Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I order from XinaCat?
Price, Punctuality and Perfection!! Your crystals come ready to wear or display. Find gifts you won't find anywhere else. Every single item you order from us is carefully wrapped like the treasure it is. Count on a great transaction - just read our feedback on eBay. Our customers return again and again. Depend on XinaCat for great value in prisms, jewelry and extraordinary purrfect gifts!
What is your return policy?
If there is any damage or you're not satisfied, please e-mail XinaCat at xinacat@yahoo.com within 3 days of receipt to discuss arrangements for an exchange. See page listings for a detailed explanation of our return policy on tiles and crystal.
Do you combine shipping?
We combine orders! If you are getting more than one item from XinaCat and you would like to receive multiple items shipped together, please wait to pay for all your items until your last item closes, and you will save money on combined shipping. Shipping most items - except for heavy items such as tiles and stain glass - costs only $1.50 per item to ship.
When can I expect my order to arrive?
We do our best to fulfill your order within 1-3 days. Upon request we can even rush your item if you need your package in a hurry. We're FAST, read our feedback on eBay. Large and custom orders may require more time; we will keep you posted every step of the way.
How much is the Shipping and Handling Charge?
Shipping and handling charges are listed on each item listing. We charge just enough to cover postage costs, wrap and materials and handling.
We combine orders! If you are getting more than one item from XinaCat and you would like to receive multiple items shipped together, please wait to pay for all your items until your last item closes, and you will save money on combined shipping - a very good thing!
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, to most countries.
What if my order arrives damaged?
Though we take enormous care to carefully wrap every item you order, stuff happens�although almost never in the history of XinaCat.
We use US Postal Mail Service. We recommend you buy postal insurance to cover replacement on damaged or lost packages.
If items arrive damaged, please notify us by e-mail within three (3) days of receipt of order to place a claim. All boxes, packaging materials, and product must remain intact and undisturbed in order to process a claim. There is a very high possibility that the shipping carrier will need to inspect the damaged order.
Do you take checks?
If this is your first time shopping with XinaCat, we must allow your check to clear; this can take 10 days. Please make Money Orders and checks payable to Laura Hoffman and mail to 5 Cedarlake, Irvine , CA USA 92614.
To insure fast shipping, XinaCat gladly accepts PayPal, which accepts most common credit cards
Using our safe and secure checkout, you will be prompted to choose your payment method - it's fast and it's easy.
How do I tell if my crystal comes from Swarovski?
There is a laser-etched logo of a receding rainbow next to the crystal's drilled hole on many Swarovski crystals. Do not mistake this mark as a flaw. The "Bordeux" or red hearts do not have the laser etching anymore. Never has the swan been used to mark crystal components. Only the 8000 series has the etched logo, the 6000 Swarovski series has no such mark.
Do I get a certificate or box with my crystal?
Some crystals do come with a box and certificate, such as the Christmas Stars from Preciosa. Read the listing carefully to see if a box is included. Swarovski crystal components do not come to me in a box, so there is no box to send. Most crystals with the 8000 Swarovski series does have a laser etching to mark the crystal as authentic.
What does AB, BB, VL and VM stand for?
Many of our crystal prisms are crystal clear without coatings, however Swarovski and other famous brands coat crystals for added color effects.
These abbreviations stand for specific coatings applied to each crystal.
AB stands for Aurora Borealis a transparent 24K gold coating on the crystal, giving you ever-changing hues of blue/green against a black background, or magenta-gold against a white background, leaving the crystal transparent yet iridescent.
The VL, VM and BB coatings are foiled coatings on one side of the crystal, reflecting back deep colors, through the other transparent faceted side of the crystal. VL stands for Vitrail Light, a foil Swarovski makes that reflects hues of medium to light colors of lavender-blue-green. VM stands for Vitrail Medium, a foil that reflects richer colors of red, green and blue, and BB stands for Bermuda Blue, a foil that reflects deep royal blue, majenta and teal.
How do I keep my crystals clean?
To keep your fabulous sparkly prisms fabulous and sparkly, it's a good idea to remove the layer of dust that inevitably settles from season to season. It's an even better idea to keep the window clean so you get pure, unfettered sunlight streaming in to light up these faceted beauties so you can get the very best rainbow blasts possible.
What NOT to do, plus this is a real hassle:
(1) Don't even think about putting your crystals in the dishwasher, it is amazing how many people do this and wonder why their crystals turn into scratched and dented echoes of their former selves.
(2) Don't ever use paper towels or Kleenex or toilet tissue on your prisms. These are paper products made up of tiny wood fibers that will scratch and dull your prisms over time.
(3) Don't ever use solvents such as rubbing alcohol or worse, Benzine. Any fused coatings on the AB coated prisms will be destroyed. Also, that stuff reeks.
(4) Don't be tempted to soak your prisms in sudsy water, then expect to drip, dry and massage clean without breaking at least one of your prisms; most likely your slippery prism will behave like a bar of soap and slip and slide itself to an early death by shattering on your hard counter or to tiny pieces all over your tile floor.
What you can do:
(1) Go to your store and buy a gallon of windshield washer fluid for about $1.00. This will last you about 5 years or so, or you can use the rest for your windshield. Get some distilled water while you are at the store and a nice spray bottle unless you have a new & unused spray bottle around the house.
(2) Rinse out your spray bottle with some distilled water, NO TAP, that water coming out of your faucet contains minerals, which will leave splotches all over your prisms.
(3) Mix your distilled water and windshield washer fluid 1:1. That means, fill your spray bottle half full with windshield washer fluid and top it off with distilled water. This will now be called �XinaCat Prism Spray.�
(4) Put a towel under all your prisms to catch spillage.
(5) SPRAY AWAY!! Spray until the dust comes streaming off. Then keep spraying.
(6) Walk away. If you followed these directions, you will have no water spots and you never had to fondle and possible wreck your lovely prisms.
So why does this work?
Windshield washer fluid has a great drying agent in it so your prisms will get sparkly in no time. The stuff is good enough to get bug splatter and smog off your windshield, so it will do a fine job on your dusty prisms.
If you do have splotches left on your prisms, that means you had residue in your sprayer and crud in your mixture. All you have to do, is wet a soft cloth (like your favorite soft worn out T-shirt) with your new XinaCat Prism Spray and gently massage the affected prism. You will have shine and rainbow brilliance like never before!
I still have more questions, how do I reach XinaCat?
You can e-mail us, any time. We constantly check our e-mail and answer questions as quickly as possible.
E-mail address: xinacat@yahoo.com
