Frequently Asked Questions
Is Your Site Secure?
We work hard to make Japanistic.com secure and your information safe. All customer data is kept confidential and your credit card transactions are encrypted using the latest technology. Our Payment Gateway adheres to strict industry standards for payment processing, including:128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology for secure Internet Protocol (IP) transactions; industry leading encryption hardware and software methods and security protocols to protect customer information; and compliance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard.
When Will I Be Billed?
If paying by credit card through the Japanistic.com, or using your PayPal account, you are charged immediately upon purchasing the item(s). If you choose to pay by echeck, your item will be held but not readied for shipment until your payment is confirmed by our bank - typically a delay of 2-5 business days.
Why Does it Say "Essentials" Instead of "Japanistic" On My Credit Card Statement and When I Use PayPal?
Japanistic.com is part of the store, Essentials. Japanistic used to be a small part of Essentials but grew so fast we created its own online store.
What Are My Payment Options?
On-line sales can be paid by gift certificate, credit or debit card, your private PayPal account, or by echeck. Items paid for with echecks, will ship only after the echeck has been approved by our financial institution.
Are There Any Downsides To Using PayPal?
Yes and no. If your PayPal account is accurate and up-to-date there are few problems using PayPal as your payment solution. However, if your personal settings are old, inaccurate, or otherwise wrong, you will experience problems. The error we see most often is when customers let their shipping address and other personal information get out of date. This usually means that shipments are delivered to an old address and Japanistic is not responsible for inaccurate shipping information.
Why Was My Order Charged A Customs Fee When It Was Delivered?
International orders may be subject to customs duties/fees/tax. The fee is based on the value of the items purchased and varies depending on the country of destination. We are not able to estimate the fee.
Can I Order Over The Phone?
Sure! Simply call our Customer Service line at 413.586.1264 to place your order. Staff at the store may not be able to estimate shipping at the time the order is placed so you will be contacted for billing information when your order is ready to ship. Please note: ordering over the phone will slow order fulfillment by up to 3 business days.
Why Do You Re-Use Your Shipping Materials?
Being an environmentally responsible retailer is important to everybody at Japanistic. So, to minimize our impact as much as we can, we do the following: 1) whenever possible, we re-use every box and piece of packing material we receive from our suppliers; 2) we use Pedal People to pick-up our trash and recycling; and 3) we sell as much product as we can from suppliers who are committed to sustainability.
Do You Charge Tax?
Only to items being shipped within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
When Can I Expect My Items?
During the Checkout process, you have the ability to choose how your items are shipped, including which carrier and how fast. Once your order is received and processed, you will receive an email confirmation with shipping details, including applicable tracking numbers. Allow approximately 72 business hours to process your order before shipment.
Will I Receive A Receipt/Confirmation?
Yes. Members of the Japanistic Fulfillment Team will send you emails throughout the order fulfillment process including a receipt and shipping information.
Can I Pick-Up My Purchase At One of the Stores?
If you choose "In Store Pick-Up" from the shipping options during check-out. Simply go to the Northampton address to get your items. Please allow 72 hours so we may process your purchase. You will receive an email notifying you that your items are ready.
Do You Offer Gift Wrapping?
Yes. Gift wrapping is available for $2.50 per item. You may select one or more items to wrap during the checkout process.
Do You Offer Paper Gift Certificates?
Yes, but paper certificates are only good at the essentials stores located in Northampton and Amherst, MA. Call the stores directly to purchase a gift certificate. The Northampton, MA store is 413.584.2327 and the Amherst, MA store is 413.256.5900
