We know it's tempting to skip over reading this section. However, we strongly recommend that you take a few moments and read what we talk about here. If you insist on scanning the fine print, please use the quick links below to find quick answers. Please understand that these are company policies that we will adhere to.
Tax exempt organizations and how to create a tax exempt account
Information regarding our returns policy
Find out what happens if there is damage or shortages to your order
Liability disclaimers and details pertaining to your account
Tax Exempt Entities and Organizations
Organizations and School districts that are tax exempt must provide us with a tax-exempt certificate prior to placing their orders. Your certificate and status will be reviewed prior to being approved. If approved, then you will be classified as a tax-exempt organization and tax will no longer appear on your order ticket. Orders placed without you being classified as a tax-exempt organization will be treated as regular orders and tax will be assessed. Tax exempt accounts are set up on an individual basis through the email provided. If your organization is placing orders through multiple buyers or agents, each email address must be categorized as part of the tax-exempt organization.
Checking out as a guest does not allow us to add you to the tax-exempt list. You must create an account. For additional information on how to set up a tax-exempt account please follow the link here: https://etcmontessorionline.com/faq/
Free shipping applies to all materials in our store. We reserve the right to ship using any carrier of our choice. We reserve the right to charge shipping for extra-large items, or when shipping to locations that are not easily accessible. In such an event, you will be contacted by an ETC team member once your order has been entered into the system.
International shipments will accrue a charge along with other additional fees such as custom, tax and import duties.
Returns policy and warranty statement
General Provisions
All data, including but not limited to illustrations, drawings, calculations, weights, and measures stated in our offers, price lists, catalogs, or other documentation, are provided for reference only and are not binding upon ETC Montessori unless expressly confirmed in writing.
Verbal statements, representations, or agreements made by ETC Montessori employees are not binding unless confirmed in writing by an authorized company representative.
Slight variations in quality, color, finish, dimensions, or weight that are customary in the trade or technically unavoidable shall not constitute a defect or grounds for rejection.
Pricing and Packaging
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all prices are quoted in U.S. Dollars, ex-warehouse Houston or Webster, Texas, exclusive of sales or turnover tax and inclusive of standard packing.
The type of packaging shall be determined by ETC Montessori. All packing materials are non-returnable. Special packaging requirements requested by the purchaser shall be charged separately.
Delivery and Availability
Delivery time is calculated from the date ETC Montessori has accepted the order, received all information necessary to execute it, and, where applicable, received any required advance payment from the purchaser.
Product availability indicated on our website or in our documentation is provided for informational purposes only and is not guaranteed. During peak seasons (e.g., spring and summer), lead times may be extended.
ETC Montessori reserves the right to fulfill an order through partial shipments.
Retention of Ownership
Ownership of all goods remains with ETC Montessori until full payment of all amounts due under the agreement, including any claims related to non-fulfillment of the agreement. Until ownership has transferred, the purchaser is required to insure the goods against standard commercial risks.
Warranty and Liability
If ETC Montessori acknowledges liability for a defect or failure, our sole obligation shall be, at our discretion, to repair or replace the defective goods.
Editorial or orthographic errors do not entitle the purchaser to replacement or updated materials. Such corrections will be included in future editions. Customers may report errata using the editorial submission form available on our website. ETC Montessori does not provide replacements or updates for editorial revisions.
Our warranty does not cover defects resulting from misuse, negligence, unauthorized repair, modification, or any circumstances beyond our control.
Fulfillment of the warranty constitutes ETC Montessori’s complete indemnification. Further claims for damages are excluded unless arising from gross negligence on our part. In any event, liability shall not exceed the invoice value of the defective portion of the delivery.
The purchaser may not withhold or suspend payment due to warranty or guarantee claims.
The purchaser shall indemnify and hold ETC Montessori and its employees harmless against any third-party claims for damages that are excluded under these conditions.
Domestic Shipments and Returns
You may return new, unopened items within fourteen (14) days of delivery for a refund, minus a 25% restocking and shipping recovery fee.
If the return is a result of an error on our part (e.g., incorrect or defective item), ETC Montessori will cover the return shipping costs.
If the return is for any reason other than our error, the purchaser is responsible for all shipping and insurance costs.
All returns must be pre-authorized and accompanied by a valid Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Unauthorized returns will not be accepted.
Items that have been printed, cut, or otherwise prepared for display are non-returnable once opened. Because these items constitute intellectual property, products that are opened, improperly packaged, damaged, or returned after the 14-day period will not be accepted.
Shipping costs are non-refundable. Items returned after the 14-day period are subject to a 25% restocking fee.
Additional Fee for Partial Bundle Returns
Bundles or package deals purchased at a discounted bundle price must be returned in full to qualify for a refund.
If a customer elects to return only part of a bundle, the return will be subject to:
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A 25% restocking fee, and
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An additional $25 administrative and processing fee for partial bundle returns.
This fee covers the additional handling, recalculation, and processing required to adjust bundle pricing and inventory.
International Returns
International returns will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be subject to additional restrictions or fees.
When returning items, the following steps must be taken to ensure proper credit:
- Enclose proof of purchase from ETC Montessori
- State the reason for the return or exchange
- Send all materials by an insured traceable carrier such as FedEx or UPS to:
ETC Montessori Returns Dept.
220 Ibis St.
Webster, TX 77598
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
For Domestic and International Customers: Customers are asked to report all shortages within 72 hours. Any claims following this period will not be honored and customers will be required to purchase any items claimed as missing. You must provide pictures and please retain all shipping boxes for inspection by the carrier.
These policies and terms apply to the 14-day return policy or the 72-hour damage return policy for all Gonzagarredi materials. All hardwood materials have been inspected for quality prior to being shipped from our warehousing facility and they will carry a quality control seal. Failure to report damages or shortages within the 72-hour period will result in the forfeiture of further claims.
ETC Montessori accepts a variety of payment methods. The following credit cards and payment methods are accepted:
American Express, American Express Business, Visa, Visa Business, Mastercard, Discover, PayPal, PayPal Over Time, Amazon Pay, and Apple Pay
Cancellation of Order Policy:
If you need to cancel an order, please e-mail us right away via our contact page, preferably within 1 hour of the time you place your order. If you cancel an order after it has shipped, you will be refunded the amount of your order less shipping when you return the order. If you have any questions regarding our cancellation policy, please e-mail us or call us at 877.409.2929
Order Change Policy:
Once orders are placed, they cannot be changed through our website. If you need to add products, please place an additional order - please feel free to contact us with any questions.
- Purchase orders are only accepted from school districts, public and approved charter schools.
- All purchase orders come with NET 30 days. If your district requires a different NET, please contact us to make arrangements.
- We do not accept purchase orders from schools located outside the United States.
- Customers who submit purchase orders will be billed for partial shipments of items that have been shipped and verifiably received.
Wire Money Transfers (ACH/ETF) You may wire your money directly into our Bank Account. A bank fee of $25.00 will be assessed in addition to your invoice amount. Please contact us to receive the necessary information that you will require to provide your bank.
Shipping
INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS:
We can ship to any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations. ETC Montessori maintains a list of approved vendors and agents. UK customers please note that your order must be above the minimum amount as proposed by your local governing entities.
When you place an order, you will be presented with shipping and delivery dates as well as all the necessary fees associated with your shipment. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound. Orders totaling over 150 lb. (68 Kg) may, at our discretion, ship by freight.
DOMESTIC CUSTOMERS:
All shipping to the U.S. is free.
THE CONTENT AND COMPANY INFORMATION FOUND ON ETC MONTESSORI SITES IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY CONCERNING THE INFORMATION, SERVICES, OR PRODUCTS OFFERED OR PROVIDED THROUGH OR IN CONNECTION WITH ETC MONTESSORI'S WEB SITES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL ETC MONTESSORI OR ITS PREFERRED PARTNERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH, THE USE OF ETC'S WEB SITES OR WITH THE DELAY OR INABILITY TO USE ETC'S WEB SITES, OR FOR ANY INFORMATION INCLUDING COMPANY INFORMATION), SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES OBTAINED THROUGH ETC MONTESSORI'S WEB SITES, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE ETC MONTESSORI WEB SITES, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF ETC MONTESSORI OR ITS PREFERRED PARTNERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES.
Privacy and viewing of online Orders
Orders placed through our website are viewable by ETC Montessori's administrative staff, employees, contractors, and preferred partners. Orders are viewed so that they may be processed and completed. If you do not want to view your information, please place your orders by calling our sales department at 877-409-2929.
Updating Account Information
It is the customer's responsibility to update any information that is used to place or ship an order. Orders placed online will be processed, billed to and shipped to the address provided on the latest order. Since our system is automated, this information is populated from the information you the customer has entered. Using an email address that is associated with a different client could result in orders being shipped to a different address. You will be responsible for any costs associated with address changes and delivery redirects.