Frequently Asked Questions
Shipping
How long will it
take for my order to be processed? How will it be shipped? Can I
track my order?
Can orders be rushed or expedited?
How much is shipping?
How do the Priority
and Express International Flat Rate shipping work?
What if I don't have a Paypal
account and I'm unable to place an order through the website?
General
What's the difference between the
textured and smooth tiles? What's the difference between tiles
and vinyl stickers? Which is the best? What is the lifespan?
Can I get a sample?
How do
I apply the stickers/tiles?
Do you sell
complete cubes? Do you sell
Eastsheen parts?
Do you sell 3x3x3 parts?
I'm
placing a large order, can I get a discount?
I'm organizing a speedcubing
event. Can I get prizes or a discount?
Will your stickers fit my standard sized Rubik's/Eastsheen
puzzle?
I want to
order something, but I don't see it listed on your site. Do you
sell ________?
I just placed
an order and I want to add something to it, but I don't want to
have to pay double shipping. Can I have them shipped together?
I've sent you an email but haven't gotten a
response? Why not?
Custom Orders
Can I get a custom logo made?
Can you make
vinyl stickers for my custom made puzzle?
Can I
get tiles for my __________ puzzle?
Q.
How long will it take for my order to be processed? How will it
be shipped? Can I track my order?
A. Please allow up to 14 days for your order to be
processed, though most orders ship within a week. Some
orders may be slightly delayed depending on stock.
The reason for this is that we are a small company and
manufacture all of our products in-house.
Once you place an order online, you will receive a payment
confirmation from Paypal with a transaction ID number. Once your
order has been filled, U.S. customers will receive an automated
email from Paypal with a tracking number and shipping date;
international customers will receive an email from Cubesmith
letting them know when their order will ship.
*If you have not received an email
confirming shipment after two weeks (and have checked your junk
folder), or it has been 1 week since your order has shipped (8
weeks for international orders) and you've not
received the order, please send an email to
orders@cubesmith.com
with the transaction ID number (found in the details of your
transaction in your Paypal account or in your confirmation
email) and your order will be checked.
*Orders
shipping within the U.S.
are shipped using
U.S.P.S. first class shipping,
with an estimated 2-5 day delivery time. Most orders are shipped in a
5" x 8" bubble mailer. Orders shipping within the US are
processed and shipped daily (allowing up to 14 days for
processing), Monday through Friday (excluding
holidays). Tracking numbers are available for orders shipped
within the U.S. and are automatically emailed by Paypal once a
shipping label has been printed. Check your email or Paypal
account for your tracking number.
*International
orders are shipped using
U.S.P.S. first class
shipping. U.S.P.S does not offer reliable tracking numbers for
international delivery of first class packages.
Priority shipping
is available as an option at checkout for international orders.
Tracking is available for international delivery of priority
packages. We highly recommended upgrading to priority shipping
for countries with unreliable postal service. International
orders are shipped once a week, (usually) on Fridays. Smaller
international orders may be shipped in a business sized white
envelope to save on shipping costs and delivery time. Most
international orders arrive within 2 weeks of being shipped, but
please allow up to 8 weeks for delivery, as international
shipping can be slow on occasion.
*IMPORTANT SHIPPING NOTICE*
*Orders to
the Philippines and Malaysia*
are no longer guaranteed unless Priority shipping is used
(as of 7/29/2008). This means if you select standard shipping to
one of these countries and your order does not arrive, you
will not be offered a refund or to have your order
reshipped. We apologize for the inconvenience, but the postal
service in these countries is too unreliable and too many
packages are never arriving. If the problem persists, we will be
forced to discontinue shipping to these countries.
*Other countries may be added if
they are determined to have unreliable postal delivery.
Tracking numbers are not available for international orders. On
Priority packages, customs forms are used, but tend not to be
utilized by the postal service as a means of tracking.
Q.
Can orders be rushed or expedited?
A. If you have an event or a competition
coming up and you need stickers by a certain date, please
send an email to
cubesmithorders@gmail.com with the transaction ID number
(found in the details of your transaction in your Paypal
account) . Everything possible will be done to ensure you
get them when you need them, but please don't do it if it's not
necessary. Remember, these are only puzzle stickers.
Q.
How much is shipping? Do you ship to
my country? How much is shipping to my country.
A.
US
Shipping Costs
Shipping is $1.50 for orders totaling less than $3.00;
these orders will ship in a plain white envelope.
Shipping is $3.00 for orders totaling $3.01 - $19.99;
these orders will ship in a bubble mailer
Shipping is free for orders totaling $20 or more; these
orders will ship in a bubble mailer.
International Shipping Costs
Shipping is $1.50 for orders totaling less than $3.00;
these orders will ship in a plain white envelope.
Shipping is $5.00 for orders totaling $3.01 - $24.99;
these orders will ship in a bubble mailer
Shipping is free for orders totaling $25 or more; these
orders will ship in a bubble mailer.
Priority shipping is $23.95 for orders under $200 and
$59.95 for orders over $200.
*Canada: Priority
shipping to Canada is $19.95 for orders under $200 and $40.95
for orders over $200.
Express shipping is $44.95 for orders under $200,
$79.95 for orders over $200
*Canada: Express shipping
to Canada is $34.95 for orders under $200 and $64.95 for orders
over $200.
Q.
How does the Priority International Flat Rate shipping work?
A.
If you take advantage of this shipping
option, please email your transaction ID number (found in the details of your
transaction in your Paypal account) to
cubesmithorders@gmail.com to ensure that your order is filled as
quickly as possible.
Priority Flat Rate shipping is available as a shipping option on the checkout
page for customers outside of the US. This method costs $23.95 for orders under
$200 and $59.95 for orders over $200, and takes an estimated 6-12 days for delivery. Priority
shipping to Canada is $19.95 for orders under $200 and $40.95 for orders over
$200.
You must
still allow up to 14 days for your order to be filled, as we may be
temporarily out of stock on something you've ordered. Please email us your
transaction ID number once you place an order with Priority shipping so we can
be sure your order is shipped as soon as possible. Once your order is filled,
you will receive an email from us letting you know when it will ship.
Unfortunately, tracking is not available for international orders shipped via
priority mail, as international postal
services tend not to utilize customs forms as a means of tracking.
Please note: Due to the way Paypal displays shipping options, we often manage to
overlook the upgrade to Priority shipping, so please remember to email us a
reminder and your transaction ID number. If your shipping confirmation does not
include confirmation of the upgrade, please notify us immediately. If we fail to
ship your order via priority mail, we will refund the shipping cost.
Q.
How does the Express Mail Flat Rate shipping work?
A.
If you take advantage of this shipping
option, please email your transaction ID number (found in the details of your
transaction in your Paypal account) to
cubesmithorders@gmail.com to ensure that your order is filled as
quickly as possible.
Express Mail Flat Rate shipping is available as a shipping
option on the checkout page for customers outside of the US.
This method costs $44.95 for orders under $200 and $79.95 for
orders over $200, and takes an estimated 3-5 days for delivery
(this is a USPS estimate and is not guaranteed; we ask that you still allow up
to 8 weeks for international delivery). Express shipping to Canada is
$34.95 for orders under $200 and $64.95 for orders over $200. You must
still allow up to 14 days for your order to be filled, as we may be
temporarily out of stock on something you've ordered. Please email us your
transaction ID number once you place an order with Express
shipping so we can be sure your order is shipped as soon as
possible. Once your order is filled,
you will receive an email from us with a tracking number letting you know when
it will ship. You will be able to track the package via
www.usps.com.
Please note: Due to the way Paypal displays shipping options, we often manage to
overlook the upgrade to Priority shipping, so please remember to email us a
reminder and your transaction ID number. If your shipping confirmation does not
include confirmation of the upgrade, please notify us immediately. If we fail to
ship your order via Express mail, we will refund the shipping cost.
Q.
What if I don't have a Paypal
account and I'm unable to place an order through the website?
A.
You may also pay with a credit/bank card. Just
checkout normally, and when you get to the payment page, instead
of logging into a Paypal account, click the link to pay as a
guest with a credit or debit card. If you can not get this to work, it
is a Paypal issue or an issue with your card. You will need to
contact Paypal to resolve the issue.
If you don't have a credit/bank card, you may mail in your
order. You may send well-concealed cash (sent at your own risk;
bills only, no coins - round up to the nearest dollar), check,
or money order in US dollars only. If sending
cash, please do not send coins, round up to the nearest dollar.
Add the items you want
to the shopping cart, and print out the shopping cart page from
the website. (If you don't have
access to a printer, a clearly
handwritten list will work.) Don't forget to add appropriate shipping
charges. Please type or handwrite your
shipping address and email address on either the shopping cart
printout or a separate piece of paper. You will receive an email once your order ships.
Mail
well-concealed cash, check, or
money order
(in USD, made out to
'Chris Licciardi', not 'Cubesmith'), along with the printout to:
Chris Licciardi
44211 Yucca Ave. #6
Lancaster, CA 93534
USA
Q.
Can I get a sample?
A. If you would like a sample of
any of our colors or material, just send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope
and a note with what you'd like a sample of. This means you will send us an
envelope with a stamp on it, addressed to you, inside of an envelope addressed
to us (our mailing address is listed above). We will send you
material as a sample in the envelope that you have sent addressed to yourself.
If you do not include a self-addressed, stamped envelope we will not send
samples. If you have placed an order which has not yet shipped, you can email us
your transaction ID number and a request for a sample. If you will be placing an
order, and want samples added to it, you can put the request in the notes to
seller section during checkout, though we do still recommend that you email us
the transaction ID number to be sure we receive your request before the order
ships. Samples are not intended as replacement stickers, and come from our scrap
material. This means that you may request a color and size, but we may not have
that color and size combination in our scrap, so you may get the size you want
but in a different color than you requested, but we will also send a sample of
the requested color. Samples are single squares from a face of stickers, not an
entire face of stickers.
Q.
What's the difference between the textured and smooth
tiles? What's the difference between tiles and vinyl stickers? Which is the
best? What is the lifespan of the tiles/stickers?
A.
Cubesmith tiles are made of .010" thick lexan (a brand of hard, practically
unbreakable polycarbonate resin, used for shatterproof windows and the like).
The difference between smooth and textured is in the surface texture (what you
actually feel when it's on the cube); the smooth ones are smooth (though not as
smooth as the vinyl), and the textured ones have a slightly textured feel to
them (similar to sandpaper, if it were made of plastic). The colors are screen
printed on the reverse side to avoid fading and wear, and backed with
high
performance moisture resistant acrylic adhesive.
Cubesmith vinyl stickers
are made of a
solid, self-adhesive vinyl, similar to most stickers you've seen. Our vinyl
sticker are more durable than the original stickers, as they are
not laminated, so they will not have that clear layer that tends to peel up like
the original stickers.
Both the tiles and vinyl require no more effort than peel-n-stick; no additional
adhesive or glue is needed. As for which is best, it's really a matter of
personal preference. The lifespan of the materials depends upon how often you use your
cube and how well you care for it (i.e., don't leave it in the sun, get it wet,
let your dog chew on it, etc.). Generally, with normal use (not speedcubing)
stickers and tiles can last a year or longer.
Q.
How do I apply the
stickers/tiles?
A. The first, and
most important, step is to remove the old stickers and ALL of
the old adhesive. To do this, a scrape-rite blade is recommended
(as they are plastic and won't scratch the cube) to get the
stickers off, and rubbing alcohol to remove any excess adhesive.
The best way to apply the new stickers is one at a time,
carefully and slowly. Both stickers and tiles are self-adhesive. The best technique is to use a hobby/exacto
knife to lift the sticker from the paper backing. With one
corner of the sticker attached to the knife, line the sticker up
to the puzzle piece and push down on the corner opposite the knife to
adhere it to the piece. Once the first corner is stuck, use your
finger to push the sticker firmly into place, moving from the
corner you stuck first to the corner with the knife to prevent
bubbles under the sticker. For more help, there are a ton of
sticker application videos on youtube.
Q. Do you sell complete cubes?
Do you sell Eastsheen parts?
A.
Not
yet, but it is being looked into. Nothing definite is planned
right now.
Q.
Do you sell 3x3x3 parts?
A. No.
There are so many different 3x3x3 puzzles out there with so many different kinds
of pieces that it would be too difficult to ensure that the pieces sold would
match the puzzle you have. As of right now, we have no plans to sell 3x3x3
parts.
Q.
I'm placing a large order, can I get a
discount?
A. Discounts are offered on large
orders. However, the discounts begin at
100 pieces of the
same item.
**As of 3/24/2011, bulk order
discounts will only apply to orders which include 100 or more of
the same sets of stickers. The discount will not apply to
orders with 100 or more logos, singles, or plastic blades.**
To take advantage of the discount,
place your order normally, then email the transaction ID number
(found in the details of your transaction in your Paypal
account) to
cubesmithorders@gmail.com, and 10% of the total purchase price
will be refunded.
*Discount only available on orders which
include 100 or more of the same sticker set.*
Q.
I'm
organizing a speedcubing event. Can I get prizes or a discount?
A.
A special
co-sponsorship discount is now being offered for
event organizers. Click
here for details.
Q.
Will Cubesmith stickers fit my
standard sized Rubik's/Eastsheen/V-Cube puzzle?
A.
The 4x4x4 stickers are made to fit both Rubik's and Eastsheen 4x4x4
puzzles. The 5x5x5 stickers are made to fit Rubik's, Eastsheen, and
V-Cube 5x5x5 puzzles. The difference in size of the original stickers is
so small, that one size sticker can fit on all brands of the puzzles, and most
people don't mind the size difference. You can see the difference between
Cubesmith stickers on an Eastsheen cube, and on a Rubik's cube
here and
here.
Q.
I want to order something, but I don't
see it listed on your site. Do you sell ________?
A.
If you would like a custom set of tiles, the answer will most
likely be no. The tiles require a (very expensive) die to cut,
and each new set costs a lot of time and money to create.
Different tile sets may be offered in the future, but nothing is
being planned at the moment.
Other than tiles, if it can be made from what you see on the
site, chances are you can get it here. Just ask. New sets are
constantly being worked on, so if you want something that is on
the 'to-do list', you may have to be patient until the artwork
is done.
*Cut your own custom stickers! Check out
the 10.5" x 6.5"
vinyl sheets
now offered for sale.*
*Cut your own custom tiles! Check out the
uncut tile squares now offered for sale.*
Q.
I just placed an order and I want to add something to it, but I
don't want to have to pay double shipping. Can I have them
shipped together?
A.
Please make
sure your order is complete before making payment, as adding to
orders is no longer an option. That being said, if you place two
orders within a reasonable amount of time, your orders may be
shipped together, and a refund sent for the double shipping.
Just email the transaction ID numbers (found in the details of
your transaction in your Paypal account) to
cubesmithorders@gmail.com, and ask for combined shipping.
Obviously if any of the orders you want to combine have already
shipped, this will not be an option.
Q.
I've sent
you an email but haven't gotten a response? Why not?
A. We try to answer
all emails within 48 hours (excluding weekends/holidays). Most likely, we have
responded and the email has been sorted by your spam filters. Please check all
of your email folders. We do not always respond to emails from the
cubesmithorders@gmail.com
address; our
responses may be from another address your filters may not recognize. If you
still can't find anything from us, try emailing us again; your message may have
been misplaced by one of our filters.
Q.
Can I get a custom logo made?
A.
We are not offering custom
logos at this time. Custom logos take a lot of time and effort
to produce, and we're trying to put our efforts into improving
the site and creating new sticker sets right now, so we really
don't have the time for custom logos. We hope to offer them in
the future, but just don't have the time for them right now.
Q.
Can you make vinyl stickers for my
custom made puzzle?
A. Usually this answer is going to
be no, but feel free to ask - we may have something that will
work for you. The time and effort it takes to create a set
of stickers for a custom puzzle is not small. We will be
trying to offer sets for some of the more common mods in the
future.
*Cut your own custom stickers! Check out
the 10.5" x 6.5"
vinyl sheets
now offered for sale.*
Q.
Can I get tiles for my __________ puzzle?
A. No. If you can't make it from 3x3x3,
4x4x4, or 5x5x5 tiles, neither can we.
The tiles require a (very expensive) die to cut, and each
new set costs a lot of time and money. Different tile sets may be offered in the
future, but nothing is being planned at the moment.
*Cut your own custom tiles! Check out the
uncut tile squares now offered for sale.*
Questions or comments?
cubesmithorders@gmail.com
If you are emailing regarding an order, please include
the transaction ID number.
©2012 Cubesmith