Drink Coasters,Trivets of AbsorbaStone FAQs Page

drink coasters,trivets,stone coasters,beverage coasters

F A Qs

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Where are the "initial" coasters?

I did not buy these at your site, but...

Which credit cards do you take?

How do I care for my coasters?

How can stains be removed?

How will this purchase be listed?

Do you do custom orders?

Can I send these as a gift?

Is my credit card info safe?

Do you do custom orders?

When can I expect delivery?

What about damaged merchandise?

Where are the "initial" coasters?

The 3-dimensional etched variety were discontinued, and we have sold out. However, we can now offer a new model with a flat surface on our regular bisque tile: see them here

We have most for individual sale at the Amazon storefront, but you can also e-mail or call 888-778-3188 for a special order. Also available as Autocoasters for your car's cupholder: monogram AUTOCOASTERS

I did not buy these at your site, but...
a) one of my coasters is cracked
b) two of the coasters are stuck together
c) I am unhappy for some reason
Although our friends at Highland Graphics, Inc., where the products are manufactured, graciously allow us to use their trademark and domain name on our site, we are essentially an independently operated store and therefore cannot take responsibility for purchases made at the thousands of their other outlets. You are welcome to e-mail us for advice or complaints (these are very rare), but you need to return a problem product to where you boughtit. At the same time, we stand behind purchases made here 100%, so please see our policy statement.

We may be able to provide further service in the future. We are talking with the manufacturer about providing remedies to the few customers around the country who have a problem since our URL is on the box and we are easy to reach.

Can I send these as a gift?
Yes, during checkout, after putting in your billing name and address, you can enter a different shipping name and address.

How do I care for my coasters?
Although AbsorbaStone coasters and trivets are low maintenance products, a little common sense is called for. They are designed to keep the condensed liquid on the bottom of your glass from forming a bond. The absorbent tile and its textured finish combine to accomplish this most of the time. However, if a glass, particularly one with melting ice, is allowed to stand long enough, liquid can pool - at which point you should wipe it off. In fact, it is a good idea to routinely do this after use because even though the tile absorbs normal condensation, in time excess moisture can form a film which will eventually hinder absorbency.

From time to time a good scrubbing with warm water and mild dishwashing detergent is recommended. This will not damage or erase the image. Note: because of the cork backing, it is not a good idea to put them in the dishwasher (this seems obvious, but people do ask us).

How can stains be removed?
Normal condensation from the glass bottom is clear and, if coaster surface is occasionally wiped, will not cause stains. However, if colored liquid is allowed to sit and penetrate or if spills happen, stains can result.

Sometimes a solution of 3 parts water and 1 part common household bleach can be used on the outer white edge.
Tilex brand cleaner can be used without damaging the image.
Also, a good stiff ink eraser or plastic art eraser (from an art supply store) can occasionally remove some surface marks .
An old toothbrush is a useful tool with detergents and will not abrade the surface; although in extreme cases, you might even try a Brillo or other type pad (LIGHTLY - test first).

The problem is that since the coasters absorb moisture into the top layer, they can also absorb dyes, etc. It's a Catch-22: if the surface repelled liquid like ScotchGuard or something so that a staining substance could be wiped off , then the glass would stick and they wouldn't work as well as coasters. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (see "Care" topic above).

Disclaimer: Perform these remedies at your own risk to the coasters. Since each incidence is unique, we cannot guarantee that a given solution will work or even not inflict permanent damage and therefore we assume no responsibility for your actions. We are just speaking from experience with the product and offering suggestions.

If nothing works, it could be time for a new set. Although they can be kept presentable for years, these are only coasters and, like all of us, will eventually show the ravages of time and are more likely to get "dirty" before they break or wear out. At least once a year, we come out with new models.

When can I expect delivery?
Orders for coaster sets should be processed a day or so after they are entered and shipped soon thereafter, arriving within three days of shipment. Occasionally, items will be temporarily out of stock, but the back order should not take more than a week or two.
Special orders by phone (888-778-3188) or e-mail for Artworks Home Accents products, will occasionally have to be specially processed, but also should arrive within three weeks.

Which credit cards do you take?

If you are buying individual items through our Amazon storefront, all major credit cards are accepted since you check out through their shopping cart. There are also various promotional deals which are also offered by Amazon for certain products.

You can also call 888-778-3188 to place a special order with Visa/MasterCard. or PayPal. Unfortunately, our merchant account no longer processes Discover or American Express (though if you are ordering wholesale those card payments will be processed by Highland Graphics, Inc.). Plus, we accept checks and money orders if you would like to snail mail your order made out to:

Specialtees Marketing
P.O. Box 184
Nolensville, TN 37135

However, we do not reserve items until your check or money order arrives.

My coasters arrived broken (or stuck together, etc.). What do I do ?
Technically, this is not a "frequently" asked question since it is such a rare occurrence. But accidents do happen. In short, if these were bought through AbsorbaStone.com, we will replace your purchase or refund your money. Our site has sales links to eBay and Amazon, so those platforms all qualify as being bought from "us". See Return Policy.

I'm nervous about giving out my credit card information. How do I know it's safe?
While we never say "never", it seems to us that if there were documented cases of online credit card thievery, it would create a lot of attention in the national press. This hasn't happened.

Not only is your information encrypted for transmission from the page on which you enter it, but when your order reaches us, we don't keep a record of it on our computer (which could, theoretically at least, be hacked into). Also, we will not release any of the personal data you entrust us with - including your e-mail address.

How will my credit card statement list this purchase?

If we take a special order via phone or e-mail, it will be processed through our merchant account and listed as SPECIALTEES on your statement. We use the YourPay payment gateway which maintains the highest levels of encryption and security

If you purchase Artworks Home Accents products through our Amazon storefront, they will process your transaction, and it should be listed as ABSORBASTONE COASTERS AND HOME ACCENTS/AMAZON.COM

If you are a store placing a wholesale or custom order, it will be processed by and listed as HIGHLAND GRAPHICS,INC. Back to top

Do you do custom orders?
Yes!
We can either use your image (logo, artwork for which you own the copyright, etc.) provided in a digital format (.jpg , .tiff, .eps) of 5" square at 300 dpi or you can have a line of text dropped into one our 500 licensed images. There is a minimum order (per image) of 144 sets of 4 coasters. Turnaround time is approximately three weeks. Call 1-888-778-3188 for pricing. Custom clocks and glass cutting boards are now available as well.

Of course, if you have a particular area of collecting interest that you think would appeal to a lot of others, we are always open to suggestions which could be passed along to the licensing department.