Science Store For The Stars!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Order shipping, delivery & destination faqs
Payment methods and Policies
How to set up a PO (purchase order) acount for your school
Tax-free accounts for Florida schools
Tracking Orders
Return & Exchange policy
Privacy policy
Hours of operation and holidays
For wholesalers
Can we trade links?
How can I contact you?
Do I pay sales tax?
Order shipping, delivery & destination FAQs:
When will my order ship?
Your order will ship the same or next business day. FedEx and UPS do not ship on Saturdays or Sundays. Credit card payments, PayPal and Google Shopping payments must be complete and verified before your order ships. We reserve the right to delay shipping until customer's information has been verified if we believe there may be a security issue with a particular order. Orders placed on a Saturday or Sunday will ship the next Monday or the next non-holiday business day.
When will my order arrive?
The maps below will give approximate arrival times for FedEx and UPS ground shipments, these are only estimates and are not guaranteed.
FedEx Ground Map:
UPS Ground Map:
How do I determine "delivery days"?
CHECK DELIVERY DAYS CAREFULLY! "Delivery days" begin the day after your order is dropped off at FedEx or UPS, not the day you order. For example, if you place your order on a Wednesday and we drop your package off that day and "delivery days" begin the next day. If you order on a Wednesday and choose FedEx Express Saver (3 day delivery) then the 3 "delivery days" begins Thursday and you will receive your package Monday. As another example, if you select 3 day FedEx Express Saver and we drop your package off on Thursday, "delivery days" begins Friday, and you will receive your package on the following Tuesday. FedEx and UPS do not deliver Saturday and Sunday unless you pay extra fees, which is customers responsibility to notify us and pay for prior to shipment. As another example, if you choose 2 day shipping and we drop off on Thursday, your order will arrive Monday. Ground maps are accurate but not guaranteed. Look at New Mexico on the FedEx Ground map, as an example. Depending on where you live in the state, your shipment may arrive in either 3, 4, or 5 days. Plan for the longest amount of time! During the checkout process you must check a box saying that you have read and agree to these shipping policies. Science Store for the Stars is not responsible for delivery times chosen by customers who have not read our shipping policies. It is customers responsibility to determine the best shipping method. Contact us with any questions prior to placing an order or shipping and we will make sure your order gets to you when you need it.
How do I get free shipping?
We provide FedEx or UPS ground shipping for free on orders over $100 to the continental U.S. only. Any other shipping method is at the expense of customer. For free ground shipping we will decide which carrier will be used at time of shipping and notify customer by email and provide a tracking number if applicable. When your shopping cart goes over $100 the shipping automatically defaults to $0 and we assume you want ground shipping. However, you can view the cost of other methods by going to the "View Cart" page (link is in top right of every page). Enter the zip code where it will be shipped and click Calculate Shipping. A drop down menu will appear below it. Now you can click on an option in the drop down menu. But don't click Calculate Shipping again or it will revert back to free ground shipping. The cost of the shipping method you want to see will automatically appear to the right. If you then wish to go back to free ground shipping, either pick the method you want or click Calculate Shipping, then you can proceed to checkout.
What carriers do you ship with?
We trust FedEx for domestic (U.S.) shipping and UPS shipping for Canadian orders. Our shipping calculator will automatically give you real-time shipping rates as you shop, just add 1 or more items to your cart and enter your zip code in the right menu, then click "calculate shipping".
Which ground methods should I use for a business or residence?
Please select "FedEx Ground Service" for businesses and "FedEx Ground Home Delivery" for residences.
Do you ship to countries outside the U.S.?
We currently ship to Canada (UPS shipping only - best international rates and most reliable service).
Do you ship to APO/FPO's?
Yes, we love our military men and women and their families! However, FedEx will not deliver to these addresses. If shipping to an AA, AE, or AP address, you will get USPS rates during checkout.
Where don't we ship?
Mail box stores, and countries other than the U.S.A. and Canada.
What if I want faster shipping than ground?
Our shopping cart is set up to give our customers the most popular FedEx and UPS delivery methods. For FedEx, you can choose Express Saver (3 business days), 2 day FedEx, or Standard Overnight. Shipping does not run on Saturdays or Sundays. If you need your shipment by a particular day and you're not sure if it will make it in time, please call or email us and we'll make it happen. Saturday deliveries cost an extra $12.50 and you must contact us if you need a Saturday delivery. Occasionally we will require a signature on shipments, usually with large orders. We cannot be responsible for any carrier delays in delivery or bad shipping choices by customers.
What about products on back-order?
You never have to worry about back-ordered items since everything on our website is in stock. Ordering in quantity may require us to special order from our suppliers which typically doesn't take long, but call for an estimate. If the quantity of a product you want is not available, you will get a pop-up message. We can order just about any quantity of any item you want, depending on the manufacturer availability. And we can find out very quickly for you too!
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Payments methods and Policy:
What payments do you accept?
We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, PayPal, Google checkout, personal or business checks, money order, or PO from qualified organizations such as schools, public libraries, etc., and Science Store for the Stars gift certificates (purchase only on our website by one of the previous payment methods). All credit card orders are processed via secure SSL encryption by our trusted payment gateway and merchant account. We accept PayPal payments by verified PayPal members only. If paying by PayPal you will be prompted during the checkout process, taken to PayPal's secure site, then returned to Science Store for the Stars website. Google Checkout is a great way to buy on the internet and takes just minutes to sign up for an account! Merchants won't see your credit card info, only the Google gods will. The only catch is, Google Checkout is currently available only in the U.S. When shopping with us simply click on the Google checkout button in our shopping cart and you will be taken to Google's checkout page, then redirected back to Science Store for the Stars website after payment is complete.
We reserve the right to verify customer information before shipping orders. The billing address given will be verified with the issuing bank and must match the billing address listed with the issuing bank. Your credit card information is not stored on this site, no information is shared. If we are not able to verify the billing address electronically, we may require additional information and may phone or email customer. We reserve the right to delay or deny any order. We provide this service as a further protection and security for our customers. You can be confident that your personal information will not be compromised or shared with any other party. For more info, please read our separate Privacy Policy Page.
How do I pay by personal or business check or money order?
You may mail your check or money order to Science Store for the Stars, P.O. Box 07405, Fort Myers, FL 33919. The easiest way is to go through checkout as normal and chose "Pay by Check" as your payment method. Then print your order and send in with your check or money order. The other option is to go HERE to print our order form, fill out all the information, and mail with your check or money order. Be sure to calculate shipping charges correctly. We have to wait for checks to clear prior to sending the order; this could be up to 10 working days but we will stay on top of it to make sure your order ships just as quickly as possible. Shipping is easy to calculate by adding items to your shopping cart and going through the checkout process as if you're paying online. We will verify your shipping charges when we receive your order. Please fill out every field on the order form so we may faster process your order.
How do I buy and use a Gift Certificate?
We accept Gift Certificates purchased on our site only. If you are buying a Gift Certificate, purchase it as if you are buying a normal product from our store. We will send an email as well as a fancy, personalized card to the recipient which will contain a code to be used during the checkout process. If you are purchasing products on our site and are using a Science Store For The Stars Gift Certificate, please select "Gift Certificate" as a payment method during the checkout process and enter the certificate number when prompted. You can purchase gift certificates directly on our site by going HERE.
How old do I have to be to buy?
You must be 18 or older to purchase products. Kids, be sure to ask your parents for permission before you send any information about yourself to us or anyone else over the internet. You're parents will be thrilled you want cool science toys and science projects!
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How to set up a PO (purchase order) account for your school
To submit a PO (Purchase Order) and pay by check, you must be a teacher or other faculty member of a public school, library, or similar institution. Your orders must ship to the commercial or government address where you work or volunteer. If you want to fax, email, or snail-mail us a PO, just calculate the products(s) cost from our website and include shipping if the order is under $100. Ground shipping (not air) is free for orders above $100. There's no sales tax for shipping addresses outside the state of Florida, and 6% sales tax if shipping to a Florida address. If you're located in the state of Florida and want to apply for tax-exemption, please read how to below. Send your PO to Science Store for the Stars, P.O. Box 07405, Fort Myers, FL 33919, email it to orders@sciencestoreforthestars.com, or you can fax it to 1-888-969-5487. We understand POs take time to process, however, we do expect payment asap. If we have not shipped to you in the past we will need to verify your information. This includes your school website, address, phone number, email contact, and anything else we need to verify. We may call the contact person at the place of work, such as your school (no cell phone contact), before shipment. It's fast and easy, we just need to be sure.
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Tax-free accounts for Florida schools
How do I set up a tax-free account for my Florida school?
Any orders shipping to an address outside Florida are not charged sales tax whether it's a school, home, business, or any other type of customer. Any orders shipping or delivering to a Florida address are charged 6% sales tax. If you are a Florida government organization, like a public school, it's easy to set up a tax-free account with us. If you need our W-9 just email us and we'll email it right back! Check with your institution for tax-free set-up with retailers, you may need to fill out a DR-5 tax form that you can find on the Florida Department of Revenue web site (click here) and submit it to the Dept. of Revenue to obtain a DR-14 or DR-14P which you will fill out and fax to us at 888-949-5487 before placing an order. Then you need to set up an account on our website. Just click "Login" in the upper right corner of any page on our website and proceed to register as a New User. Email to let us know you've set up your account and when we have your DR-14(P) we will set up your account as "tax-free". Now you're ready to shop with us! Be sure to pay with school funds; Checks are fine. However, any personal checks, credit cards, or other personal payment methods are not acceptable for a tax-free purchase. All orders above $100 are free ground shipping and we reserve the right to personally deliver your order if we determine the distance from our S. Fort Myers location is within a reasonable distance; typically Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and some other nearby Florida locations.
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Local Delivery and Pick-Up Options:
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Tracking Orders:
How do I track my order?
When we ship your order via UPS or FedEx you will receive an email with a tracking number and instructions on how to track shipments on the UPS or FedEx websites. If you lose your tracking number or would like to track your package on our site, you can log into your Science Store for the Stars account using your email and password. If you have not created an account you must do so in order to enjoy these and other features of our site. Don't worry, you wont be signed up for any email lists and your email will not be given out. If you are still having trouble, CONTACT US with your order number, and we will be more than happy to track your order or help you further.
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Return and Exchange policy:
What are your general returns and exchange policies?
We accept returns and exchanges with the following conditions:
- Items must be unopened, unused, and in saleable condition.
- Items must be sent back within 30 days of your original receipt of the item(s).
- Send back copy of your receipt with item(s), we send you one with your order.
- Shipping charges are non-refundable.
- Items that qualified for free shipping will be charged a 10% shipping/handling fee.
- Any shipments returned because they are undeliverable to the shipping address or any packages refused will be refunded less actual shipping and handling charges.
What do I do if I receive a damaged product?
- Save all packing materials exactly the way your order arrived.
- Damaged products must be returned within 30 days of Customers receipt of delivery (FedEx and UPS notify us of delivery date and time)
- Fill out our email form and give us a detailed description of your issue and we will then investigate your claim and resolve the situation quickly.
- If an item is damaged during shipping Customer must contact us first with detailed information.
- Send back copy of your receipt with item(s), we send you one with your order.
- Customer is responsible for all shipping return charges.
- Send your return to the address at the bottom of this page via USPS:
What do I do if I want to exchange an item?
- Save all packaging materials exactly the way your order arrived.
- Exchanges are accepted within 30 days of Customers receipt of delivery (FedEx and UPS notify us of delivery date and time)
- Send back copy of your receipt with item(s), we send you one with your order.
- Let us know what you received AND what you would like to exchange it for.
- Customer is responsible for all return shipping charges, as well as shipping on the exchange item(s).
- If you did not pay shipping charges because your order was over $100 (pre-tax) but with the exchanged items removed from the order your total falls below $100 you will be charged shipping.
- If your original order was over $100 (pre-tax) and you wish to exchange for item(s) over $100 (pre-tax) you are responsible for return shipping on the product you are returning, AND you will be charged shipping for the new product shipping.
- Send your return to the address at the bottom of this page via USPS:
What do I do if I simply want to return an item?
- Save all packaging materials exactly the way your order arrived.
- Returns are accepted within 30 days of Customers receipt of delivery (FedEx and UPS notify us of delivery date and time)
- Send back copy of your receipt with item(s), we send you one with your order.
- Customer is responsible for all return shipping charges.
- Make sure to contact us first and provide a detailed reason for the return.
- Send your return to the address at the bottom of this page via USPS:
Science Store For The Stars
P.O. Box 07405
Fort Myers, FL 33919
What if I didn't receive my shipment?
All packages are trackable online. It is the responsibility of the customer to arrange the best delivery options and provide accurate shipping information. If you did not receive your package please CONTACT US
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Privacy Policy:
Is my credit card information kept on file?
No! Your information is only used to complete the transaction. No credit card information is saved. We have put a number of safeguards in place to protect the personal information you provide us while visiting our web site. All credit card transactions transmitted using an industry-standard highest level encrypted SSL connection. You may click on our SiteSafe certificate from Network Solutions at any time to verify our commitment to security. Be suspicious of ANY sites that do not prominently display these certificates!
How do you handle fraudulent orders?
In the event you place an order with us and decide to dispute the credit card charges or have used a credit card without proper authorization, Science Store For The Stars will prosecute with all legal means of collection. In addition, you will be liable for all fees related to collections, attorney fees, and all delinquent unpaid orders will be assessed interest charges of 2.08% per month or 24.99% annually.
How do you protect my privacy?
Science Store For The Stars places a high priority on protecting your privacy. We do not sell, share or provide your information to any third party in relation to completing your order transaction. We do not use mailing lists or have any affiliation with mass mailing or email/information gathering companies. We respect your privacy, bottom line. We occasionally send out newsletters if you sign up to receive them, but your email address stays with us (see below).
How does your email newsletter work?
When you give us your email, we do not share it with anyone! We use it to occasionally send you email notices of sales and new products. Our email newsletters are sent no more than 1 to 2 times per month. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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Hours of operation and holidays
What are your business hours?
We are available to take your calls Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm Eastern time. Call us at 1-888-969-5487!. We'd love to hear from you!
What holidays do you observe?
Although you can place orders on our site 24 hours 56 minutes and 4.091 seconds, 365.2425 days per year, we do occasionally take days off. Sundays we don't work and the mail doesn't either. Other mail and federal holidays we observe are:
Christmas
Easter
President's Day
MLK Jr. Day
Labor Day
Memorial Day
4th of July
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For wholesalers:
We are constantly expanding our inventory and love selling new and exciting products! If you are a manufacturer or sales rep and would like Science Store for the Stars to retail your products, please feel free to use our CONTACT US page and select "Wholesaler/Sales Rep" from the drop-down menu
You can also send promotional materials to us at:
Science Store For The Stars
P.O. Box 07405
Fort Myers, FL 33919
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Can we trade links?
We are willing to trade links with science related websites, as long as your site is a quality and relevant site. You can visit our LINKS page and use the code to add a link or simply add our URL. Email us to let us know you did it and we'll check out your site and add a link for you as well.
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How can I contact you?
You can go to our Contact Us page to contact us. Please fill out as much information as possible to help us help you. Going to our Contact Us page will take you away from this FAQ page.
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Do I pay sales tax?
Only a shipment to a Florida address will pay sales tax at a rate of 6% of the total order including shipping. If you have a Florida billing address and you ship to another state you do not pay sales tax. If your billing address is in a state outside Florida and you ship to a Florida address you pay sales tax, but again, shipping to any state other than Florida, no sales tax is charged. If you are a public school within Florida state you can order tax free, just ask us for our W-9 and we'll email it or fax it. See further instructions above.
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