note: as for "within 30 days"... I'm not a monster. If you experience some sort of un-foreseen emergency (house burns down, spouse dies, your pet is hit by a car and has to have emergency surgery... stuff like that) and you can provide me with proof of such, then I will not ask you to come up with the remaining 50% for as long as need be. However, I will not refund the initial 50%. As mentioned, I need the money that my artwork brings me in order to put food on my table. I also will not ship the item until it has been paid in full. Back to top Q: What do you consider to be "acceptable use" of photos you've taken of your work?A: With few exceptions, I've taken photos of all the customs I've created. I've made it a habit to include printed copies with each model I sell since many years. As I'm now the happy owner of a digital camera, I will instead include a a CD-ROM with high-resolution images when I ship a model to its new owner. So just how may you use them? As long as you own the model in question, you are free to use (no need to check with me first) my unaltered (except sizing/cropping) photographic images for display on your website, for sales purposes as well as for competitive photo shows. If you don't own the actual work in question but am, say, the sculptor of the resin body that I've painted... then you're also free to use my unaltered (except sizing/cropping) photographic images on your website etc for display purposes. I do ask that I'm credited as the painter and copyright holder of the image you choose to use (not necessary when in relation to competitive photo shows). Unless I have given you express written permission, you may not use my photograpic images to create derivative work such as web graphics, logos, Sims objects or likewise. I also do not allow that my photos are used in connection with so called "cyber stables". If you're still unsure whether you may use my photos or not, just email me :). Back to top Q: I can't find the answer I'm looking for......just send me an email - I'm always happy to help out! Back to top |