Silver Castle Jewelry's FAQ's & Information

This section includes auction information related to our auction listings. Since it is linked to our auction pages, which as per Ebay rules, it is part of the auction agreement you agree to by bidding on our auction. Subject to change without notice.

PAYMENT & CHECKOUT

What payment methods do you accept?
When is payment due?
I won more than one item, do I send separate payments?
What emails will you send me?
I have my spam blocker set to the highest setting, will your emails get thru?
Why do you use marketworks checkout?
How do I access the checkout?
Is the checkout secure?
What is your mailing address?
Why does marketworks need a cookie when I use checkout?
When I send you an email or payment what information do you need?
I paid, why does My Ebay page shows the item as not paid?
What is your return policy?
Do you use Ebay's Unpaid Item Dispute console?
You filed a nonpayment strike against me, can I get it reversed?
I live in California do I have to pay sales tax?
I no longer want the item I bid on, will you cancel the bid?

SHIPPING

Do you combine shipping?
How do I obtain the combined total?
I already paid for an order can I still combine shipping with unpaid items?
Do you ship internationally?
Is insurance required?
How are packages shipped?
How often do you ship?
Do you do same day shipping?
What will be checked on the customs form for international packages?
What is included in the price of shipping?
How long will it take for my package to arrive?
Do you have a Delivery Confirmation number on the package?
What is the longest time for delivery of one of your packages?
Can I pick up my item?
Are there any countries you don't ship to?

PRODUCT

Do you have more than one of the item available?
Can I get a different size or length than what I won?
What does 925 mean? Is the item marked 925 (or 14k)?
Are the items new?
Is the item I am bidding on in stock?
Where is the item made?
Will the item vary from the picture?
Do charms come with a split ring?
Do you engrave?
Ring Sizes
Jewelry Care Instructions
Do you have a picture gallery of your items?
Do you sell individual earrings?

MISCELLANEOUS

How long have you been in business?
What is your ebay store name?
What is your email address?
Do you have a website?
Do you have a brick & mortar store?
Will there be cat hair in my package?
Where did the name edselbabe come from?
Do you leave feedback?
Do you have a mailing list?
What is a fixed price auction?
What is a dutch price auction?
Birthstones
Meaning of Symbols

PAYMENT & CHECKOUT

What payment methods do you accept?
PAYPAL.COM, VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER & AMERICAN EXPRESS. Paypal is accepted thru our checkout or by money request only. Direct credit card payments are taken on our marketworks checkout & must have a matching billing address on the order and your credit card statement. No COD or shipping before payment is received. SORRY, WE DO NOT ACCEPT CHECKS or MONEY ORDERS, if we receive one you will need to resend an accepted payment and we will return the check when the package ships.

When is payment due?
Payment is due within 10 days from the end of the auction. Please don't bid on the item if you cannot ensure that payment is received within that time frame.

I won more than one item, do I send separate payments?
If you have won more than one auction, PLEASE DON'T SEND MULTIPLE PAYMENTS obtain the correct combined total first thru our Checkout & then send 1 payment. Items paid for separately will ship separately.

What emails will you send me?

• Confirmation:  We send all high bidders a confirmation email within 24 hours of the auction ending. We use an automated email system in order to better serve our customers and the emails are usually sent 5-10 minutes after the end of the auction to the email address that the buyer has on file with Ebay. Auctions that are ended with Buy It Now may take a little longer to receive their confirmation letter.
• Resend the Confirmation: If you haven't used our checkout or sent us an email with your shipping info within 3 days of the end of the auction we resend the confirmation email info.
• Thank you for your Order: After your order is processed we will send the order info, this is not a confirmation of payment being received.
• Payment Receive:  When your cleared payment is received.
• Order Shipped:  When we have shipped your order.
• Reminder:  If no payment is received within 10 days after the auction ends.

I have my spam blocker set to the highest setting, will your emails get thru?
Probably not, if you bid on our auctions you need to place us on your accepted emails list or lower the settings. Statistics show that 1 in 5 emails never reach their destination because of spam blockers and invalid or expired email addresses.

Why do you use marketworks checkout?
There are many reasons, some of them are:

• We are a small company and are not on the internet 24/7, the quickest way for you to obtain the correct payment info for your order is by using our checkout. It only takes about 60 seconds to complete the process (we have timed it many times), which is a lot quicker than sending us an email and waiting for a reply or a paypal invoice.
• It gives our customers the choice of several payment and shipping options so they can customize the order to fit their needs.
• It provides the correct info for your location, including shipping costs and sales tax (if you are in California). As well as the correct total for your items.
• Its more accurate if the customer enters their address than if we get it from ebay or paypal.
• We can accept direct credit card payments.

How do I access the checkout?
You can access our checkout by using the web address near the bottom of the auction description, use the we address in our confirmation emails or go to www.marketworks.com and click on the buyer checkout button. When the page with your auctions comes up click the checkout button, then all you do is enter your shipping info, pick the payment option, pick your shipping option, and verify that the info is correct before hitting the process button. If you picked paypal it will then take you to paypal and fill in the info for you.

Is the checkout secure?
Marketworks has multiple security measures in place. These measures protect against the misuse, loss, or alteration of your information. The Checkout pages with your shipping & payment info is SSL Secured 128 bit encryption.

What is your mailing address?
Please use our checkout to obtain the mailing info for your order by going to www.marketworks.com and use the buyer checkout button.

Why does marketworks need a cookie when I use checkout?
Cookies are little files that are used for tracking users on a website. Marketworks uses temporary or per session cookies when you use checkout. This way Marketworks knows which auction or order number to pull from the system to display for you and maintains the info you enter on each page until the order is processed. A temporary or session cookie is stored only for your current browsing session, and is deleted from your computer when you close Internet Explorer.

When I send you an email or payment what information do you need?
Include your ebay email address and the auction number or the order number. We have hundreds of auctions each week and if you send an email from a different email address and don't include the auction number we won't know what you are talking about. Also, we don't make long distance phone calls regarding auctions, so please make sure you have the correct email address on file with Ebay. We keep our prices low and the cost of a long distance phone calls would make the auction unprofitable.

I paid, why does My Ebay page shows the item as not paid?
We don't use the My Ebay system, we don't find that it is very accurate because too many people have access to it, ebay, paypal, the buyer, the seller, auction management companies. You can check the item off yourself using the drop down menu next to it on the My Ebay page. You can view the status of your order by going to www.marketworks.com and click on the buyer checkout button.

What is your return policy?
If there is a problem with the merchandise, please let us know immediately, we can usually resolve the problem quickly and simply. If you would like to return an item for exchange, we must be notified within 7 days of your receiving the item and we must email you a confirmation that it is all right to return it. We don't include shipping & handling in the exchange amount unless the item has a manufacturer's defective or is not as described in the auction listing. Item dimensions are shown on 99% of our listings. Return postage is up to the buyer on non-defective items. Returned items must be sent back in protective packaging similar to how we shipped them to you. Insurance and/or tracking on the package is up to the person returning the package, if we don't receive the package or it is damaged in transit back to us we don't send the exchange items. We don't exchange items that have been broken or damaged by the customer. We do not give refunds, exchanges only. Returns must be postmarked within 10 days of our email confirmation having been sent.

Do you use Ebay's Unpaid Item Dispute console?
We will send a reminder notice and have Ebay send an alert from the Unpaid Item Console if payment hasn't been received within 10 days. If payment is not received within 7 days of the date of the reminder email, we will file for a credit with Ebay and a NPB strike will be placed by Ebay on your account.

You filed a nonpayment strike against me, will you reverse it?
Once we file for a credit, that item is returned to inventory and available for sale to another customer. We will NOT honor payments received after the credit is filed, it will be returned to you, nor do we reverse credits with Ebay. The process to reverse credits, adjust inventory, re-process orders, etc.. is too time intensive and you should have followed the rules as specified in our auction description, confirmation emails, reminders, etc.... We do leave negative feedback for nonpayment and we do file for a credit on the final value fee with ebay. We do this because we pay a final value fee (FVF) commission on every auction that ends with a bidder (in other words, as soon as you bid, it costs us money). We also spend a considerable amount of time tracking each auction, sending emails to the bidder and we have to hold that merchandise out of my inventory so it isn't available for sale to any one else.

I live in California do I have to pay sales tax?
Yes, use our marketworks checkout to obtain the correct sales tax and total for your order. If you are purchasing for resale, contact us prior to bidding, we will need a copy of your resale license. We only do resale orders for $100 or more.

I no longer want the item I bid on, will you cancel the bid?
If you change your mind about the item, please retract your bid through Ebay's bid retraction system BEFORE the auction ends (there are no bid retractions on fixed price auctions), otherwise you are legally contractually obligated to complete the transaction (yes, bidding on an auction is agreeing to a contract, as per Ebay's policies, that is listed on every bid page prior to making a bid).

SHIPPING

Do you combine shipping?
We do combine shipping on multiple item orders, auctions must end within 5 days of each other. Items must be on one order & paid for & shipped together. Each auction lists the shipping fee and any additional per item fees.

How do I obtain the combined total?
PLEASE use our SECURE Checkout to complete the transaction. It will provide you with payment & shipping options & the correct total for your location. If you won multiple auctions from us wait until all auctions are over before using Checkout to get the combined total. You can access our Checkout 3 ways: use the button near the bottom of the auction description, use the web address in our confirmation emails or go to www.marketworks.com & click on the buyer checkout button to complete the transaction. If all of your auctions do not show on the page do not process your order, wait until they all appear before processing the order.

I already paid for an order can I still combine shipping with unpaid items?
Sorry, once an order is paid for it cannot be combined with other orders. Items paid for separately will ship separately. If you have won more than one auction, PLEASE DON'T SEND MULTIPLE PAYMENTS obtain the correct combined total first thru our Checkout & then send 1 payment.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do ship worldwide.

Is insurance required?
Insurance is optional in the USA, you can add it to your order from our checkout, and required on international shipments. We cannot be responsible for uninsured packages lost or damaged in transit. Uninsured packages are shipped at the buyer's own risk.

There is a 30 day waiting period for USA packages (45 days for international)before an insurance claim can be filed for lost packages. If your insured package doesn't arrive 30 days (45 days for international) from the shipping date, please let us know by email. If your package arrives damaged, please let us know right away. When we reship the order, we reserve the right to substitute a similar item if the original item is no longer available. We do not send a refund, we reship the items on insurance claims. We have shipped over 100,000 packages by US mail in the past 6 years and less than 100 were not delivered, i.e. lost, but approximately 10% of the packages did take longer than one week to arrive, about 1% took 2-3 weeks to arrive. It is rare for a package not to show up within the 30 day time frame, which is why the USPS established the waiting period and we use it too. The paper work for filing a claim thru the Post Office is time consuming and takes 5-12 weeks after filing the paperwork to get a reply, so items are insured through our company in order to expedite the claim. If you provided an incorrect shipping address to us, insurance is null and void. If you leave us negative or neutral feedback, then insurance is null and void. All claims must be filed within 60 days, claims after 60 days will not be honored. If your package had a tracking number and USPS shows that it was delivered we will not reship the package, please contact your local Post Office they may be holding it for you.

How are packages shipped?
We ship all packages thru the United States Post Office. We do not use UPS or Fed Ex. The majority of our packages are shipped by first class mail, we do offer Priority mail on most orders for an additional fee. International packages are shipped by airmail.

How often do you ship?
We normally ship items 3 days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, weeks with postal holidays will vary. Please allow sufficient time delivery if you need an item by a certain date. During late November & December we ship daily Monday thru Friday.

Do you do same day shipping?
Sorry, we don't do same day shipping the cut off for shipping is 6:00pm the day before. For example, if you want your package shipped on Monday we need to receive your payment by 6:00pm on Sunday.

What will be checked on the customs form for international packages?
Customs fees, if any, are the customer's responsiblity ALL customs forms are marked merchandise as per federal law. Sorry, we do not break the law for our customers, so please don't ask us to. Some countries have restrictions about shipping jewelry, please check with your local post office or customs department for information regarding restrictions and/or fees you may incur. We are not responsible if your package is confiscated by customs for violations of any restrictions.

What is included in the price of shipping?
Shipping includes postage, the cost of packing materials (such as the envelope, boxes, zip locks), handling & delivery confirmation on all USA packages, except military addresses where it is not available. Remember shipping is not just the cost of postage.

How long will it take for my package to arrive?
That depends on where you are located and the type of shipping. Most of our items, unless it is shipped by Priority mail which normally takes 2-3 days, are shipped by First Class (regular) mail in bubble lined envelopes which sometimes need to be hand processed by the PO because of the thickness, so it may take a little extra time for delivery (1-2 days over what a normal envelope takes, especially if you are in a rural area). Delivery usually takes 2-8 days depending on location (go to USPS.com for an estimate,our zip code is 93380), although it is not unusual for a package to take 2-3 weeks or more. We have learned over the past 6 years of selling on the Internet and shipping by USPS that about 10% of the packages will take longer than 1 week to arrive. International packages usually take 5-10 days, but if they get stuck in customs, it can be considerably longer. We have no control over how long the Post Office will take to deliver a package. During the holiday season first class mail regularly takes 5-21 days and priority mail 3-8 days.

Do you have a Delivery Confirmation number on the package?
All packages mailed to an address in the USA will have a Delivery Confirmation number. Military addresses will have a customs number. Most international packages will have a tracer number for Global Priority packages. If the item is too large to fit in a Global Priority envelope or the country does not have Global Priority mail service, the package will have a customs number. The number will be included on the shipment notice we send when you package is shipped, you can also access it by going to www.marketworks.com and using the buyer checkout feature.

What is the longest time for delivery of one of your packages?
The longest that we know of is 7 1/2 months, it was mailed by first class mail from California in January and arrived in late August in Washington DC.

Can I pick up my item?
Sorry, we are strictly mail order & only ship items. Our business license does not allow for onsite customers.

Are there any countries you don't ship to?
At this time we ship worldwide.

PRODUCT

Do you have more than one of the item available?
Probably, most of our auctions are dutch or fixed price where more than one item is available on the listing. If you need more than what the auction you are looking at has available, please look on our ebay store for more auctions or a store listing. You can also send us an email and we can let you know how many we have available.

Can I get a different size or length than what I won?
No, if you are the winner of an auction you will receive the item described in the title & description. Don't bid on the item hoping that we can trade it for what you really want (different size, color, length, etc). Please look on our ebay store & see if we have what you are looking for.

What does 925 mean? Is the item marked 925 (or 14k)?
925 is an international symbol for sterling silver because sterling has to be a minimum of 92.5% silver with the rest brass, nickel, zinc or some other metal to give it strength. While most of our items are stamped or marked, a few are not because they came with paper tags or in a bag of multiple items where the bag was marked or they are just to small to stamp.

Are the items new?
All of our products are NEW unless it is stated in the auction description as being from an estate, used, worn, collectible, etc...

Is the item I am bidding on in stock?
Yes, we don't list items for auction unless we have them in stock.

Where is the item made?
Our items come from all over the world. Most of the charms we sell are made in the USA. Some of the other countries include, but are not limited to: Italy, China, Thailand, India, Ireland, & Poland.

Will the item vary from the picture?
Due to the handcrafted nature of most of our items, all measurements & weights are approximate, clasps and jump rings or bales may also vary. We try to make sure that the dimensions of all of the items are listed in the auction description or on the picture of the item so that the bidder will know exactly what they are bidding on. A good way to get a feel for the size of the item is to draw a box using the measurements listed in the auction, the item will fit in the box you have drawn.

Do charms come with a split ring?
Our charms come with the ring shown in the picture, which is usually a jump ring. A few do come with split rings, we try to list that in the auction description and some have a fixed loop on top that doesn't require a ring when used for a necklace (they will need one if used as a stationary charm on a bracelet). We do sell split rings, jump rings, and snap on bails if you need them, please look on our ebay store in the Beads, Split Rings & Bails category.

Do you engrave?
Sorry, we do not do any engraving.

Ring Sizes
All of our rings are sized using a metal universal sizing stick, for consistency in the sizing. If you don't know your size, we would recommend that you go to a local jewelry or department store and have them size your finger, it only takes a second and they usually do it for free, that way you will be sure of what size you need. Approximate circumferences (around the finger) are:

size 5 is 2"

size 6 is 2 1/8"

size 7 is 2 1/4"

size 8 is 2 3/8"

size 9 is 2 1/2"

size 10 is 2 5/8"

size 11 is 2 3/4"

size 12 is 2 7/8"

size 13 is 3"

size 14 is 3 1/8"

Jewelry Care Instructions
Silver & Gold are both wonderful metals. Their luster and malleability make them perfect for jewelry. Silver has one problem, tarnish. Luckily gold doesn't have that problem. ALL sterling silver will tarnish unless it has a clear coat or rhodium plating on it. Anyone who has had to clean a silver item where tarnish is in the advanced stages knows what a problem it can be. Tarnish starts as a yellow tone, and can advance to a blackish purple coating that proves very hard to remove and it may temporarily discolor your skin. There are a few things you can do to keep your silver shining, and tarnish free.

• WASH new pieces of jewelry with a gentle liquid soap & cool water & polish dry or polishing cloth before wearing because excess polishing compound or black antiquing or even tarnish may be on the piece and it may temporarily discolor your skin, this is most common with the inside of new rings.
• Use a jewelry polishing cloth, if used regularly, a polishing cloth can keep tarnish from building up & keep the piece nice & shiny.
• Do not wear jewelry while bathing, doing dishes, cleaning with chemicals, or anything else where the jewelry would come into contact with abrasive soaps or chemicals.
• Perfumes, colognes, lotions, cosmetics, powder, smog, humidity, sweat, oils on your skin, etc... all can cause silver to tarnish.
• Don't store silver in newspaper, the ink can permanently stain. Keep silver away from sulfurous material
• Keeping your treasured silver in an airtight zipper bag (like a Ziplock bag) when not wearing, this will keep corrosive agents in the air from coming in contact with your silver. Place anti-tarnish paper in your jewelry box for extra protection.
• Do not "scrub" jewelry with a brush or coarse cloth. Silver & gold are soft metals and will scratch or dent if treated roughly. Use a jewelry polishing cloth. If used regularly, a polishing cloth can keep tarnish & dirt from building up.
• Do not use dips on pieces that have decorative oxidation or antiquing. For example, many of the Celtic pieces have oxidation between the knots to highlight the curves and angles. If a dip is used it will remove the tarnish & dirt, but will also remove the decorative oxidation. A little anti-tarnish polish goes a long way.
• Do not wear jewelry while working outside, playing sports, or other activities that may result in scratching or denting. Do not sleep with a chain on, it may kink or break.

Do you have a picture gallery of your items?
Please click here to see our auction items in organized categories on our Storefront Gallery at www.silvercastlejewelry.com  

Do you sell individual earrings?
All of our earrings are sold as pairs. Also, ALL earrings are for pierced ears.

MISCELLANEOUS

How long have you been in business?
We have been in business selling silver jewelry, celtic items and gifts for since 1993. We started selling on Ebay in January 1999.

What is your ebay store name?
Go to our ebay store at: www.stores.ebay.com/Silver-Castle-Jewelry-Gifts  

What is your email address?
edselbabe@yahoo.com or silvercastlejewelry-ebay.@yahoo.com

Do you have a website?
Yes, it is www.silvercastlejewelry.com. Most of our items are also available on our ebay store at www.stores.ebay.com/Silver-Castle-Jewelry-Gifts  

Do you have a brick & mortar store?
No, we are strictly an internet sales business.

Will there be cat hair in my package?
We several cats & 2 dogs, all shelter babies or strays, so I apologize in advance if there is a little cat hair in your package. It pretty hard to avoid it with all of the little beasties always trying to help me pack things up. They love tissue paper, bubble wrap, & boxes. If you have ever owned a cat you know how they can be.

Where did the name edselbabe come from?
It started as a joke when I was first setting up my ebay account and trying to think of a name. I drive a 1958 Edsel Pacer and my husband suggested the babe part. That backfired a bit on him when he started working with me and now he has to tell people his ebay name is edselbabe.

Do you leave feedback?
We use software that scans our feedback throughout the day and whenever positive feedback is left for us, it leaves positive feedback for the buyer within a few minutes. We don't feel that a transaction is complete until the customer is satisfied enough to leave feedback. If you don't know how to leave feedback, let us know and we will walk you thru it or go to ebay's help section. Over the past years, we have found that only about 50% of buyers leave feedback.

Do you have a mailing list?
Yes, we send our an email 6-12 times a year alerting our customers to sales we are running and new items we have gotten in. Only customers who sign up for the mailing list receive the emails. You can sign up for our mailing list on our ebay store and on our auctions. We don't share or sell any customer info with other sellers or businesses.

What is a fixed price auction?
A fixed price auction is where the listing has multiple items available at a set price (like buy it now feature), as soon as you place your bid you are the winner of the quantity of items you selected. The total due is the number of items you won times the fixed price plus shipping, etc....

What is a dutch price auction?
A dutch auction is where the listing has multiple items available and a minimum bid, you pick the quantity of items you would like and your bid is the price you are willing to pay. It is different from a regular auction with one item available where you bid the maximum you are willing to pay but the winning bid may be less on dutch auctions the amount you bid is the amount you will pay for each item.

Birthstones

January = Garnet

February = Amethyst

March = Aquamarine

April = Diamond or White Zircon

May = Emerald

June = Pearl or Alexandrite

July = Ruby

August = Peridot

September = Sapphire

October = Opal or Rose Zircon

November = Topaz

December = Blue Topaz or Blue Zircon

Meaning of Symbols
SYMBOLS & MEANINGS This information has been obtained from various sources; books, web sites, etc... If you have a symbol you would like to add or more info please let me know.

• ANKH: a cross having a loop for its upper vertical arm. An Egyptian symbol for life.
• YIN YANG: Yin= the feminine passive principle in nature that in Chinese cosmology is exhibited in darkness, cold, or wetness. Yang= the masculine active principle that is exhibited in light, heat or dryness and that combines with yin to produce all that comes to be in the world. Also: chaos & harmony, good & bad/evil, etc...
• CLADDAGH: The design of the heart held between two hands with a crown set on top is known as the Claddagh. Originates in the Irish village of Claddagh, across from Galway. Traditionally used as a ring, it was a family heirloom handed down as an engagement ring, friendship, or wedding ring. The symbolism is as such, heart as love, hands as friendship, and crown as loyalty or fidelity.
• CELTIC SYMBOLS: Celtic art and culture date back as far as the 8th century B.C. Since tribes were bound together by speech, customs, and religion, rather than a centralized government, they were a closely knit people of common tradition and beliefs. Because of this, the art of the culture had specific designs for spiritual meaning.
• Triskel or Triskellion: a figure composed of three usually bent or curved branches radiating from a center. The arms can stand for mind, body, and spirit.
• Trinity: a figure composed of three loops connected at the center. The loops can stand for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit or mind, body, and spirit.
• Celtic Cross: The cross symbolizes the bridge to other worlds and to higher energy and knowledge. This is realized by the vertical axis (celestial world) and horizontal axis (Earthly world). They are also considered solar symbols, sources of light and ultimate energy. It is thought that the Celtic cross is derived from the Christian cross and the Celtic worshipping of the Sun being combined when the early Christians made contact with the Celts.
• Knotwork: For the Celts life was seen as a riddle, the "eternal journey" so to say. They believed in reincarnation: continuous rebirth until complete spiritual rebirth is achieved. These knots symbolized their maze through eternity, and their understanding of various spiritual levels in the search for purification of the soul.
• Spiral: The spiral symbolizes the continuity of life and spiritual growth. It is the constant flow of nature's processes going outward then back inward as Heaven and Earth are joined. Three spirals represents nature, human and divine aspects of life. The three spirals also represent the Maiden, Mother and Crone aspect of the Goddess.
• Serpent and Dragons: Coming from inside the Earth, the serpent was believed to be all knowing of the worlds secrets and having divine wisdom. The serpent is the symbol of strength and virility. Dragons are the combination of the forces of the depths. The serpent, the wings of a bird, and horns, which represent regeneration, wisdom and growth.