Click here to return to the Main Index
How to Contact Paperweights Plus
Our shop is in the Emporium at Hungerford where you can see a regularly changing selection of our paperweights. Please click here for further details.
A lot of our business is done via the internet though. Our e-mail address is paperweightsplus@gmail.com. We aim to answer all e-mails within 1 working day, but in practice it's normally very much quicker. Do please remember the time difference though if you're outside the UK!
We're available Monday to Saturday between 9am & 9pm UK time. UK time is usually 5 hours ahead of US Eastern time, 8 hours ahead of US Pacific time.
Alternatively you can telephone Peggy or Steve on 01304-814100, or on Peggy's mobile/cellphone on 07715-594613.
For international callers the country code for the UK is 44 and so our international number is +44 (0)1304-814100. You'd normally not dial the first 0 of the area code on international calls. For instance from the US you'd dial 011-44-1304-814100 for the office or 011-44-7715-594613 for Peggy's mobile/cellphone.
You can also write to us at Paperweights Plus, 2 Hoaden Cottages, Hoaden, Ash, Canterbury, CT3 2LG. United Kingdom.
If you need our VAT number it's GB 885 6127 87.
How To Order
Simply use the contact details above to check availability and reserve an item by telling us the title & colour of the weight, the country you'd like it sent to and any special requirements. We'll then reply giving you all you need to know, including postage/shipping costs.To be fair to everyone, items will be reserved for 7 days only, thereafter the first to pay gets the item!
All invoices are in UK currency, and so for non-UK customers the amount in your local currency will depend on exchange rates on the day you pay.
We accept the forms of payment below. If you wish to pay by another method please contact us and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Postage / Shipping / Free Insurance
However if using a signed-for service please sign "unchecked" on delivery so that we can claim on our insurance in the very unlikely event of damage. If this does occur please keep all the packaging until we advise you that the claim has been settled.
You can choose any Royal Mail or Parcelforce service you wish. However parcels with a value of £150 or over including postage (approx US$195 tax free or €180) must normally go via a signed-for service. Unless otherwise requested parcels within the UK under this value will be sent by 1st Class Post with Proof of Posting, or if over this value by First Class Signed For. Overseas orders under this value will be sent by Airmail Post with Proof of Posting, or if over by Air Mail International Signed For.
The table below gives a very rough indication of postage costs for single weights and will be updated regularly (last update of charges April 2013, exchange rates February 2013). However we’d stress these are guide prices only as each individual weight, even if seemingly identical, weighs a different amount.
The table assumes that small and medium weights go unsigned for, but large and extra large weights require a signature, although this depends on the value rather than the weight.
Small (up to 250 grams packed weight) e.g. McDougall G19. Value under £150
UK incl. VAT £3.60
EU incl. VAT £4.20 (approx €5.04)
Europe non-EU £3.50
Australia & New Zealand £4.70
US & Rest of World £4.50 (approx US$7.02)
Medium (250 to 500 grams packed weight) e.g. Deacons Strathearn. Value under £150
UK incl. VAT £3.60
EU incl. VAT £5.94 (approx €7.13)
Europe non-EU £4.95
Australia & New Zealand £7.55
US & Rest of World £7.20 (approx US$11.23)
Large (500 to 750 grams packed weight) e.g. McDougall Magnum Complex. Value £150 or over
UK incl. VAT £4.92
EU incl. VAT £14.04(approx €16.85)
Europe non-EU £11.70
Australia & New Zealand £15.70
US & Rest of World £15.20 (approx US$23.71)
Extra Large (750 to 1000 grams packed weight) e.g. Deacons Double Overlay. Value £150 or over
UK incl. VAT £4.92
EU incl. VAT £15.78 (approx €18.94)
Europe non-EU £13.15
Australia & New Zealand £18.55
US & Rest of World £17.90 (approx US$27.92)
More than 1 weight
It almost always saves on total postage to combine purchases and send more than one weight in a parcel. The exception is when the parcel weighs over 1kg in the UK or 2kg (approx 4lbs 6ozs) anywhere in the world. In this case we'll automatically take the trouble to split your order into separate parcels to save you money.
We aim to post all our orders within 1 business day (Monday to Friday), although sometimes we can also get to the Post Office on Saturday mornings. However, please remember the time difference if you're outside the UK. We may also have different public holidays to you.
Royal Mail's target time for delivery with Airmail & Airmail International Signed For is not more than three working days to Western Europe, four working days to Eastern Europe and five working days to the US & the rest of the world. Please note though these are target times rather than guarantees and it may take longer, especially in the run up to Christmas. Additionally, you may be very unlucky and have your parcel delayed in customs, or refused to fly by air for security reasons. Obviously we have no control over this.
Taxes & Duty etc
Orders to the USA and other non-EU countries will be free of VAT (sales tax).
VAT at the prevailing rate is included in the price shown in GB Pounds or Euros. This is currently 20% on the total order (including postage) to the UK. The only exception is on antiques, i.e. 100+ years old, where the rate is 5%. The same applies to orders to other EU countries unless you're a business and can provide us with a VAT number or its equivalent, plus if you pick the weight up any documentation that our VAT office requires such as proof that the goods have left the UK.
If you're outside the European Union please be aware that import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
However the value of your parcel may be below your government's duty-free allowance in which case there should be no charge. The rules vary from country to country. For instance the US customs website states that the duty-free limit is $200 per day. Above $200 we understand the rate of duty on glass paperweights is 7.2%, plus the US postal service charges a fee of $5.50 to collect this.
In practice, we understand many parcels with a value of less than $2000 escape charges altogether if sent Royal Mail. We can’t guarantee any of the above information though, and we'd always recommend that you check this and other rules with your country's customs offices to determine the level of any additional costs prior to purchase. If imposed, these charges are normally collected by your own Post Office or other delivery service, and are separate to our shipping charge.
Please also note that we don't mark items below their true value or as gifts - this is a criminal offence.
Money Back Guarantee / Returns / Complaints
We may be old-fashioned but we believe in the old adage that the customer is always right. As collectors ourselves we want you to be 100% happy with your purchase. If for any reason you're not, even if you've just changed your mind, just tell us within 60 days of purchase and we'll give you a full refund.This even includes the cost of postage both ways - wherever in the world you are!
The only exception is if the weight incorporates such personalisation as initials that would make the weight difficult to sell to anyone else. In these cases we reserve the right to ask for a non-refundable deposit.
All items must of course be returned in perfect condition, or in the case of pre-owned items in the condition we sent them. We suggest you re-use our packaging plus new tape to secure each paperweight and the box.
If you do return a weight from outside the UK please include our invoice and mark the parcel "returned item" and also "country of origin UK". This is because otherwise we get stung for import duty and tax.
Yes, this guarantee does cost us money - sometimes more than the cost of the weight!
However this is just one of the things we do to ensure you never have cause for complaint. But if for any reason you do please contact the owner, Peggy Burke, who will take action immediately. The only exception is regarding marketing, which is taken care of by Peggy's husband Steve.You can find contact details here.
Privacy Policy
Other than as needed to process/despatch your orders please be assured that we'll never give your e-mail address, nor indeed any other contact information, to any third party whatsoever. The only exception is of course if we're required to do so by a law enforcement agency.
Sizes of Weights
There's no standard size for paperweights, with each artist having different ideas. Additionally, Scottish weights tend to be slightly smaller than US ones.
However we think that some form of standardisation would be helpful to our customers when comparing weights, and we generally work to the following scale for Scottish weights. This is loosely based on the diameter of Perthshire weights as shown on page 75 of the excellent book "The Complete Guide to Perthshire Paperweights", but updated to millimetres as well as inches and also giving an upper and lower limit.
Magnum: 80mm+
Large: 70-80mm
Medium: 60-70mm
Small: 50-60mm
Miniature: 25-50mm
Doll's House: less than 25mm
In inches this works out roughly as follows (1inch=25.4mm):
Magnum: bigger than just over 3 1/8ins
Large: a tiny bit over 2 3/4ins to just over 3 1/8ins
Medium: a tiny bit under 2 3/8ins to a tiny bit over 2 3/4ins
Small: a tiny bit under 2ins to a tiny bit under 2 3/8ins
Miniature: approx 1in to a tiny bit under 2ins
Doll's House: under approx 1in
Terms and Conditions
We've made our terms and conditions as simple as possible, and don't hide behind complicated "get-out" clauses. Because all our weights are individually-made, sizes and colours may vary. All goods remain the property of Paperweights Plus until cleared funds are received. All damages or missing items must be notified within 7 working days of receipt. Errors and omissions excepted. We regret that we can not be held responsible for any damage caused by our products. All transactions are subject to English law and any dispute or claim shall be determined under English law in an English court.Currency Converter
All our prices are given in UK currency, i.e. GB pounds. However, to help overseas customers plan purchases click here to link to a currency conversion page. Please note that these are mid-market prices and so don't take into account the cost of conversion. This varies depending on which bank or credit card company you use. Customers tell us that PayPal is very competitive, charging only around 2 1/2% from this mid-market price.
To help our many US and EU customers we also give a guide price for each item in US dollars and Euros. These are updated only when there's a major change in exchange rates (it's a big job!) and so is indeed just a guide. Mind you, with the way exchange rates are fluctuating these days we're likely to have to do updates a lot more often! We therefore err on the side of caution, and more often than not you'll pay a little less than that shown, even after the cost of conversion.
However please note that the cost in your local currency is always based on the exchange rate on the day you pay.
Links
We welcome reciprocal links as this helps both parties get a better rating on search engines such as Google.You may find the following of interest:
The Emporium Hungerford
We rent space in the Hungerford Emporium, an antiques, collectors and lifestyle centre that houses over 50 dealers. Here you can see an ever-changing selection of our stock. Hungerford is a picturesque town in Berkshire most famous for its many antiques and collectors shops, including 3 large multi-dealer centres and many smaller outlets. Hungerford is just off the M4 motorway and on the main London to Bath and South Wales railway, not to mention being near London's Heathrow airport. It's therefore very easy to get to, and is also surrounded by tourist attractions. Click here to view the Emporium's website
B&B in Paris
If you're planning a trip to Paris then why not stay with fellow paperweight collectors Brian & Tony? The accommodation is situated in a quiet cobblestoned street in the north-east of Paris. The subway will take you to the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall near Notre Dame) in about 10 minutes..... or opt for a leisurely ride on the bus which will also take you to Hôtel de Ville, Châtelet, Saint Michel, Saint Germain and on to Montparnasse. Your hosts, Brian and Tony, will make sure that you experience the best of Parisian hospitality.Click here to go to their website.
World Art Glass
A guide to art glass and crystal around the World. It includes extensive links lists for galleries, studios, museums, sources of information, events, organizations, publications etc. Click here.
Duncan Smith Glass Craft
After 23 years as Head Lampworker at Perthshire Paperweights in Crieff, Dunc opened his own glass workshop in Perth in March 2002. He makes a stunning range of glass collectables featuring birds and animals, and also used to collaborate with John Deacons making lampwork for his paperweights, a few of which we still have in stock. To visit Dunc's website click here.
Click here to return to the Main Index
Click here to return to the Main Index
For more details click here.
'
Click here to return to the Main Index
LATEST NEWS
<21st May 2013
Peter McDougall
We've just received some new weights from Peter including 2 large concentric weights.
These come in 2 sizes, 4 ring and 5 ring. We especially like the muted pinks and lilacs of the 5 ring weight.
17th May 2013
To see them click here.
We've also have some more G19, 2 x G12B and a G12C on clear in stock and these can be found by clicking here.
John Deacons
John is one of the most innovative artists we know, and he’s always looking to push the boundaries in paperweights. We think you’ll agree he’s once again done it with this latest selection of weights to arrive.
The star weight has to be the superb Rose Porthole Encasement. It's not a limited edition, but it's a technically challenging piece, and so I doubt John will be making too many. However, if you'd like one we'd be pleased to order it.
Among the millefiori weights are a number of magnums and in particular we like the closepack with torsade.
To see all the new millefiori weights click here.
17th April 2013
We have just received 2 new designs from John. The first one is his Bulbous Weight which proved very popular and has now been improved still further by Craig.
We have 2 in stock, in a large and medium size. For more details click here..
We have also added a weight to John's standard range and this is a Magnum Maltese Cross weight. Super value at just £50. For more details click here.
3rd April 2013
Hafod Grange Paperweights
Alun and Gareth have perfected the technique of encapsulating flowers and other unusual object in resin, and their paperweights make lovely gifts. We've just added two more to our stock, a light and dark carnation. To see them click here
With winter still determinedly hanging on in the Northern Hemisphere we need reminding that it is in fact Spring, and this lovely daffodil weight will do just that.
We have just the small one in stock but it's now only being made in the larger size. If you'd like one remember this is a seasonal weight and therefore won't be available for very long.
2nd April 2013
We've just reduced the prices of our popular Layback stands. These come in 3 different sizes, the largest of which we've had specially made. You can buy the stands singly, or have a mixture of sizes in packs of 5 (even 5 of the largest size now go in the Royal Mail's new lowest postage band worldwide). There's also a trial pack of 1 of each size available. For more details click here.
29th March 2013
Peter McDougall - Hidden Treasures
We have just found a box of weights that have been tucked away since we moved.
There are a number of millefiori weights, including a Magnum Alphabet Weight, a small double overlay Complex Cane Flower on Cushion and a stunning Flash Overlay Closepack Complex Bud Vase.
click here. to see them.
We also found a number of lampwork weights, including this very attractive small faceted weight with lampwork by Peter's son Allan.
To see them click here.
31st March 2013
Website Housekeeping
We've been busy checking through the website, in particular ensuring that all the links go to the correct page. Hopefully they are now all correct. However if you do find one that we'e missed please do let us know.
28th March 2013
Allan McDougall
When Peter closed his studio he told us that he would be working with his son Allan on miniature weights that they could make at home. We’ve now received the first of these, and we’re delighted with them, as we’re sure you will be too. Allan was shown how to make miniature weights by none other than John Gooderham, and in fact he even has some of his tools. He’s now developed his skills further to make these super weights.
Domed Weights
Faceted Weights
For full details click here.
We've already sold 2 within 12 hours, so if you want one of these don't delay!
