THE MADONNA CATALOG
ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS AND SHIPPING
CHARGES
FOR CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE U.S.
(U.S. customers click HERE)
Updated as of April
4, 2005
HOW TO ORDER - PACKAGE
WEIGHT - POSTAGE - PACKAGING
INSURANCE &
REGISTERED MAIL - HELPFUL LINKS
HOW TO ORDER (follow
these steps in order for best results):
Select the item(s) you want by browsing through
my "for sale" pages. If
an item you want is not shown or listed on one of the "for
sale" pages, this means that you are looking at one
of my "collector's guide" or "information"
pages, and the item is NOT for sale! ALL of my prices are in
U.S. dollars. For a currency exchange chart (updated daily),
click
here
Send me an e-mail
to RESERVE any items that you want. It's important that you
reserve items first instead of just sending payment for them,
to make sure the items are still available when your payment
arrives. In your email, please include a complete list of all
the items you want (PLEASE include the prices of each item),
along with your full name and shipping address, so I can calculate
the shipping charges for you. Please be sure you include your
first and last name so I can search for you in my records
if I have to - it's very difficult for me to look up an order
for "Mike" or "Bob"). The more complete and
accurate your information is, the faster I can get back to you.
Wait to receive a confirmation email from
me, which will tell you which item(s) you want to order are in
stock, along with the shipping charges. I can respond to most
reservations emails within 24 hours, but sometimes I am extremely
backed up with email and orders, so please allow up to 7 days
for a confirmation email for your order. The more complete and
accurate your information is, the faster I can get back to you.
I generally answer "long, drawn-out" emails LAST -
so if you want a fast response, please keep it simple, but be
sure all necessary info is included.
Decide how you'd like to pay for your order.
I prefer PayPal (for those
of you who are familiar with it; not available in all countries).
My complete payment policies can be found on this
page. If you are paying with PayPal, you do not need
to send me anything via "snail mail" but you MUST include
a complete list of items you are ordering in the "notes"
field of the PayPal payment form, so I will know what you are
buying! If you fail to list all items you are ordering in the
PayPal payment form, this could delay your order by as much as
three weeks!
If you are not paying with PayPal,
then print an ORDER FORM, and
fill it out everything (except the postage, packaging, and (optional)
insurance or registered mail charges, which you'll add later)
as COMPLETELY and NEATLY as you can.
If I did not give you the appropriate
POSTAGE AND PACKAGING charges in your confirmation email, then
calculate these charges based on the weight of the items,
and the country you live in, using the guidelines below.
If I did give you the postage and packaging charges in
your order confirmation email, there is no need to calculate
them (unless you want to add insurance or something that you
didn't tell me about before).
If you desire INSURANCE
or REGISTERED MAIL, add the appropriate cost(s) for these
service(s). Please note that not all services are available in
all situations, so please read the policies below carefully.
I'm very sorry, but package tracking is NOT yet available for
customers outside of the U.S.
If you are not paying via PayPal,
send your payment via "snail mail" for the total amount,
along with your completed order form, to me at the address
below. Please make sure your payment method is accepted by
me before mailing. Payments sent without a completed order form
can be delayed for up to two weeks.
Because I am usually very busy, and very
backed up with orders and emails, I can NOT email you to confirm
that your payment has arrived, and/or when I will be shipping
your package (however, if I do have the time, I will send you
an email, but I can't guarantee it). Please allow up to 30 days
for your package to arrive, depending on the country you are
in. I'm sorry that I can't always email you to confirm that your
payment was received or your package shipped - but if I did this
for every customer, I would have no time left to actually ship
the packages out!
Wait patiently for your Madonna merchandise
to arrive, and enjoy it! THANK YOU for your order! If
you are happy with your purchase when it arrives, please take
a moment to email me or sign my GUESTBOOK,
and let me know!
PACKAGE
WEIGHT - DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE ORDERING:
How much your package will weigh depends on
what you are ordering, of course. Here are some basic guidelines
as to the weight of common packages. These weights INCLUDE all
the necessary packaging materials necessary to safely ship your
item:
- 7" vinyl singles: 6.3 ounces for the
first item; 1.5 ounces for each additional single
- 12" singles or single vinyl albums:
1 pound, 2 ounces for the first single; 7.8 ounces for each additional
single
- 12" PICTURE DISCS: 15.6 ounces for the
first picture disc; 6.7 ounces for each additional picture disc
- CALENDARS (12" square, such as the 2000
and 2001 official calendars): 1 pound, 14 ounces for the first
calendar, 8.5 ounces each additional calendar
- COMPACT DISCS: 4 ounces for the first item;
3.5 ounces for each additional item
- CONCERT TOURBOOKS: 1 pound 4.7 ounces for
the first book, 1 pound each additional book
- ONE 2-CD set: 4.5 ounces for the first item;
4 ounces for each additional item
- ONE videocassette: 15.5 ounces for the first
video; 8 ounces for each additional video (10.3 ounces for each
additional video that comes in a pastic case with inserts)
- One DVD (regardless of whether it's a DVD
single, DVD video collection, or DVD movie): 7.4 ounces for the
first DVD; 3 ounces for each additional DVD
- One large POSTER** (up to 27x41), OR two
SMALL posters (around 18x24 each): 12.5 ounces for the first
poster; 3 ounces for each additional poster**
- "heavy" magazines (VOGUE, VANITY
FAIR): 2 pounds, 4 ounces for the first magazine. 1 pound, 8
ounces for each additional magazine
- "Light" magazines (PEOPLE, SMASH
HITS, NO. 1): 1 pound, 2 ounces for the first magazine; 6.5 ounces
for each additional magazine
- Tourbooks or "large" magazine (such
as INTERVIEW, LIFE): 1 pound, 4 ounces each
- SMALL posters (up to 18x24 inches) - 11.2
ounces for the first poster, 4.5 ounces for each additional poster
- LARGE posters (anything wider than 18 inches
in any dimention) - please EMAIL
ME for quotes
- If you don't see the weight of your item
listed here, just e-mail
me
-
- **IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT POSTERS: If the width
(shortest dimension) of any poster is more than 22 inches (for
example, 24" x 36" or 27" x 41"), it can
NOT be shipped via "letter post" - due to package length
limits, any poster wider than 22" must be shipped via PARCEL
POST which costs considerably more (usually a minimum of $15.00).
Please email me for shipping quotes on posters wider than 22"
if you are unsure how much to add.
POSTAGE CHARGES - THE
COST DEPENDS ON WEIGHT and LOCATION:
Basically, the postage charge all depends on
the SIZE and WEIGHT of the package, as well as WHICH COUNTRY it's
being shipped to. The most accurate way to calculate your postage
charges is to use the same source that I use myself - the U.S.
Postal Service's POSTAGE RATE
CALCULATOR web site. It's easy to use, and it will give you
ALL the different shipping options, along with all the appropriate
prices. All you need to know is the size and weight of the package
(see above for details), and when you enter the COUNTRY the package
is being shipped to, it will tell you the costs of each available
option! However, please read this important note BEFORE you enter
the web site:
I always take reasonable care to protect your
items while packaging. I realize that it's a long trip from the
U.S. to your destination country, so I use packaging materials
such as corrugated cardboard, bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts,
and sturdy boxes to protect your item(s). I take the TIME and
EFFORT to PROPERLY package up your item, so it arrives as safely
as possible. Therefore, I do charge extra for my packaging
materials and labor. My charges are VERY REASONABLE, considering
the time and effort it takes to properly package your items. This
"packaging" charge depends on what you are ordering,
and averages from $1.00 to $5.00 above the cost of the
actual shipping. So, after you view your POSTAGE charges on the
U.S. Postal Service's web site, you will need to add the appropriate
PACKAGING charge as well.
After you enter the POSTAGE
RATE CALCULATOR, all you have to do is select your COUNTRY
from the pull-down list, then enter the WEIGHT of the package,
in pounds and ounces (See above for weight guidelines). Then click
OK, and you will see the POSTAGE options, along with their appropriate
PRICES (does not include my "packaging" charges - see
below).
PACKAGING
COSTS - DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE ORDERING
(step 5 above):
Once you have determined the POSTAGE cost (above),
please add the appropriate PACKAGING cost, using these guidelines:
Compact Discs (single OR 2-CD sets), Cassettes,
Postcards, Pens, Buttons/Pins, and other VERY SMALL ITEMS: $1.00
additional
7" Vinyl Singles, or SMALL magazines
(such as TV Guide): $1.50 additional
ONE videocassette or DVD: $1.50 additional
ONE magazine (unless it's stated as "large"
or "oversized" in the items' description); OR up to
THREE compact discs, OR up to THREE 7" vinyl singles, OR
up to three cassettes, OR one videocassette: $1.75 additional
Up to THREE 12" singles or 12"
vinyl albums (two-record sets count as two items): $2.00 additional
Up to TWO "large" or "oversized"
magazines, OR up to SIX compact discs, OR up to THREE videocassettes,
OR up to SIX audio cassettes, OR up to TWO tourbooks: $3.00 additional
Up to FIVE posters: $4.00 additional (includes
a very strong mailing tube or box)
ANY orders larger than above: $4.00 additional
Please note that some unique
items in the catalog are of unusual size, shape, or weight. These
items all require additional postage and packaging rates, which
must be calculated on an individual basis. Please e-mail
me if you're not sure.
I realize that calculating postage and packaging
costs can sometimes be very confusing, so I tried to make it as
simple as possible. If, after reading everything above, you still
have no idea how much to add, just e-mail
me.
HELPFUL
LINKS and INFO:
PAYPAL - use this link to sign up for a new account, if you
don't already have one
PAYMENT POLICIES
PRINTABLE MERCHANDISE
ORDER FORM
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Here is my mailing
address:
- Stephen M. Caraco
- 62 Forest Park Avenue
- North Billerica, Massachusetts
- 01862-1334 (U.S.A.)
- You know I'll take you there........
Links to ALL other
areas of this web site can now be accessed
-OR-