FAQ
Shipping & policies
How much is shipping? When will I get my order? Do you ship internationally?
LEAD TIME: To figure out when your item will ship, check the listing. Many of our items are in-stock and ready to ship. These items will usually ship within 1-3 business days from the date your order is received.
Other items are "made to order" once an order is placed. These items will have a Lead time listed in the order (for most made to order items this is 1-2 weeks before the item ships). If no lead time is listed, the item is in-stock and ready to ship.
SHIPPING CARRIERS: For all orders, we ship via either UPS or USPS Priority Mail (buyer's choice at checkout). These options are fast, insured, and include tracking - artisan products are expensive and we want to make sure that whatever you purchase arrives to you quickly and in perfect condition. Shipping rates are automatically calculated by Shopify during checkout based on size, weight, and distance. Canadian buyers, please note that import duties, taxes, & charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. For all shipments, regardless of destination, to minimize trips to the post office we usually ship in batches once a week.
We understand that shipping via USPS Priority Mail for stickers-only orders can be cost-prohibitive but this is the best way we can set it up due to the limitations of the Shopify platform. As a workaround, if you are placing an order through our website that only includes stickers and would prefer that we mail your stickers-only order in a rigid mailer envelope at USPS First Class package rates (which would be less expensive but also untracked and uninsured), please note that in the "Special Instructions" during checkout and we will refund the difference between the Priority rate and the First Class rate when your order is shipped. We also have a limited selection of stickers in our Etsy shop (where you can directly choose USPS First Class mail during checkout for stickers-only orders).
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Items listed on our Etsy shop available for international delivery. If an item you are interested in purchasing to ship internationally is available on our website shop but not in our Etsy shop, please contact us to set up a personal Etsy listing for you to purchase the item.
What is your return/exchange policy?
Since we are a small shop and our items are one-of-a-kind, we generally cannot accept returns or issue refunds. However, we want you to be happy with your purchase so if anything arrives damaged, please contact us within 24 hours of delivery and we will work with you to find the best solution.
Please reuse, recycle, or compost shipping materials.
Not a question really - just wanted to let you know that we strive to use sustainable materials by using recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging and/or shipping materials (even the packing peanuts are biodegradable, they'll dissolve in water!). Please reuse, recycle, or compost shipping materials once you receive your items. Thanks!
Composite Plaster Pieces
What materials do you use? How do I care for my pieces?
MATERIAL: Our composite plaster homeware items are all made from an eco-friendly, non-toxic, water-based, fabricating acrylic resin combined with a plaster base similar to Jesmonite called AquaResin.
It is VOC-free, sustainably produced, LEED applicable, and EPA and OSHA compliant. It is also formaldehyde-free, fire-safe, and weather resistant.
USE AND CARE:
Avoid soaking - clean with a damp cloth and dry immediately. If the finish starts to lose its shine or seal, it can be resealed with any cement/stoneware sealer.
Mold marks, slight scratches, air bubbles, and other quirks are a normal result of the handmade process and should not affect use.
How is it sealed? Is it food-safe?
Even though our composite plaster pieces are sealed with a food-safe concrete/stoneware sealer, they are designed for indoor decorative purposes and not intended for use with food or as dinnerware, servingware, etc. They are not dishwasher, oven, or microwave safe.
Please be advised that one of the sealers we use does contain beeswax - an allergy warning will be noted in the item listing for any items that have this sealer.
Woodwork
How should I care for my wood items?
There are no stains or dyes added to change the color or appearance of the wood. Unless listing states otherwise, multiple coats of clear satin finish ensure that items are as water resistant and durable as possible.
All of our wood products should be handled and cleaned like fine wood furniture or other solid wood products to protect the finish. Avoid extreme temperatures. Don’t soak them in water or leave standing water on them for long periods of time. For coasters, make sure to dry them thoroughly immediately after use (especially in the engraved grooves).
Why are some items not available in specific wood types?
Stock availability varies. We use a variety of domestic and exotic hardwoods. Some are just easier to source than others. Costs and availability for different woods vary widely and that difference may be reflected in the item pricing.
If you would like any of our products made from a specific wood type that you don’t see listed or if you have specific appearance requests, contact us to discuss a custom order.
Resin Dice
Are these dice the same as commercial dice?
SIZE: The sharp edges can make handcrafted dice *seem* bigger, but our dice actually are slightly larger than standard plastic commercial dice (see photo below for reference comparing one of our sets to a commercial set). For example, our D20 is about 22mm, a standard D20 is about 19mm.
THE PROCESS: We design and print our own masters and create our own molds. Then each die is mixed, cast, finished, inked, and polished by hand. Each die is a tiny work of art! This means each die is unique and absolutely one-of-a-kind.
Please keep in mind minor imperfections and quirks like mold marks, slight scratches, minor air bubbles, etc. are a natural result of the handmade process. We don’t “grade” our dice because we don’t list them unless they are playable and free of significant flaws or imperfections.
A note about balance: Perfectly balanced TTRPG dice don't really exist, either handmade or mass-manufactured. Balance will depend on the design and whether it has non-resin inclusions, air bubbles, etc., but we do everything we can to not throw the balance off during the crafting process. Our handmade dice are completely functional and playable (and the corners are really sharp, so please be careful!).
How should I store and care for my dice?
The resin! Our handcrafted dice are made from high-quality resin. We do use one of the more expensive resin options (which factors into the cost, of course), but we feel like it is worth it because it is durable, non-toxic, contains no VOCs, no BPA, and when fully cured is entirely food-safe (although we don't recommend eating the dice 😉).
The resin we use is one of the most clear resin options; however, all resins can yellow over time when exposed to UV light so you will want to store your dice in a dice bag or box away from sunlight.
The ink! We use high-quality acrylic paints to ink the numbers/symbols. If your dice get wet you will want to dry them immediately to avoid degrading the inking. We also use a multi-step process to ink the dice to reduce air bubbles and other ink imperfections.
That shine! We do not use polishing compounds of any kind as they can be very messy, reduce ink adhesion, and tend to wear off over time which could cause dice to lose their shine. Instead, we follow an 8-step hand finishing process using only polishing papers to get that impeccable shine. This means your dice should stay shiny and beautiful as long as possible.
We recommend rolling all your natural 20s in a dice box or on a protected surface as scratches, nicks, or chipped corners could occur over time when rolling on hard surfaces.
Stickers
Who designs your stickers? Where do you get them printed?
Can I get different sizes? What about custom stickers?
It depends :) For all sticker-related questions, you can reach Kelsey at info@tandemrandom.com