Frequently Asked Questions



Product Questions

Question:

How do you measure your coco liners?

Answer:

The dimensions listed for our coco liners are the dimensions of the baskets in which they fit.  The actual liners may be slightly smaller. 

Example:  GL24 fits a 24" Window Hayrack.  Measurements are 24" L x 7.5" W x 7.5" D

The liner for the 24" window hayrack may actually only measure 23" across the back rather than 24".  The other measurements we give for the window hayrack liners are the depth, which is measured top to bottom on the back and width which is measured back to front across the top.

To measure for round basket liners, measure from side to side across the top for the diameter and from top to bottom for the depth.


Question:

Do your planters come with drain holes?

Answer:

Yes and no. 

Cast Stone:  All our cast sandstone planters come standard with drain holes unless otherwise requested.  You may also specify your drain hole size for these planters because they are cast after an order is placed.

Resin:  The Crescent line of planters most all come with drainage.  The Montana Bowl is the exception; it does not come with a drain hole but can be easily drilled if needed.  Some of the other planters, such as the Delano Oval and the Orinoco Bowl come with plugs so that they may be used for water gardens.

Our Mayne Window Box planters do not have drainage - but come with an integrated water reservoir.

Aluminum & Steel:  All planters from Ore are crafted once an order is placed, so drainage can be specified at that time.

Fiberglass:  Our fiberglass planters do not come with drainage so that they can be used indoors as well as outdoors.  You must specify drainage requirements at time of order.


Question:

Galvanized Garden Structures - why pay more?

Answer:

To answer that question, you really need to understand the process of galvanization.  It is our belief that anyone who buys steel for outdoor use and does not pay the extra cost for galvanization is making a poor long-term decision.

Galvanizing provides a rust resistant finish for metal products.  Products with a galvanized finish are much less likely to show rust, except where the galvanized coat wears off in use.  In areas where products will be exposed to salt water (sea air) serious thought should be given to using products that have a galvanized base.  Otherwise, it will be necessary to repaint as much as every year.  Because the galvanizing process involves total immersion of the material, it is a complete process; all surfaces are coated. Galvanizing provides both outside and inside protection for hollow structures.

  • Hot-dip Galvanizing is a modern and technically advanced method that protects iron and steel from rust by providing a thick metallic zinc envelope that completely covers the steel surface and seals it from the corrosive action of its environment. 
    A high quality zinc coating is welded to the steel surface by an alloying reaction between zinc to form a tough, durable and impervious coating.  This protects the steel by electrochemical protection, also known as sacrificial protection because where there is damage or minor discontinuity in the sealing coat of zinc, the zinc sacrifices itself to protect the steel to which it is alloyed.  It will go on doing so until almost the last atom of zinc, significantly reducing corrosion of steel and iron.
    • Unlike organic paint coatings that require frequent renewal, the galvanized coating cannot come off as it is alloyed to the surface of the steel,
      coating every surface of the product which can be reached in the hot dip process, both inside and out. 
    • In hot dip galvanizing a product, the galvanizer cleans the steel by degreasing and pickling to obtain a chemically clean surface.
      The galvanizing reaction between zinc and steel takes place in liquid zinc, at high temperature for a few minutes.

Steel can be further protected from the elements by adding powder-coating.  This combines the advantage of the durability of galvanizing with the attractive appearance of powder-coating. 

Economic Benefits:  Because duplex systems (combining galvanizing with powder-coating) greatly extend the service life of a product, maintenance costs are significantly decreased. Additionally, a product lasts longer before it must be replaced, thus decreasing the life-cycle cost. The cost of a product, which has been protected by galvanizing and painting, is lower over the entire life of the product than most single system methods of corrosion protection.

Synergistic Effect:  Combining galvanizing with powder-coat finishes provides corrosion protection 1.5 to 2.5 times longer than the sum of the lifetimes of zinc and paint used individually.  For example, if a galvanized coating is expected to last 40 years and a paint system is expected to last 10 years, galvanizing and paint together should last 75 years with needed maintenance, or 1.5 times the sum of both systems.

 


Question:

How will my order ship if it is Free Shipping?

Answer:

That will depend upon the item shipping, but as a general rule we will choose the method that will safely get your order to you and is also the most economical.  Oftentimes, if you are on the West Coast, that will be Fed Ex SmartPost.  This is where Fed Ex picks up from us, but the Post Office delivers to you.  If you do not have Postal delivery in your area, please let us know when placing your order.


Shipping

Question:

Why does it cost so much to ship my item?

Answer:

There are many factors taken into consideration when a shipping rate is determined: weight, box dimensions and length of travel.   New to 2015, Fed Ex and UPS now calculate shipping weights by taking the dimensions of the shipping box, L x W x H, and dividing it by 166. 

This is the weight then used to calculate the shipping weight.  So even if you have purchased a lightweight item, it can ship at a much higher weight.

We have added many items in different case packs.  If you use these options, you should get a more accurate shipping quote when adding multiple items to your cart.  For instance, if you wish to purchase 2 24" Window Hayracks, add the 2-pack to the cart, not 2 individual 24" Window Hayracks.

But with that said, calculators are not perfect; and we always condense our shipments as much as possible and refund shipping when we can.  


Question:

What does truck shipment or motor freight mean?

Answer:

Truck shipment means the product you have chosen will ship via a large semi-type truck rather than the small package trucks most often seen by residential deliveries via Fed Ex, UPS and the post office.

When we quote a truck shipment, this means your item will be delivered strapped to a pallet. Trucking companies charge an additional fee to bring these trucks into residential areas.  Most companies also charge a fee for a lift-gate.  A lift-gate is the apparatus on the back of a truck that allows the driver to lower the pallet to the ground.  In our quotes, the pallet will be left at your curb. It is then up to you to retrieve your item and move it to your desired location.  You will also be required to dispose of the pallet.

When a truck shipment is arranged going to a residential area, dispatch from the trucking company will call you to arrange the date of the delivery.  You must be home to accept and sign for this delivery.  You should inspect the pallet carefully and note on the ticket any damage to the pallet that you fear may affect the product on the pallet.  If you can see that the item is damaged on the pallet beyond what you are willing to accept, you should refuse the shipment.  If you think it is something that can be repaired and you can accept that, then sign the ticket, noting any damage you see, and contact us immediately.


Question:

When should I request a shipping estimate?

Answer:

When you are adding multiple and varied items to a cart, our shipping calculators are not always able to condense and pack appropriately; therefore, it may return an incorrect shipping quote.  

Anytime you are not happy or question the shipping estimate, please request a quote!  We are happy to provide them.


Question:

What is Fed Ex Smart Post?

Answer:

Fed Ex Smart Post is a delivery method whereby Fed Ex and our US Postal Service have joined forces to bring economical shipping to lightweight items.

Liability limits are small, so this is not a method you would want to choose for high-cost items.

Transit time is generally a bit longer than regular USPS or Fed Ex Ground.  Tracking can be a bit more difficult.  So do not choose this method if transit times are important.


Discount Purchasing

Question:

How do I set up a wholesale account?

Answer:

At the bottom of all web pages you will find a Discount Purchasing link.  Click on this and choose the appropriate discount account.  


Coupon Codes

Question:

Do you have a listing of coupon codes?

Answer:

We have a few coupon codes we are happy to share.  We try to price our items fairly and charge only what it costs us to ship your items, so we are not constantly creating and sending out coupon codes.  Click here to view a current list of our codes.





Discount Purchasing

Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Shipping Policies

© 2023 Garden Artisans, LLC

Mailing List


Once a month you will receive a newsletter via email from Garden Artisans. This newsletter is written by professional garden writers and will vary in topic from general gardening to birding or landscape design.

We also use this mailing list to alert customers of any sales, promotions or new product introductions.

×
;

Join our Mailing List


Once a month you will receive a newsletter via email from Garden Artisans. This newsletter is written by professional garden writers and will vary in topic from general gardening to birding or landscape design.

We also use this mailing list to alert customers of any sales, promotions or new product introductions.

We take your privacy seriously. To learn more, please read our Privacy Policy.

×