When You Order from Essential-Vitamins.com™
Our policy on pricing, shipping, returns and security
- Member Better Business Bureau
- Product Pricing
- Sales Tax
- Shipping Policy
- Shipping Rates
- Overseas Shipping
- Return Policy
- Ordering Security
Despite our best efforts, some misunderstandings about expectations are bound to occur from time to time. The information presented here is offered in an attempt to clarify our policies and practices, to avoid these problems, as much as possible. It's a dual safeguard:
- It lets you know just what to expect with your orders from Essential-Vitamins.com™, and provides you with a fixed standard to hold us to, and
- It makes clear the limits of our service to you, so you don't make requests that we can't fulfill.
A note about our Better Business Bureau Online status
Essential-Vitamins.com™ was a member of the Better Business Bureau Online from February 2002 through August 2007. It served as your guarantee that this business is run according to the highest standards of ethics and business practices.
As a member of the BBB Online, I agreed to participate in an arbitration process for any complaints that couldn't be resolved between me and a customer. While this situation never arose, I was glad to offer you another safeguard.
But, for the year 2007, the BBB Online significantly raised its membership fees, and I could no longer justify the expense. However, you can be assured that I will continue to conduct business with the same regard to ethics and high business standards that I always have.
Product Pricing
All of the prices listed on this website are retail. As with any business, I order the products at wholesale, give them a mark-up and sell them to you. But I give you this guarantee:
You can be assured that, when you shop with Essential-Vitamins.com™, you're getting the best prices on Young Living products anywhere. While I've seen some websites that seem to offer better prices, they invariably require that you go to the Young Living website and register as either a Retail Customer, Preferred Customer or Distributor before you can order anything. I offer that option to you, as well; and if you register with Young Living, you can order at the same prices I pay (certain conditions apply). No one can give you a better price than that.
However, if you prefer the ease and convenience (not to mention customer service) of ordering directly from this website, I've set the prices, in most cases, below the regular retail price. I'm not aware of anyone offering them at a better price. Most websites I've seen price the same products significantly higher.
All other products on this website are competitively prices.
In every way, I strive to make the best products available to you at the best prices possible.
Sales Tax
Many people feel that, since they are ordering product over the internet, there should be no sales tax on their purchases. Personally, that is how I feel. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way.
Because Young Living and STEMTech HealthSciences, Inc are Multi-Level Marketing companies, they are required by law to charge sales tax on the retail value of all of its products. Since I have to pay sales tax on my inventory, I have no choice but to pass that expense along to you.
To save the most on your purchases, both for the product and sales tax, it would be best for you to order your Young Living products directly from the Young Living website (at this point, all STEMTech orders are referred to the STEMTech website). This requires registration as either a Retail Customer, a Preferred Customer (which requires a $50 per month autoship order) or a Distributor, but is well worth it.
Shipping Policy
When you place an order with Essential-Vitamins.com™, I'll do everything I can to get that order processed and on its way to you that day. However, since this is a home-based business, there is only a limited amount of stock on hand.
Most orders for Young Living products are passed along to Young Living for processing and shipping. Their policy is to have orders out the door within 72 hours, but usually orders are processed the same day.
Some other products can be drop-shipped, as well, so you should get them in good time. However, from time-to-time, products that cannot be drop-shipped might not be in stock when you order is placed. Should that occur, I'll do everything I can to get the product and have it shipped as quickly as possible. The delay has never been very significant, so far.
It's my policy to send an e-mail when your order is processed, giving you some idea when to expect it at your door.
Shipping Rates
Since most orders placed on this website are processed through Young Living, all charges are determined by them. The company has made special arrangements with FedEx for discounted charges, so this works to your advantage.
- Standard shipping is FedEx Ground. Delivery is guaranteed in five days (once the product is shipped).
- FedEx 3 Day or 2nd Day Air shipping is available, at a higher charge.
Next day service is also available, but it would be cheaper to fly there and pick it up yourself. (It would make a nice trip … )
Shipping orders outside the United States often involves higher shipping rates, as well as taxes and duties. In these circumstances, we reserve the right to place a secondary charge on your credit card for the amount of actual costs. In most cases, it would be much simpler for you to order directly from Young Living.
Non-Young Living products are handled differently, but the Young Living pricing still applies.
Ordering outside the United States or Canada
While I welcome orders from around the world, several factors make it more complicated to fulfil such orders. One of the main issues here is shipping. In some cases, shipping cost as much as the product ordered, and it can be very difficult to accurately calculate costs until the the order is packaged.
If you live outside the United States or Canada and wish to order Young Living products, I would encourage you to register with Young Living and order directly from the company. Their ordering and shipping departments are set up to handle this, and you can get all the details at the time of your order.
However, if you would rather order from this website, the following would facilitate a more smooth transaction process.
- Place your order as you normally would.
- When it comes to choosing your payment method, select to pay by personal check.
- Confirm your order.
Do not send a check. Notice of your order will be sent to me. This will give me the opportunity to calculate the actual costs of shipping your product(s). I will then email you the details and request payment through PayPal. If everything is acceptable to you, all you need to do is accept the charge (or decline it, if it's not), and your order can process normally from there.
Return Policy
The return policy of Essential-Vitamins.com™ is governed by that of Young Living. As a retail customer, if you are dissatisfied with any product, you may return it within 30 days for a full refund (minus shipping charges). Simply contact me and we will work out the details.
Ordering Security
When transacting business on-line, security is always an issue. Every precaution has been taken by Essential-Vitamins.com™ to safeguard your personal information.
- This website is hosted on a secure server. My host, ICServ, uses best practices in all elements of internet security. All transactions are encrypted using SSL, and are as safe as placing orders with a card swipe in a brick-and-mortor store or over a chorded phone line (cordless and cell phones present a different picture). No system is absolutely safe, but you can be assured that every effort has been taken to guarantee a secure transaction.
- All credit card transactions are processed by Authorize Net, using best practices, offering you the added assurance of security in your on-line shopping. You have the option of paying through PayPal, as well, to take advantage of the security offered there.
- The information gathered during the ordering process is kept secure. Most of it is stored at ICServ, encrypted and off-server, with access by password only. The information that I have is protected by a firewall and port cloaking, and all printed documents are accessible only by me.
- Orders sent to Young Living for processing include only your product order and shipping information. This is done through the company website, and is secure.
