Frequently Asked Questions
-
Store
-
I have never purchased glass online before, how can I be sure Timeless Glass Gallery is reputable and trustworthy? – We have been a passionate and avid participant in the borosilicate art world for years. Take a little time to learn a little bit about us and our past activities, and you will find the reputation and approach that has made us what we are today.
-
Why should I buy from Timeless Glass Gallery? – There are pros and cons in not having a physical gallery; the customers will not be able to hold a piece in hand before purchasing, but they will be getting the best value for the pieces due to low overhead, at least in our case. That is why we try our best to make our images resemble how the piece appears in person, and use minimal amount of editing on our pictures, as well as to disclose and portray everything about the piece. Please take at look at our values to learn more about the advantages we offer.
-
What is “The Collection”? – Timeless Collection is an assortment of pieces that the owner has collected privately over the years. These pieces earned their place in the collection for various reasons, whether it may be due to their unique concept, execution, rarity, creativity, or sentimental reasons.
None of these pieces have a price, but we are certainly open to offers. Please inquire at info@timelessglassgallery.com with your best offer, if you are interested in a piece from The Collection.
-
Are items listed in “The Collection” for sale? - None of the pieces in our private collection have a price, but we are certainly open to offers. Please inquire at info@timelessglassgallery.com with your best offer, if you are interested in a piece from The Collection.
-
Products
-
Are glasses listed on this website new, or has it been used by someone? - It is our goal that you are informed as much as you would be, as if you were walking into a store and holding the piece in your hands, including the history of it. If a product is in “New Condition”, nothing has contacted the inside of the glass, except perhaps distilled water in some occasions.
-
What does it mean when a piece is in “mint” or “pre-owned” condition? - “Mint Condition” means that the piece is virtually in the exact same condition as a brand new and unused piece, but has previously been used and cleaned at least once. “Pre-owned Condition” means the piece shows signs of wear resulting from usage (including weld-marks on clear pieces, which are manufacturing defects but are purely cosmetic and not preventable). Any signs or wear or usage on Pre-owned pieces will be disclosed in the description, please refer to the question below.
-
How would I know if the piece does not have any defects or flaws before purchasing? – Every discernible manufacturing defects will be disclosed in the description and factored into the pricing, as well as signs of wear/usage for pre-owned pieces. Examples of such defects are significant tool marks, overly-wobbly joints (a little movement is necessary to prevent hydro-locking), inner or outer scratches, scuffs on the base, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional pictures and information, if anything concerns you about the condition of the piece.
-
What is “devitrification” a.k.a. “blooming” or “weld marks” on clear pieces? – “Blooming” or “weld marks” can often be seen in clear pieces, and looks like a foggy ring or hard water stain around a seal or the tubing. It is a purely-cosmetic defect in craftsmanship that can be seen in many clear scientific pieces.
Borrowing the words of some university glassblowers, devitrification of glass appears to be layer of sodium oxide that has boiled out of the glass surface, to create some irremovable “fogginess” inside a clear piece. Assembling glass and sealing the joints together require extremely high heat, and if the seals were not polished and annealed smoothly, it could leave a layer of sodium oxide (NaO2) that can convert into sodium hydroxide (NaOH) over time, which is extremely corrosive to silica.
Devitrification occurs in production and there is no remedy once the piece has been annealed and completed. It may be invisible at first, but with continued use and cleaning it will show up sooner or later. We recommend always using distilled water to use with percolated pieces, because chemicals such as fluoride can eventually cause corrosion in glass.
-
How can I clean pieces properly? – We recommend cleaning your pieces after every use, by sloshing warm isopropyl alcohol with 99% purity (or close as possible), and rinsing it with distilled water. We do not recommend using salt or soak-in cleaner of any kind, salt can cause micro-scratches within glass that may accumulate over time and in some fumed pieces, it could remove the fume particle on the inner side of the glass. Soak-in cleaners are believed to accelerate devitrification, and while it is great to use for fully-colored pieces, we do not recommend cleaning clear pieces with it.
-
Purchasing
-
Can I see the pieces in person before I buy? Can I pick up the piece locally in person? – We would be more than happy to provide our customers with any images of our pieces upon request. Under normal circumstances, the customers would not be able to see the piece in person or pick it up locally for security reasons; we appreciate your support and understanding. Exceptions can be made for high-valued purchases with a verification process.
-
What type of payment do you accept? – We accept various forms of credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, and direct deposit/bank wire through Bank of America.
-
Can I cancel an order that has not yet shipped out? - If the order has not yet shipped out, we will be more than happy to cancel the order. However, we will have to deduct 3.2% from the refund in order to cover the processing fee charged by the payment provider.
-
Shipping
-
Do you ship to my country/state? – Yes, we ship worldwide and you can enter your information in the “Shipping rates calculator” located in your Shopping Cart. However, shipping and insurance terms may differ based on your country of residence, and please be aware of the risk if you are ordering from an illegal state/country.
-
Can I track my order? – Yes, on the day of shipment we will email you a shipping confirmation that includes tracking information. You will be kept informed of the transportation process at every step.
-
Where does the order ship from? – All orders will ship from Washington State, United States, and returned orders will be addressed there.
-
How will the order be packaged? – For security purposes, all orders will be shipped in a type of packaging that is completely discreet with plenty of cushioning.
-
Returns/Exchanges
-
How do I return my order? – If you would like to return your order, please contact us through email (info@timelessglassgallery.com) to initiate the return process. Please note that we generally do not accept return inquiries two weeks after the package has been delivered. Please refer to our return policy seen here.
-
What is your return policy? – Please refer to our return policy here.
-
How long does it take for a return credit to process? – Once the returned order is inspected and the refund is processed, it takes about 3-5 business days on average for the refund to be shown in your account.
