FOR ORDER
STATUS INQUIRIES PLEASE CLICK HERE
Please Note:
NO Printed Catalog is available - ALL our Gnomes are already shown right here in
our website. Thank you.
"Do
you have any new Gnomes yet?"
Yes.
Click here: New Garden
Gnomes Just Added
"Do
you have any Gnomes that ship fast?"
Yes.
Click here: Ship-Out Next
Business-Day Items
"Do
you have any Gnomes On Sale?"
Yes.
Click here: Items On Sale
And Specials
"Do
you have any lower shipping cost Gnomes?"
Yes.
Click here: Lower
Shipping Cost Items
"Do
you now have any MORE less expensive Gnomes?"
Yes.
Click here: Less Expensive
High-Quality Gnomes
"Where
are you able to ship to?"
We can only
accept orders for shipping destinations within the Continental (Lower 48) United
States and to Canada. We CANNOT accept ANY orders to P.O. Boxes, Alaska, Hawaii,
Military Addresses, U.S. Territories and all Foreign destinations. Nor can we
accept any further orders with foreign billing addresses (except Canada).
"Do you
have a printed catalog?"
No, sorry.
All the gnomes we make are already shown in the website.
"Can
your CLAY Gnomes be used outside?"
Yes! All our
CLAY Gnomes are made of Stoneware Pottery which has been fired at 2200°F for
extreme durability. We are the only manufacturer currently making Garden Gnomes
of this type of clay, due to the additional expense and extensive labor
involved. In addition, all our Gnomes are finished with glazes designed
specifically to endure harsh weather conditions while still retaining their
original beauty.
"Are
ALL your Gnomes suitable for use inside the home?"
Yes! All our
Gnomes are tastefully designed to add to the decor of any home interior without
distracting from it.
"Are
your CLAY Gnomes actually 'Hand-Crafted in the USA' or just imported from
overseas?"
We actually do make every single CLAY gnome here at Kimmel Gnomes by hand (i.e.,
'hand-crafted') right here in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, USA.
This is why it does in fact take us a bit longer to ship out our higher quality
products. In addition all our CLAY gnomes and mushrooms are made of the finest
quality High-Fired Stoneware Pottery. HOWEVER FOR THOSE WHO JUST CAN'T
WAIT AND ARE ON A TIGHT BUDGET, WE NOW CAN ACCOMMODATE YOU! PLEASE CLICK HERE
"What
is the best way to order Kimmel Gnomes from you?"
We highly
recommend ordering through our website. Ordering through the website is safe and
secure, and access is available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. In addition you
will receive an order confirmation and shipment notice at the e-mail address
and/or fax number you have provided. Ordering through the website is easy,
convenient, safe, and much faster.
"Where
can I find books and publications shown in this website?"
All
publications mentioned in this website can be obtained through your local
bookstore, Amazon.com or eBay.
"Do you have unfinished (without color) CLAY gnomes available?"
Yes. Just specify 'Unfinished (without color)' by immediately e-mailing Customer
Service after placing your order. Be sure to include your name and order
number with the request. Prices and shipping rates are the same as finished CLAY
gnomes.
"Do you
sell or share my private information with anyone?"
Absolutely
NOT! Your private information is kept PRIVATE! We despise being SPAMMED every
bit as much as you do, so we most certainly will not be in turn doing it to
others!
"Do you
have the Travelocity™ Gnome available or can advise as to where to
purchase?"
No, sorry. The Travelocity™ gnome is a registered trademark of the Travelocity
Corporation. Please contact them directly for further information.
"Can you change the color of my CLAY Gnome's clothes and/or skin
color?"
Yes. Just let us know what you want by immediately e-mailing Customer
Service after placing your order. Be sure to include your name and order
number with the request.. No returns on custom color orders.
"Do you buy Antique Gnomes?"
If you have an old Gnome that you would like to sell, please e-mail
us with photos showing all angles of the Gnome. Tell us what you think it's made
of and anything you know about the Gnome. We need to know price your asking,
size, and where you are.
"I'm
ordering a Gnome as a Gift, can you please Gift Wrap the Gnome?"
Yes! Gift Wrapping is now available. There is an extra charge per item for this
service (NOT available for ALL items - check for availability on each item's
page).
"How
long will it take to process my order?"
U.S. Order
Processing / Shipment Times: 7 to 14 BUSINESS DAYS to process i.e., to create
the CLAY gnomes (NOTE: THE AFOREMENTIONED DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR 'FAST SHIP'
GNOMES - CLICK HERE FOR
MORE INFORMATION) plus 3 to 7 BUSINESS DAYS TO SHIP. Please allow for additional
time during Holiday periods. Please also note: "Business Days" refers
to Weekdays, Monday through Friday - Weekends (Saturday & Sunday) and
Holidays are NOT business days.
"If
after reading the above answer I phone and/or send an 'urgent' message by
e-mail, then can I get it faster?"
No, sorry.
The CLAY gnomes still take us 7-14 BUSINESS DAYS to process (NOTE: THE
AFOREMENTIONED DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR 'FAST SHIP' GNOMES - CLICK HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION) plus 3-7 BUSINESS DAYS TO SHIP. Please allow for
additional time during Holiday periods.
"If I
request (by phone / e-mail / shopping cart / etc.) that my order be shipped by
Overnight-Air, 2-Day-Air, etc., and add a 'Shipment Deadline' to that, then can
I get my order faster?"
No, Sorry. Due to the hand-crafted and labor intensive nature of our CLAY
products, we CANNOT accept requests for Overnight Air, Next-Day Air, etc.
delivery, NOR can 'Shipment Deadlines' ("must have by a certain
date.....") be accepted. Please do NOT ask - such requests will have to be
refused. IF YOU MUST HAVE IT FAST CLICK HERE
"How
much will it cost to ship my gnome?"
For Shipping
Rates within the United States please click HERE.
"I
purchased a painted CLAY gnome before August 2004 - can I get an a current
updated glazed CLAY gnome for free?"
All painted
finishes have been discontinued as of August 2004 (Please click HERE
for more information). Maintain your painted gnome with a coat of varnish each
year or replace with a glazed, no maintenance CLAY gnome.
"Do you
give or sell my name to any third parties (i.e. Spammers)?"
NO! Not under ANY circumstances would we ever or have we ever given out and/or
sold names, e-mail addresses or mailing addresses to any Third-Parties aka
Spammers, nor shall we ever! If you are receiving spam currently or might be in
the future, it was NOT a result of ordering from Kimmel Gnomes!
"Do you have any faster shipping options available?"
No, sorry! Our only offered shipping methods are by UPS Ground for USA (lower-48
states), and UPS Worldship to Canada. This policy allows shipping costs to be
affordable for everyone. Average Delivery Time (AFTER completion of order) is 7
Business Days. Please allow for additional time during Holiday periods.
"How do
I stabilize my Gnome on uneven ground?"
Place Gnome
on a stick or twig pushed firmly into the ground.
"Can you make up a special gnome to resemble a person (from a photo)?"
No, sorry. We do not offer this service.
"Can I visit Kimmel Gnomes?"
Kimmel Gnomes is not set up at this time to accept visitors.
"WHY HASN'T MY CREDIT CARD BEEN BILLED AS YET?"
CREDIT CARDS WILL BE BILLED THE DAY YOUR ORDER IS COMPLETED AND IS READY TO SHIP. HOWEVER ALL CHECKS RECEIVED IN THE MAIL WILL BE DEPOSITED IMMEDIATELY (DUE TO THE 3-4 WEEKS IT TAKES TO CLEAR OUR BANK).
"How do I return item(s) to you for exchange or refund?"
We offer a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee on all our CLAY Gnomes (original shipping
charges / return postage non-refundable) if not completely delighted with your
purchase. Merchandise must be returned in the same condition as it was received,
postage-paid and insured. Products MUST be returned within 30 days of receipt.
NO returns will be accepted without prior authorization. All returns MUST
include a copy of your invoice and explanation as to why it is being returned.
Any returns not meeting the aforementioned criteria will be returned to the
sender at the sender's expense. If you ship merchandise to us you MUST pack it
carefully and INSURE it - you must file a claim with your own carrier if we
receive the merchandise damaged.
"Why do
the colors of the CLAY gnome I received look different from the picture of it in
your website?" (OR) "Have you sent me a Painted Gnome by
mistake?"
Our glazes look like paint. Please know we have not sent you a painted gnome by
mistake. Though your gnome looks hand-painted he is glazed (the color is fired
into the clay at extremely high temperatures). Only small details not glazed are
gold color, white dots on mushrooms and red stain enhancement (over the red
glaze) on cap. We do this to ensure the color remains vibrant for the life of
the gnome with no maintenance issues. You may leave your gnome outside all year
round. If you would like a shiny, smooth finish simply varnish.
Regarding
CLAY Gnome Finishes - ALL CLAY GNOMES & MUSHROOMS ARE NOW GLAZED! Our
finishes effective August 2004: We color our gnomes & mushrooms with a matt
glaze and only use acrylic paint for small details on some gnomes and all
mushrooms. The glaze finish ensures true color and zero maintenance for the life
of the gnome & mushrooms. CLAY Gnome & Mushroom maintenance: All gnomes
& mushrooms purchased before August 2004 have painted finishes. We advise a
coat of varnish once a year. Gnomes & Mushrooms may be repainted with
acrylic paint.
"I
placed my order a few days ago but haven't received a shipment notice yet -
why?"
All our CLAY Gnomes require 7-14 BUSINESS DAYS to process (NOTE: THE
AFOREMENTIONED DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR 'FAST SHIP' GNOMES - CLICK HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION) plus 7 BUSINESS DAYS TO SHIP. Please allow for additional
time during Holiday periods. You will be sent a shipment notice at the e-mail
address or fax number you have provided after your order ships. NOTE: Due to the
e-Mail Filtering Programs used by most ISP's (Internet Service Providers)
including AOL, MSN, Earthlink and others, after placing your order you may not
receive either your Order Confirmation or your Shipment Notification at the
e-mail address you have provided. As we have NO control over this we strongly
recommend that either prior to or immediately afterwards, that you contact your
ISP directly and request that the domains of kimmelgnomes.com, yahoo.com and
ups.com specifically not be blocked.
All
customers are e-mailed an order confirmation and shipment notification. If you
do NOT receive these it is due to arbitrary interference from your ISP, and not
the fault of Kimmel Gnomes. If you do NOT receive these e-mails, YOU must
contact THEM to have the block removed, as Kimmel Gnomes has NO jurisdiction
over this. IN ADDITION, IF YOU HAVE AN ANTI-SPAM E-MAIL PROGRAM INSTALLED IN
YOUR COMPUTER, BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR E-MAIL DELETED FOLDER FOR BOTH ORDER
CONFIRMATIONS AND SHIPMENT NOTIFICATIONS!
"Why haven't I received an order confirmation / tracking number / answer to
my questions (etc.)?"
While NO system is 100% fail-proof, odds are good you were in fact e-mailed an
order confirmation and/or tracking number, and ALL questions put to Kimmel
Gnomes are answered WITHOUT exception! Unfortunately the problem lies in most
all of the 'Anti-Spam' software that is now being used, either privately
(installed directly in your computer) or worse still, being used by your ISP
(internet service provider). With all the virtual TONS of spam mail we all seem
to receive, it's no small miracle that the small amount of things we'd like to
get through, manage to reach us at all!
For our customers who have anti-spam software installed directly, please check
your 'Deleted Items' folder first before assuming you haven't received a
response from us - we just might be in there! For people who's mail is being
filtered by their ISP, please request directly to them that all mail coming from
the domain 'kimmelgnomes.com' be allowed through! However, if all else fails
please do not hesitate to contact us for order confirmations, tracking numbers,
and anything else of concern! We keep very good records here and if there's a
problem, we will find the answer!
"Can you help me understand why it may take several weeks for my order to
ship? Do you custom make gnomes as they are ordered?"
That is correct in fact, we do make up CLAY Gnomes as required which can often
takes several weeks to complete each one. We work very hard to get these CLAY
Gnomes out to everyone ASAP during the course of our 7 day per week / 18 hour
day / no holidays schedule. So given these facts we surely DO appreciate your
business and Thank You for being a Kimmel Gnomes customer! BUT FOR THOSE WHO
JUST CAN'T WAIT AND/OR ARE ON A TIGHT BUDGET - PLEASE CLICK HERE
"Can't you just grab a Gnome off the shelf and ship it to me right NOW /
this minute!?"
Nope, sorry! All our CLAY Gnomes are made 'in-house' right here in the U.S.A. -
BUT IF YOU NEED IT 'YESTERDAY' CLICK HERE
"Can I place an order using DiscoverCard, PayPal, or online Check?"
Sorry, we do not accept PayPal, DiscoverCard, or online Check payments at Kimmel
Gnomes - only Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and mailed in payments can be accepted
here.
"Can you identify and/or evaluate my Gnome?"
We're sorry, we don't offer identification or evaluation of antique Gnomes.
"If I have questions about my order status, who should I contact?"
Please
contact our resident Worker Gnome in our Shipping Department for all questions
pertaining to your order status. For an expedient and courteous answer click HERE.
"Do I have to order through the website?"
No,
alternatively you can order from us over the phone, fax in your order, or mail
in your order.
"When will my order ship?"
7-14
BUSINESS DAYS to process (NOTE: THE AFOREMENTIONED DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR 'FAST
SHIP' GNOMES - CLICK HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION) plus 7 BUSINESS DAYS TO SHIP. Please allow for additional
time during Holiday periods.
"How long will it take for my order to arrive?"
Most U.S.
orders will take 7 business days to arrive from the shipping date. Please allow
for additional time during the Holidays.
"Can you ship my order by UPS Overnight or 2nd
Day Air (etc.)?"
Our only shipping method for (lower-48 states) USA orders is by UPS Ground,
which has been on average arriving within 7 business days after being shipped.
We do NOT offer an alternative shipping method due to the HIGH costs involved.
For example UPS Overnight costs an additional $100-$150 or more, or UPS 2nd Day
an additional $75-$100 or more! For Foreign orders the aforementioned shipping
costs for UPS WorldShip can be double or more! We strongly advise shopping ahead
of time for that upcoming birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift, regardless
where you are located and/or are shipping to!
"Can
you bill the shipping charges to my Fed-Ex / UPS / Airborne / etc.
account?"
No. Corporate Policies covering the rural area we are located in do not allow
for 3rd party billing of shipping charges.
"Do you
have molds to sell or can tell me where to buy molds?"
We do not
sell molds nor can we recommend as to where to buy molds. We make all our own
molds from scratch, which is a time consuming and very expensive process. If you
wish to pursue this route, expect to make an investment of $500. to $1,000. per
mold, and be spending many hours perfecting the craft.
"What
should I use to paint my Gnomes?"
We do NOT
recommend the re-painting of any of our CLAY gnomes as this will surely decrease
their value in the future, but for those who insist: Use any stains or paints
suitable for ceramics then cover with 3 coats of exterior varnish such as Delta
Ceramcoat™ Matte Exterior/Interior varnish, or you may use Patio paint.
"Where
can I find patio paints and other paints and supplies?"
At most
hardware stores or at craft supplies stores.
"What
about CLAY Gnome Maintenance?"
All our
gnomes are now glazed and do not require maintenance. However for those who
insist you may apply a coat of varnish once a year.
"Why
was my Credit Card billed an additional amount?"
ALL shipping addresses are verified through the UPS & USPS databases prior
to shipment and MUST be correct! In instances where both a PO Box and Street
address is submitted and the street address is found to be invalid, the order
will be shipped to the PO Box at an additional cost of $3.00. Customer
statements that their "street address is correct and UPS does deliver
there" is insufficient proof - their address MUST be confirmed by UPS
and/or USPS prior to shipment. In addition, Shipping Addresses MUST be correct
and complete! UPS charges us a $5.00 Service Charge for every incomplete and
incorrect address they receive. This fee will in turn be passed along to the
customer! Floor / Apartment / Suite (etc.) numbers MUST be included with the
Shipping Address!
"I
purchased a painted CLAY gnome before August 2004 - can I get an a current
updated glazed CLAY gnome for free?"
All painted
finishes have been discontinued as of August 2004 (Please click HERE
for more information). Maintain your painted gnome with a coat of varnish each
year or replace with a glazed, no maintenance gnome.
"What
is your Delivery Time?"
Our CLAY Gnomes are made to order, meaning that as we receive your order each
piece is hand crafted, hand decorated and then fired in our kiln. This process
normally takes one to two weeks. As we get closer to the holiday season you will
be looking at a 2 to 4 week turn around time. NOTE: THE AFOREMENTIONED DOES NOT
APPLY TO OUR 'FAST SHIP' GNOMES - CLICK HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION.
"I'VE
BROKEN MY CLAY GNOME - WHAT DO I USE TO REPAIR HIM (OR HER)?"
WE'VE HAD
VERY GOOD SUCCESS REPAIRING OUR OWN ANTIQUE CLAY GNOMES WITH A PRODUCT CALLED 'TITEBOND
II' (MANUFACTURED BY FRANKLIN INTERNATIONAL) AND AVAILABLE THRU AMAZON. SIMPLY
PLACE THE GNOME ON A TABLE IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO OFFER SUPPORT TO THE DAMAGED
AREA, APPLY PRODUCT TO BOTH BREAK SURFACES, JOIN PARTS AND HOLD TOGETHER A FEW
MINUTES - GENTLY WIPE OFF EXCESS GLUE IMMEDIATELY WITH A PAPER TOWEL AND ALLOW
TO SIT FOR 24 HOURS. AFTER DOING SO GNOME CAN BE PLACED OUTSIDE AS MATERIAL IS
WATERPROOF. IN THE MANY YEARS OF USING THIS PRODUCT WE'VE NEVER HAD A FAILURE.
NOTE: WE SPECIFICALLY RECOMMEND USING TITEBOND II - WE CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR OTHER
VERSIONS OF TITEBOND AS WE'VE NEVER USED THESE.
"Why
are your CLAY gnomes only guaranteed for one year instead of forever?"
We guarantee
our CLAY gnomes for only one year because it has been our experience that people
expect us to replace a gnome that they have run over with their car, or their
kids have used as target practice, etc.. We use extremely frost resistant
stoneware pottery which made to be placed outside all year round. But it is
pottery and therefore pottery gets broken in a variety of ways. We are
restricting our guarantee so that in 50 years we are not liable for a gnome that
was run over with the lawnmower! Our CLAY gnomes are extremely hardy but like
anything else, they are not bomb-proof but as close as we can come given the
medium (clay) in which we work.
NOTICE: ALL
PAINTED GNOMES WERE DISCONTINUED AS OF AUGUST 2004 (Please click HERE
for more information).
Still have
more questions? Please contact our Customer Service Department by clicking HERE