Ordering and Shipping Information

About buying from The Writing Desk

Our philosophy is to provide the best possible service in all aspects whatever your order - large or small. We have many satisfied customers and you can read some of their testimonials on our guestbook. You can learn more about us here.

On this page you can read about:

• Payment methods
• VAT and Overseas Orders
• Shipping
• Returns Policy

Payment methods

UK Customers

Payments may be made:

• online with a Credit or Debit card via secure online server with 128-bit SSL
• by phoning or faxing your Debit / Credit Card details
• by Cheque (in Pounds Sterling)
• BACS transfer (see below) if you are in the UK

Payments can also be made by direct transfer (BACS) into our bank account. If you have internet banking this is very quick and easy and completely free for transfer between UK banks and building societies. Please note that overseas banks may charge for a bank transfer.

If you are an existing customer and paying by cheque we will dispatch your goods as soon as possible without waiting for your cheque to clear.

Overseas Customers

Overseas customers can pay:

• online with a Credit or Debit card via secure online server with 128-bit SSL
• via Credit Card (by phone or fax only if you would like us to calculate shipping costs first)
• by Sterling cheque
• by International Money order in Pounds Sterling

Online payments via Secure Server

We use a deferred payment method which means that no money is taken from your account until your goods are ready for dispatch (unlike systems such as Paypal which take your money straight away even if the item has to be ordered specially). Our secure server, provided by Protx, communicates directly with our bank for maximum security.

I am sorry but we can no longer accept payments by bank transfer from foreign banks due to high bank charges.
 

All prices include VAT at the standard rate of 20% (was 17.5% before 4th January 2011). Our VAT Registration Number is GB 855 6813 91.

VAT and Overseas Orders

VAT does not apply to orders sent outside the EU but we are required by law to display prices including VAT (at 17.5%). If you are ordering from outside the EU, you can select either "Europe, non-EU" or "Rest of World" in the Shopping Basket and VAT will be removed from the total.

Shipping

Our prices for postage are as follows:

^* No additional charge when ordered with other items.
^** Minimum, depends on value.
^*** Charge for one item. Additional items charged at £0.30 UK, £0.95 Europe, £1.60 outside Europe. For orders over £20, additional charges of £1 for Europe and £2 for rest of world apply.

To get an exact price, add the relevant items to your Shopping Basket. There is no obligation to proceed with an order.

EU countries are:

Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corsica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Europe, non-EU countries are:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Greenland, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State

All Other countries fall in the Outside Europe / Rest of World category.

Dispatch

We aim to dispatch all items that are in stock within 2 working-days of receipt of payment. Sometimes we have to extend this period, for example when we are on holiday. If this is the case there will be a clear notice on the home page and in your shopping basket.
If any items are out of stock we will inform you as soon as possible at which time you can cancel or amend your order. For items on special order we will inform you within 24-hours with an expected dispatch date.
Most items are sent by Royal Mail First Class post (apart from items such as higher value pens that are sent by Special Delivery). However, packages over 1.5kg will usually be sent via Royal Mail Standard Parcel (3 to 5 working days) so please let us know if faster delivery is required and we will quote accordingly.
International orders are sent by air-mail but are subject to a 2kg weight limit. Therefore, we cannot ship heavy items such as certain paper products overseas. Higher value items will be sent by insured air-mail and will require a signature upon receipt.

Returns Policy

Faulty Goods

We will either refund in full (including postage costs in the UK), or replace the faulty item free of charge. However, please contact us first before returning an item as often faults can be resolved by e-mail or telephone call or arranged to be sent directly to the manufacturer. Also, please empty and flush fountain pens before returning. If you experience skipping or flow problems with your new pen, please first try it with one of the brands of ink that we stock. There are some brands of ink that are known to cause flow problems in many pens.

Return of Unwanted Goods

Unwanted goods may be returned within 14 days of purchase, in their unbroken original packaging complete with all labels and instructions and in the case of fountain pens in original unfilled condition (unless otherwise agreed) at the customer's expense. If you are unsure about a pen at first sight, please just dip test it first using washable blue ink. We are sorry but we cannot refund postage as this is a direct cost. Refunds will be made as soon as we have received the returned item(s) or else a credit can made towards another purchase. We recommend that you send the item(s) by Special Delivery (or Recorded Delivery for lower value purchases) as we cannot be held responsible for goods that don't arrive.
Please note that we cannot accept returns of bottled fountain pen ink or ink cartridges once opened. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Vintage Pens

We offer an unconditional returns policy because we want you to be happy with your purchase. If you are unhappy with the pen for any reason please return it to us within 10-days and in the same condition in which you received it, for a full refund or apply it to another purchase. We are sorry but we cannot refund postage as this is a direct cost.