Thank you for your interest in Bramble Berry! Below are some of our general policies and how we like to do things. However, if you have an issue or need help please feel free to call us - we are here for you.
Our Environmental pledge: Bramble Berry® Inc. strives to use re-cycled paper, packing peanuts and boxes. We have developed relationships with local vendors to re-use their packaging supplies. Please try to continue this cycle by reusing your box and packing peanuts. If you are ever up our way, by all means, drop off your peanuts. We are an official Peanut Recycling Center. For information on Peanut Recycling in your area, please call 800-828-2214. Bramble Berry Inc. is also an energy-neutral company. This means that for every kilowatt of energy that we use here at our offices, one kilowatt of renewable energy (wind, solar or other "green" energy sources) is put back into the power grid.
Warehouse Hours: We are open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. We close at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. We are closed on the weekends. The warehouse is not open to walk-in customers. If you're in the Bellingham, Washington area, you can shop at Otion The Soap Bar, which carries the complete line of Bramble Berry products at retail prices (typically 5%-15% higher than Bramble Berry's website pricing). Save on shipping, visit Otion's sniffing bar, try the soap bar and get access to Otion's knowledgeable staff ready to troubleshoot your soaping conundrums - plus many other amenities for soap lovers.
Shipping: We are happy to ship via both Priority Mail and Fed Ex shipping. Priority Mail normally takes 2 to 3 days but may take up to one full week to reach you. Fed Ex transit time varies based on your zone. However, some zones take up to 9 days, so keep that in mind when placing your order. Once we have pulled and packed your order and determined the exact shipping charges we will charge your credit card, so you will not see a charge on your statement until the day we ship out your order.
For packages shipped through the mail, we have an innovative private insurance program that means you don't have to deal with the post office and forms when smaller packages go astray. The separate insurance charge and delivery confirmation will appear on your invoice.
Zones: Because both FedEx and Priority Mail are zoned, if you choose an incorrect zone (example: you live in New York, yet choose Priority Mail - Washington), we will charge you the correct shipping price. With the Postal Service's zoning program, this could be a difference of up to $8 per pound. Please take care to verify that you choose the correct shipping rate for your package.
International Shipping: We are happy to ship packages overseas. Please read our International Shipping Policies for more detailed information on calculating your overseas shipping costs.
Turnaround/FedEx Orders: The total shipping time for your order is our turnaround time PLUS the time in transit. We strive for 24 hour turnaround upon receipt of payment but during busy times, such as the holiday season, it can be as much as 3-4 days. Orders placed over the weekend will be shipped out on the following Tuesday. To get an approximate idea of your transit time you can view a FedEx Transit Time Guide. (PDF file Adobe Acrobat required)
Transit Time: Remember to include our turnaround time in delivery calculation. If you need a RUSH order, call us at 360-734-8278 to place the order.
Additionally, because of our dedication to fast turnaround times, cancellations, as well as additions and changes to orders can only be accepted up to four hours after your order has been placed. If your order has already been packed for shipment we will gladly assist you in placing a new separate order for the additional items. Orders that are cancelled after packing for any reason are subject to a 15% restocking fee.
Placing orders: Feel free to use our online shopping cart, located throughout the site. If you're having problems with the cart, you are welcome to phone in your order. Our phone number at the distribution center is (360) 734-8278 If you wish to fax your order in, our fax number is (360) 752-0992
Minimum Orders: We do not have a minimum order amount and you are welcome to order as little, or as much, as you want.
Tax Exempt: If you live in Washington state and you are purchasing supplies from Bramble Berry for resale you are probably tax exempt. In order to comply with Washington state law every customer in Washington state that is not paying tax must provide us with a completed form with a signature. Once you've completed the Resale Certificate it is valid indefinitely as long as you order form Bramble Berry at least once a year. Click here to download a copy of the Resale Certificate. Once completed you can fax it to us at 360.752.0992, or mail it to us (our address is: 2138 Humboldt Street, Bellingham, Washington, 98225) or scan it and email it to us!
Returns: We cannot accept returns on fragrance oils, colorants, soap bases, or any liquids for any reason. We will accept returns on the following products that have not been used and are in saleable condition: packaging, molds, books, soap stamps. We will issue a credit to use on a future order for the sale price of the items, less a 15% restocking fee.
Out of Stock Items: We do not create back-orders for out of stock items.While we strive to keep all of our 1250+ items in stock at all times, we do occasionally run out of items. We will put these out-of-stock items up on the web site as soon as possible. However, if you place an order and an item is out of stock on the order, we will delete the out-of-stock item and process your order like normal. You will be notified via a note in your box regarding the out of stock item. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause you. If you prefer to have us hold back your order and contact you in the event of an out of stock item please place a note in the comment section of your order and we will happily break our policy for you! Please note that this can delay the shipment of your order by one or two days.
Discontinued Items: Is there an item that we've previously carried that you want to purchase? Write to us here We may be able to special order small amounts just for you or direct you to a new supplier.
Payment methods: We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Pay Pal as well as money orders. We do not accept personal checks. Money Orders can be sent to:
Bramble Berry, Inc.
2138 Humboldt Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
You are welcome to call in your orders to our distribution center at 360-734-8278. We are in the office from 9am to 4pm daily but feel free to leave a message if you get our secure voice mail.
BE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ADDRESS! If the package is sent out with the uncorrected address, and it is returned to us, you are responsible for the reshipping costs.
Credit Cards: If your card is declined and we need to restock your order (because it has been packed to get exact shipping charges), there is a 15% restocking fee. We do not restock your order without first trying to contact you via phone or e-mail at least 3 times. If your card declines, there is a $.50 charge added to your invoice. Unfortunately, our credit card company charges us a transaction fee for each declined card so we have to pass this charge along to our customers. Rather than spread the charges out over each order we have chosen to only charge the customers with declined cards; we feel this is the most fair and effective way to recoup the charges.
Product Testing: All of our oils are tested in Cold Process and Melt and Pour soap. We include testing notes in the description of each fragrance such as "accelerates trace." as appropriate. Our fragrances are, for the most part, considered safe for candles, both wax and gel candles (as well as soap, bath fizzies, bath salts, and all manner of toiletry products). As we have not tested specifically for clouding or polarity in gel candles or throw for wax candles, we do recommend that you test all the fragrances in your particular blend of wax and wick before selling your candles.
Colorants: Our pigments and micas are sold by weight - not volume - so you're getting the most for your money. Since many micas and pigments are very light, it often takes a 2 or even 3 ounce container to fit 1 ounce, by weight into. So, remember, when you're comparing costs, make sure you ask whether the product is sold by weight or volume.
Samples: We do not ship samples, independent of orders. Offering "Free" Samples (and shipping for those samples) merely means that the cost will be absorbed into our product line, raising the prices. We offer affordable 1oz. sizes, perfect for testing. We do not have a minimum order and are happy to include one ½ ounce sample with every order placed.
Sniffy Samples: If you're interested in receiving a sniffy of any of our fragrances, (an absorbent cotton strip, dipped in fragrance, and sealed in a mini Ziploc baggie) please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the fragrance you'd like to smell written on a note inside. Please send a SASE for each scent you are interested in (so as not to co-mingle the scents) and keep in mind that all fragrances smell different in the final product so for best test results, take advantage of the small 1 oz. sizes we offer for purchase of the fragrances. Because of the extra labor involved, please do not request sniffy samples with your actual order. You are welcome to request a free ½ oz. sample of fragrance with your order, however.