Frequently Asked Questions
Are your prices retail or wholesale?
Prices listed on our website are retail. If you are interested in purchasing wholesale, please e-mail us at wholesale@matursuksema.com Include your business name, type of business, business address, and business license information. Also tell us what product lines you’re interested in, and we’ll send pricing information, including minimum order requirements.
How do you ship?
We generally use USPS or FedEx Ground, depending on the product and how far it needs to go. In the cases of a very large order we my ship by freight.
We charge our actual cost plus a small amount for supplies when applicable. When ever possible we reuse and recycle packing materials. There are no additional handling fees.
What’s your return policy?
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your products. If something arrives damaged or broken or if it isn’t what you thought it was going to be, please e-mail within 3 days of receipt and we’ll work with you to arrange a replacement, refund, store credit, or other mutually agreed upon solution.
Do you have a catalog?
Not yet, but we’re working on it. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we are happy to ship retail orders anywhere in the world. We accept payment via PayPal only. We will ship wholesale to Canada.
What type of payments do you accept?
Our payment plan of choice is PayPal and it’s the only payment we will take on international orders. Domestic orders, we will take a check, MO, or can take your credit card information by phone or fax.
What does it mean that you are a member of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America?
We subscribe to the principles of Fair Trade, meaning we pay a fair price for the products we sell (dependent on the economy of our source country); we consider artisan safety and work with artisans to improve safety when needed; we use natural, non-endangered and/or recycled materials in our products whenever practical; and we ensure that there is gender equity among our artisan families and groups.
Fair Trade also cuts out many of the “middlemen” and works more directly with the artisans. Because of language differences, I often need a translator when working with some of my artisans. There are some I’m happily able to work with directly, including via e-mail when I’m not in Indonesia. Meet some of my “family” on the artisans’ page.
We also donate to women’s and children’s health and education projects.
See www.fairtradefederation.org and www.greenamerica.org for more information about those organizations.
Where do your products come from?
Our products are primarily from Indonesia. We currently have items from Java, Bali, Kalimantan (Borneo), Lombok, and Flores.
Why Indonesia?
I won’t bore you with all the details but in the mid-90’s I found myself on the way to Bali with a group from Antioch University Seattle (although I wasn’t a student there myself). I had never planned to travel internationally and had to get my first passport but when I arrived in Bali I had “come home.” On the next trip a year and a half later, I bought Bali sterling beads for my jewelry-making daughter. I started selling the ones she didn’t want on the then new eBay and things progressed from there. More details on the About Us page.
Are all your products handcrafted?
Yes, our products are produced by skilled artisans from the islands mentioned above. Most are made with simple tools and age old methods, often in family settings.
Our artisans develop the designs themselves. We may give them an idea or make suggestions for making them more salable in the Western market but we leave the rest to them.
Meet some of our artisans on our Artisans page.
Do you do custom work?
We are always happy to discuss custom work. Some products lend themselves more to it than others. We do require a minimum order (depending on the product) and a 50% non-refundable deposit.
Do you ever take people with you to Indonesia?
Yes, we do take groups. See our Trips page for more information.
For information about or suggestions regarding our privacy policy:
Info@matursuksema.com