Privacy
As our online customer, you can be assured that the security of the information you provide is of the utmost importance to us!  We will treat your credit card number and personal data with the same high standards of confidentiality that we give our in-store customers.   Our secure server ensures that the credit card and personal identification information you enter is encrypted in transmission using the latest industry-standard E-commerce technology.  Nevertheless, we offer alternative ordering methods via mail, FAX or toll-free telephone.  We will never sell or exchange information about our online or in-store customers to another business. 

Pricing
We make every effort to ensure that the prices of individual items on this web site are correct. However, should there be an error in pricing on our web site, we reserve the right to notify the customer of the correct price and give the customer the option to purchase the item at the correct price. Items on web pages that are "cached" by our customer in their computer or in the web server of their Internet Service Provider (ISP), that have obsolete sale prices or prices that have changed, will not be honored. Please refresh web pages to ensure that you have an up-to-date copy of the web page, including current pricing.   

Orders
After you place an order with our secure server, you will receive an automatic E-mail message confirming receipt of your order and a confirmation number for follow-up.  Items that are currently in stock in the store will be delivered to addresses in the continental USA in 3 to 10 business days depending on the location. Items that are in stock by our suppliers but not in our store will usually be shipped in 10-14 days.  Expedited shipping is available at extra cost; please indicate "Expedited Shipping" in the "Special Instructions" section of the shopping cart. Fine linen special order items are often manufactured on order and will require additional time to ship.  If you need or desire shipment by a specific date, please call our toll-free number 1 (888) 678-0068 to allow us time to stock and determine shipping options.  Special order items will require a partial payment before they are ordered.

Back Orders
We specialize in the finest linens and gifts, and occasionally they are not available without delay.  If your order, or a portion of it, is backordered, we will inform you promptly so that you may decide to hold your order until all items are available, or cancel your order.  You will not be charged for any stocked items until they are shipped.

Payment & Security
The Giving Tree can only accept credit card payments in US Dollars through VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.  We do not charge your credit card until your stocked items order is shipped.  We also accept international wire transfers.  International orders must be pre-approved and prepaid. Your international shipping cost will be determined and we will contact you for approval prior to shipping.

Like you, we are concerned about the security of online credit card transactions.   You can be assured that we use an E-commerce secure server (note the lock symbol at the bottom of your browser on the Secure Shopping Basket Form page) to process your credit card and personal information.  Your data is encrypted before it is sent over the Internet so that it cannot be read in transit.  It is stored in a secure server. For even more security, you may place your order on-line and call in your credit card number using our toll-free telephone number.  We do not sell or exchange our customer information to any other organization.

Sales Tax
Alabama shipping addresses only will have a 9% sales tax added to their total. The Giving Tree is proudly located in Mobile, Alabama, USA.  Sales tax will automatically be added to your invoice if the shipping address is within Alabama.  No sales tax will be charged for any other state or for Canadian or other international customers.

Returns Policy
Customer satisfaction is our top priority.  To achieve this goal, we are happy to offer a refund on all regularly stocked merchandise mailed to U.S. addresses.  If you are not satisfied with your purchase, contact us within five (5) days of receipt of the merchandise.  Merchandise mailed to International addresses is not returnable. 

Please note special orders, bedskirts, cut fabric, down products, liquids and orders shipped outside of the United States are non-returnable.  Special ordered items include items that we do not stock, and are indicated as such on our web site.  This includes custom sizes, monogrammed items and items we do not feature on our web site.

Returned items must be in new and unused condition.  "New and unused" means there are no marks or signs of use on the product.  We cannot accept a return of any item with any indication that it has been used, or handled in such a manner that prevents us from selling it to our customers as a First Quality product.  If the product is opened, it must be re-packaged as originally shipped including all tags and product inserts. Returns are subject to a 10-25% restocking charge, if the items are not immediately restockable. We reserve the right to inspect and then return items to the customer if they are not acceptable.

The sales receipt must accompany returned items.  Please retain a copy for your records.

All items properly returned under this policy are eligible for a refund.  The full purchase price will be credited to the form of payment used for the original purchase.

• Shipping charges are not refunded unless we have made an error in shipping or the merchandise is defective.
• Orders returned in full that received free shipping initially will be charged a "free shipping charge back" of the outgoing order.
• A customer returning a product because it is defective or received in error will be reimbursed the return shipping cost as well as the full value of the order.

Here is the simple process for returning an item to The Giving Tree:

1.  Call our toll-free number 1 (888) 678-0068 within five (5) days of receipt to obtain a RETURN MERCHANDISE AUTHORIZATION number.  The RMA number must be clearly written on the outside of the shipping container.

2.  Ship your return PREPAID AND INSURED for the full purchase price by a trackable carrier such as UPS or FEDEX.  If you ship via United States Postal Service, we recommend that you request a receipt signature.

3.  We recommend that you insure the package for the full purchase price.  Items lost or damaged without insurance will be the responsibility of the customer.

If you are returning a product because it is defective or we shipped you an item that you did not order, The Giving Tree will pay the return shipping costs and there will not be a restocking charge.

Customers will be given credit within 7-10 business days after returned merchandise is received.

Bedskirts Special Order Information
Most bedskirts must be prepaid and are non-returnable as they are often special order items.  Please call our toll-free telephone number to order.