Red Camel Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search for items from a specific country or tribe?
Please use the search box located in the upper right-hand corner of the header to search for a specific item, for items from a specific country, or specific words throughout the web site.

I'm on a budget.  How do I find items that are less expensive?
I have set up a couple of categories for finding great bargains on the web site.  The "$20 & Under" category, the "Sale Basket" and "Discount Lots" categories all have lower priced or discounted items.  You can also sort items by price on the main product category page.  The sort box is at the top of the product grid on the left side under the breadcrumb trail for each product category.  To show the least expensive item first, sort by price, low to high. 

How do I order from the web site?
Simply add the items you would like to purchase to your shopping cart and check out when finshed!  If you have questions about ordering that aren't answered here, first check the rest of this FAQ.  If that does not answer your question, you are always free to email info@redcamel.net.  In addition to ordering through the web site, orders can also be placed through email contact.

What forms of payment do you accept? 
The Red Camel accepts the following forms of payment:

Mastercard, Visa, Discover and AmericanExpress - payments accepted directly through the web site. You can also call the office with this information if you prefer not to checkout through the web site.  We also accept these credit cards for in-person purchases at vending events and when visiting the office.
Paypal - payments also accepted directly through the web site.  Paypal payments using credit cards are completed immediately. Echecks are held by Paypal for 3 to 4 business days for clearance before your order is "paid".  Orders will ship after clearance of your echeck. 
Money orders - accepted for US orders, in US dollars only.
Checks - accepted for US orders and will be held 10 business days for clearance before orders are shipped.  International checks are not accepted.  Checks are accepted for web orders ONLY.  We do not accept checks for in-person purchases or purchases made at vending events. 

For your protection, cash is accepted only for in-person purchases at vending events or in-person purchases at the office.  Please do NOT send cash through the mail.

The Red Camel accepts US dollars only.  Payments made in any other currency will be returned and the order will be canceled.

I am sending a check for my internet order.  Who do I make the check payable to and what is the mailing address?
Please make your check payable to The Red Camel.  Please contact us at info@redcamel.net for the mailing address.  
Please do not make the check out to any other names or include other names in addition to Red Camel.  This will delay payment and shipment of your order.  

What shipping methods does The Red Camel use?
Most orders are shipped via USPS priority mail, including international orders.  Small and/or flat items can sometimes be shipped by first class mail.  Shipping insurance can be purchased separately for US orders shipped by first class mail and priority mail and for international orders shipped by priority mail. 

If you would like flat rate shipping by priority mail, for either domestic or international orders, please contact me at deb@redcamel.net.  For other shipping questions, check this page.

As a general rule, I do not ship by UPS or Federal Express, although this can be arranged by contacting us prior to placing your order.

How soon will my order ship?
Under most circumstances we attempt to ship orders within 24 hours of receipt of payment, however some circumstances will extend that period to 48 hours or perhaps more (weekends/holidays) on occasion.  

In unusual cases there will be a longer period of time to ship.  For known shipping delays a notice will be posted on the web site (such as vacation or vending absence) or in individual or exceptional cases you will be notified via email with the expected ship date.

I live outside the US.  Could you please send my package without a receipt, in your personal name?  Could you please mark my items as a gift?  
The Red Camel purchases shipping through a USPS postage program and all packages are marked with 'The Red Camel' listed as the sender in the return address.  Packing slips are always included with your order but do not list item prices.  PLEASE NOTE:  commercial goods shipped outside the US CANNOT be marked as "gift" to avoid import duties, and the contents and/or value of the items contained in any shipment CANNOT be falsified on import paperwork.  These actions are ILLEGAL and are prohibited by U.S. and international government regulations. 

Can you hold this item for me to purchase at a later date?  The Red Camel web site uses an auto check-out system to streamline the ordering process.  Since items are shown on the web site until they are purchased, there is no way to 'hold' an item for you to purchase later.   If you want to make sure that the item is there for you at a later time, please consider putting it in layaway.  Under a few circumstances items not listed on the web site can be held for a maximum of 24 hours.  

Can I return items?
Yes, under most circumstances you can return items for refund or exchange.  All refunds/exchanges must be approved BEFORE the item is returned to The Red Camel.  Please check this page for details.  If you have questions about returns that aren't answered on the web site, please contact us by email at returns@redcamel.net. 

Items that have been changed in any way from their original condition CANNOT BE RETURNED.  This includes polishing, switching out stones or jewels, application of any wax, paint, varnish, or any other finishing agent, significant changes in size or shape, ANY REPAIRS MADE to the item including stitches, soldering, adding any components or reinforcement, or any other changes to the item.  if you have a question about this, please contact us at info@redcamel.net

How can I contact The Red Camel?
You can email me at info@redcamel.net.  Please check this page for further details.

Can I keep a wishlist?
Yes, wishlists can be saved on The Red Camel site!  Please go to the "My Account" page and create an account.  Then when you visit the page of an item you wish to add to your list, simply click the "Add to Wishlist" button.  You can find the "My Account" page by clicking the link provided in the navigation bar at the top of any page.

Can I purchase a gift certificate?
Yes, gift certificates are available on the web site.  Please see this page for details.

How do I create an account?
Go to the "My Account" page and click the "create new account" button in the new customers box. Fill in your email address and password and click the "create new account" button.  From here you can save shipping and billing information, create a wishlist and edit your email and password information.  This is also where you can review your past orders and track any orders recently placed.  You can find the "My Account" page by clicking the link provided in the navigation bar at the top of any page.

How do I join your emailing list?
Go to the "My Account" page and create an account, then check the box that says "I would like to join your mailing list."  You will be added to the email list for Sneak Peeks of new merchandise and the eNewsletter which comes out approximately every other month.  You can find the "My Account" page by clicking the link provided in the navigation bar at the top of any page.

How can I unsubscribe from your emailing list?
The Red Camel uses Mail Chimp to send out our eNewsletter and New Items Previews.  To unsubscribe from the emailing list, simply click the "unsubscribe" link on any of our enewsletters or Sneak Peeks.  Or you can send an 'unsubscribe' email to info@redcamel.net. You will be removed from the emailing list and no further emails will be sent.

Do you offer a layaway plan?
Yes, The Red Camel offers a layaway plan for orders totaling $100 or more.  Please see this page for details.

Can I visit your physical store?
The Red Camel does not have a "store" with set hours. At this time we are NOT set up to accommodate in-office visits.  My apologies for this inconvenience.  Please check our vending schedule and visit us at any of the events listed there.  

Can I request The Red Camel to vend at my event?
Yes, The Red Camel often travels to vend at events throughout the Midwest. Please contact me if you would like me to put you on my vending calendar. If you are outside the Midwest region, please contact me with details of your event and we can discuss bringing The Red Camel to your area!

Do you have a wholesale policy?
The Red Camel has a wholesale policy that allows resellers to purchase larger quantities of items at wholesale rates. A resale tax ID is required to purchase items at wholesale prices, but wholesale customers are allowed to choose their own items from the web site. Please contact me by email for details. I also have a Discount Lots category on the web site specifically for smaller lots of discounted items.  These items are available to anyone at the rate displayed and do not require a reseller's license or tax ID number to purchase. 

Do you offer any other discounts?
I offer a 'troupe' discount for larger orders when several members of your dance troupe wish to order together.  There is a minimum purchase amount requirement.   I also offer some discount lots on items that are overstocked or I have specially purchased for discounted sale.  These items are available to anyone at the rate displayed and do not require a reseller's license or tax ID number to purchase.   Please check this page for more information.

Where do the items on your website come from?
I purchase items from many different areas and sources, sometimes buying large quantities of items, and sometimes purchasing one small piece at a time. I have contacts throughout North Africa, the Middle East, India and Central Asia that I purchase from. The country, culture or area of origin of each piece is specified on the details page of the item.

Why are tribal jewelry and textile pieces so expensive?
Tribal jewelry and textile items are handmade by experienced craftsmen and craftswomen.  The skills necessary to make such beautiful and diverse items take many years to develop and many younger people do not have an interest in learning the traditional methods.  The older, more detailed and finer examples of tribal jewelry and textiles are becoming extremely rare and therefore are becoming more and more expensive by the year.  That being said, I do strive to price each piece as reasonably as possible to give you the best value for your money.  I look at the overall quality of the workmanship, the beauty of the design and the present condition of the piece. Items that are damaged, extremely frayed, cheaply made or generally in bad repair will be sold at a lower price. If I make a remarkably good buy on a certain item, that savings will be passed along to you. By the same token, nicer pieces or pieces that are harder to find will carry a higher price tag.

I have a metal allergy. What metals are your items made from?
Most items on my web site are made of mixed metals. These pieces may contain metals such as nickel, tin, copper, brass, or other base metals that may cause a reaction on certain skin types. Specifically, items that originate from Pakistan quite often contain nickel. Many older items from India contain lead. Other pieces are made from "tribal silver" which has some silver content, but not enough to be labeled as sterling. I also carry a limited number of sterling silver pieces.  All items made from tribal silver or sterling will be identified as such in the item's description.  I encourage you to inquire as to the content of any piece you have a question about.

What is the Red Camel doing to help protect the environment?
In addition to recycling most items that might otherwise be thrown in trash dumpsters, The Red Camel also purchases recycled printer paper, recycled toner cartridges and other office supplies, reuses all packing materials, uses recyclable cardborad for shipping and when new shipping supplies are necessary, purchases biodegradable items.  If your order arrives with any styrofoam or plastic packing materials, they have been reused from shipments that we have received.  If you have other suggestions for Earth-friendly shipping, packing and office supplies, please let us know!