Postage & Packing - Shipping.

Because we sell all over the world and your purchases may be for anything from a single stamp to a selection of covers or postcards we have introduced flat-rate shipping charges according to type of purchase and destination. As this is difficult to program into a software module, we have set up shipping products in the product menu, with a reminder during check-out that you should purchase one of these products to find the total cost of your order. The table below shows our charges as at April 2011. It does not include special postal services, such as recorded delivery or registration - see the paragraph below the table.

"Smilers Sheets" (A4 size sheets of stamps) are posted between two boards in a waterproof cover. Postage rates are £2.00 inland and £3.75 airmail.

All orders are sent using the normal postal service unless you ask for your order to be posted using Royal Mail Recorded Delivery [options for RD are available in our product list] or Special Delivery (£5.50) [inland], or Airsure (+£6.50 EU, £5.50 outside EU) or International Signed For (+£5.20) [international], or covered by our insurance scheme. We will confirm the additional cost of these services when we confirm your order.
In the case of losses or damage* in the post, we will ask Royal Mail to investigate and refunds may be dependent on the satisfactory outcome of their investigations. In normal circumstances refunds or replacement will be processed as soon as possible but may take several weeks, or even months for packets sent outside the United Kingdom.

* Damage must be reported to us within two days of receipt, by email with images. In the case of damaged packages please retain all packaging & goods in case they need to be inspected by Royal Mail, Parcelforce, or the Carrier.

If you require delivery outside the European Union it may be necessary for us to provide a Customs declaration on the outside of the package. The value declared will exclude postage charges. Any Customs Duties payable on import to your country are your responsibility. If you require us to split your order into two or more lower-value packages we may have to charge more for delivery.

If your order is not received within 15 days please notify us immediately.

Damage, faults and wrong items

In the highly unlikely event that we send you the wrong goods, or they are not as described(*) you are, of course, covered for a 100% refund or replacement (where this is possible). Just contact us (preferably by email) to tell us of the problem, and we will settle the matter either by replacement, or refund, or partial refund (for instance in the case of stamps being not of the condition which we described), whichever you prefer.

(*) Condition. We try to describe the condition of our stock accurately. In the case of unused postage stamps, this is fairly straightforward: unmounted mint, lightly mounted mint, heavily mounted mint, etc. In the case of postcards, especially those which are postally used, and of postal history items, there is almost always a certain amount of damage which occurs in the post or later. Postcard corners may be knocked, or bent when they were mounted in Edwardian albums; postmark offsets may appear on the front of the card. Postal history items from commercial and social correspondence may be roughly opened. In the end, condition is a matter of judgement: please use the images as well as the descriptions. If you have any questions, please ask. If you would like to see the back of something, or a magnified image, please ask. In the event that you are disappointed with what you get we will be able to come to some agreement that will please you.

Cancellations

European Law gives every private customer the right to terminate an agreement made via Internet or fax/phone.

If you have received goods and have simply changed your mind about purchasing them, you may return the goods to us for full credit, subject to the following conditions:
- The goods are in original condition, that is, as they were when you received them;
- You tell us that you want to cancel the order within seven working days of receipt of the goods.
- We prefer that you contact us via email to cancel your order, but you may also send a letter by post
- If the goods are made to your specification we may not be able to accept their return. An example would be First Day or Commemorative Covers with specific postmarks;
- You must pay the return delivery charges.
- You must return the goods, using premium postal services (eg registered) or courier services if we require this, as soon as possible in order that your credit can be actioned within 30 days.
- The goods you return must be in a re-saleable condition.

Please note that the law for these Cancellation regulations apply to private customers only.