Hi friends! There are a few questions that we get asked a lot, so we thought it might be nice to put the answers all in one place. Here you go!
Handmade with Love
Are all of your items actually handmade?
- "Handmade" is something of a generic term that covers a wide range of products. We generally go by Etsy's definition of "handmade" which states that "handmade items are designed and created by the shops that sell them."
- All of our items are designed and created by our founder, Erin. Some of our items are obviously fully created by hand, like our zippered bags and hand-painted goodies, while others, like our mugs, shirts, and sweatshirts, have graphics that are designed by Erin and printed by our print on demand printer.
Will the item I receive look exactly like the product photo on the website?
- Due to the handmade nature of our products, designs and pattern placement will vary slightly and each product may show slight variations or imperfections, but that’s what makes them so special!
- Please remember that the colors in the photos on this website may vary slightly from the actual colors of the product due to the translation and reproduction limitations of photography, the limitations of viewing photos at web site resolutions, and/or the limitations and/or variations of viewing photos on your individual monitor with its variable color and/or resolution scheme.
- Returns, exchanges or refunds will not be permitted because of minor variations between products and product pictures.
Product Care
How should I care for and wash Bugabaloo's handmade items that are made of fabric?
We recommend hand washing the cotton pouches in cold water (or on a very gentle or delicate cycle) with a mild detergent and then allowing the item to air dry. Felt items should be spot cleaned with cold water and a mild detergent and be laid flat to air dry. Putting felt items through a washing machine or dryer, even on gentle or low settings, will likely destroy the item.
How should I care for and wash Bugabaloo's handmade crocheted or knitted items?
We recommend hand washing the our hats, scarves, and other apparel in cold water (or on a very gentle or delicate cycle) with a mild detergent and then allowing the item to air dry. Our yarn-based decor items should be spot cleaned with cold water and a mild detergent and be laid flat to air dry. Putting crocheted or knitted decor items through a washing machine or dryer, even on gentle or low settings, will likely destroy the item.
How should I care for hand-painted items?
We recommend making sure to keep your hand-painted items displayed out of direct sunlight to prevent fading and cracking. Regular dusting should be enough to keep your items looking beautiful.
How display or hang hand painted items?
Each item is unique and everyone's home decor preferences are different. We suggest sitting your items on a ledge, hanging them on a wall (using appropriate hangers for your item and wall surface), or using twine or ribbon to display them on a knob or branch. 3M Command products are also an excellent option for use in displaying many of our items!
Bugabaloo Printed Designs (Apparel, Mugs, Accessories, etc.)
What size t-shirt or sweatshirt should I get?
Please check the size charts listed with each apparel item to make sure the shirt you order will be a good fit.
Do you print your own designs?
Nope. We are really good at making fun goodies, but we're not printers. We have partnered with a fantastic print on demand DTG printer that handles all of our printing.
How do you print your designs?
Our printer's standard process is the Direct to Garment (DTG) method of printing. They use Kornit and Brother printers for all DTG printed garments.
I noticed some discoloration or off-white residue on my apparel, what is it?
Do not worry! Disclaimer about Direct to Garment Printing - This is a special solution used for printing and can sometimes leave marks during the drying process. These are not stains and will wash off after the first wash cycle. Our apparel is created with the latest in garment printing technology. In addition, our inks are water-based and eco-friendly. This makes them feel much softer than traditional screen printed shirts, but just as durable!
How should I wash my Printed Garments?
We use the latest direct-to-garment (DTG) printing technology to offer a wide variety of printable garments and design color options at an affordable price. The DTG ink in this process is different from the ink screen printers use. Keep in mind that the original manufacturer's care instructions don't take into consideration the DTG printing process.
Be wary of washing and drying on a high setting, especially when the garment is 100% cotton. High-temperature washes can fade and crack the print, and high-temperature dryer settings can shrink the garment, as well as damage the print.
In order for you to prolong the life of your custom print, we suggest following the care instructions below:
Machine wash cold, inside-out, gentle cycle with mild detergent and similar colors. Use non-chlorine bleach, only when necessary. No fabric softeners. Tumble dry low or hang-dry for longest life. Cool iron inside-out if necessary. Do not iron decoration. Do not dry clean.
Payment
How can I pay?
We use PayPal as our payment processor, so we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Or, you can pay using your PayPal balance.
Is your site secure?
Yes. You pay through PayPal, the world's premier electronic payment solution, not through this site. We never even see your credit card number; PayPal just tells us that you've paid and we ship you your order. We get your money through PayPal later.
Do I have to have a PayPal account to buy?
No, you can pay with your credit card without a PayPal account.
Shipping
What is the difference between processing or production time and shipping time?
- Processing or production time is the amount of lead time required to create and package your items before they are mailed to you. There can be a 2-7 business day lead time for many of our handmade or print on demand items.
- Shipping time is the amount of time it takes a carrier, usually the USPS, to deliver the package to your door. Usually, orders that are shipped from our studio or printer arrive within 3-7 business days depending on the shipping method and time of year.
How long will it take for my order to arrive?
Due to the handmade/print on demand nature of our products, there can be up to a 3-7 business day lead time for production prior to shipping. If other items in your order are ready to ship, your order may be shipped in multiple packages to ensure you get your items as quickly as possible.
Bugabaloo designed items are printed and shipped by our POD printer. This means that the processing time on orders can range from our usual 3-7 business days to up to two weeks depending on the time of year.
Once your item has been created, it will be shipped (usually via USPS) and can take anywhere from 3-5 days to arrive at your door depending on your location, the time of year, and the type of shipping you select. Unfortunately, once we have mailed your order we have no control over where it travels while en route to you. We will gladly provide a tracking number when your order ships and you are welcome to contact the carrier with any questions you may have as to your package's whereabouts.
What shipping method do you use?
Standard shipping for orders in the United States is via USPS First Class or Priority Mail. We do not ship on nationally recognized holidays when the USPS is closed. If you would like to expedite your shipment, please contact us prior to placing your order to see what options are available and to make arrangements.
How quickly can my order be shipped?
Packages usually ship via the USPS and arrive within 3-5 business days, sometimes sooner. Some Bugabaloo items are shipped out by our POD printer, usually via the USPS, and can arrive within 5-7 business days. We do not ship on nationally recognized holidays when the USPS is closed. If you would like to expedite your shipment, please contact us prior to placing your order to see what options are available and to make arrangements.
Do you ship internationally?
Bugabaloo, Inc. only ships items within the 50 United States. No shipments can be made to PO Box addresses, United States territories, or addresses outside of the United States.
How much does shipping cost?
Our shipping rates start at $5 and are determined in part by your order's total shipping weight. We want you to have your order as quickly as is reasonable. With that in mind, we select the most speedy and cost-effective USPS shipping service available. If it turns out we can ship your items in a hurry and for less than your shipping fees, we will refund you the difference!
Tracking has stopped for my package or it says my package has been delivered, but I didn't get it. What do I do?
There are many reasons why tracking may be a little "off" on your items while they are in transit. The best thing to do is to contact the carrier and ask for more information. They can often tell you its last location, if tracking just hasn't updated yet, they can also tell you the exact address it was delivered to, if the carrier mistakenly delivered it to the wrong address, or even if there is a glitch in the software that is tracking your package. If you feel that someone may have run off with your package after it was delivered, you will need to contact your local law enforcement agency to report it as stolen.
Bugabaloo, Inc. cannot be held responsible for packages once they have been handed over to the carrier and order shipments marked as delivered by the carrier will not be refunded.
Refunds & Exchanges
What are your refund and exchange policies?
Our first priority is to make sure our customers are happy with their purchases. Please contact us if your item is damaged or not what is expected.
If an item is received damaged or is incorrectly shipped by us please contact us immediately. Refunds/exchanges will only be accepted, at our discretion, if we are contacted within 5 days of receipt of the item and the item is in its original, unused state. If you are offered a refund, it will be issued using the same method you paid with, less shipping costs. Buyer is responsible for return shipping fees. Refunds are contingent upon inspection of items returned and will only be issued if the item in determined to still be in its "new, unaltered and unused condition" (without showing signs of wear or damage in any way.) At our sole discretion, if a customer wishes to return an item after 5 calendar days, we may offer an exchange or store credit only.
The customer is responsible for all shipping costs if the seller is not at fault.
Due to the handmade nature of our products, designs and pattern placement will vary slightly and each product may show slight variations or imperfections, but that’s what makes them so special! Please remember that the colors in the photos on this website may vary slightly from the actual colors of the product due to the translation and reproduction limitations of photography, the limitations of viewing photos at web site resolutions, and/or the limitations and/or variations of viewing photos on your individual monitor with its variable color and/or resolution scheme. Returns, exchanges or refunds will not be permitted because of minor variations between products and product pictures.
Any issues that occur because of an error on our part will be handled at our expense. Cases where a customer would like to exchange or return a product without any defect or due to a wrong size being ordered, would be handled at the customer's expense by placing a new order. Because our items are printed on demand for each customer, they are essentially custom orders and we can not accept returns or exchanges due to buyer's remorse or sizing concerns. Our t-shirt and apparel sizes and measurements are clearly stated with our products, please note the numeric measurements will indicate if the item runs small or large. It is your responsibility to select the item's size that most closely meets your size measurements.
We cannot be responsible for buyer's remorse, packages lost in the mail or damaged packaging.
Have other questions about your order? Please contact us!
Bugabaloo Tutorials and Patterns
Can I use your tutorials and patterns to sell things on Etsy/at Craft Shows?
While the intention of our crafting and sewing tutorials and patterns were for your own personal enjoyment, we are fine with you using them to make things that you sell at a craft show or on Etsy. You may not sell our patterns or use our photos without permission, but you may sell things made from our tutorials and patterns. All we ask is that you give credit to our site and/or blog in some way (a link is ideal!)
What seam allowance do you use on your patterns?
You will find that most of our sewing patterns are for things that it won’t really matter on like bags or aprons. If it does matter to you, we typically use about a 3/8″ seam allowance. (That’s the side of the presser foot. We generally use that as a guide while sewing.)