Questions About the Store Inventory
Does this ring come in any other sizes/colours/etc.?
Do you have _______?
All the available sizes, colours and styles I have are listed in the store. If it's not there, I either sold it or don't have it, sorry! If I know I'll be restocking that style, it will say so on the page (see FAQ entry #3). Please remember I only make the glassfiction rings, not the others.
Can you get this ring in my size?
People often ask why I don't carry smaller/larger sizes, when I will, or where else they can find them. Please see the following for the answer:
Except for my glassfiction line, I don't make these rings — unfortunately, this means I have no control over what sizes are available. Sizes normally range from 5 to 9, though not in every style (I've carried everything from 2½ to 11 at one time or another). Keep in mind that I don't get as many of the smaller and larger sizes, so they tend to sell out quickly. If you don't see your size in a particular style, it either sold or is not available in that size at all. Glassfiction rings do go up to size 10 (sometimes even 10½); you can get them here.
Believe me, it's not that I don't want to offer more sizes — they're just difficult to find! My ring finger is a size 4, so I'm in the same boat. Apologies to those who can't find what they're looking for.
The ring is out of stock! Will you be getting more?
Every page will tell you whether or not those rings will be restocked. However, even if I do happen to restock a certain style, there's no guarantee one will be available in your size (this means you should grab one when you can!). If you don't see anything about whether or not that ring will be restocked, it's because I simply don't know yet. Please understand that due to demand, I am no longer able to email individual notices when something is restocked. Also, I cannot answer questions about whether specific sizes will come in or not, and cannot give out specific restocking dates.
I'm looking for _______. Do you have it?
Again, if you don't see it in the store, I'm sorry to say that I don't have it.
What does it mean when a ring is "on hold"?
It means someone has ordered the last one and I'm waiting for their payment. They have 3 days to send payment; if the ring has been on hold for longer than that, it means they've sent a PayPal eCheck and I'm just waiting for it to clear. If the customer cancels, the "on hold" ring will be made available in the store again.
How often do you update the site?
Usually, I update every other Monday. See the What's New page for the next scheduled update and use this site to send yourself an automatic reminder!
There's a ring in the "what's new" section that I like, but I can't find it anywhere! Why not?
As it says at the top of the What's New page, if you don't see it, it's because it's sold out.
Can I be notified when ______ comes in?
I recommend you use this site to send yourself an automatic reminder of my updates, which are every other Monday. That way, you can be among the first to see what's come in! Check the What's New page to see when my next update is scheduled.
Do you take custom orders?
Unfortunately, I'm unable to at the moment. The bottom of this page will explain why. Please remember I only make the glassfiction rings sold on this site.
There's a ring in your personal collection that I like. Will you sell it or have rings like it in stock?
Please check the store; some of them, like the Murano glass rings, are almost always in stock. If you don't see it in the store right now, it probably means you missed it or it was just something I bought for myself somewhere, sorry.
Why are sold-out rings kept online?
So customers can compare their rings to the photo, and also because this is a site for displaying rings, not just selling them. Everything gets removed after a period of time.
Do you have a print catalogue?
No. The inventory turnover is too fast and the cost of printing is too high for it to make sense. It would be a sad waste of paper!
Do you have a "real" (not online) store I can visit?
I wish!
Do you sell bracelets or necklaces to match the rings?
This question makes me want to cry.
Ordering / Shipping / Payment
How do I order a ring?
Instructions are here.
What payment methods do you accept?
Please refer to the payment page.
How can I buy a ring without using PayPal?
Good news! PayPal lets you go through their checkout even if you don't have an account. Just enter your credit card number as you would on any other online shopping site. If you don't have a credit card, then your only option is to sign up for a PayPal account — after it's set up, you can pay via cash transfer (debit/eChecks). Please note that I cannot accept credit cards personally; only PayPal can process them for me.
How much is shipping to _______?
I ship worldwide. Details are on this page.
How soon will my order arrive?
As I have no control over the postal service, I cannot give you a definite date (but most arrive within 5-12 business days). I drop packages in the mail every day; Canada Post handles packages Mon-Fri. Details on shipping are on this page.
Do you have gift certificates?
Unfortunately, I don't offer gift certificates at the moment. I've been thinking about it but haven't had time to work out all the details. Sorry!
I ordered but I never got an invoice. Why not?
If you never got an invoice from me, it probably means that I tried, but the email bounced back to me — it's happened a few times! Perhaps your mailbox is full, you entered your email incorrectly or your ISP is blocking my email by mistake. You should also take a peek at your "spam" or "bulk" folder if you have one, in case the email got routed there accidentally. I mostly likely DID receive your order, so please contact me and I'll send another copy!
Questions About Sizing
Why don't you have my size?
Please refer to "Questions About the Store Inventory" (above).
Can you help me figure out my ring size?
Yep! I've compiled all the information you need on this page. However, getting your size right is up to you, so I recommend being sized by a professional jeweler — just ask next time you're in the mall! But be sure to read my sizing info page first, as it contains tips on being sized by a jeweller.
Will the _______ ring fit me?
If you are wondering how a particular ring in the shop fits (for example, whether the size 7 "Daphne" is also safe for a size 7¼), feel free to email me. For general sizing inquiries, please refer to the sizing page.
I'm trying to find...
Do you have faux engagement rings? I'm putting together these gift bags, see, and...
Try here! Or here!
I need a non-metallic wedding band and...
Please see below.
Do you carry _______?
Please refer to questions about the store inventory.
Questions About the Rings Themselves
How can I make plastic rings?
I wish I knew! If I did, I'd be doing it for sure!
You know that black ring? How 'bout you make it in red?
I don't make these rings! (I would hate to take credit for someone else's work.) If it doesn't come in the colour you want, it's either sold or didn't come in that colour in the first place, sorry. I do sell some of my own handmade glass rings, but I'm not taking custom orders for those yet.
Do they break easily?
Not in my experience, but it all depends on how you treat them! Please read care instructions here. The only time I broke a ring was when I accidentally smashed a delicate glass piece against a metal pole. I don't recommend it.
Are your pieces new or vintage?
Unless stated otherwise, the rings in the store are new and unworn.
Can you tell me how/where you find your rings?
All I can say is that it takes a lot of hard work, and I get them from many places :)
Business/Website-Related Questions
Do you sell wholesale?
Not at this time, and I don't have any plans to do so in the future.
Want to exchange links?
[UPDATE] I've kind of stopped updating my links page and am even thinking of taking it down if/when I re-organize the site, so I'm not a good candidate for exchange at the moment!
Sure, send me your URL so I can check it out! There are lots of great sites out there but I can't link to every one, or the page would be out of control! I hope this doesn't seem rude but, in order to keep it at a reasonable length, I prefer to link only to well-designed sites that:
- sell online and ship worldwide, not USA only
- are small, independent businesses
- sell handcrafted accessories, handbags or clothes
- are not hosted on CaféPress, Geocities or similar sites
This will help me keep the list to sites I myself love to visit, which is the whole point of having my own link recommendations. When you email me, please include a link to your shipping policy page. Thanks! (And if you link to me, please remember that "carrotbox" is one word.) If I link you up, I'll let you know — keep in mind I can be slow sometimes :)
I make non-metal rings. Would you be interested in selling them?
Yes! I am looking to carry non-metal (plastic, wood, etc.) and boro/pyrex glass rings. Please email me with details on quantity, pricing, materials and photos.
Do you have a mailing list?
No, for various reasons that I won't get into here (but some of it has to do with spam). I recommend you use this site to send yourself an automatic reminder of my updates, which are every other Monday. Check the What's New page to see when my next update is scheduled.
Can I be notified when ______ comes in?
I recommend you use this site to send yourself an automatic reminder of my updates, which are every other Monday. That way, you can be among the first to see what's come in! Check the What's New page to see when my next update is scheduled.
Would you like to advertise with us or work with our PR agency?
Thanks, but not at this time. This is a tiny business which currently doesn't spend money on advertising or press, and I don't run ads on my site.
My company needs 20,000 custom-made rings...
I'm sorry but I don't produce plastic rings and am generally not equipped to handle mass orders like this.
Other Questions
I broke my ring! Can I fix it?
For plastic, I think the only remedy is Krazy Glue — but don't try that with glass! Broken glass is dangerous and should be discarded, painful as it is to say. Glass repair would have to involve melting down part of the original ring in order to fuse it with the new part and it's usually much more hassle than it's worth.
Can I get a real diamond set in plastic or glass?
Plastic: from what I've heard, if it's even possible, you would have to get a ring specially-designed around a stone that you already have (you can't carve a space into an existing lucite ring without risk of having the stone come loose). It's not like gold, where you can re-shape the metal to set the gem as needed.
Glass: the short answer is "no." Cubic zirconia can be set in glass, but not diamond.
My partner is an electrician/works with electronics and can't wear a metal wedding band. What can we do?
Try a wooden band; a quick web search will start you off in finding the right designer for you. (Yes, this question is actually frequently-asked. I never knew what a common problem this is until I started this site!)
I have a vintage plastic/bakelite/celluloid ring. Can you tell me what its value is? Where it's from? How to restore it? etc.
I am by no means an expert (or anything near an expert) in vintage or antique jewellery, as I deal mainly with new stock. I would suggest asking a trusted jeweller or antiques dealer in your area, or contacting one of the many antique sites on the web.
Why are you called The Carrotbox?
Seriously! What was I thinking?
Isn't "jewellery" spelled "jewelry"?
Only in some parts of the world :)
What's your email address?
My apologies for putting this at the bottom of this page. I DO want your mail, honest! It's just that 99% of the mail I get consists of questions already answered in this FAQ, and I prefer to answer those on this page. The FAQ allows me to save my spare time for tracking down great rings! Thanks for your patience and understanding.
If you're writing to me about a link swap, please make sure you've read the FAQ entry about this. Thanks!
My email address is:
Thank you very much for reading,
Alice
