Our preferred method to ship items internationally is US Postal Service Express Mail International, which is tracked and insured. Priority Mail International and First-Class Mail International may be used for small packages of lower value, but these methods provide no tracking or insurance--so those methods are at your own risk if the package is lost or damaged.
Express Mail International has an insurance limit of $650 to most countries. To fully insure items of higher cost, we would recommend Global Express Guaranteed. This is significantly more expensive than Express Mail (prices start at about $300) as it is basically FedEx service. We can ship by Express Mail if the customer agrees to accept liability for any amount over $650 if the package is lost or damaged by the carrier. Some countries (Australia, in particular) have restrictive size limits on what can go by Express Mail. Larger items like guitars, banjos, and some accordions may have to go by Global Express to these countries.
If you are placing an order online that will be shipped outside the continental US, please choose "US Mail" as your shipping cost, not "UPS Ground." We will add on the shipping cost when we process your order.
What does the "quote" button do?
Some of our suppliers do not permit discounted prices to be posted on our website, and/or sometimes these items can have limited availability. When you submit a "quote" request through our webcart system, our mail order department will respond with pricing, availability and shipping cost. Of course, you can also call or e-mail us for this information.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express), Paypal (auctions@hmtrad.com), HMT Gift Cards, money orders and personal checks. For any personal check over $100, the merchandise will be shipped when the check clears (normally 2-3 business days, but can take up to 1 week). Do not send cash in the mail.
We have made some changes to our credit card payment policies and procedures. Please read this important update.
Do you send COD (Cash On Delivery) orders?
No, unfortunately we are no longer able to accept Cash On Delivery (COD) orders.
Is your online shopping cart secure?
Our online shopping cart structure is protected. You will see the "padlock" alert after you have input your billing address and other contact information, but before you input your credit card account number.
What I ordered isn't in stock, but I gave you my credit card number. Have I been charged or will you charge me later?
Not everything in our catalog is always in stock. Many items we can quickly order from our suppliers within a few days, and sometimes we can even have them drop-shipped directly from the supplier to you. Other items, especially handmade/boutique instruments, may take several weeks or months. We will inform you if the item you ordered is not in stock, and the approximate wait time for you to receive it.
You are always welcome to contact us before placing an order if you want to make sure sure the item you want is in stock. E-mails sent to shipping@hmtrad.com are answered Monday through Friday. E-mails sent to hmtmail@hmtrad.com are generally answered Sunday through Thursday.
If you order online with a credit card, we will not charge your card until we have the item in hand ready to ship out.
If you order online with Paypal (either direct from your Paypal account or with a credit card), we will hold your funds in our Paypal account until we have the item in hand ready to ship out.
If you would like to pay with check or money order, we recommend that you contact us in advance of mailing your payment to see whether the item is in stock (and so we can also give you the exact shipping cost). We will hold your check or money order until we have the item in hand ready to ship.
How long will it take for my order to get to me?
If we have your full order in stock and we ship it using UPS Ground, it should take no more than 10 business days to get to you. In general, the closer your delivery address is to the Washington DC metro area, the sooner you'll receive your order. Part of this can also depend on what day of the week we fill your order. We generally fill and ship orders Monday through Friday.
I need to have this order yesterday. How soon can I get it?
Next-Day Air and Second-Day Air shipping is available for an additional charge through UPS, Federal Express, Airborne Express and other carriers. Please let us know if this is a rush order and we can help you pick the proper method of shipping.
What if only part of my order is in stock?
If some of the items that you ordered are in stock, and some are on backorder, our shipping department will contact you via email.
We tend to hold the in-stock items until your order is complete, to reduce shipping costs to you. If you instruct us to send items to you as we get them, separate shipping charges will apply to each package sent.
Delivery time on some imported items is sometimes particularly time-consuming. We appreciate your patience!
Do you deliver overseas?
Absolutely! Shipping costs will vary depending on country and total weight of your order. Please contact us for a shipping quote.
My package was damaged! Now what?
If the item appears to have been damaged in shipping, you must notify us immediately so that we can file a damage claim with the shipper. Save all packing material in case the item needs to be inspected by the shipper. You will not be held liable for merchandise or shipping costs if damage occurs in shipping. The claim process does take several days, so we appreciate your patience during the claim period.
What is your return policy?
Our return policy is outlined on this page.
Are you going to charge me $7.00 shipping for a $1.00 item?
When you order a low-priced or small item such as a nose flute, pack of strings, gift card, etc, our mail order department will charge you the appropriate shipping amount (we normally use US Mail for these types of items). If you pay by credit card, the total will be adjusted when we manually process your card. If you pay by Paypal, you may be asked to pay the higher amount in shipping to submit the order, but we will give you a partial refund. If you prefer, you can contact us about your Paypal order ahead of time and we will send you a Paypal money request for the correct amount.
What about Special Order Items?
We do special order some items -- please refer to this page.
Do you have a layaway plan?
Yes we do! With our layaway plan, you can set aside the instrument of your dreams for as little as 1/3 of the price (including tax), and we give you up to 6 weeks to pay! NOTE: You will be able to take the instrument with you once you've paid for it in full, not before. If you change your mind and want your deposit back, there is a 10% restocking fee. Please contact us if you have any questions. Our layaway plan is available for both local and mail-order customers. Some consigned items may not be available for layaway.
Will you sell my contact information?
HMT never sells, trades, or otherwise makes available any personal information about our customers to any third parties, without the individual's express approval.
We do not send spam or junk mail; neither do we buy, sell, or exchange commercial mailing lists or email lists with anyone.
We also do not collect personal information about you without your permission as you browse our website, for the purpose of sending you email, junk mail, or otherwise soliciting your trade. We have conducted business for more than 30 years without resorting to mass mailing lists, and we intend to continue this policy in the future.
House of Musical Traditions
