Due to time constraints and obligations of my full-time day job I am unable to accept custom orders.

I do my best to ship stocked items out by the next business/postal day via USPS. On occasion it may take an extra day. If time is of the essence please contact me and I can provide you with a more accurate estimate. I have found that most items shipped within the contiguous US will arrive within 5 business days, but I cannot promise delivery times as this is entirely in the hands of the postal service.

I prefer to avoid purchasing packing material that may be harmful to our planet. I typically use expanded kraft paper to wrap items. When there is a need for additional filler I may reuse packing materials like kraft filler, peanuts, bubble wrap, etc. During busy times my friends and family will offer up their materials for reuse as well.

I package my items VERY carefully and there should be no damage occurring from standard handling practices.

In order for me to file a shipping claim for damaged goods, items received by the buyer in such condition must be photographed (including the packaging) and sent to me. Do not discard packaging. Please notify me immediately so I can remedy the issue for you as soon as possible. Keep in mind I cannot offer a solution if a carrier's tracking information is no longer available so don't delay.

If an order is shipped to the address provided by the purchaser and it is returned unclaimed, Fox Run Pottery will attempt to contact the buyer. If no response is received within 7 days we will automatically reimburse the cost of the item (assuming it is not damaged) minus shipping and a 20% restocking fee. If the buyer still wants the item a corrected address will be required and the buyer will be still be responsible for the initial shipping cost as well as the second shipping payment.

Please contact me before sending anything back. It is against Etsy's policies to return an item without contacting the seller first. The buyer is responsible for the cost of the original shipping and the return shipping. Once items are returned in undamaged condition the buyer will be reimbursed the cost of the item minus the original shipping fee.

Per Etsy's policies if a package is shown as being delivered, the seller is not under obligation to replace the item or refund any part of the purchase. Sellers have no control over what happens to a package once it has been handed to the USPS. Buyers should be certain to provide a valid address and secure location to receive a package to avoid any inconveniences. If tracking shows it is delivered please check with your neighbors and local post office. Please report stolen items to the police.

Yes!!! Cleaning out a birdhouse is strongly recommended since there can be parasites, bacteria and/or fungus lurking in the old materials. Lucky for you my birdhouses are easy to clean and sterilize. You can even put them in the dishwasher! Just be sure to remove the chain or fix it to be out of the way so it cannot catch the spinning blade.

Each species of bird has it's own preferences for where they like to nest. Which species your house can attract obviously will depend on where you live, where you locate your birdhouse and just plain serendipity. Hole diameters can influence species choice of homes but there are often exceptions.
Some species are not compatible with ceramic birdhouses. For example bluebirds need open spaces for their homes and clay is not a good choice for a house that is exposed to lots of sun as it can get very hot.
Other birds prefer to nest on open shelves, in much larger houses or in no houses at all.

Because "free shipping" is not truly free. To provide this without incurring a loss a seller must add the highest US shipping cost into the price of an item. With the cost of heavier items this is not practical because it means that buyers who live in nearer USPS zones will be paying more than necessary, and I don't wish to do this to my customers. I believe that they are smart enough to understand this. Another reason for not offering this "service" is that I would have to charge a restocking fee to buyers who want to return items in order to cover my lost cost of the shipping.

Terracotta (like all earthenware) is fired to a lower temperature leaving clay porous and still capable of significant moisture absorption. This is why terracotta pots left outside in freezing temps may break or spall (flake). Soil in these pots is also more prone to drying out as moisture is wicked out through the clay. While terracotta is perfectly acceptable to use as a planter, it does needs a bit of extra care.
Stoneware is fired to a higher temperature which allows it to vitrify (melt together) minimizing porosity. This also makes it sturdier and less prone to breakage from thermal stresses. It is still advisable to at least flip outdoor pots over in winter months to minimize risk of freezing soil causing damage to the pot.