Terms and Conditions
Payment:Mara Oatman Designs accepts Visa and MasterCard through this secure website. Full payment is required to place an order. We do not accept cash or personal checks. Money orders are accepted. If you wish to pay by a money order, please email your request to our customer service department. One of our representatives will then contact you to arrange this transaction.
Processing Time:Processing times will vary based on the item, quantities ordered, and the current production schedule. Orders are generally completed in 3-5 weeks. Please allow an additional 7-10 days for shipping UPS Ground. We always complete our orders in the fastest time possible and ship them as soon as they are completed. On rare occasions, an item or supplies for an item may be on backorder. In this event, you will be notified immediately by email and informed of the estimated completion date.
Rush Orders:Rush processing is available on most items, but please notify us by email at customerservice@maraoatmandesigns.com prior to placing your order. You will then be given a quote based on your particular needs. Rush orders will be subject to a markup based on the requested completion date and the current production schedule. The completion dates are estimates and are not guaranteed. Although UPS rush shipping is very reliable, Mara Oatman Designs is not responsible or accountable for shipping times.
Shipping and Handling:Mara Oatman Designs ships all orders via UPS Ground Service unless a rush shipping option is selected by the customer. Shipping costs are calculated at the time the order is placed and are based on UPS shipping rates and our internal handling costs. During checkout you will be able to view and select your shipping preference and also view the prices before submitting your order.
You may choose to upgrade to UPS 3-Day select or UPS Next Day air. Choosing a rush shipping method does not speed up the actual order completion time, only the shipping time. Rush processing is available on most items, but please notify us by email at customerservice@maraoatmandesigns.com prior to placing your order.
Approximate UPS Ground transit time is:
4-5 business days for the west coast
3-4 business days for the midwest
4-5 business days for the east coast
Orders will not be shipped or delivered on weekends or holidays.
Orders Outside the Continental USA:
If you wish to place an order, and live outside of the continental USA, please contact us at customerservice@maraoatmandesigns.com. We will personally assist you with placing the order, and discuss your shipping options, costs and timeframes.
Sales Tax:Only Illinois residents will be charged sales tax.
Order Minimums:Our minimum order for any item is 25.
There are no minimum order requirements for samples.
There are exceptions to the minimum order on individual signage and bar menus.
Proofs:Since each item we produce is customized, variations in font sizes and final layouts are inevitable. Therefore proofs are a mandatory step for all items.
There is no charge for the first proof of your item. Any minor change(s) made to the first proof are also free of charge. There is also no charge for your second proof. If changes are made to the second proof, there is a proof charge of $7.00 for the third proof. Any subsequent proofs are also an additional charge of $7.00 each.
If there are extensive changes made to the initial proof that are not in line with the original order placed, or changes that do not reflect the original verbiage supplied, your order is subject to a redesign fee of $40.00 per hour. (Billed at 15 minute increments)
Proofs are generally produced within a week from the time we receive your order. We send the proofs out via fax. If you do not have access to a fax machine, proofs can also be sent via regular mail. Keep in mind that proofs sent via regular mail will slightly postpone the completion date of the order due to the extra time spent in the mail. We do not send proofs via email.
Production begins only after we have your approval of the proof. A signature is required on each page of the proof. You may return your proof via fax or mail.
We do run all orders through spell check, however, the customer is responsible for reviewing the order for correct spelling, grammar, and information accuracy. Once we receive an approved proof back from a client, the order is put into production. Changes cannot be made to an order once it is put into production.
Returns:Since all of our products are customized, all sales are final upon checkout and products cannot be returned. Due to the labor-intensive nature of our items, once you have placed an order we are unable to issue any refunds, returns or exchanges. Please carefully review your order and read the terms and conditions. We also suggest you order an actual product sample and paper/ribbon sample so that you are completely knowledgeable and familiar with our products prior to placing your order.
When you receive your order, open it immediately to check for accuracy. In the very unlikely event that you receive your order and it is damaged or you receive your order and it does not match the final proof that you signed, you must notify us by email within 48 hours of receiving the order. We will work to correct this in the fastest way possible. All sales are final unless a mistake or damage has occurred.
Cancellation of orders:Due to the labor-intensive nature of our items, once you have placed an order we are unable to cancel that order and we do not issue any cancellations, refunds, returns or exchanges. You must carefully review your order and read the terms and conditions. We suggest you order an actual product sample and paper/ribbon sample so that you are completely knowledgeable and familiar with our products prior to placing your order.
Samples of Products:The detail of our designs, care of construction, and quality of our materials can only be fully appreciated first hand. Therefore, we encourage you to order samples of our items.
The cost of a product sample is $20.00, which covers the materials and production. Samples are not customized, therefore they will arrive with the verbiage, paper, font style, ribbons, and embellishments that are shown on the website. Actual ribbons samples and paper swatches are available with any product sample ordered. Please allow approximately two weeks for delivery.
To order samples please click order samples.
Color of Ink, Paper, Ribbon and Embellishments:The colors of the ink, paper, ribbon, and embellishments as shown in photographs on our web site may vary from the actual product depending on computer hardware and software used to view the photos, lighting at the photo shoot, as well as dye-lot variations. Mara Oatman Designs is not responsible for colors not matching and does not accept returns on this basis. We highly suggest ordering a sample product along with a ribbon and paper swatch to ensure you are viewing actual colors.
Privacy Policy:Mara Oatman Designs is committed to protecting the privacy of our customers. The information you supply is used only for billing purposes and to complete orders. Mara Oatman Designs does not distribute or sell any of your contact or wedding information.
Security Info: www.maraoatmandesigns.com is a digitally secured site, and uses SSL 128 Bit encryption technology to ensure that customers personal and payment information is never exposed to the potential risk of hackers, or other unauthorized users on the internet.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a method of ensuring that information submitted through our Web site is secure and cannot be accessed by unauthorized users. When a site offers an SSL-secured form, the information submitted via that form (typically credit card information) is encrypted using a special "certificate key" and then decrypted with another key after it has been transmitted.
When users access our site secured with SSL using either Netscape or Internet Explorer, a symbol displays in their browser windows indicating that the site is secure.
An SSL certificate, or a digital certificate, is an electronic document that contains the information necessary to establish a secure SSL connection. When used in credit card transactions, the Web site collecting the credit card information and the site to which the information is being transmitted must both have an SSL certificate.
Postage:Due to varying sizes, weights, and shipping packages, the postage on your invitations, save-the-date cards, and thank you notes will vary. Most of our products require extra postage. The customer is responsible for ensuring that the proper postage has been paid on items before mailing them. We strongly suggest that all invitations, save-the-date cards, thank you cards, and any enclosures are properly weighed at the US Post Office before mailing. Mara Oatman Designs is not responsible for items returned by the US Post Office for insufficient postage. We also suggest requesting that the US Post Office “hand cancel” your postage, or suggest that you have each piece individually "metered stamped" to avoid items becoming clogged in postage machines. Mara Oatman Designs is not responsible for items becoming clogged or damaged during mailing, or for any item that is undeliverable for any reason. Mara Oatman Designs is not responsible for any item that is returned by the US post office.
Boxes and Tubes:Due to the 3-dimensional form and fragile nature of our designs and embellishments, some of our invitations and save-the-date cards are shipped in a box or tube. This protects the items during shipping, but more importantly makes for a memorable and unique presentation. We suggest clear mailing labels on these items. Clear mailing labels can be purchased at any office supply store and can be run through most printers. We also suggest clear mailing tape be used to securely keep all items from opening while in the mail.
Inner Envelopes: We do not offer or provide inner envelopes (double envelopes) for any of our invitation designs. All invitations come with a single, outer envelope.
Ink/Printing Process:All of our items are printed with flat ink available in almost any color. We most commonly print on white or ivory paper, however upon request, we can print on color paper. (this is the “printing layer” paper that you will specify during checkout)
Envelope Printing:As you can see in our photographs on our website, we do not print directly on any envelopes. Our signature and unique style is that of using an “address bar”. These bars are made out of two layers of fine paper. These charming bars are securely affixed to the envelopes. (on both return addresses and the response envelopes)
Materials:All of our products feature the finest papers, ribbons, embellishments, and supplies that are available.
Construction: All of our products are printed and handcrafted in our studio. We have a passion for what we do and take pride in our finished product. We strive for excellence in our quality. Since all of our items are made completely by hand, slight variations in the product will naturally occur. These slight variations such as cuts, ribbon length, size of a seashell, etc. are not defects, but actually add to the beauty and charm found only in handmade and designed pieces.
Catalog:Our website is our catalog.
Storefront/Product Availability:Mara Oatman Designs is an Internet based business and all products are available exclusively through our website. We do not have a storefront.
