FAQ

Here are answers to a few questions that keep popping up. If your question isn’t answered below, send it to us, and we’ll add it to the list.

When I click on a second, third or fourth item to order, sometimes only the first item is listed. What can I do?

The shopping cart system uses "cookies" to keep track of order information. By default, most Web browsers allow "cookies" to be set by any Web site. Make sure that "cookies" are allowed from huntcal.com, the site used to manage orders.

If you’re using Internet Explorer:
- Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu.
- From the "Privacy" tab, click the "Sites..." button. Enter "huntcal.com" in the "Address of Web site" field and click "Allow".
- Click OK to save the change.

If you’re using Firefox or Mozilla:
- Select "Options" from the "Tools" menu.
- Select the "Privacy" button.
- In the "Cookies" section, check "Allow cookies from sites". OR click the "Exceptions" button, enter "huntcal.com" in the "Address of Web site" field, click "Allow", and click OK.

This setting change may also be useful:
If you’re using a PC:
- From your web browser’s "Tools" menu, select the "General" tab.
- From the "Temporary Files" or "Browsing History" section of the page, select the "Settings..." button.
- Select the "Every time I visit the webpage" option and click OK.

If you’re using a Mac, the option will vary depending on your web browser. Find your web browser’s "Cache" setting and select "Every time I view the page" option, and click OK.

I am unable to bring forward my order. I have pushed the view order, several times and it will not come forward. Anything you can do to correct this?

When the "View Order" button is clicked, a new, smaller window should open. If your web browser prevents popups, you may need to specify an exception for "huntcal.com", the domain used for the shopping cart.

The window may also be obscured. The shopping cart may also appear in a tab rather than a new window, depending on how you have configured your web browser. If you have problems finding the window, try closing all other windows.

I am having difficulty ordering. Every item I order deletes the previous one in the cart?

If you are using the newest version of the internet explorer -
Try these steps:

Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu.

From the "Privacy" tab, move the slider down from High to
Medium or Low. Click OK.

How can I access my shopping cart from another computer at another time?

The system "remembers" your order using a "cookie" that’s stored on your computer. Since this "cookie" isn’t on the other computer, there is no easy way to access your order information.

However, when you click the "View Order" button, a new small window appears with your order information. If you can save the web address of that page and send it to the other computer via email, you should be able to paste the web address into the web browser of the other computer, or just click on the link within the email message.

This is a sample web address:

https://www.huntcal.com/ecom/buy/ags?cid=ceeab9aa7a154e6841234532&cmd=v

Is the payment page secure?

We have spent a lot of time and effort to ensure that the site is secure. SecurityMetrics, a company that specializes in credit card security conducts quarterly security tests to ensure that we are in compliance. If you go to the A Grain of Sand home page and click on the "SecurityMetrics" image at the bottom left of the page (in the green area), you’ll see the site certificate

The payment page is a secure page. If you’re using MS Internet Explorer, you should see a padlock icon to the right of the web address at the top of the page. Click the padlock to view the security report for the page. If you’re using Firefox as your web browser, the padlock appears at the bottom right of the page. Double click the padlock to view security information.

All transaction processing is performed by huntcal.com using SSL, secure sockets layer, which encrypts all information sent to and from the server. A Grain of Sand has partnered with huntcal.com to manage transactions. Note that the web address for the page begins with "https://www.huntcal.com".

Will you sell to the public?

Yes, the prices on the website are our regularly priced retail prices.

Do you have a printed catalog?

No. Our website is our everchanging catalog.

Do you have a retail location?

No. We are an online company. You are welcome to visit us during the bead shows and events listed on the Calendar of Events throughout the year.

What is your Shipping Policy? Do you ship outside of the United States?

Minimum Order: Please note that in order to continue providing the quality and value our customers have come to expect from A Grain of Sand, we now have a $35 minimum order. Methods of Payment: We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover Card through our secure online, shopping cart system. Your Comments: There is a Comment section provided on the check out page of the website for your convenience. Feel free to add any special instructions that may apply to your order including color choices, when applicable, in that area. Shipping: We do our best to get your goodies out to you as quickly as possible. We ship Monday through Friday with the exception of holidays. If you have a bead emergency, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. NEW FREE Shipping for Domestic Orders Over $75: Free Shipping is now being offered to all retail and wholesale customers with the exception of Beadshop Program Customers. Free shipping applies to new orders of $75.00 or more. In the case of store credits or exchanges, free shipping will only apply if your total is $75.00 after the deduction of these items. Should you return items for credit after having received "FREE SHIPPING", and the total of the items returned causes you to drop below the $75.00 minimum, the cost of the free shipping will be deducted from your credit.Delivery times vary due to your location. Delivery time is estimated between 2-10 days. Insurance costs will be calculated and added to your order. If you require trackability, please choose UPS for your shipping option. Domestic Shipping: UPS Ground shipping is standard unless specified otherwise. You can get an estimate of your shipping charge by going to www.ups.com. We do not add handling fees to UPS Ground Shipping so the shipping costs are based on our costs. UPS shipping includes up to $100 of insurance. Additional Insurance is always added to your shipping cost for orders over $100 shipped UPS. Please do not be alarmed if you receive a small order in a standard size box. We use a standard box for all orders up to 1 pound because the shipping costs the same whether the package is 1 ounce or 1 pound. At A Grain of Sand, we encourage reusing and recycling packaging materials and boxes. Priority mail with insurance costs as much or more than UPS Ground. Orders that ship to P.O. Boxes must be shipped via Priority Mail within the U.S. 1st Class Mail - Due to your requests, we are now offering 1st class shipping for smaller orders for a low flat fee of Only $3.75 plus the cost of insurance. (1st class shipping is only available for packages up to 13 ounces per the USPS) If your package exceeds the 13oz. weight limit we will ship it either USPS "Priority Mail" or UPS Ground, which ever is the least expensive, and charge you the difference. Tracking and delivery confirmation availble on orders over $35.00. If your order is $75 or more, you will be offered our Free Shipping option. Free shipping does not apply to exchanges. . NEW! 1st Class Mail to Canada: Due to your requests, we are now offering "1st Class Mail" shipping for smaller orders for a low flat fee of only $6.50(1st class shipping is only available for packages up to 13 ounces per the USPS). If your package exceeds the 4 pounds weight limit we will ship it USPS "Global Priority Mail" and charge you the difference. Please note that neither "1st Class Mail" or "Global Priority Mail" is insured or trackable. If you require insurance or tracability please select USPS Express Mail International as your shipping method. International Shipping: We ship Internationally via USPS Global Priority and USPS Express Mail International. USPS Express Mail International is our recommended method of International shipping and typically ranges from $28 and up depending on weight, insurance value, and the destination. Door to door delivery time is estimated at approx. 3-5 business days. USPS Express Mail is fully insured and trackable. USPS Global Priority is also available and is the most economical method, however, insurance is not available with Global Priority and we cannot take responsibility for packages that are lost or damaged during shipping. We are also not able to track packages mailed to you via USPS Global Priority . The estimated delivery time is 4-6 business days. The cost is $13.00 to Canada and $15.00 to all other destinations. This is a Flat Rate Envelope (9 x 12") with a weight limit of 4 pounds. Orders that exceed the 4 pound weight limit, or are too large for the envelope, will be shipped in a USPS Global Priority box. The charge for this method will be based on weight and destination, starting at $28.00. *Note to 1st time International Customers- We may request 1st time payments to be made via Money Order or Western Union. Once our business relationship is established, you can provide payment via Visa or MasterCard.

What is your return policy?

Return Policy: We want you to be thrilled with your purchase and A Grain of Sand. If you are not delighted with your goodies, we will do an exchange of merchandise for merchandise or full refund within 10 days of receipt of your package with the exception of Closeout* items and cut to order chains, minus the cost of shipping. We will accept returns for an exchange of merchandise up to 30 days of the purchase. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns after 30 days of purchase without prior approval and a restocking fee.

Return Instructions - Simply return any items you do not wish to keep with a copy of the invoice. Please include a note as to why you are returning the item and what you would like in exchange of the returned merchandise. Returns can be shipped to:

A Grain of Sand, LLC - Returns
P.O. Box 3214
Mooresville, NC 28117 USA
(704) 660-3125

We take care to ship your goodies in a safe manner and hope you will ship returns with the same care so that we can give you full credit for any returned merchandise.

*Closeouts: These are items that are overstocked, sold down or simply discontinued items. Closeout items are not returnable. These items are sold as is and are deeply discounted so there are no other discounts applicable to closeout items.

I placed an order, but do not see my wholesale discount on the order?

The wholesale discount will show up after we process your order. You will see your applied discount when you recieve your shipping confirmation.

If I don’t see an item that I purchased from you before, will you still have that item or be getting it back in stock?

We stock according to supply and demand as well as availability. If you do not see an item previously on the site, its out of stock. We may or may not get this item back in stock. If its an item that is still available and frequently requested, we may get that item again, but we have no way of knowing for sure because the market changes so quickly. Our suggestion is to check the New Arrivals frequently. You may get a nice surprise.

Do you have a list of Birthstones?

The List of Birthstones
January: Garnet
February: Amethyst
March: Bloodstone, Aquamarine
April: Diamond
May: Emerald
June: Pearl, Moonstone
July: Ruby
August: Sardonyx, Peridot
September: Sapphire
October: Opal, Tourmaline
November: Topaz
December: Turquoise, Zircon