Hours of Operation / When We Are Open!
We are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. For the convenience of our customers, we will make arrangements to be open on weekends and after hours by appointment, when possible.
We will allow at least 15 minutes before and after the appointment time before we decide you aren't coming, so if you are running late, let me know... call the store at 730-2341. Otherwise, I will assume you are not coming and may leave the store when you are just around the corner.
If you don't have an appointment, but you call the store and I am there, I'm open!! Often times, I am in the store working, even though I didn't have any appointments.
Doors are locked except during normal business hours. You will need to call to either let me know you are on your way, or from the parking lot to let me know you are there. I may not hear you knocking on the door if the engraver is going, but I always hear the phone!!
Standard Production Time
We request a minimum of 7 working days for regular orders. Most work will fall into the "regular order" classification. However, large orders (20 items or more) may require more time.
If you are requesting a non-stock item that has to be shipped to us, or if your item has to be sent Overnight or 2 Day to meet deadlines, additional freight or service charges may apply (whatever they charge me).
Also, please keep in mind if we are doing "custom work", additional time may be needed (i.e., if you are requesting a special shadowbox or display case to be built to your specifications, the craftsman will need time to do this as well).
I am happy to say that I have NEVER had an order that was not ready when due. I know that some have had problems with this from other shops in the past ~ let me assure you now, YOU WILL NOT* EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM AT AWARD DEPOT!!
I GUARANTEE IT or Your Order is FREE!!
(Ok, here's the disclaimer... *excluding a medical / family emergency, uncontrollable circumstances or natural disasters, etc. and of course, you must have provided me all the information in a timely manner!)
NEW! Rush Service Charges
It's pretty simple - let common sense prevail... If I or anyone else is going to work into the wee hours of the night to get your job done on a RUSH basis, there will be an additional charge.
I want to be able to fill EVERY order, and when someone calls with an emergency (they "need it tomorrow!"), I would like to be able to focus on that order to help them get what they need, and I will go out of my way - "above and beyond" - to fulfill those orders. But after doing this - at no additional charge - for a number of years now, it has created a real giant of a problem.
On a weekly (sometimes daily) basis, I receive a call from a client that "NEEDS IT NOW!", so I drop everything I'm doing, rearrange my schedule, sometimes miss a family event or whatever - and then the "much needed item" - completed and ready for pick up - sits here... some - for days. When I see this through my blurry eyes, my sleep-deprived brain gets very frustrated! Therefore, to tame this ugly monster, we are adding the following fees:
RUSH Service Charges:
5 day Service - add 10%
3 day Service - add 20%
1 day Service - add 30%
These charges are specifically for work produced in our shop (things I have control over) - if the job is being produced outside of our shop (things I don't have control over), some signage, or promotional and advertising specialty items, etc., the charges for RUSH service will differ - we will quote you appropriately at the time you place your order.
Fortunately, the business has grown to the point that we don't have a lot of "down time" or "slow seasons", so therefore this charge has become a necessity. However, we feel that the quality of the work, the product and the service justifies any fee. The ability to get and to give something that touches someone's life in a positive way is PRICELESS!
Our goal is to please all of our wonderful clients and we will always do our very best to provide you the quickest service without sacrificing quality.
Gift Wrap and Gift Cards
We will be happy to include a gift card or note with your package, at No Charge. Just let us know what you want it to say!!
If you are real creative and would like to design a note, card or such - send it to us in a .jpg or Word format and we will print it out and include it in your package.
Gift Wrapping is available and GiGi is known for her beautiful packages!!! We charge only $2.50 per package for this service only to cover the cost of our supplies. (GiGi does, however, accept tips!!!!)
Shipping / Courier Service
For local customers, we have a courier service that can pick up and deliver your order the same day if you prefer. We charge you only what they charge us, or if your company has a courier they prefer to use, please feel free to send your own. Let us know and we'll package it up so that it will be safe and secure while being transported.
For out of town deliveries, depending on the weight and size of your item(s), your "ship to" address, and the method of delivery (standard or faster), every package will be different and I've not figured out how to come up with a way to please everyone - so my answer to this is: We PREFER to ship USPS PRIORITY MAIL (2-3 day delivery) whenever possible.
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I have found that the cost is less or close to any other carrier on most items under 10 lbs. (this covers 90% of what we ship)
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I can print the labels and schedule FREE carrier pick up right from my computer.
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The faster delivery times are better than regular parcel service and similar to other carriers, sometimes even faster.
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This method allows for deliveries on Saturdays (possibly saving you overnight fees).
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I don't have to pay the other carriers fees of $11 or more for picking up a package! In case there's any question, that cost would be passed on to you, so I try to avoid it.
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I don't have to close the shop early to fight traffic to find a drop off location, and in some cases, pay an additional handling fee to ship from their place.
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I happen to like my mail carrier - she's friendly, chats for a minute while she's here, and even though she's not as cute as some of those other guys, she is very efficient!
I figure we would have to ship more than 11 packages a week to justify the cost of having any other carrier make regular stops for pick-ups. We don't do this on a regular basis. Obviously the cost would have to be passed on to you, the customer, and I don't want to do this unnecessarily.
However, if you need or want your package shipped by another carrier, we will do this upon request. Just make sure to let me know WHO (which carrier) and WHAT (service/speed of delivery) you want me to use. As long as you are paying for it, you have that choice.
Likewise, if your order is over 10 lbs., we may choose to ship it through Ground Service, to save YOU money. It again will depend on how quickly you need it and where it is going.
Otherwise, if you have no particular preference, we will ship it the BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
