Frequently Asked Questions
I am having trouble checking out of your site because of problems with the billing and shipping address section of the checkout.
Occasionally, customers, especially our overseas customers, have trouble checking out with their credit card. This is often due to the customer's bank not allowing what might be an 'unusual' purchase. Occasionally, it is due to our server not recognizing non-US address formats. If you are having trouble using your credit card through our site, we encourage you to pay through our partner, PayPal. Don't have a PayPal account? No problem, as it accepts most major credit cards.
If you still have trouble, PLEASE email the items you would like to purchase along with the shipping address and we will send an Invoice through PayPal. This process has worked 100% of the time.
Is your site secure?
We work hard to make the www.ShopTintin.com site 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.
Do you ship outside the United States?
Yes, we ship almost anywhere in the world. Curious about the cost to ship to your country? Just place your items in the Shopping Cart, click the Cart button, and enter your City and Country in our Shipping Estimator.
What's the Connection with the store Essentials?
ShopTintin.com is part of the Essentials family. Essentials is a specialty gift, home furnishing, and paper store with two locations in Western Massachusetts and an online store, ShopEssentials.net. Essentials started ShopTintin.com to better serve its Tintin customers.
When Will I Be Billed?
If paying by credit card through the ShopTintin.com site, 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. Please note that your credit card statement will show the parent company - Essentials - as the store your purchased from.
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 - usually a delay of 5 business days.
Can I Order Over the Phone?
Sure! Simply call the 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.
Why Do You Re-Use Your Shipping Materials?
Being an environmentally responsible retailer is important to everybody at ShopTintin.com. 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. ShopTintin.com 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 Massachusetts Stores?
If you choose "In Store Pick-Up" from the shipping options during check-out. Simply go to the Northampton, MA store 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
