Returns
If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, The Merchant of Prato, Inc. offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. You may return any item that you purchased within 30 days from your purchase . A full refund of the purchase price will be issued upon our receipt of your returned merchandise.
Our handcrafted products are extremely fragile and must be treated with the utmost care when repackaging them. Be sure to keep all original packing materials if you plan to return an item.
For your security, please use an insured courier (FedEx, UPS, or USPS Parcel Post) and retain your receipt. Merchant of Prato is not responsible for items damaged or lost in transit. All items must be packed carefully and arrive intact in order to receive full credit on the return.
Pending inspection and approval of returned product, your card will be credited the full amount of your purchase less shipping charges.
Please follow these instructions to return or exchange your item(s):
1) Carefully repack the item(s) in their original packaging.
2) Enclosed a copy of your Packing Slip or Order Receipt.
3) Write us a note stating the reason for your return and if you like a replacement or a refund.
4) Please return your package fully insured via UPS, FedEx or US Postal Service to:
Merchant of Prato
5836 Aberdale Place
Adamstown, MD 21710
Keep your receipt, as unfortunately we cannot be held responsible for returns that are damaged or lost in transit.
*Shipping & Handling Costs are non-refundable - Please allow about 2 weeks for refund processing.
Payments Options:
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and PayPal.
Shipping
For IN STOCK items, Merchant of Prato, Inc. will ship your order within 4 business days of your order. We use and the US Postal Service, FEDEX or UPS In the unlikely case of any damage, please save all packing material and broken pieces for inspection by shipping carrier. Notify us within one week of receipt of goods and we will credit or replace damaged items as soon as possible after proper notification. We will not offer credit for or replacement of damaged merchandise if damages are not reported within one week of receipt.
International Orders:
Buyers are responsible for any CUSTOMS and IMPORT TAXES that may apply, and unfortunately we cannot be held responsible for delays due to customs.
Preorders From Factory:
If an item says Preorder from Factory, we need to order your item from Italy which will take approximately 8-10 weeks. For Christmas items, we recommend preordering items by the end of September.
Use and Care of Italian Ceramics
Microwave and Conventional Oven Use
- Our products are manufactured to be used as "Serving" pieces and not cookware, and therefore not suitable for conventional oven use.
- They can be used in microwave oven for moderate reheating only, as they may become very hot.
- As the temperature of certain items may vary after microwave use, we recommend to carefully handle any piece.
- Microwaving will not break an item, but it may "craze" the glaze, causing tiny cracks, although with no significant effect on the ceramic piece.
Our Italian ceramics are electric dishwasher safe, but it is recommended to place the dishes or ceramics far apart to avoid touching each other during the high pressure dishwashing.
CHARACTERISTICS of MAJOLICA and EARTHENWARE CERAMICS:
The crazing effect
- With repeated use or with temperature and humidity change, earthenware ceramics have a tendency to "craze" (forming minuscule hairline cracks in the glazing).
- The crazing is the nature of earthenware, and has no significant effect on the ceramics, and sometimes it is a much sought after effect...
It may appear several days or even years after production and is caused by the thermal expansions of glaze and ceramic body that expand slightly on heating and contract on cooling as the glaze "stretches" on the ware and cracks.
Earthenware by nature is sensitive to extreme temperatures such as boiling or freezing liquids, therefore pour hot liquids into your plates or cups, slowly to avoid sudden temperature changes that may crack your ceramic piece.
The beauty of imperfection
- Because each piece is individually crafted, you will notice slight variations in color and size.
- Furthermore, occasionally you will note minor smudges, and looseness of lids. These variances should not be considered as imperfections, but as evidence of fine, hand-crafted work.
All Products are guaranteed to be 100% Food Safe. Our manufactures do NOT use any glaze or color pigment with lead content in our dinnerware and tabletop products and comply with FDA standards and U.S.A. import regulations for lead and cadmium.
Care of Saladini Knives
- Maintenance - To maintain the high quality of our products, while ensuring optimum performance and avoiding any compromise of their effectiveness, we recommend that you do not expose them for long periods of time to sunlight or place them near to sources of high heat. This may dehydrate the natural materials, which could warp the handles.
- Cleaning - To clean the product, we recommend washing it by hand rather than putting it in a dishwasher, since the action of the detergent and the long soaking in water could damage the handle made from natural materials or the steel blade. It is essential to dry the knife after washing.
- Treatment - From time to time, it’s a good idea to treat the natural material on the handle with olive oil, especially around the wooden parts. This will keep the material hydrated and prevent any cracks from appearing. Apply a coating of oil with cotton wool and then leave it to soak in for a few minutes before drying it with absorbent paper towel.
- Stain Removal - The steel in the blade also contains carbon. This element is required for the blade to hold its edge. However, in some cases, it may cause the blade to rust due to the limescale in water or the presence of salts, leaving bluish blotches or small dots of rust.
- Sharpening - To sharpen the blade, just use a simple sharpening steel according to our instructions, or while respecting the gradient of the edge (which ranges between 15 and 20 degrees) and always working against the cutting edge, pass along both sides of the blade until you feel that the knife is sharpened. If further sharpening is required, we recommend bringing the product to our workshop or to any qualified cutler’s shop.
- Warranty - The Coltelleria Saladini guarantees to repair or, if necessary, replace the product in the event of any defects caused by structural or physical problems to the product. The Coltelleria Saladini does not guarantee any products with defects or broken parts caused by poor maintenance, incorrect or improper use of the product, or by accidental damage, such as dropping the knife.
- Responsibility - Knives are extremely dangerous and they should therefore be handled with due care and attention. The Coltelleria Saladini shall have no civil or criminal liability for any damage caused to property or persons due to improper, malicious or criminal use of the knives we have made.
Errors and Omissions Policy
Merchant of Prato, Inc. reserves the right to change prices, terms, specifications and warranties without notice. We endeavor to accurately describe every product offered for sale; however, mistakes can sometimes be made. Any typographical, photographic, or specification error in product description, pricing or offers is subject to correction and verification.
Your Privacy
We do not sell, share, or disclose your personal information, unless required by law. All information is kept private. We use the latest encryption technology to keep your information safe. If you have any questions or comments about our policies, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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