Special Ideas For A Better World

Special Ideas Frequently Asked Questions

  · How do I place an order?
  · When are store hours?
  · What are payment options?
  · What are the minimum orders?
  · What are shipping terms and options?
  · What about international orders and outside the 48 states?
  · What is the Satisfaction Guarantee?
  · How long till Delivery?
  · What about rush orders?
  · What are bulk discounts?
  · Can you do custom products?
  · Do all items pass review?
  · Is this website secure?
  · Can I submit a book, music or product idea for publication or distribution?

How do I place an order?

You can either use the new online shopping cart for a fast, secure order, or you can call us Monday through Friday between 8:30 and 5:30 Indiana time at 1-800-326-1197. Outside the USA, the number is 1-812-834-5691. You can fax to that number anytime. You can use this site's order form, or just drop us a note at orders@special-ideas.com. You can also mail this order form to Special Ideas, PO Box 9, Heltonville, IN 47436.

When are store hours?

We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:30 Indiana time. That is Eastern time or like New York in the winter and Central time, or like Chicago in the summer.

What are payment options?

We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express or you can send us a check. Payment must be received before items can be shipped. For this reason, rush orders must be paid for by credit card. Net 30 terms are available only to agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly. Superhuman effort will be put forth to get rush orders out by try to allow two weeks for delivery. Remember that for the most part, all our customers have the same or similar deadlines and want all rush orders at the same time. Try to plan ahead to help us have a happy and peaceful home life also.

What are the minimum orders?

$25 plus $7.50 shipping for the continental USA $25 plus shipping for Hawaii, Alaska, and territorial areas $50 plus shipping for Cananda $100 plus shipping for any other international order The $7.50 for shipping only applies to the continental USA. The shipping cost for any other area will vary due to weight. We have to do this in order to keep prices down for everyone. Most people don’t realize that it takes just as long to process small orders as it does for fairly large ones. We receive many complaints, (sometimes questioning our Bahá'í ethics) concerning the $7.50 shipping charge because people don’t consider our costs. A ten minute phone call and ten minutes spent packing costs $4.50 in labor and charges. Mailing items over 13 ounces costs at least $3.85 and the label, invoice, tape and box add additional costs. On top on listed shipping costs, UPS charges and extra 50 cents for residential address and an extra 50 cents for non city zip code addresses. They charge $5.00 for even the smallest address correction, perhaps just to change Main to Main St. Banks take a 3% off everything you charge by credit card, and on small orders even more. These charges are higher for us than for most stores because we don’t actually see you in person or swipe a card. On large orders a lost couple dollars is made up in profit, but small orders slowly drain profit dry. We had to choose between increasing prices for everyone or just increasing the average order size. Because we don’t want to burden anyone, we do make exceptions for isolated believers and others for whom this is a real hardship.

What are shipping terms and options?

Most orders go out by UPS and require a street address. Orders up to two pounds might go by first class or priority mail. If you must use a PO number for larger orders, we will have to charge more to send it priority. Shipping within the continental US is $7.50 on orders under $100 and 7% after that. Rush service is billed at cost plus $5.00. If ordering by mail, then include a phone number in case we have questions. Payment must be received before order will be shipped.

What about international orders and outside the 48 states?

Different shipping charges to HI and AK is complicated, but it is only fair. Shipping to HI, AK, and other US protectorates is at cost plus $3.00. We ship priority mail unless otherwise indicated. If you use a credit card, we will figure your total for you. If you want to send a check, we encourage you to call first to get an estimate on shipping. International orders require much more handling and therefore $100 minimum plus shipping at cost, and a $5.00 handling fee. Credit cards are preferred. Checks should be in US funds, drawn on a US bank. If shipping is significantly more than 15% you will be credited or billed. Orders to Canada have a minimum for $50 plus shipping at cost, and a $5.00 handling fee. Exceptions can be made for very small and light items like a single item of jewelry or prayer beads. Call for your order for estimates on shipping. Credit cards are easiest, since they do the exchange rate for you, but you can also send us a check in US funds drawn on a US bank.

What is the Satisfaction Guarantee?

We really want you to be happy. If you get something that isn’t what you wanted or that you don’t like, please contact us. If you have a bookstore and some designs or sizes are not moving, contact us to exchange them for something that is more popular to your customers. In general there is a 5% restocking fee and we love to help you out, but we can’t usually take returns on discontinued items. If you do want to return an item, give us a call first and also, please include a note with the return. That way, no matter who opens the package, we will know what you want.

How long till Delivery?

Most orders go out within a day or so of our receiving them. T-shirts that are custom printed can be a couple days slower. However, if you don’t indicate a date you need the order by and we are waiting on a shipment, we might hold it for up to a week to avoid backordering an item. Shipping from here to California is a whole week. So try to allow two weeks for your order to arrive. If you have only order literature or books in bulk, they might go out by media mail and that can be slow. Don’t keep secrets! Warn us if you have an event coming up on a special date or you really want your package to go out immediately.

What about rush orders?

We do everything we can to get an order out on time. In general two day shipping rates aren’t too bad and overnight rates are horrid. Saturday delivery is an extra $10 on top of the overnight charge. Overnight from Indiana to Florida really is $40 for Saturday delivery on a 4 pound package. We don’t make these things up. If you want to place a rush order give us a call and we can let you know about all your options. Currently we're not taking any rush orders online. Please call!

What are bulk discounts?

Discounts are based on quantity of the item ordered. In general we give the best prices to those customers who are buying items for proclamation. So a thousand pamphlets gets a better unit price than a hundred than would ten. Standard discounts are these: 5 or more books of any title are 15% off. 5 or more t-shirts 10% off; 12 or more t-shirts 25% off; 48 t-shirts33 %off

Can you do custom products?

If you have a special need for a major project and need more than 1,000 of something, please call for ideas and consultation on product ideas. We do some custom design as time permits and sometimes we will be reprinting an item soon and may be add your community information so part of a reprint.

Do all items pass review?

Yes, All items sold by Special Ideas have been properly reviewed and have passes the literature review process of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Is this website secure?

Special Ideas uses a Verisign certificate assuring that all information that is entered is encrypted and cannot be accessed by any outsider. All transactions are 100% secure. You can be certain that no provided information will be sold or traded to others for any reason.

Can I submit a book, music or product idea for publication or distribution?

Of course! Sometimes we are overrun and we are currently way behind on getting back to you. We try to check out and pick up recommendations wherever possible.