Shipping & Returns

We ship via USPS first class and first class international. International shipping is available to select countries only. If your country is not visible at checkout, we do not ship there.

For countries we do not ship to, we recommend the use of mail forwarding services.

• For domestic orders of $50 or more, shipping is free. (Full priced items)
• For domestic orders of under $50 we charge $4
• For international orders of $75 or more, shipping is free. (Full priced items)
• For international orders under $75, we charge $18.
• Website processing usually takes between 3 and 5 business days

For items deeply discounted, shipping is always applied to your order. If you add a full priced item of $75 or more you'll receive a shipping refund once your order is processed.

Once your order is shipped you will receive an automated dispatch notification to your email from Stamps.com. Approximately one day later the same tracking number is uploaded to the website where it can be retrieved either by logging into your account and clicking on the order, or using the Track My Order button found at the bottom of the website.

Please understand that once an order leaves us, we have no control over its speed nor route. We see no further information regarding its location than what you can see on the tracking number. Please keep this in mind before contacting us regarding the location of your package.

Order Edits & Cancellations

Please note that once an order is placed we cannot make any changes to it. Nor do we accept cancellations.

Please ensure shipping details are correct at the time of purchase.

Returns Procedure

For those wishing to return products the procedure is as follows:-

Please note we do not accept returns on items purchased during promotions or sales

• Domestic customers must make returns within 14 days of receiving the order
• International customers must make returns within 30 days
• You must contact us via email (victoria@greatlakesboutique.net) to inform us of your intent to return.
• Beads must be returned in the condition they were shipped in
• If you purchased a full kit, the entire kit must be returned.
• We do not accept liability for return shipping unless a product is faulty or incorrect.
• We do not accept liability for products that fail to return to us and are missing in transit.
• Products purchased during sales & promotions are not eligible for return
• We do not accept liability for import taxes incurred nor do we accept returns on products returned to us due to failure to pay such taxes and fees.
• Orders returned to us due to refusal to pay import taxes will not be refunded.
• If you return part of an order and therefore never qualified for our free shipping offer, shipping fees will be deducted from the refund.
• Please note we cannot accept any returns on earrings due to hygiene reasons.

Sales Items & Promotions

Please note that we cannot accept returns on products purchased during sales & promotions.

Import Taxes

For those ordering from outside of the USA, please be aware your orders will be subject to import taxes at the point of entry to your country. The amount applied will be in accordance with local government regulated taxation. 

All taxes owing are the responsibility of the customer. We will not refund goods if orders are returned to us due to refusal to pay taxes.

Please do not ask us to undervalue orders or aid in the avoidance of taxation.

 Shipping During Covid-19

Please be aware that during the ongoing pandemic, mail services are delayed. This is particularly evident for international mail.

Prior to the start of the pandemic, most international mail traveled as cargo on passenger planes. With borders closed between many regions, there has been extremely limited mail capacity. Coupled with increased scrutiny of incoming mail and extra safety protocol to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the mail is extremely slow.

Please understand there is nothing we can do about this. Once a package leaves us, it is out of our hands.

Shipping FAQ

My order hasn't moved for days. Does this mean it is lost?

No. Mail - especially international mail - can sit at distribution centers for weeks waiting on cargo space to continue its journey. There will be no tracking updates during this time.

My order is moving slow. Can you please speed it up?

No we can't. Once an order leaves us, the transit time is completely out of our hands.

Why do you no longer ship to my country?

There are likely multiple reasons for this. 

Shipping during COVID-19 has been extremely problematic. The guideline for international mail used to be 12 weeks. At present global mail is still estimated to be running an average of 8 weeks delayed. This results in customers believing their packages are lost when they are not.

Some regions have extremely high rates of missing or stolen mail. While we appreciate this is not the fault of customers in those regions, it makes shipping to the area too risky.

Many countries opted out of the international E-DELCON list during 2020. This was the agreement to scan international mail. Unfortunately for residents of these areas, it means the final tracking scan would be either as an order left the USA or if it was transiting through another country that honored E-DELCON. This lack of tracking makes an area high risk when it comes to shipping and we have ceased all orders to those regions.

My order has arrived in my country but I still haven't received it, can you please contact USPS?

No we can't. Once a package leaves the USA it is out of the hands of USPS and responsibility is handed over to the recipient country's mail services. USPS have no way of seeing where your order is. You can try and contact the mail in your own country but generally they will tell you to be patient and watch for tracking updates.

 I ordered an item that I needed for a special occasion but that time has now passed.

We're very sorry to hear that. We do not make any guarantees in regards to delivery dates, most especially for international mail where transit times have been varying wildly.