Purchase
When you order through Crafts France, you are ordering directly from the Artisan. Some items are kept in inventory while many will be made by hand upon receipt of your order - this may add 2 or more weeks to the delivery time but is a small inconvenience compared to the unique piece you will enjoy. All items are produced, packaged and mailed direct from the workshop that made your items. Ordering is simple. Just click on any product photo (or text) and, if you like it, click on 'Add To Cart'. You may repeat this process for all the items you wish to purchase.
After you have finished shopping, you may enter your User Name and Password if you are an existing customer or set up an account if you are a new customer. We ask for your Credit Card information each time you visit and purchase to ensure your privacy and security.
To make absolutely sure that your order request reflects what you wish to purchase, we provide you with a Confirmation Page for one final check before you actually submit the purchase. By clicking on the Confirm Order button, your order is placed and you will receive a Confirmation Notice via email shortly after submission.
Insurance
CraftsFrance does not require you to buy insurance, in most cases, believing the customer should have the option to save the fee if he or she decides. However, if you decline insurance and the package is lost or the items are damaged in transit, you are not entitled to receive a replacement or refund.
Damaged and lost packages are rare (most of our Artisans have never had a mailing issue). However, the unique product you have purchased is fragile and we highly recommend you purchase insurance. Insurance fees are displayed in the Cart and are automatically listed. If you wish to purchase insurance, do nothing and insurance will be ordered on your behalf. If you wish to opt-out of insurance, you may indicate ‘decline’ in the Cart.
For packages with a value of over Five Hundred Dollars (US$500), CraftsFrance will require you to purchase insurance. You will not be able to opt-out. CraftsFrance self-insures some orders and purchases additional insurance on selected orders, at its own discretion. By purchasing insurance, you agree to assist CraftsFrance and the Artisan in processing the claim with La Poste, USPS and/or US Customs Service.
Customs Duties
First the good news. You are receiving authentic handmade crafts direct from an Artisan in France. According the US Customs Service, this makes you an importer. But before you go updating your resume, please note that, in most cases, you won’t fill out a form, inspect a package, forward a parcel or enter the cages at your local entry port. Easy, right? So what’s the catch?
You are responsible for paying Customs Duties…. just like an Importer.
This backhanded honor applies to everyone who receives goods from overseas. And, whether we like it or not, the buyer (that’s you) is fully responsible for these fees – if they apply. Neither the Artisan nor CraftsFrance can take care of this detail. However, please don’t worry. In most cases, these fees are small and in some cases, you won’t be charged a cent.
If you want direct, specific information, we recommend you contact the US Customs Service (www.customs.gov) for all the details. For your convenience, we provide a summary of information on our site by clicking on Customs Duties. Please note that CraftsFrance is not an Importer and is not an expert on US Customs rules and regulations.
La Poste
Shouette USA and its member Artisans utilize La Poste, the French postal service to ship packages from France to the United States. We have chosen the mail service due to its cost effectiveness, convenience (especially with US Customs) and verifiable quality.
> Cost Effectiveness. Most courier systems can have packages sent in half the time it takes La Poste to pass the items to the USPS. Of course, these couriers will cost 3 to 5 times as much as La Poste. Given the high level of care and quality available (most of Artisans say nothing has ever been lost or damaged in transit), we are confident that La Poste provides the best option for shipping your ceramic art or other product. Although exact shipping charges will be provided to you as you make your order, shipping and handling charges are based on weight and volume, as well as the number of packages sent.
> Convenience. Unless your order is over $2000, your package will be delivered directly to your doorstep by the United States Postal Service. La Poste passes all packages to the USPS, who marshal the package through US Customs and then onward to you. Due to efficiencies that exist between the USPS and US Customs, in most cases the process is quick with little paperwork. For packages with a value over $2000, a more formal process is required – regardless of whether you use a courier service or the postal service.
> Quality. Insurance is automatically calculated into your shipping charges, although you may opt-out of the charges if you wish. We highly recommend you maintain the insurance option to receive all the benefits and guarantees that Shouette USA provides. Still, the quality of La Poste service is very high and there is only an outside chance that your package will be lost or damaged in transit.
US Customs. Whether you know it or not, you are an importer. At least as defined by the US Customs service. All packages entering the USA are considered an imported item (even your old shoes if sent back home from overseas) and, therefore, must pass through US Customs. Not to worry, though, since utilizing La Poste and the USPS provides an expedited, low-paperwork method of moving through Customs if your package is valued at under $2000.
Shipping Options
Currently, two options are available for shipping via La Poste, the French postal service. The ECONOMY service is the most economical but packages will take longer to arrive. Although shipping times vary, most packages shipped via Economy will arrive 16-25 days after being shipped. Your second option is PRIORITY. This service costs more but most orders will be delivered in 10-16 days from the date of shipment. Please note that an additional 2 days or more may occur due to US Customs Service processing.
Charging My Card
Crafts France currently only accepts Visa or Mastercard for purchasing items via our site. In addition, for your security, our member artisans will (currently) only ship to the address associated with the charge card. We verify your card on-line during the purchase process and charge your card upon your request to purchase the order. Please see our Return Policy for information on charge-backs and returns.
Invoices & Receipts
Upon submitting your request for an order, Crafts France will send you, via email, a Notice of receipt of your order. This Notice will be sent to the email address you provide in setting up your account. All the information pertaining to your order will be listed in the Notice, as well as your Order Number. If anything is incorrect on the Notice, please contact CraftsFrance immediately and provide us with any correction. You may reply to the address on the email or send an email to Order Support . Please make sure you include your name, contact information, Order Number and specifics on the correction.
The package sent direct from the artisan will include an invoice for all the goods in the package. Please ensure that you have received all the items listed on the invoice and that it matches your original order. If there are any errors, please keep all documentation and, via email, contact Order Support at Crafts France. Please include your name, contact information, Order Number and specifics on the error.
Taxes (for USA buyers)
First the good news. You are buying authentic handcrafted goods direct from the artisan. Now, the even better news – no local sales taxes are charged and you are not charged any French Value-Added Tax (VAT) since the items are sent direct to you outside of the European Union. Please note that your locality or state may have special tax laws that may apply and you may responsible for various taxes. Please check with your local authority or accountant.
Return Policy
CraftsFrance believes you will be happy with your purchase of authentic artisan goods. Since the items are handmade crafts, each piece will be unique and slightly different from all other pieces. If you should be unhappy with your order, CraftsFrance offers a five (5) day money back satisfaction guaranteed return policy. Once you receive your product, you have 5 calendar days to notify CraftsFrance in writing (or confirmed email at Return To Crafts France) that you intend to return it and three (3) calendar days (from our confirmed response) to ship it back to the designated return location.
Shipment must be fully insured at the purchase price of the work and you are responsible for shipping charges to Crafts France. Please mail the items to Crafts France, P.O. Box 27497, San Francisco, CA 94127 USA . Once the items have been received undamaged, CraftsFrance will credit your credit card account for the full retail price of the items returned. Please note that the shipping charges from France are not refundable.
Canceling An Order
Since you are ordering items direct from France, canceling an order is somewhat problematic due to time-zone and artisan production issues. Crafts France wants you to be happy with our service, however, and will communicate your cancel order as soon as it is received.
Most of our artisans will be processing your order within 24-48 hours after you submit it. If during the first 24 hours after submitting your order you decide you do not want to purchase the items, please notify Crafts France immediately via confirmed email refunds@craftsfrance.com. If the order has not been sent, we will cancel it for you. If it has been sent, Crafts France will still accept the return, however you will not receive a refund for the shipping/insurance fees – but instead will receive a credit for ‘shipping’ on you next order. Upon your receipt of the package(s), please send it to Crafts France at P.O Box 27497, San Francisco, CA 94127 USA, fully insured, and we will credit your original card for the retail price of the items.
Damaged or Lost Packages
There is not one of us – you, our customer, the artisan and the staff at Crafts France – that won’t be upset if your package does not arrive safe and sound. In the rare case where an item is damaged in transit or is lost, Crafts France is here to help you. By purchasing Insurance, you ensure that you will receive a replacement of the item(s) should the package be lost or items be damaged. If you did not purchase insurance, we are here to help you expeditiously re-order the items … but it may be at full cost to you. We are here to work out options with you.
If you purchased insurance, the procedure for claiming loss or damage is as follows:
Security
When you place your order, we use the latest security practices to assure you that your personal and credit card information remains private. Our shopping cart software is hosted on a private, secure server. If your browser supports secure transactions (SSL), you are assured that shopping online is as safe as handing your credit card to a store clerk.
CraftsFrance uses a variety of methods to ensure the safety and confidentially of any data supplied via our web sites. Although no one can guarantee the security of information submitted over the web, we only utilize secured networks, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and we limit access to data and systems.
Authenticity
France is full of craftspeople and artisans who use traditional manufacturing techniques that guarantee the local authenticity and originality of our products. CraftsFrance provides services to a selected group from among the best artisans. Their hand-made products are authenticated by specific contract with CraftsFrance. In many cases, authenticity certificates are issued or the product is hand signed by the artisan with his/her name or the place of manufacturing.
Our commitment is to offer French items of the highest quality produced only by artisans who produce their items by traditional methods, usually by hand. Although we rarely offer an item not produced by a true artisan, if we choose to do so, we will clearly identify its production method as ‘non-artisan made’.
Web-site Policy
Please click on Web Policies to access Crafts France specific information.
Creating an Account
Whether you purchase an item or not, you may create an account at Crafts France. This account can be used for easily purchasing items in the future, for checking on orders and - in the months to come - creating wish lists, communicating with us or other Ceramic Art Lovers.
To create an account, simply fill in the Personal Information requested on the form. You may access this form by clicking on LOGON at the bottom of any page and then clicking on 'Click Here To Be A New Member.'
User Name & Password
When you set up an account, you assign your own User Name and Password. These 'codes' will be yours and yours alone. If you chose a User Name that is 'owned' by another customer's account, we will tell you immediately. In addition, we recommend that you chose a Password with at least 6 characters and include a number within the Password.
Changing Personal Information
If your address, email, phone number or other Personal Information should change, just access your account and change the information on the form provided. Please note that we do NOT retain old information and, after your change is made, we will have access only to your new data.
Forgot My Password
It happens. We all forget our Passwords on occasion. If you have forgotten your Password, click 'Help' on the logon form and we will send your password to your email of record.
Searching for Items
Crafts France has provided you with several ways to search for pottery and crafts that you may purchase direct from the artisan. The easiest way to identify products is to go to Browse Our Catalogue and click on the category that interests you. We have created various categories that group types of product by function (e.g., items for the bathroom) as well as by specialty (e.g, Free Mason Plates). You may also search by Artisan and Region by visiting those areas of the site and following the search links.
Buying From the Artisan
Unique and authentic crafts from France are generally available only if you seek out and visit the artisan in person. We do, in fact, encourage you to do this! The experience of visiting the artisan’s atelier and buying direct is one not to miss. However, if you can not go to France, Crafts France.com provides you the next best thing. Although you won’t be able to visit the workshop, you will be able to buy direct from the artisan.
When you purchase an item at CraftsFrance.com, you are buying directly from the artisan. Although we provide the mechanism (website, US card processing, privacy & security) to expose you to the crafts and for initiating an order, you are still buying directly from each artisan. The artisan accepts the order, verifies item availability, packs and ships the items. By buying through Crafts France, you are supporting individual artisans and helping them achieve more exposure. They receive their full professional price and you receive authentic ceramic arts and crafts at (or near) the price they sell for in the artisan’s own gallery.
By buying direct from the artisan, there are a few differences in purchasing through CraftsFrance.com than you may have experienced on other sites. First, the artisan is not subject to local sales taxes so no tax is charged to you. Secondly, your order will take time to arrive. To keep shipping charges low – as well as to make the process easy for artisans – all items are sent via the French postal service (La Poste). Although shipping timeframes will range between 1 and 4 weeks, you will end up paying 2 to 5 times less than charges from courier companies. Finally, all USA buyers are responsible for US Customs Duties, if they apply. You are, in fact, an importer when ordering direct from the artisan as all overseas packages must pass through Customs to enter the United States.
We hope and believe that buying authentic, unique pieces direct from the artisan is a great value and encourage you to learn more about our artisans and – yes – please do visit them next time you are in France.