| |
A
few important notes |
| |
|
We
do business either by walk-in or by mail. Our parent company, Pala International,
has been in in the international gemstone business since 1969 and thus
assures
your
satisfaction.
Each gemstone, mineral specimen or piece of jewelry
is guaranteed to be exactly as described. |
| |
Our
products |
| |
|
Many
of our products are one-of-a-kind pieces. Should the piece you desire be
out of stock, we will contact you with possible replacements. |
| |
Digital images |
 |
|
In
our business, color is important. We do our best to ensure our digital images
display an accurate rendition of each piece. However, due to factors beyond
our control (such as individual monitor differences and calibration), actual
colors may vary from what you see on your monitor. |
| |
Payment
methods |
| |
|
Advance
payment is required for all purchases. Choose from one of the following
methods: |
 |
|
- Cash
Not surprisingly, we do like and accept
this stuff!
- Checks
For internet or phone orders, when
your order is received, we will fax or mail you confirmation. You may
then
mail
us
your check.
Once it has cleared, we will rush your order to you.
- Credit cards
We accept Visa, MasterCard,
Diner’s Club and American Express. Our
secure server software (SSL) is among the best available today for
secure commerce transactions. All of your personal information is encrypted,
including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot
be
read as the information travels across the Internet.
- Bank wire transfers
After receiving your order
we will fax or mail you the confirmation together with our banking
details. You then have to ask your bank to transfer the specified amount
to our
account. After receiving your payment we will immediately send out
the selected items to you.
|
| |
Layaway |
 |
|
Certain client
may wish to put an item away on layaway. We offer a three-month interest-free
layaway plan. This is a great method of reserving a one-of-a-kind piece. |
| |
Shipping
methods |
|
|
|
Jewelry and mineral
specimens are normally shipped by US Postal Service registered mail,
insured, unless you specify otherwise. Other shipping
options include:
- United Parcel Service (UPS):
Available on request
- FedEx: Available on request
Note that UPS and
FedEx do not ship to PO Boxes. Shipping and insurance charges will
be quoted on a case-by-case basis,
and depend
on method,
weight
and value. |
|
|
Prices |
 |
|
All
prices quoted are in US Dollars for deliveries within the USA. Any possible
import fees or taxes imposed in countries outside the USA will be the
customer’s responsibility.
FedEx and UPS usually take care of all legal regulations for you. Upon
delivery any costs incurred in this process will be settled with FedEx
or UPS themselves. Please contact us if you need further information on
the import regulations
for your country of residence. We cannot take responsibility for errors
or change of price. |
 |
Receipts |
| |
You will receive
a receipt together
with your goods, which you should file carefully. You will need the document
in case of a return, for your insurance, or in
case of theft or damage. |
 |
Privacy |
| |
Pala
International understands the importance of privacy and takes strict care
to ensure that all customer data is protected. We will not sell or otherwise
pass your personal information on to any other company, institution or person. |
| |
Security |
 |
|
We
take your security concerns seriously. Our secure server software (SSL)
is among the best available today for secure commerce transactions. All
of your personal information is encrypted, including credit card number,
name, and address, so that it cannot be read as the information travels
across the Internet. View our security and privacy policies. |
| |
Returns |
| |
|
Goods may be returned for
exchange or store credit, in mint condition. All returns must be made
within ten days of the date of sale. All returns must be made only
by insured registered post. Return postage and insurance will be paid
by the customer.
We do not accept returns for special orders or items custom made to specification. |
| |
Gem enhancements |
| |
|
With the growing world population, demand for precious
stones is greater than ever. In order to meet that demand, while at the
same time keep prices within reason, most gemstones today are subject
to enhancement
processes to improve their quality. These range from simple, low-temperature
heat enhancements (virtually all tanzanites are subjected to this), to
more complex processes.
Pala International is a founding member of the
American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and complies with their policy
of full disclosure of all gemstone enhancements. The enhancement type
of each gem will be noted on our invoices. If you have any questions
about gemstone enhancements, contact
us.
|
| |
Legal
issues |
| |
|
All
transactions are subjected to California and US law. The USA is the place
of jurisdiction for both parties.
|
| |
Memberships |
| |
|
 |
The
International Colored Gemstone Association is an independent non-profit
association which was founded in 1983 to represent the international gemstone
industry. |
 |
Founded
in 1981, the American Gem Trade Association is a group of US and Canadian
professionals dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone and cultured
pearl trade while maintaining the highest ethical standards among its members
and within the industry. |
 |
Pala
International is a Registered Supplier of the American Gem Society. The
American Gem Society (AGS) has been protecting the consumer since 1934.
An association of fine jewelers, its members are committed to the highest
standards of business ethics, and practice truth-in-advertising and pricing. |
 |
The
Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) rates creditworthiness in the gem and jewelry
trades. Pala International has been a JBT member for over 20 years and
has
a 31 (‘1st’ or ‘high’) credit rating. |
|
| |
Buying and selling to The Collector |
| |
|
- Sell
to the Collector: Have something to sell? We buy fine gems and
minerals.
- Your Wants:
Tell us your gem or mineral needs and we'll see if we have it, or
can find it.
- Our Wants:
A list of our permanent wants. We need fine Burma ruby, sapphire,
alexandrite, etc. Let us know if you have something to sell.
|
