Sales Policy

Revised 2026-02-12

This Sales Policy applies to all purchases made through our website, showroom retail counter, and sales team, unless otherwise stated in writing. By placing an order, the customer agrees to the terms outlined below. This policy and all transactions are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Quotes, Order Processing & Cancellations

Quotes are valid for 30 days from their creation date. Orders begin processing immediately after placement/acceptance of quote and payment of necessary deposits; lead times vary by delivery method and special-order status. Orders cancellations are subject to a 3% cancellation fee deducted from the refund amount to cover non-refundable credit card and order processing costs. Add-ons are accepted at our discretion if received timely, depending on where your order is in the process. Orders that have entered fulfillment, production, packing, staging, or shipment may not be cancelled. Order cancellations for special order items are subject to a restocking fee deducted from the refunded amount. Restocking fees vary by vendor.

Special Orders and Dropships

Special Orders placed with outside vendors require deposit to be paid before order is placed with vendor. Lead times will vary by vendor and by timing of Clay Art Center’s restock shipments with vendor. Dropship fees on applicable items are calculated as 20% over the retail price of the item being ordered.

 

Payment Terms, Deposits, Taxes & Fees

Standard Payments

Payment is due in full at the time of purchase unless prior credit terms have been approved in writing. Credit card payments are subject to a processing fee of up to 3%, which will be disclosed at checkout or on the invoice. We do not accept orders or payments from customers located outside the United States, U.S. Territories, or Canada. Any balance not paid when due will incur a finance charge of 1.5% per month (18% per annum), or the maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less. Interest accrues on the unpaid balance beginning 30 days after the invoice date.

Deposits

Deposits are required for all equipment orders and special-orders from outside vendors.

Net 30 Accounts

Net 30 terms are available only to approved accounts. Payment via Check or ACH Bank Transfer is required. Credit card payments on Net 30 accounts will incur a 3% processing fee. Late balances may incur a finance charge of 1.5% per month (18% annually) and suspension of credit privileges.

Taxes & Washington State Reseller Permits

Sales tax applies to purchases within Washington State unless a valid WA resellers permit is on file at the time of purchase. Schools are subject to sales tax. Sales taxes are based on where the customer receives the goods or services.

Reseller Permits do not exempt the buyer from tax on all items and it is the duty of the buyer to represent their use in good faith. Tax is paid on items that are consumable and not sold as part of your finished product (tools, supplies, wax resists, kiln furniture, etc.) Please refer to WAC 458-20-102 for more details.

Reseller Permits must be submitted before order processing can begin; retroactive tax refunds are not available (WAC 458-20-229). Submit up to date reseller permits in-person or to orders@clayartcenter.net.

 

Returns & Exchanges

Items may be returned with full refund to original payment method within 30 days of original purchase when accompanied with receipt. All returned items must be new and in sellable condition.

Returns without receipt may be returned for store credit within 30 days of original purchase. All returned items must be new and in sellable condition.

Returns for shipped/delivered items require pre-approval – please contact 800-952-8030 to discuss the best method for handling the return. Return requests for shipped or delivered items must be made within 30 days of delivery

Refunds will be issued to the original payment method when available; otherwise, store credit may be issued. Refunds are processed promptly and funds are typically available within 5 business days depending on your banking institution. Shipping and handling charges are non-refundable, except for confirmed error or defect. Customer is responsible for return shipping to Clay Art Center.

Non-Returnable / Final Sale Items

• Clearance or sale items
• Used equipment
• Special order items (see below)
• Wet glazes, clay, dry materials, and other products that cannot be repackaged after use or if the seal is broken. Limit of liability is limited to replacement of faulty product. Clay Art Center reserves the right to refuse returns for items that are not defective, faulty or as pictured. For fired products be sure to use witness cones in all of your firings to ensure proper firing.

Special Orders

Returns allowed only if pre-approved, with restocking fees that vary by vendor. Special orders cancelled after arrival at our facility are subject to restocking fees and inbound freight charges deducted from refund. Dropship fees are non-refundable. Custom glazes and clays are non-returnable and non-refundable, it is the sole responsibility of the customer to test their recipe with Clay Art Center’s stock of materials before ordering in bulk to ensure performance and compatibility.

Shipping & Freight Returns

Customers are responsible for all return shipping costs unless the item is defective or shipped in error. Items originally shipped free of charge will have outbound shipping costs deducted from refunds. Returns must be shipped insured via a carrier of the customer’s choice.

 

Defective or Incorrect Merchandise

Please report defective or incorrect items promptly. Clay Art Center denies all liability regarding products frozen in transit. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to ensure they are ordering their supplies at the correct time of year for the climate in their region and taking necessary precautions to avoid freeze damage in transit. Clay Art Center may repair, replace, or refund at our discretion. Claims after use, alteration, or firing may be denied.

 

Refused Shipments

Once a package has been tendered to the carrier, recall or interception is not guaranteed and may not be possible. Refused shipments may incur original outbound shipping charges and return shipping charges. Refunds/credits will be issued after inspection, minus applicable fees.

 

Freight & LTL Shipments

Large/heavy items may ship via freight at Clay Art Center’s discretion. Residential freight deliveries require a scheduled appointment. Missed appointments, failed deliveries, or access issues may incur carrier fees, which are the customer’s responsibility. Additional services outside the scope of the original order terms may incur carrier fees. Returned freight shipments are subject to both outbound and return freight charges.

 

Limitation of Liability

Liability is limited to the purchase price of the item(s). Clay Art Center is not responsible for consequential damages, lost production time, or improper use, handling, storage, or firing of materials or equipment. Customers are responsible for verifying product suitability for their intended use. Clay Art Center is not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to supply chain disruptions, carrier delays, labor shortages, natural disasters, or acts of government.

 

Final Authority

Clay Art Center reserves the right to refuse returns and assess restocking fees at our discretion. This policy may be modified at any time and applies to orders placed after the effective date of the change. Exceptions to this policy are discretionary and do not establish precedent.