John Betts - Fine Minerals, New York, NY
Dealers of Fine Minerals and Natural Crystal Clusters since 1989.
John Betts - Fine Minerals > Home Page > Purchasing Information > Shipping |
John Betts - Fine Minerals, New York, NY
Dealers of Fine Minerals and Natural Crystal Clusters since
1989.
Packages ship on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Ordering deadlines for shipping are:
The schedule above is dependent on the item ordered. If it is from recent listings then there is no delay. But if you order older minerals listed, then shipping might slip a day or two so the items can be retrieved from my warehouse.
All items sold through this web site are shipped via U.S. Postal Service First Class mail if under 13 ounces and via Priority Mail if over 13 ounces. Each item is individually wrapped to ensure no damage during shipping. All original labels or historic matter, if available, are included with each item. All items are sent in durable cardboard boxes made for shipping such items.
Less than 0.1% of packages shipped in the last year were lost or damaged.
In spite of that encouraging statistic, every package is insured. The purchaser pays estimated shipping costs. After placing an order, the purchaser will receive an email confirmation with the shipping costs will be stated. Packages under $500 are insured through a third party for a fee of $1.30 per $100.00 of value. Packages valued 500.00 to $2000.00 are insured via the US Postal Service for a fee of $1.00 plus 1.5% of the value. Packages valued over $2000.00 are insured via USPS Registered Mail Insurance and the fee is based on the value.
Shipping and insurance costs are based on weight and value. Examples of packaging costs you can expect:
Two to three thumbnail specimens, total value less than $50 = Shipping and insurance $5.50-$7.50
Two to three miniature specimens, total value near $100 = Shipping and insurance $8.00-$10.00
Heavy cabinets specimen of minerals like galena, celestine, barite valued around $50 = Shipping and insurance $14.00-$18.00
Large package of four to six cabinets specimens, total value near $600 = Shipping and insurance $30.00-$65.00
SPECIAL NOTE FOR ORDERS UNDER $500: packages under $500 are privately insured through third-party coverage which costs the same as (or less than) USPS insurance. Using third-party insurance is caused by the USPS failing to pay legitimate claims and delaying settlement up to 6 months on the claims they do pay. This was unacceptable. Third-party insurance claims are settled instantly. As a result, the postage shown on the package exterior is only a portion of the "Shipping & Fees" shown on your order confirmation email.
All items are shipped usually the next business day.
Delivery within the continental U.S. is 2-3 business days.
Delivery to Europe is approximately 3-15 days depending on how long the package
is delayed for inspection by Customs.
International Orders
International shipments will be sent via airmail by the least expensive method. Packages under 4 pounds (1.8 kg) will ship USPS First Class Airmail, packages over 4 pounds will ship USPS Priority Airmail.
Internationals hipping and insurance costs are based on weight and value. Examples of packaging costs you can expect:
Two to three thumbnail specimens = Shipping $14.50 (Canada = $10.00)
Two to three miniature specimens = Shipping $14.50 to $25.00
Heavy cabinets specimen of minerals like galena, celestine, barite = Shipping $25.00 to $45.00
Large package of four to six cabinets specimens = Shipping $85.00
International customers may select either option:
1. Declare low value and do not insure. Recipient assumes all risk.
2. Declare full value and ship fully insured against loss. The recipient
is responsible for import duties/taxes.
The contents are ALWAYS labeled "Geologic rock samples for scientific study."
Domestic customers are responsible for all shipping charges if the package is returned because it was unclaimed, refused, or not deliverable because address as provided was incorrect.
International customers are responsible for all import taxes and duties. The purchaser is responsible for all postage if the purchaser refuses to pay duties or taxes and the package is returned by Customs Inspectors.
Shipping Diamonds Internationally
All diamonds sold on this web site are conflict-free and compliant with the
United Nations Kimberley Process (KPC).
For details or to discuss other shipping options contact me at
jhbnyc@aol.com.
All diamonds sold on this web site were purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflicts and in compliance with the United Nations Kimberley Process requiring all uncut rough diamonds to be sealed in tamper-proof containers at the point of origin to prevent smuggled conflict-diamonds from tainting the shipment, and a Kimberley Process Certificate is on file at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The owner, John Betts, hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict-free, based on written warranty of Kimberley Process.
SHIPPING EXPENSIVE MINERALS AND DIAMONDS
Valuable minerals and diamonds are shipped via US Postal Service Registered Mail.
USPS Registered Mail is slow, but is the ONLY method that insures gemstones up to $25K.
Fedex and UPS are happy to insure packages, but they have exclusions against gemstones, and they never pay claims.
Registered Mail packages should take about a week to arrive. I apologize that this method is so slow, but speed is not as important as security in this instance.
Registered Mail is the oldest, and most secure method of shipping packages. Each package must be completely sealed to prevent tampering with the contents in any way. At every transfer there is a handwritten signature of transfer, and packages are stored in secure safes. As a result of the old-school, analog technology the USPS online tracking is ineffective and rarely updated. But rest assured that this method is so secure that it is used for diplomatic pouches by the State Department.
Read more about Registered Mail at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_mail
New York, New York USA
Email : jhbnyc@aol.com
Or visit me at my next show.
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My article The Minerals of New York City is now available online.
© John Betts - Fine Minerals,
New York , NY - All Rights
Reserved.
a division of allminerals.com, dealer
of Fine Minerals since 1989.
The minerals illustrated on this site were purchased from collectors or wholesale suppliers for resale purposes. The owner of this site did not collect the minerals and collectors should not assume access is permitted to the property based on inclusion in this site. Please contact the property owner to obtain legal permission before entering private property.