Shipping charges are based on standard USPS or U.S. Mail rates (where applicable)., which are based on package weight, size, and distance shipped. Our Shipping Rates have been simplified based upon the total purchase price of an order.  Shipping rates are supplied in the table above this paragraph.

DELIVERY AND LEAD TIME:
Orders are usually shipped within 24-48 hours of receipt. Delivery time is usually 3-5 business days.

Ground shipping:
Most orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail.

Express Shipping:

Express shipping is available upon request.  An additional invoice will be sent to the customer via email.  Barring exceptions, orders received Monday through Friday by 12 PM EST ship out the next business day.

Shipping time on backordered items varies. You will be contacted via phone or email if you order a backordered item. At this point you can either choose to wait for the item, or remove it from your order. A refund for the removed item should be complete within 10 business days. If you choose to wait, the backordered item will ship out to you automatically just as soon as we get it back in stock. We can only provide an estimate as to when this will occur.

Payments for backordered items are made up front as part of the original order. This helps to keep shipping costs down, as it would be more expensive to charge for two separate shipments. If you choose to remove the backordered item from your order, a refund will be issued that is consistent with the original method of payment.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING POLICY:
We are sorry, but we are currently unable to offer shipping outside of the United States.

1. 1. The shipping cost of any returns or exchanges remain the responsibility of the customer, unless the merchandise is being returned because the order was incorrectly filled by us or the merchandise is defective.

2. 2. Return shipments to:

   The Pearl Within
   2501 Molton Way

   Windsor Mill, MD 21244
   phone: 410-281-1417

   Indicate either refund or exchange within the returned package.

   REFUND FOR CREDIT OR EXCHANGE:

   1. Any refund or credit for exchange will be based on the value of the merchandise at the time of purchase. Shipping and Handling fees are not subject to refund unless the merchandise is defective or we shipped an incorrect item.

   2. The internal paperwork for credit/exchange is normally completed within 5 to 10 business days of receipt of merchandise.

   3. All refunds are applied to the individual customer account unless otherwise specified by Sales Manager or Accounting Department.

   4. Any cancelled order through PayPal will be refunded through PayPal and will usually take 5-10 business days.

Any form of reimbursement is consistent with the original method of payment.