We set up this section to answer questions you may have about shopping our online store at eBay.
We opened The Karat Patch at
to further establish
a world-wide online presence AND to offer patrons who enjoy browsing on eBay a way to view our
inventory. It's a great way to keep up with new items.
If you have a question not found here or want additional information, call
432.267.1480 or email us at
jandkim@thekaratpatch.com. We'd love to hear from you!
What are your business hours?
A: Monday - Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm CST
NOTE: We are OPEN 10:00am - 6:00pm on the Saturdays that fall between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and have extended regular business hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
How long have you been in business?
A: The Karat Patch has been in operation for 16 years.
Jay Phinney has been a working bench jeweler in Big Spring for 26 years.
Many of those years were spent under contract for large jewelry corporations such as Zales and Gordon's, including their respective guild stores (Corrigan's, ZR3, Gordon Brothers Jewelers). Jay has also done work for many other local independent jewelers in and around the greater Big Spring area including Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, Sweetwater, Colorado City, and San Angelo.
How long does it take to get repairs completed?
A: We are always booked 1 week in advance but occasionally it may take up to 3 weeks to get your repair through the work schedule.
Repairs taken in during the month of December are promised out in January so as to allow us time to finish and deliver custom work due out by Christmas. Sometime years this policy moves back into November as well.
Are repairs done in-house?
A: Yes. All jewelry repairs are done in our facility on premises.
Do you do custom designing?
A: Yes. and we can use your old gold to make the new design, reset your stones and make the whole thing a one-of-a-kind just for you.
Do you do watch repair?
A: Yes....but watch repairs are sent out to our highly trained and skilled watch repairman, who has never exceeded a 3% return rate on his work.
Do you sell diamonds?
A: Absolutely! We sell diamonds of every shape and size. We get diamonds in on approval so you get to view them and pick the one for you.
Do you have Lay-away?
A. Yes. Our lay-away policy is 25% down with up to 90 days to pay the balance. This allows you to break up your total into 4 equal payments. We don't send statements on lay-aways, but require that the balance be paid in full in 90 days or less.
What method of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, PayPal, or certified cashiers checks only if shopping online. We accept all major credit cards, PayPal, business and personal checks at our store in Big Spring, Texas.
Do I need an eBay account to purchase items at The Karat Patch online?
A: Yes, BUT this is a FREE account and it only takes a few minutes to set up and once set up you can even "watch" up to ten items at a time in your "My eBay" category. This is a very useful tool if you are interested in several different items from the same or even different sellers. Your "watch list" is in list form where you can see all the items of interest and the status of each item.
Will I have to give a lot of personal information to eBay to set up the account?
A: No. You will be asked for your name, physical mailing address, and email address in the event you agree to purchase something.
How do I buy something at The Karat Patch online?
A: It's really easy to buy things. You simply click the "Buy It Now" button and follow the instructions. The Karat Patch will be notified by email of your purchase and you will receive an email on the purchase also. Occasionally, The Karat Patch online will receive "Best Offers" on merchandise. This process works the same way. Just click the "Submit Best Offer" button and follow the instructions. Both you and The Karat Patch will receive an email about the offer. It's just like buying it 'on sale' at our store.
How do I pay for items I purchase?
A: If you live in the greater Big Spring area, you can pay for and pick-up your purchase at The Karat Patch, 997 E FM 700 in Big Spring. The item listing will show a charge for shipping but YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING IF YOU CHOOSE TO PICK-UP AT THE STORE. You may chose to phone us at 432.267.1480 or 800.634.1317 or email us at jandkim@thekaratpatch.com and we will give you details.
Paypal is the easiest, most secure and fastest way to pay electronically online. It's FREE to set up an account and once you do so you can purchase from anyone online who accepts Paypal. Paypal secures your credit card information, and charges your online purchase to your credit card for you, or you can link to your bank account and funds are withdrawn when you make a purchase. You can learn more about this payment option at www.paypal.com. Most vendors on eBay prefer Paypal as the method of payment.
How does The Karat Patch online ship items and to where?
A: USPS Priority is the method of shipping stated in all our online listings and would be used for sending items locally. If the package value is over $50.00 it is sent insured and packages valued over $500.00 are sent registered with Delivery Confirmation.
The Karat Patch online ships to the United States and its' satellite countries such as Puerto Rico and uses USPS Priority Insured with Delivery Confirmation in most cases.