Christening Gowns, Outfits, Communion Dresses at One Small Child

Gather around dear friends, I have a story to tell.

Once upon a time, and every once in a while, despite our best efforts, shipments arrive late. For a special occasion, that can have devastating consequences…a day late for a christening, baptism, first communion, or wedding might mean that a valued (as well as busy and likely stressed under the circumstances) customer may have to run all over town at the last minute trying to find a replacement outfit, or worse, not be able to find what is needed at all.

Though the significance of these special days is truly in the people involved rather than pieces of clothing and accessories, we all want things to be as perfect as envisioned for a lifetime. It literally breaks our hearts when we receive news that a deadline was not met. In an effort to lessen the possiblity of this happening to you, I’d like to explain a few things that may be helpful to know when planning your online special occasion purchase.

1-About us: We have an amazingly talented and caring staff working full time to meet your needs. Every (and I do mean every) effort is made to fulfill all orders in a timely manner.

Our shipping policy lets you know the time frame within which you can expect your order to leave our facility. We offer a handy delivery chart to demonstrate the number of days it takes for your order to be delivered to you based on the day we receive your order. (Be sure to notice if you’re ordering a non-stock item: construction of your garment will add one week to the time listed on the chart.)

On very rare occasions, we experience human moments that can affect the delivery time of your order. In these circumstances, our policy is to do anything and everything within our control to get it to you on time.

2-About our shippers: We offer the shipping services of two companies. It is important to note a few things about each, as they both have pros and cons. Regarding both companies–once your package leaves our facility, it is beyond our immediate control.

United States Postal Service: Our free shipping offer utilizes USPS Priority Mail. The biggest benefit of this service is the speed with which most packages are delivered–usually within 2-3 business days. That said, there are a couple drawbacks that can make a big difference in a time crunch:

  -This service is not guaranteed to be delivered in a specific time frame and can take up to a week…more, if your package happens to get lost, which leads me to the next point.

  -The postal service does not offer tracking of a package while it’s in their system. All packages leave our facility with a delivery confirmation number, which means that the only information we (or you) can obtain once the package is in the USPS system is the date and time of actual delivery. In the event a package is lost, the best/fastest way to track it down is for you to contact your local Post Master and mail carrier.

FedEx: Our express shipping services are provided by FedEx. FedEx offers in-transit package tracking and guaranteed delivery dates. The important thing to know when selecting the level of service you need is this: the ‘day count’ begins the day after your shipment leaves our facility. (Example: Next Day is delivered the next business day after shipment…2 Day is delivered two business days after shipment with the day after shipment being the first day. If that doesn’t make sense, refer to our delivery chart.)

Keep in mind that Saturday is not considered a business day, so if you’re ordering on Friday and need your order Saturday, you have to specify Next Day Saturday. If you’re ordering on Friday and need it Saturday, be sure to CALL us so we can let you know if it is possible to ship your order same day or not.

3-About you: Yep, you! It’s important for you first, to be informed and to understand the specifics when time is short. And second, to let us know if there’s a problem so we can help you resolve any delivery issues. If your package hasn’t arrived as expected–let us know! We can often ship an emergency replacement in time if you give us enough notice. If you call Friday afternoon after our shipments for the day have left about a gown you need on Saturday…our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do but cry with you. And we will. But we’d rather not.

Choosing an outfit for baby’s christening or blessing is different for everyone. Sometimes, you know the perfect gown or outfit when you see it and there are no questions. Then again, there are times you have so many options you just don’t know which way to turn!

We understand that it can be difficult to make such a big decision based on two-dimensional pictures…it’s important to be able to see and touch and compare in person. With that in mind, we gladly offer the option to purchase up to three styles (or sizes…if that baby is in-between) to review at your convenience.

Here’s how it works:

• If you are unsure which christening gown/baptism outfit style or size you need, order up to 3 of your favorites. (You will pay for all items shipped at the time of your order, but no worries–our return process is easy!)
• After you receive your order, make your choice in the comfort of your home.
• When you’ve made your decision, simply return the unwanted items within 15 days of their arrival in your home. No need to expedite return shipping, just have them in the shipper’s hands within the 15 days. We recommend you use a trackable shipping service, so delivery can be verified.
• Your card will be refunded when we recieve your return (please note: return transactions can take 7-10 days to appear on your bankcard statement).

Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Here at One Small Child, it is our desire to provide you with exquisite products and exceptional service. In order to assist you in making the all-important decision of what to have your child wear on his or her unforgettable day, we allow you to order up to three different styles/sizes of christening gowns or christening outfits, keep the pieces that best fit and return the unused garments. Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions regarding this policy:

Are there any re-stocking fees on returned items? No. Never. Please be aware, however, that if you selected our free shipping offer and your return causes the original order total to fall below $50, we do deduct $7.75 from your refund to cover the original shipping costs.
Do I pay for the items up front, or do you charge me after I return the unused items? At checkout, you pay for all items before they are shipped, and we cheerfully refund your card within one week upon receipt of your return.
Your return policy states that items must be returned within 15 days–is that from the date I order? No. the 15 day return period begins when you receive your order.
Does my return have to be in your facility within the 15 days? No. It just needs to be in the shipping system (postmarked). We do not expect you to spend exorbitant amounts on express shipping! Just be sure to select a shipping method that offers delivery confirmation.
Are non-stock items returnable? Yes. Non-stock items are constructed for you when we receive your order, but we do accept returns on them–someone else will surely need them.