Q:  What is your return policy?
A:  Please see “Return Policy” page for details.

Q:   Do I have to pay taxes if I am a California resident?
A:  We do not charge sales tax to shipments outside of California. Shipments in California are subject to 7.75% Sales Tax.  Current trends for interstate commence taxation may require us in the future to collect “use tax” from non-California residents.  For moreinformation on this issue, please visit the following website: http://www.salestax-usetax.com/.

Q:   How do you figure your Oceanus Gifts Prices vs. “Suggested Retail Prices”?:
A:   Every product in this website is shown with a “SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE.” This dollar amount is intended only to provide a general index of the item’s value at the retail level.  Since there may be considerable differences in the prices charged from store-to-store due to competitive and other local factors, it is impossible to establish prices on particular items that would be accurate under all conditions.  Our objective in assigning lower prices alongside the “SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE” is to provide an approximate guide to item values.  Every effort has been made to  suggest prices that are both competitive and realistic in relationship to comparable items in a wide cross-section of retail stores across the nation. 

Q:   How long does it take to process orders?
A:   All orders are shipped within 48 hours of processing (excluding weekends and holidays). Orders will take anywhere from 7-10 days to arrive after processing. Our main shipper is UPS. UPS DOES NOT SHIP TO P.O. BOXES. If you have a PO BOX and purchase an item, contact us. We will send an email letting you know the new total including shipping cost through USPS. (Priority Mail).

Q:   How much does shipping cost?
A:   Shipping is FREE for purchases of $25 or more.  For purchases of less than $25, UPS insured shipping costs $7.50 regardless of weight or delivery location.  We also cover the cost of insurance for shipping your products!

Q:   My purchase total is $24.99; can I still get free shipping?
A:   Due to our competitively low prices, we cannot negotiate the terms of our shippingpolicy.  In order to provide “free” shipping on purchases of $25 or more, we must adhere strictly to this purchase limit.  Thus, we cannot make exceptions to our “free”  shipping benefit even if the purchase amount (before taxes are applied for residents of California) totals less than $25, regardless of the amount.

Q:   Do you ship internationally?
A:   No, we only ship within the continental United States.  If shipping to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico, please email us for a quote. 

Q:   I received my items but they were damaged, what do I do?
A:   Please see “Return Policy” for details. 

Q:   What procedures do I follow if I placed a claim for a lost shipment and it arrives soon after?
A:   Contact us immediately to close the case and to avoid further expenses for Oceanus Gifts and UPS. 

Q:   The item has been lost, can you send a duplicate?
A:  We regret that we cannot assist you in this hardship.  We suggest that you place and pay for a duplicate order.  If the carrier validates the claim, we will issue a refund.

Q:   How do I get a tracking number for my order?
A:   Please allow up to 3 business days after placing your request for the tracking numberto be emailed to you.  A definitive delivery date and accurate tracking information will be available as soon as your delivery reaches the first hub and is scanned.

Q:   How long do fine jewelry orders take?
A:   At times of special jewelry acquisitions, we ship fine jewelry within 48 hours, just like regular merchandise.

Q:   How much is the shipping on fine jewelry?
A:   Fine jewelry shipping is the same as regular merchandise.

Q:   What is your return policy for fine jewelry items?
A:   Fine Jewelry items must be returned within 15 business days of receipt ofmerchandise and must be in new condition (see “Return Policy” for details).  A 20% re-stocking fee will be applied only on fine jewelry returns.

Q:   An item is out of stock, what do I do?
A:   We will do our best to assure that items are in stock.  In cases where an item is out ofstock, we inform you of this with an “Estimated Arrival Date” of any item that is out of stock. Please note that the ETA's are estimated and although usually fairly accurate, are subject to change.  If you placed an order for an item that is out of stock, you may: wait until we have re-stocked or you may request a credit.  

Q:   What are the products made of?
A:   Not all items that are listed here will be represented on our web site unless we have special sales and/or acquisitions.

Alabastrite:  Alabastrite is our product line name for polyresin items. Alabastrite is a stone-based material, which can be intricately molded producing great detail, and will allow paint to adhere. These items may be cleaned by dusting, however, they should not be washed with water as they are painted with water-soluble paints.

Bone China:  White clay with bone ash added. Bone ash content must be at least 25% by U. S. guidelines. Fired at 1800 degrees. The translucent material is finished with a glaze or underglaze (matte). Lighter, stronger, more expensive than porcelain.

Porcelain:  Fine ground white clay, molded and fired in an oven for eight hours at 1200 degrees. Finished with a glazed, underglazed, or "bisque" finish. Glazing produces a high gloss; underglaze produces a matte finish. Bisque is a matte finish without glaze. After finishing, the item is "cooked" for six hours at 800 degrees.

Jade Porcelain:  Jade porcelain is a type of porcelain made with a finer clay. Usually no glaze or only a colorless glaze will be applied at the final firing to show off the very smooth surface and to preserve the translucency. Example: 27112. Jade Porcelain is used for night lights because of its high degree of translucency when lit.

Stoneware:  White clay with fine ground stone. Working with stoneware demands great expertise, and is in fact becoming a lost art. Stoneware is safe to use in microwave and conventional ovens.

Patchwork Items:  Unique fabric or paper prints are applied to the surface of porcelain, dolomite or polyresin items. After application, 12 layers of lacquer are added and the item is hand polished to a high gloss between each layer.

Cubic Zirconia:  The most successful simulated diamond. Properties such as refraction, hardness, and specific gravity are remarkably similar to diamonds. Example: 27432. Cubic zirconia are very hard to distinguish from diamonds; sometimes a jewelers loop will be needed to see the difference.

Diamond:  Extremely hard, highly refractive colorless or white crystalline of carbon. Diamonds, like all gemstones, are judged in terms of Carats, or weight (different from Karats, as in gold purity).

Gold:  The ultimate precious metal. Virtually indestructible, amazingly malleable, doesn't rust or tarnish. Graded by purity; in the U.S. a scale of 24 is used, so 24 Karats (24K) is 100% pure. 18K is 18 parts gold and 6 parts alloy (other metals), and so on. 10K is the legal minimum for Karat-graded gold. The word "Plumb" indicates the exact purity of the piece.

Gemstones:  Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and amethysts, often treasured as birthstones, fall under the category of gemstones. (Birthstones are listed in the back of your WOP catalog.) Gemstones are priced and graded by Carat weight.

Pearl:  A smooth, lustrous, variously colored deposit formed around a grain of sand in the shell of a certain mollusk. Pearls may be formed naturally or "cultured" through an artificial implanting process.

Sterling Silver:  To qualify as "sterling" a given piece must be composed of a least 92.5% pure silver.

Hong Tze:  To closely emulate a special stone found in China that is known for its deep red color, these items are created using an alabastrite polyresin. Hong Tze pieces are highly polished, further bringing out the intense, deep red color.

Frosted Acrylic:  Acrylic items are given the French Lilac process, (used on glass), to achieve the distinctive frosted look. Example: 27205. The drama of frosted glass without the weight.

Gypsum:  Gypsum is a white mineral that is usually used to make Plaster of Paris.

Dolomite:  A magnesia-rich, sedimentary rock resembling limestone, dolomite is gray, pink or white in color.