Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of our most common questions.
How long will it take for my order to ship?
Due to the handmade nature of our products, most items ship within 2-3 weeks. Production times are only estimates and may ship sooner or later than the estimated time listed above depending on the artists shopload at the time of your order. You will be notified if the production time is estimated to take longer than 2-3 weeks once your order has been received. If you would like an production time estimate prior to ordering, please contact us. You will be notified of an estimated delivery date and tracking information once your item has shipped, so that you may track it's progress.
If you require your item sooner, expedited shipping arrangements can be made in most cases. Please contact us to arrange for expedited shipping services prior to placing your order.
Can I customize pieces that are shown on your site?
Many of the items shown on this website can be customized to accomodate your size and color requirements. Customizing pieces may result in a price increase. Please contact us prior to placing your order to discuss customization opportunities.
Can I commission a custom iron piece for my home?
We welcome the opportunity to work with you on a custom piece. If you have a specific design in mind, you may submit a drawing or sketch with appropriate finish colors, dimensions, and relevant details. We will work together with you and our artists to make the picture in your mind reality. If you do not have a drawing or sketch available, we can work together with you and our artists to create the design you are looking for. Depending on the nature of the piece being requested, design services may result in a fee. Contact us at any time to discuss your commissioned work.
What is Great Circle Forge's order cancellation and return policy?
Order Cancellation Policy
We understand that it is sometimes necessary to cancel an order. We will accept order cancellations up to 3 days after your initial order date at no charge. Due to the hand-crafted nature of our products, we will require a 25% restocking fee for orders cancelled after the 3-day order cancellation period. If an order has already shipped, the customer may refuse delivery of the item when it arrives. Refusing delivery of an authorized shipment; however, will result in a $50.00 refusal fee, the 25% re-stocking fee and shipping. The customer automatically authorizes shipment of products when they place their order, unless the order is cancelled according to the policies listed above.
Return Policy
All pre-made items - items made by Minuteman International, Napa Forge, or Pilgrim - are returnable within 5 days of receipt. Any customization of pre-made artwork, including, but not limited to finishes other than standard finishes of sheer metal or matte/natural black, size alterations, etc., shall be considered a custom piece and is non-refundable. Items made by Stone County IronWorks, Bago Luma, and Delia are not returnable. If damage to items made by these artists occurs during shipping, a replacement piece will be sent. See our damaged products information below.
Custom made pieces are non-refundable.
All products are considered acceptable to the consumer if Great Circle Forge is not notified within 3 days of receipt.
What if the item I ordered is damaged when I receive it?
We make every effort to ensure that our products arrive in good condition. Unfortunately damages do sometimes occur during the shipping process. We ask that our customers inspect their order at delivery and notify Great Circle Forge of any damages immediately. We have a limited amount of time to file a damage claim with the shipping company; therefore, damages must be reported to Great Circle Forge within 24 hours of receipt. Documentation of such damages may be required (i.e. - pictures) prior to return shipment, so please keep your original packaging and any damaged pieces.
Every effort will be made to resolve damage claims in a timely manner. Generally, a replacement piece will be issued for the damaged piece or pieces. If necessary, a full or partial refund of purchase price, tax (if applicable), and original shipping costs may be applied to the customer's credit card at the discretion of Great Circle Forge and the artist. Replacement piece(s) will be sent or credit issued to the customer after appropriate documentation had been made and a damage claim has been filed with the shipping company. Standard production times will apply to all replacement pieces as the replacement is also being hand-made. If a refund is requested, a full refund of purchase price, tax (if applicable), and original shipping costs will be applied to the customer's credit card. Please allow up to 5-7 business days after the damage claim has been filed and resolution determined for credit card credits to be applied. The customer will be notified via email once the credit has been applied to their credit card.
Due to the nature of handcrafted wrought iron pieces, variations in color and texture are considered intrinsic and not a defect. Products will not be considered damaged for variations in color and texture.
Does Great Circle Forge ship internationally?
International shipping is available upon request. Please contact us to obtain a shipping quote for the item/items of interest. Our international order and shipping policy is outlined below.
1. Great Circle Forge will charge the customer the stated price listed on the website and any shipping charges required to deliver the piece to the shipping address noted.
2. Customer is responsible for all duties, taxes, and other charges associated with importing goods into their country.
3. Great Circle Forge cannot be held accountable for any delays in shipping related to customs or other importation procedures.
4. Not all items shown on the website are available for international orders. Please inquire for details.
5. Customer is responsible for inspecting all merchandise upon receipt and notifying Great Circle Forge of any apparent defects within 24 hours. Any damages must be noted on the freight bill. Documentation of such damages may be required (i.e. - pictures) prior to return shipment. Original packaging and pieces must be saved.
6. All regular order, return, security and privacy policies apply to international orders as well.
How do I care for my iron furniture?
Iron furniture, like all other furniture, has some basic care requirements. As iron is susceptible to rusting, it is imperative that proper care is taken to optimize the life of your furniture. The care required is strongly dependent upon the type of piece, your location, and finish that is used. A large part of the attractiveness of wrought iron furniture and decor is that, properly cared for, it will last for generations. Most wrought iron furniture made today is not truly wrought iron but mild steel. True wrought iron when exposed to the elements will for a protective rust covering that protects the bulk of the iron from additional corrosion, however, it only comes in one color; rust.
Indoor furniture will require very little maintenance. An occasionaly application, perhaps annually, of paste furniture wax will maintain the finish and color of modern furnishings. Realistically, even if indoor furnishings were never treated with anything more than the occasional dusting they would still look good for many years. Outdoor furnishings, however, take a beating: sun, rain, wind, all take their toll. Check them every so often, especially in spring time, for spots where the finish is getting dull, discolored, or where rust is beginning to form. Sand the discolored or rusted areas lightly with steel wool and touch up the paint with a metal spray paint from your local hardware store in a matching color. Custom finishes may require special application methods. If you have a piece of furniture that has an oil or beeswax finish ask the artist-blacksmith who made it about its maintenance. These finishes sometimes require harting the piece to a low temperature prior to their application and every artist seems to have his or her own secret recipe when it comes to custom work.
Does Great Circle Forge disclose my personal information to any third parties?
We take our customers' privacy very seriously. Ever measure is taked to ensure the highest level of security and confidentiality. We do not sell or otherwise exchange any of your information with any third parties unless otherwise needed to complete your transaction. The personal information of the buyer (i.e. - name, shipping address, billing address, phone number, or any other personal information) supplied to the artist will not be disclosed to third parties.
Information provided while placing an order will be handled accorning to the policies in effect at the time of the order. We may change our policies from time to time. Such changes will be reflected in these policy statements. Concerned customers should review these statements for changes when revisiting this site.
Please review our secure shopping and privacy policies below.
Secure Shopping Policy
The information for all orders placed on our site is encrypted using SSL technology, so your transactions are completely protected. With SSL in place for both the client and the server, the information sent via the Internet will arrive via SSL-enabled browser. To be sure you connection is secure when filling out the order form check for the padlock icon in the bottom border of your browser window when viewing the order form itself. The icon should be visible and show the lock in the locked position.
Great Circle Forge makes every effort to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of its shoppers. We do not sell or exchange any of your information with third parties unless otherwise needed to complete your transaction. The personal information of the buyer (i.e. - name, shipping address, phone number, or any other personal information) supplied to the artist supplying the artwork will not be disclosed to third parties. Information provided while placing an order will be handled according to the policy in effect at the time of the order. We may change our policies from time to time, and such changing will be reflected in these policy statements. Concerned customers should review these statements for changes when revisiting this site.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your privacy on our site, please contact us.
Consumer Privacy Concerns Contact Information
Great Circle Forge email: admin@greatcircleforgeironart.com
phone: 419-564-7890