Shipping & Buying Handmade Pottery

Each order is packed carefully with the realities of shipping handmade ceramics in mind. Pottery needs room, cushioning, and a sturdy box, and larger or more delicate pieces may require additional packing.

Orders of $150 or more ship free within the United States. Shipping for smaller orders is calculated according to the pieces in your order.

Buying several pieces does not necessarily mean paying a full shipping charge for every piece. When pottery can travel safely together, I combine items into the same shipment whenever practical.

The shop is set up to reduce the additional shipping charge on multiple pieces. If an order results in a significant shipping overage, I will return the difference to the buyer.

International shipping is available at a $65 flat shipping fee. International shipments may take longer to arrive and may be subject to customs duties, taxes, or import fees charged by the destination country.

Those destination-country charges, when applicable, are the responsibility of the buyer.

I generally use the shipping service that provides the most practical combination of safe handling, tracking, and cost for the order. Historically, most orders have been shipped through the United States Postal Service (USPS).

If you would prefer a particular carrier or shipping service, please contact me before ordering. I am happy to look at the available options, but additional shipping charges will apply when the requested service costs more.

I pack pottery carefully, but ceramics and shipping carriers occasionally have disagreements.

If a piece arrives damaged, please contact me promptly and keep all of the packaging. I will need clear photographs of the damaged pottery, the packing materials, and the outside of the shipping box, including any visible damage. These photographs are important when a shipping claim needs to be filed.

Do not discard the box, packing materials, or broken pieces until the issue has been resolved. Without the required photographs and packaging, I may not be able to file a claim with the shipping carrier.

Depending on the piece and its availability, a damaged item may be replaced or a store credit may be issued. Because each piece is handmade, an exact replacement may not be possible. Any replacement will have the natural variations in color, surface, and form that are part of handmade pottery.

If a replacement is available in the studio, I will arrange to send it as soon as practical. If a piece needs to be made again, additional time will be required for making, drying, glazing, and firing. For one-of-a-kind pieces or work that cannot reasonably be reproduced, store credit may be offered instead.

Clay is a natural material, and pottery goes through several transformations before it reaches you. Pieces are formed, dried, glazed, and fired at high temperatures. Small variations in shape, glaze color, surface, texture, and dimensions are normal parts of handmade ceramics.

Natural materials in the clay and glaze can also behave differently during firing. Tiny variations, speckles, marks, or changes in glaze are often evidence of the organic nature of the materials and firing process rather than flaws.

That individuality is part of what I enjoy about making pottery: each piece is unique.

If you would like another photograph, need a measurement, are buying a gift, have a shipping question, or simply want to know more about a piece, please ask.

You can reach me at lester@gardenshedclay.com . If you have a question about a piece or about shipping, please ask before ordering. I want you to know what to expect when your pottery arrives.