Payment & Shipping Information - Alchemy and Ice Bead Shop

~ Guide to Payment Options ~

UK customers - we accept payment via Paypal, Credit Card over the Telephone and also Bank Transfer, Postal Order or Cheque. (save 3% by using the coupon given at Checkout for payment by Bank, Post Order or Cheque),

Australian customers - in addition to PayPal, we also accept Direct Bank Transfer, (save 3% by using the coupon given at Checkout).

Other International customers , we accept Credit Card through PayPal only at this time.

Payment Information is supplied immediately after Checkout. A link will be available on your Order Complete page, in your Orders History (under Orders Management), and also in your automatic Order Notification email.

PayPal, is a popular Secure Payment Gateway which is used in most countries around the world. You do not have to be a member to use it to Send funds, but by becoming a member you can use it to make payments using your account balance and connect it to your Bank Account to withdraw funds.

Credit Card, give card details over by telephone, we also can now take payment by Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, Visa Debit. We still need you to submit your order or be have your shopping cart and checkout ready.

Postal Order, can be obtained from your local Post office if you do not have Credit Card, Cheque book or Internet Banking. We can only accept UK Postal Orders.

Cheque, it takes longer to process a Cheque (up to 10 business days) but it is still an option for those who do not wish to enter payment information online. We only accept Cheques in UK Sterling.

Direct Deposit/ Bank Transfer, this is a popular method of payment in Australia and Europe, payment can be made either by visiting your Bank, or Internet Banking. Unlike PayPal/Credit Card payments, it is fee free and quicker to process than Cheques which is why we offer a 3% discount to UK customers who pay via this method.

Australian Bank Deposit, because we used to operate in Australia and have Australian customers whom we have dealt with over the years, we have retained our St George account and can accept payment via Australian Bank Deposit. Our website is now in Pound Sterling, so you will need to use the XE currency converter, or await for us to send you a converted total before making payment. We still offer a 3% discount to Australian customers who pay via Bank Deposit.

European Bank Transfer customers must pay in Euros and select Shared charges.

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~ Guide to Delivery Charges ~

We charge actual Postage costs, plus a small Packaging fee. We do not offer "Free Shipping", which would have to be built in to product costs, and we carry such a varied range of products which includes heavy tools and Free Post does not always offer the best rewards to all customers.

(For example the difference in Delivery Charges between an order of Heavy Tools or an order of Vermeil Findings is huge, the customer ordering Vermeil findings would not be getting the same benefit if we offered Free Post).

Instead of Free Shipping, we have a Discounts and Bonus Points Scheme which we feel rewards customers more fairly, based upon the value of the order, not the shipping cost!.

~ Dispatch Times ~

Please allow up to 3 business days for order dispatch, esepcialy for orders placed over a weekend or on a Monday.

We try to post out most orders within 1 business day, and sometimes your order will be dispathced the same day that we receive your order/payment clearance. Payment by Cheque will delay your orders processing time, due to Cheque Clearance delays and the fact that we cannot make it to the Bank every day of the week. However our order processing times can also take longer during busier than usual periods or seasonal/extreme weather conditions.

~ Postage - UK ~

A lot of our smaller items can be posted cheaper than normal parcel rates, if the package/box is no larger than 35 x 25 x 2.5cm, it is able to be delivered at "Large Letter" rates and will also usually fit through most Letter boxes easily. Our website will offer you a selection of Postal Options, from Economy Services for items not urgently required, to Special Delivery and Courier for items needed in a hurry.

*Some items can only be sent via a Signed for Service.

Large Letter Post

Weight	1st Class	2nd Class
Up to 100g	£1.20	£0.95
Up to 250g	£1.50	£1.40
Up to 500g	£1.90	£1.70
Up to 1000g	£2.60	£2.20

Packet Post

Packages over than "Large Letter" (1 inch+ thick) size and up to 61 x 46 x 46cm

Weight	1st Class	2nd Class
Up to 750g	£2.99	£2.50
Up to 1000g	£4.60	£3.80
Up to 1250g	£5.90	Not Available
Up to 1500g	£6.80	Not Available
Up to 1750g	£7.70	Not Available

Parcel Post

46cm

Weight	1st Class	2nd Class
Up to 750g	£2.99	£2.50
Up to 1000g	£4.60	£3.80
Up to 1250g	£5.90	Not Available
Up to 1500g	£6.80	Not Available
Up to 1750g	£7.70	Not Available

Parcel Post

Packages too large or heavy to be delivered at Large Letter or Packet rates will be sent via Parcel Post or Courier, Parcel Post is best for heavy but lower value orders.
Special Delivery and Courier offer online tracking and insurance. Special Delivery is best for lighter higher value or urgent orders, Courier is for higher value and heavy orders.

Courier
Courier is usually the best option for heavy orders, where Royal Mail or Parcel force becomes uneconomical as a postage option, Courier includes insurance and online tracking. We do have to have pick, pack and book orders by Midday, so Same Day Dispatch is not always feasible. Delivery is usually 24-48 hrs.

Special Delivery™ Next Day (Mon - Fri) - Insured up to £500
Depending on what time we receive your order and order size/time necessary to pack it up, Special Delivery will reach you by 1.00pm the next business day (after it leaves our premises). We endeavour to pack and post all orders within 1 business day of receiving orders with cleared payment. If we receive your order before 2.00pm, then it will usually be posted the same business day unless we are busier than usual.

For next day delivery on Orders placed after 3.00pm Thursday or Friday up to 3.00pm you will need Saturday Special Delivery. There is a surcharge of £2.70

Please contact us if you require a Saturday delivery.

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~ Postage International ~

Airmail (insured up to £46.00)

Weight	Airmail
100g	£2.49
150g	£3.40
200g	£4.50
300g	£4.75
400g	£5.87
500g	£6.99
600g	£8.59
700g	£9.70
800g	£10.81
900g	£11.92
1000g	£13.03
1100g	£14.14
1200g	£15.25
1300g	£16.36
1400g	£17.47
1500g	£18.58
1500g	£19.69
1700g	£20.80
1800g	£21.91
1900g	£22.99
2000g	£24.13