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 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?"
No, sorry. Gnomes shown are as they are and we cannot and will not alter them.

"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?"
No, sorry ~ Gift Wrapping is NOT available.

"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 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 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 plus 3-7 BUSINESS DAYS TO SHIP. Please allow for additional time during Holiday periods.

"If I request by 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.

"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). 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 HAS MY CREDIT CARD BEEN BILLED BUT I DO NOT YET HAVE MY GNOME?"
CREDIT CARDS WILL BE BILLED THE DAY YOUR ORDER IS PLACED. IT TAKES OVER TWO WEEKS THIS END TO RECEIVE OUR FUNDS. 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 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 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 individually 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!

"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.

"Can I place an Online Order using DiscoverCard, PayPal, or online Check?"
YES, you can pay directly using Visa, MC, or Amex ~ OR pay through PayPal using Visa, MC, Amex, DiscoverCard, etc. or Online Check.

"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 thru the mail, and mail in your order.

"When will my order ship?"

7-14 BUSINESS DAYS to process 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 databases prior to shipment and MUST be correct! UPS charges us a $8.00 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! We cannot ship to P.O. Boxes!

"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 two to three weeks. As we get closer to the holiday season you will be looking at a 3 to 5 week turn around time.

"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