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faqs
ordering:
How do I place an order within the United States?
Add the items you wish to buy to your shopping cart. When you are ready to complete your purchase, click "go to check out" and follow the instructions. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you when your order has processed.
How do I place an international order?
Add the items you wish to buy to your shopping cart. When you are ready to complete your purchase, click "go to check out" and follow the instructions. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you when your order has processed.
Please note some countries prohibit the import of certain US goods; restricted items cannot be shipped to countries where their import is prohibited by law. For further information, please click here.
Do you rent your clothes?
No. Renting substantially increases wear and tear on vintage clothing, and we want items to be in the best possible condition when our customers receive them. Therefore we sell, but choose not to rent, our merchandise.
Can I place my items on hold?
No. All items are sold on a first come, first served basis. The contents of all shopping carts will remain saleable until their purchase is successfully completed and confirmation is received.
Do you accept offers?
No. Prices listed are firm and are based on multiple factors such as age, designer, provenance, desirability and restoration costs. Please do not attempt to negotiate pricing; offers will be disregarded.
returns:
Do you accept returns?
Yes. Items may be returned within 7 days of delivery for store credit only, minus shipping charges. Please refer to our return policy in the terms and conditions section for complete details.
payment:
What payment methods do you accept?
Online purchases are accepted in US dollars via Visa, MasterCard or PayPal only. Personal checks, money orders and cash are not accepted for online sales.
A currency converter is provided in the shopper's tools section of all pages for your convenience.
Do you offer layaway?
Layaway services are offered for in-store (Tucson, Arizona) customers only and are not available for online purchases.
shipping & handling:
What shipping carriers do you use?
All orders are shipped insured via US Postal Service (Priority or Express). Shipment methods are chosen upon checkout, and a shipping calculator is provided to estimate delivery charges prior to order submission.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Delivery options (including overseas shipping) are selected at the time of purchase and are added to item totals. Import duties are the responsibility of the buyer; we regret we cannot alter purchase amounts or mark purchases as gifts when shipping internationally.
Do you offer expedited shipping?
Yes. Customers may choose domestic or international Express Mail delivery at the time of checkout for a higher fee.
How do you calculate shipping costs?
Shipping costs are calculated by weight and zip/country code. Shipping insurance (based on item totals) and a one-time $2.50 handling fee are added to all orders.
How soon do you ship once an order is placed?
Orders are shipped within 24 hours of cleared payment. Please take processing time into consideration when ordering, as even expedited orders must clear our bank before they are shipped. Please refer to our shipping policy in the terms and conditions section for full details.
merchandise:
Are vintage sizes different from modern sizes?
Size tags on vintage clothing are practically meaningless. For example, a 1950s size 12 is roughly equivalent to a modern size 6. Moreover, fifty years ago women's waists were typically shorter, so a "medium sized" 1950s garment might not fit a modern medium sized woman.
How can I be sure your items will fit me?
Because vintage and modern sizes differ so greatly, we include actual garment measurements--as well as a modern size equivalent--in every listing to help you determine proper fit.
In addition, there is a link to our sizing guide on each product page for immediate reference. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with this guide so you are sure to make an informed purchase.
I thought I measured correctly, but the item doesn't fit. Can I return it?
Yes. Items may be returned within 7 days of delivery for store credit only, minus shipping charges. Please refer to our return policy in the terms and conditions section for full details.
What condition are your items in?
Like people, most vintage items are imperfect. Having typically enjoyed a previous owner and many years of storage, vintage clothes will naturally bear some evidence of their age. That said, we pride ourselves on the superior quality of our merchandise and have never sold an item that we wouldn't be proud to wear ourselves.
Any flaws are scrupulously disclosed in descriptions and photos, and every item receives a condition rating based on the guidelines established by the Vintage Fashion Guild. Definitions of condition ratings are available on every item page for your convenience.
Do you restore/repair your items before they are sold?
Yes. We make every effort to restore our garments to original condition before they are sold so you may begin enjoying them immediately.
Some of the measures we take to restore our items include: reweaving; reinforcing loose seams and hems; replacing linings; restoring faded or uneven color; re-beading and re-sequining; replacing buttons (with authentic vintage ones, of course); whitening/color lifting; replacing zippers and closures (using era-appropriate choices whenever possible); replacing deteriorated elastic; hat blocking; decontaminating; and refeathering.
How are items stored on site?
Proper care and storage are essential to the longevity of all clothing, but especially to vintage clothes.
clothing
Before being introduced into existing stock, new items are sequestered and thoroughly inspected for pests (including bedbugs, which have never been detected at our facility), which are eliminated if detected by 72-hour freezing or deep heating. Items are then individually hand cleaned or shipped to a master dry cleaner in Phoenix, Arizona who specializes in vintage clothing.
When clean, items are stored in a temperature, humidity, and pest-controlled environment where they are monitored daily until prepared for shipping.
fur
In addition to being decontaminated, all furs are thoroughly cleaned and conditioned before being sold.*
How will I receive my item?
Prior to shipping, all items receive a final inspection before being neatly folded, wrapped in protective tissue and boxed for shipping. These extra measures help us ensure your item will arrive fresh and ready for immediate enjoyment.
privacy & security:
Do you share my information with third party providers?
Absolutely not. All contact information is kept confidential, whether you place an order, ask or question or subscribe to our mailing list.
Is my order secure?
Yes. black cat vintage utilizes the safest ordering, processing and data encryption methods available. Our system is certified secure via 128-bit SSL encryption, and online credit card information is never stored on file.
*These treatment guidelines have been proven effective in peer-reviewed entomological research and are currently utilized in such renowned fashion archives as the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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