| Welcome to our YAHOO store where you will have the most fun in computer & teacher gift giving. We are a proud member in good standing of the Houston Better Business Bureau. We are located at: Houston, TX 77055 800-594-1369 713-465-4380 - In Houston Hours of Operation - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. M-F CST Evenings and Weekends by appointment. For a map to our Houston location click on the **MAP** link towards the bottom of each page. You can also send us an e-mail to customerservice@bytesngrins.com HOW TO ORDER...PLEASE READ CAREFULLY This page contains a large volume of helpful information. Print this page to read offline and attach to your order print out. We at BYTES 'n GRINS want to thank you for your continued business as we continue to grow. ________________________________________________ Pay particular attention to Shipping Costs and estimates. Read below to see how you can maximize the value of your purchase. We want you to be satisfied and and hope that you will take a few minutes to read this important information.
Look for the Gray ORDER Bar Simply click on the order bar on the page of the item or items you want to order. Some items will have multiple choices in a drop down menu. Select your choice from the menu and follow the easy instructions through the completion of your order. It's just that simple. If you DON'T see an order button, click on the picture. This may be a "section" with lots more choices. If there is no order bar it means that the item is temporarily out of stock. 1.) Placing your order online on our Yahoo store is the easiest, most efficient way as it automatically produces an invoice for your records and avoids costly mistakes or misinterpretation by our learning disabled employees. Please Note: You DO NOT have to provide a credit card number online to order. In the Payment Options drop down menu you can choose the option: "Call me for my credit card info" and we will call you at the phone number you specify when we receive and are ready to process your order. 2.) e-mail - IMPORTANT! We are finding that some e-mails are not getting to us because of the extensive filtering we have had to put into place to filter out SPAM. If you send us an order by e-mail please call to confirm that we have received it. 3.) Phone Ordering: Promotional & Bulk orders will be gladly accepted via e-mail. However if you are ordering single items from our gift line and there is an Order Button for the items you want, we prefer that you order directly through our Yahoo store. This is the easiest and problem free method that will automatically generate an invoice for you once your order has been shipped. Of course if you have any problems or questions regarding our Yahoo store, please do give us a call. Because some of our employees are learning disabled, in order to avoid costly mistakes or misinterpretation we prefer to have your order transmitted through our Yahoo store system or in writing via e-mail or snail mail. And again, you ARE NOT REQUIRED to provide a credit card number online to order. In the Payment Options drop down menu you can choose the option: "Call me for my credit card info" and we will call you at the phone number you specify when we receive your order. 4.) You can also order by mail. We accept Money Orders for immediate shipping. Checks must clear your bank before processing your order. This can take up to 10-14 days. You must call us first to calculate the correct shipping so you can make your check out for the correct amount. Send your order to: BYTES 'n GRINS 9500 Westview #108 Houston, TX 77055 5.) Visit our Houston showroom. Our showroom hours are from 8:00 until 5:00 M-F. (Saturdays and evenings by appointment.) Please call for hours & directions. 713-465-4380 For a map look at the bottom of each webpage for a link to our map. We also accept SCHOOL PURCHASE ORDERS. Please select this option for this in the "Payment Options" Drop Down Menu. Then don't forget to fax your P.O. to us at 713-464-4336. CREDIT CARDS We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and AMEX. ____________________________________________ Under most conditions your order will be shipped within 24 hrs. but may take up to 10 business days. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR MUST HAVE DATE ON ALL ORDERS. If you ordered multiple items, we may need to wait an extra day or two if we are temporarily out of stock and are momentarily expecting items to arrive to complete your order. WE will call you if your "MUST HAVE"Date cannot be met. From date of shipment, depending on shipper used, please allow 3-10 days to receive your order. (Please use the transit time map below for reference) Under ALL circumstances, PLEASE let us know if you need to receive your order within or before 7 days. There is a section on your order form for "Comments to Merchant". Please use this to note anything you need for us to know about your order or timing. Because we are centrally located between coasts (Texas) shipping to most locations only takes 3-5 days. Washington, Oregon, California, Maine and Florida will most likely take the full 5 days and will incur the highest ship charges according to the Zoned rates. ____________________________________________ That FIRST pound is the most expensive! Each additional pound is only about .30 more per lb! In order for us to give you the best possible shipping rates, Shipping costs are NOT based on the Dollar Amount you spend but on weight and number of items going to one address, and of course the method of shipping. Total Shipping/handling charges will not be reflected on your invoice** until your entire order is boxed, weighed and ready to ship. We will then add these charges to your invoice and send an updated invoice to you via e-mail once your order has shipped. This invoice will not be packaged with your shipment. (**)The minimum charge for shipping is the 1 pound rate of $5.95 (to a business and $7.95 (to a residence). Shipping charges are sky-rocketing and shippers are now charging additional fuel surcharges for Residential Deliveries (minimum $2.00) AND fuel surcharges to outlying and rural areas. You can save on the surcharge by using a Business address whenever possible. Not so with residences where the truck uses more fuel and time stopping and starting to individual addresses. We are sensitive to the outrageous cost of shipping ** and look out for savings to you on shipping costs wherever possible. And remember the most expensive part of your shipping costs is for that first pound. Each additional pound added will be nominal, usually only 50 cents - $1.00 for each additional pound. Smart shoppers try to cram as many items into their order as possible to try to maximize the value of their shipping costs. Please read more on shipping options below. ____________________________________________ Their FLAT RATE boxes can offer substantial savings for heavy utems that will fit within the FR box. We will use USPS if we calculate that it is the best option for your shipment. Please note that a one pound package is no longer a bargain! While Priority Mail costs $4.95 for the first pound IT DOES NOT INCLUDE INSURANCE which we must add ($1.50 minimum) AND Delivery Confirmation. Add to that our Shipping and Handling charge of $1.50 and you can see that USPS is no longer the bargain it once was. ____________________________________________ DHL Ground Service Map  For Thanksgiving and Christmas schedules please check the DHL posted Holiday delivery go to DHL Delivery & Transit Times Put in your zip and ours -77055 to determine how long it will take from our place to yours. For Holiday Delvery Schedules go to: DHL Holiday INFO section We reserve the right to choose the best shipper for your order. Our preferred shipper is DHL however we also use UPS, & FedEX for Ground service as well as for expedited & overnight service. Please note that you must use a physical address. These carriers will NOT deliver to a Post Office Box. Please use the above map for delivery time in transit reference to your state. Be aware that a minimum surcharge of $2.00 may be charged by both FedEX and UPS for parcels going to a residence. Addresses outside the range of a major metropolitan city may also incur additional fuel & service charges. Addresses without a business name and Shipper # will go at the Residential rate. Also please note: If the Total cost of your order exceeds $10.00 and you are shipping to a RESIDENCE we may require Signature Proof upon delivery and will add $1.50 for this service. You can save on the surcharge by using a Business address and YOUR Shipper # whenever possible. There is no surcharge for business delivery. And most business shipments include signature confirmation in the ship rate as well as insurance up to $100.00. IMPORTANT! If you choose the OVERNIGHT or 2nd day Commercial Option we MUST have YOUR shipper and shipper account number. Please provide this information On your order form. Orders placed without a shipper number will be shipped at the residential rate. International shipments MUST be SHIPPED to the BILLING ADDRESS where you receive your Credit card statement. NO Exceptions! International orders cannot be sent "Next Day" or "Overnight" or with "RUSH" instructions. INTERNATIONAL Orders may require a short SECURITY questionnaire that will be sent to you upon our receipt of your order. ALL ORDERS originating out of the Continental USA or Canada will be held for 14 days before shipping. Because of the high instances of "Identity Theft" this requirement should give details of customers using fraudulent credit cards enough time to be located in Security Data Banks. For faster service we will accept Bank Wire Transfers, Western Union, and certified funds. We scrutinize international orders very carefully and hope you are patient with our policies regarding international shipments. Some Countries may be blocked from ordering from our Yahoo Store. We accept ONLY Bank Wire Transfer, Western Union, and certified funds for orders going to Blocked Countries. Absolutely no exceptions. International & Canadian parcels will be shipped only via Airmail Letter Post (Registered), Airmail Parcel Post (Insured) or FedEX Express International. Items small enough and not breakable that can fit in a padded envelope can be sent via Air Letter Post. This is a Registered Mail service and the minimum charge for a 3 oz. envelope is $10.60. Ship charges to your country may vary. For packages going Airmail Parcel Post there is a minimum ship charge of $15.00 for a one pound parcel. Ship charges are based on weight as well as the type of ship methods available to your country. Recipient will be responsible for all duty, tarifs, import licensing and knowledge of all "import restrictions" for their country. **(DISCLAIMER) Items refused or returned undelivered will not be eligible for refunds. Be sure you have given us all applicable address information including Apartment, Flat, Office #'s,Provinces, etc. and correct country codes. CUSTOMS - PLEASE BE AWARE that customs may elect to hold your package for up to 90 days. Delivery time of shipments cannot be guaranteed. We cannot be responsible for untimely international deliveries. Please contact the customs authorities in your country for customs specifics. PLEASE NOTE: Substantial savings of ship charges may be available through T & T EXPRESS. If this carrier services your country it may be less expensive to arrange for a "Pick Up with billing to the receiver" (you) especially on large or heavy shipments. Check with your local T & T carrier. We'll be glad to provide you shipping estimates provided by USA carriers for comparison. ____________________________________________ =!=!=!=!=NEXT DAY orders WILL NOT BE SENT WITHOUT YOUR SHIPPER # AND VERBAL PHONE AUTHORIZATION.=!=!=!=!= If it gets very close to the "big" day we will be glad to use expedited shipping. Please select the "OVERNIGHT SHIPPING" option on your order form, Fill in your SHIPPER and SHIPPER # AND then call us IMMEDIATELY. There may or may not be a RUSH service charge depending on the time of the year. If you need Next Day Morning service please let us know that too. However Please note that Next Day Morning service is not available to all areas. Houston area residents may pick up orders at our showroom. Call 713-465-4380 for directions. ***WARNING!! YOU MUST CALL US TOLL FREE TO ALERT US OF YOUR OVERNIGHT ORDER! This is an important precaution to be sure that we get your order in time to ship that day. Technology is not infallible...systems go down, staff gets sick, and also we are on the road attending trade shows a lot and may not have someone glued to the internet at the moment of your order. And "timing" is of the essence regarding overnight shipments. The earlier we get your order the more likely you will get it early (before noon) rather than late (3:00 PM) the next day if at all. If you require Next MORNING delivery you must let us know and your order and phone call must be placed before 12:00 noon CST. Even then not all areas are served for morning deliveries. We cannot be responsible for the timing of last minute deliveries. Under all circumstances we cannot refund any part of your ship charges if your order is not delivered in a timely manner through no fault of our own. Orders received after 12:00 Noon CST MAY still be sent FedEX overnight the same day depending on our work load. Think about the physical size of what you are ordering. You can save $$ by keeping your packaging as small as possible. Lightweight FLAT items can be shipped for less than lightweight BULKY items. For example, several silk neckties can be packaged in a flat EXPRESS envelope whereas fragile items or bulkier items have to be packaged well enough to prevent damage in a larger box requiring dimensional charges as well as weight charges. While we offer FREE gift wrap this too may add to the bulk of your item when it is packed resulting in higher shipping charges. ____________________________________________ We will gladly accept your return and issue a full credit*** for the cost of the merchandise you are returning. Authorized returns must be sent within 5 days of the receipt of your order. Understandably, we cannot, however, give credit for the cost of shipping unless the item is deffective, damaged or lost in shipping (see below). May we suggest that because there will be an additional cost to you to return the item that you consider the following alternatives before returning your non-deffective item: ...save the item to give as a gift. ...inquire among friends, co-workers etc. for someone that may want to purchase your item. ...use ebay to recoup your investment. ***If you are returning an order that was purchased in bulk or quantity, a 15% re-stocking fee will be applicapable unless there was an error on our part.> Please inspect your merchandise immediately. Claims for damaged merchandise must be made within 5 days of delivery. Keep all packaging for inspection by the carrier. We regret that our carriers will not accept claims made after 5 days and replacement and/or refunds cannot be issued. If you have not received your merchandise after a reasonable period of time please contact us. We will investigate with the carrier and apply for a refund of both shipping costs and the cost of merchandise. HOWEVER if the tracking number shows that a delivery was made to your home please know that a delivery signature is not required for home deliveries. Please check with your neighbors and/or Apartment office to see if they may have received your package. If the carrier denies the claim we regret that a refund cannot be issued. You can then file a loss/theft claim with your homeowner or apartment insurance company. ____________________________________________ If you do not immediately receive an order confirmation in your email box then either you did not complete your purchase (check your shopping cart) OR you gave an incorrect email address. Please look it over carefully to be sure that ALL information is correct including the number of pieces that you ordered. CALL US IMMEDIATELY if you see something that needs to be corrected. ALSO Please print out your confirmation for future reference when you receive your Credit Card or Bank Statement. Please look carefully at your credit card statement. Your purchase should be identified as BYTES 'n GRINS or bytesngrins.com Bank retrieval requests and chargebacks resulting from your failure to recognize your purchase may result in a minimum service charge of $15.00. Fortunately for you (the cardholder) strict laws are in place to protect you and the use of your credit card. The bad news is that Bank Retrieval Requests for information regarding questionable charges are an ENORMOUS headache for merchants who are NOT protected because of these laws. And with the ease and speed of e-commerce we understand that it is easy to forget the names of companies from whom you may make purchases online. So PLEASE take a moment to print out your order and remember the name BYTES 'n GRINS so that you will recognize your purchase when you examine your credit card statement. |