A quick overview on how Cloak & Dagger does things like ordering, returns, payment and shipping. For more in depth information on ordering, or returns, please see the individual product types (like cloak clasps or circlets) listed on our index page of return policies to see if a particular product has a different return policy then the one stated here. If in doubt please feel free to contact us.
We enjoy corresponding with our clients
Policies and Information
Payment
We accept cash, checks, money orders, almost all charge cards and PayPal. Orders paid for by check may be delayed in order to make sure that the check has cleared. Custom work requires a minimum NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of at least 25% and a credit card number with authorization, or 50% if no credit card is provided. If circumstances force us to cancel an order, deposits are returned in full. If the client cancels, some or all of the deposit will be forfeit depending on the amount of time/materials already invested in the project.
If you see something you want made for you that’s not in stock get in touch with us! We enjoy corresponding with our clients and feel we can provide better service this way. To custom order, please email cloakmaker@gmail.com!
Shipping within the US
Domestic shipping and insurance tend to run around $8 for trim, clasps and circlets. $15 to $34 for cloaks, $10 to $18 for trimmed gowns, and around $15 for items like tunics and chemises. We usually use USPS upon credit card approval or check clearing. We can use overnight shipping services if requested for items that are immediately available. We use PayPal as our secure transaction server, and will also accept credit card information over the phone if you are more comfortable with that.
To keep our shipping costs lower, our garments may have a few wrinkles when they arrive due to the packing method. If you would like your garments shipped in ready-to-wear condition (or as much as we can assure and still get it into a box), or gift wrapped prior to boxing please let us know. A surcharge of $15 to $50 (for the largest items) will be assessed and is mostly due to increased shipping cost for the larger volume. This service may not be available if you require same-day shipping or rush service, or international shipping as we cannot be responsible for how the customs official in your country return your garments to the package.
International Shipping
For International shipments, we will ship to any country the US Postal Service allows as a destination. However shipping overseas can be very expensive. WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER CUSTOMS IN YOUR COUNTRY and unless specifically requested, we will declare a value and insure any handmade items and larger orders of mass-produced items. If you wish us to handle your order differently, we must have that direction in writing/email in case of lost packages and insurance claims. Item prices and shipping/handling DO NOT INCLUDE custom duties and tariffs. Tariffs are not determined until these items enter your country, and we have no control or knowledge of them. If you are concerned about a tariff being levied, please check with your local authority. Email cloakmaker@gmail.com for further details on International shipping.
Returns
Custom orders are, by and large, not returnable. Due to abuse of our billing policy, custom orders and hold requests now require a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit. Rarely does a garment not fit, but if there is a problem, we will provide for an exchange or alterations as needed, with all shipping at the expense of the client. If the mismeasure is our fault, we will absorb the additional cost, however, if we were provided with incorrect measurements, the client will be responsible for some, if not all of the additional cost.
Items listed on the currently available pages are returnable if they have not been altered or damaged, minus a restocking fee of $10 or 10%, whichever is greater. Any cleaning costs will be subtracted in addition. We do not return shipping and handling costs. If you are unsure whether or not you may return your item before purchasing, feel free to contact us and we may lead you to a direction you’ll be happier with! cloakmaker@gmail.com
Custom Orders
Cloak and Dagger specializes in creating custom garments – which means that we require a lot more detail and time than the average merchant. We prefer to correspond and double check before giving firm price estimates and accepting orders. Our custom order backlog is usually at least 4 weeks, and may run up to 3 months or more. Items from the available product list can be shipped immediately; alterations may add a day or two. For a custom order, please be prepared to make fabric and color choices, and think about the details you would like your garb to have. We will try to be as thorough as possible in making sure that what we create matches the garment you had in mind. For both safety and precision, we recommend hemming at the customer’s end for floor length garments. If requested, we will provide a finished hem, but we will aim to err on the long side unless otherwise requested.
Rush orders are subject to surcharge at our discretion, which means that a rush Halloween order will probably be subject to a surcharge, but a wedding emergency in February would be likely to be surcharged less because we’re not as busy then. Part of the surcharge is for overtime, pizza bribery for the families of working moms, and things like that. Part of the surcharge may be due to the need for rush ordering of materials, extra expensive materials that we can’t wait to find less expensive elsewhere, or because we’ll need express shipping to get it to you on time. Average surcharge schedule: less than 6 weeks notice, 10 to 25% surcharge; less than 4 weeks, 25 to 50%; less than 3 weeks, 50%; less than 2 weeks, 75%; one week or less, 100% surcharge. If we have the materials on hand and it is a small variation, surcharges are less likely. The best thing to do is to contact us at cloakmaker@gmail.com
GREEN STATEMENT – RECYCLING
Please feel free to visit the sites of the artists and groups mentioned below.
In a former life, our founder went to college (UMass Amherst, actually) and got an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and then a Masters in Regional Planning. After 10 years working in public policy, she retired to run Cloak & Dagger Creations full time but she remains an environmentalist.
We make every effort to recycle – both on the things we consume and the items we need to discard. Except for priority mail packages, our shipping materials are at least 20% post-consumer content and usually 100%. We work with other businesses in our old (recycled!) mill building. Powers Gallery in Acton, MA has their framing workshop here. They give us their discarded packing foam sheets and bubble wrap. E. Drumm Designs uses up the extra packing peanuts we receive. We re-use the boxes we receive and our employees bring more from home. Unusable paper and cardboard are brought to the town’s recycling center along with all plastics, glass, aluminum, metals and batteries. Cardboard tubes are donated to daycares and kindergartens for art projects.
Scrap fabric has several destinations. We supply the local rug hooking guild, local girl scouts, kindergartens and daycare with scrap fabric for projects. We supply the local sewing machine repair place with test fabric. Extra fabric has also gone to the Friends Fabric Artin Lowell, MA; the Restoration Project in Acton, MA; and to workshops for additional commemorative blocks for the AIDS Quilt. Our fabric scraps have also been used to make mittens for charity mitten trees, dog boots for search and rescue dogs, for insulating local chicken coops and rebuilding archery targets. If you need some, just ask.
We even send our dryer lint to an artist who creates beautiful works. Her name is Heidi Hooper and her website shows off dozens of her gorgeous creations.