THE MADONNA CATALOG

POSTAGE AND PACKAGING CHARGES

for U.S. customers ONLY (foreign customers, CLICK HERE):

Up-to-date as of September 4, 2008
NOTE: All of the prices listed below are for orders that will be shipped WITHIN the United States. For orders that need to be shipped outside of the United States, CLICK HERE for the postage and packaging costs. I ship all orders via the United States Postal Service. If you insist on UPS, FedEx, or another form of shipping, please e-mail me for a price quote (it will almost always cost you more, so I do recommend the U.S. postal service for shipping).

INSTRUCTION SUMMARY (print this page for easy reference):

HOW TO ORDER from the Madonna Catalog (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.
  • 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, along with your full name; shipping address, and zip code. Please be sure you include your first and last name so I can search for you in my records - it's very difficult for me to look up an order for "Mike" or "Bob")
  • 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.
  • Decide how you'd like to pay for your order. I prefer PayPal (for those of you who are familiar with it). My complete payment policies for U.S. customers 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 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 or PACKAGE TRACKING, add the appropriate cost(s) for these service(s).
  • Make out a check or money order to Stephen M. Caraco for the total amount (unless you're sending cash). Don't forget to sign and date the check (sign it on the front only, please) Please write neatly! And if you're paying with a personal check, please make sure your phone number is included with your order (orders paid via personal check without a phone number will be refused).
  • Mail your payment and completed ORDER FORM to me at the address below. 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 emai, but I can't guarantee it). 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 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!
    • POSTAGE AND PACKAGING CHARGES:

    Depending on what you are ordering, you can have your item(s) shipped to you for as little as $1.50 additional. I have recently re-worded the entire section on shipping charges to the U.S., so please read them carefully. If the specific item(s) you are ordering are NOT listed in any of the paragraphs below, please e-mail me for a quote. Be sure to give me your ZIP CODE so I can correctly calculate the shipping charges for you!

    FIRST-CLASS MAIL (usually takes 2 to 5 days):
    Postcards: $1.50 for up to five postcards, 25 cents extra for each additional postcard
    Photos (up to 8" x 10" in size): $2.50 for up to three photos; 25 cents extra for each additional photo
    Pins, buttons, and other small items: $1.50 for the first item, 50 cents extra for each additional item
    Cassettes*: $2.00 for the first cassette, 50 cents extra for each additional cassette.
    Compact Discs*: $2.00 for the first CD, 50 cents extra for each additional CD. Two-disc sets count as two CDs, so it would cost $2.50 to ship a 2-CD set via first-class mail.
    T-shirts: $2.50 for the first item, 75 cents extra for each additional item
    7" vinyl singles: $2.75 for the first item. 75 cents extra for each additional item
    Calendars: First-class shipping is NOT available for calendars; please see Priority Mail shipping below.
    12" vinyl singles & vinyl albums: First-class shipping is NOT available for these items; please see Priority Mail shipping below.
    VHS Videocassettes: $3.00 for the first item, 75 cents extra for each additional item (NOTE: if ordering two or more videos, Priority Mail shipping is only $1.25 more, and they will get there faster)
    DVDs: $2.00 for a single DVD. If ordering more than one DVD, first-class shipping is NOT available; you must select Priority Mail ($5.00 minimum charge for Priority).
    Posters: First-class shipping is NOT available for posters; please see Priority Mail shipping below.
    Magazines (except those marked as "large" or "heavy" "over-sized" in the descriptions): $3.00 for the first item, $1.00 extra for each additional item
    Magazines (any magazines marked "large" or "heavy" "over-sized" in the description): First-class shipping is NOT available for these items; please see Priority Mail shipping below.
     
    IMPORTANT NOTES:
    If you are ordering 2 or more different items, and want first-class mail: The minimum shipping charge will be the highest shipping cost from the list of items you are ordering. For each additional item, just add the "for each additional item" shipping price for the remaining items. For example, if you are ordering one DVD and one compact disc, the shipping cost would be $3.50 ($3.00 plus 50 cents).
     
    Posters, Calendars, and large/heavy magazines can NOT be shipped via first-class mail. Your only option is Priority Mail (below).
     
    *Compact discs and cassettes shipped via first-class mail will be shipped to you in a small padded envelope, NOT a box. This means that there is a SLIGHT POSSIBILITY that the plastic case could get cracked or damaged during shipment. This $2.00 first-class shipping method is only recommended for people who want the item shipped to them as CHEAPLY as possible, and is NOT recommended for RARE or EXPENSIVE CDs or cassettes, especially those with stickers on the outside of the case, or other unique packaging, because it's possible that it could get damaged during shipment. If you prefer more secure packaging (as in, a box), I suggest priority mail (below).
     
    Above prices do not include insurance or package tracking.
    PRIORITY MAIL (usually takes 1 to 3 days):
    Minimum Priority Mail charge is $5.00, regardless of what you're ordering (even if it's a single postcard!!)
    Postcards: $5.00 for ANY AMOUNT of postcards (no limit)
    Pins, buttons, and other small items: $5.00 for up to TEN pins, pens, buttons, or small items - 50 cents extra for each additional item over ten
    Photos (up to 8" x 10" in size): $5.00 for up to six photos; 25 cents extra for each additional photo
    Cassettes: $5.00 for up to SIX cassettes; 50 cents extra for each additional cassette over six.
    Compact Discs: $5.00 for up to FOUR compact discs (and/or 2-CD sets, or any combination of CDs); 50 cents extra for each additional CD or 2-CD set
    T-shirts: $5.00 for the first item, 75 cents extra for each additional item
    7" vinyl singles: $5.00 for the first item. 50 cents extra for each additional item
    12" vinyl singles & vinyl albums: $5.00 for the first item; $1.00 extra for each additional item
    Sheet Music: $5.00 for up to three sheet musics; 50 cents extra for each additional sheet music
    Album "flats": $5.00 for up to three album flats; 50 cents extra for each additonal album flat
    Calendars: $5.00 for up to two calendars; $1.00 extra for each additional calendar
    VHS Videocassettes $5.00 for the first videocassette; $1.00 extra for each additional videocassette
    DVDs (including 2-DVD sets): $5.00 for up to THREE DVDs; $1.00 extra for each additional DVD
    Magazines (except those marked as "large" or "heavy" "over-sized" in the descriptions): $5.00 for the first item, $1.00 extra for each additional item
    Magazines (any magazines marked "large" or "heavy" "over-sized" in the description): $5.00 for the first item, $2.00 extra for each additional item
    Posters (small): $5.00 for up to three small posters; 50 cents extra for each additional poster (shipped rolled)
    Posters (large): $6.00 for up to two posters; $1.00 extra for each additional poster (shipped rolled)
    Box sets, boxed dolls (such as the Breathless Mahoney "Sultry Songstress" doll), and jackets: $8.00 for the first item; $3.00 extra for each additional item
     
    IMPORTANT NOTES:
    If you are ordering 2 or more different kinds of items, and want priority mail: The minimum shipping charge will be the highest shipping cost from the list of items you are ordering. Additional items (just as long as their shipping costs are equal to or lesser than the highest price-to-ship item) may be counted in the "for up to" amounts. For example, if you are ordering one DVD and one compact disc, the shipping cost would be $4.00. For one DVD and TWO compact discs, the shipping charge would be $4.00. For two DVDs and one compact disc, it would still be $4.00. Please email me if you're not sure how to calculate shipping.
     
    If your order includes any "large" posters - the large posters MUST be shipped completely separate from everything else (and separate shipping charges will apply for both the poster and the remaining item(s). Posters marked as "small" or "mini" (posters whose shortest dimension is no larger than 13") can usually be included along with other items (email me if you're not sure).
     
    Above prices do not include insurance or package tracking.
    OPTIONAL INSURANCE - DEPENDS ON THE VALUE OF YOUR MERCHANDISE:

    I normally do NOT insure your package, UNLESS you specifically request that I send it via INSURED MAIL, and you agree to pay the insurance costs. I am NOT responsible for damage to a package that occurs after I have dropped it off at the post office (if you'd like to see a picture of what couuld POSSIBLY happen to your package, click here). If you are concerned about the package being lost or damaged, I highly recommend the insurance, it is not expensive (see rates below). If you want your package insured, you MUST insure it for the FULL VALUE of the item(s) in the package (in other words, the "sub-total" on the order form page). Here are the current insurance coverage rates:

    COVERAGE FROM:
    $0.01 to $50.00 is $2.00
    $50.01 to $100.00 is $2.50
    $100.01 to $200.00 is $3.00
    $200.01 to $300.00 is $5.00
    $300.01 to $400.00 is $6.00
    $400.01 to $500.00 is $6.75
    $500.01 to $600.00 is $8.00
    e-mail me for insurance quotes over $600.00 worth of coverage.
     
    Please note that insurance does NOT include package tracking - but package tracking is available for only 75 cents more - see below.
    PACKAGE TRACKING - KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PACKAGE'S STATUS:
    For a small fee, I will add "package tracking" to your order. This will give you a tracking number that you an look up on the internet, to check the whereabouts/status of your package. For this service, add 75 cents.
    REGISTERED MAIL - THE SAFEST WAY TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE:
     
    If you want your package sent via REGISTERED MAIL, I charge an additional $9.00 for registered mail services - this $9.00 ("flat-rate") cost is ABOVE AND BEYOND ANY other postage and packaging charges. However, registered mail means your package is accounted for, and kept under lock and key EVERY STEP of the way, and it is virtually IMPOSSIBLE for anything to happen to it! Simply stated, registered mail is the ABSOLUTE SAFEST way to ship ANYTHING. If you are very concerned about the safety and/or security of your package, I do recommend registered mail.
     
    Packages sent via registered mail are not automatically insured. Remember, this $9.00 registered mail fee does NOT include postage and packaging! Also, please note that most packages that weigh over 4 pounds can NOT be sent via registerd mail (the post office's rule, not mine). And due to a recent service enhancement, registered mail services now also provide package tracking via the U.S. Postal Service's web site.
    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.

    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

    Here is my mailing address:

    Stephen M. Caraco
    10 Elgin St. #1
    W. Roxbury, MA 02132-3304
     
    You know I'll take you there........

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