Many of our customers ask us similar questions. We have placed the questions and our answers on this page to give you immediate access to the information without waiting for a response from one of our representatives.

If your questions are specific to your quotation, or we have not provided an answer here, please feel free to use the form on our ContactUs page and we will respond as soon as possible.

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I LIKE YOUR DESIGN, HOW DO I PLACE AN ORDER?

If you already have a quote from us, just view your quote and click on the 'Buy Now' button to make your purchase at our secure store.  Our on line store is secure using SSL encryption and is open 24/7 for your convenience. 

WHAT DOES YOUR PRICE INCLUDE?

In a word - "EVERYTHING".  Once we have provided a quote, there are NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES.  If you need to add additional text when you see the proof, there are NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES as long as it fits on the same size plaque (see note).  There are NO MOUNTING HARDWARE CHARGES for standard mounting hardware such as screws and rosettes.  There are NO HIDDEN SHIPPING CHARGES.

NOTE: We are happy to make changes to your design after you make your purchase. We will send you up to 3 changes at NO CHARGE. We charge 5% ($25 minimum) of the plaque price for EACH change we have to send you after the third change. PLEASE review your proof carefully and try to incorporate all modifications into one change to save us time and save you money.

DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?

YES. We accept Visa, Master Card and AMEX.  Credit cards protect you (the buyer) from fraud.

ONCE I ORDER, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

Our standard production schedule is to ship in 3-4 weeks (except custom sculpted bas relief's - such as a persons face). Some plaques on our standard schedule go out sooner. This production time is NOT guaranteed.

We can ship custom cast bronze plaques - including those with a custom bas relief, in a little as one week. One week production doubles the price of a plaque (minimums apply).

We strongly urge you NOT to schedule any ceremony involving a cast plaque until you actually have the plaque in your hand. Production times vary depending upon when in the overall production cycle the plaque actually 'hits the foundry floor'. Delays can (and do) occur that are out of our control including ( flawed castings that must be redone, shipping damage, lost or delayed shipments, etc). Orders can not be canceled and refunds will not be offered for plaques whose delivery has been delayed.

I JUST GOT MY PLAQUE AND CAN NOT FIND THE HARDWARE. CAN YOU HELP?

This is the most frequently asked question. Our plaques are carefully packaged in special shipping crates or cartons. The hardware is attached to the back of the plaque with tape. Sometimes, it can be found taped to the carton behind the plaque, but THE HARDWARE IS DEFINITELY THERE. Processing an order to replace a "missing" set of hardware can exceed $25 so we make absolutely certain that your hardware is in the package. 99.99% of all reported "missing" hardware is in fact found by the customer. Do the following;

1. Look for a brown tape imprinted "HARDWARE". This tape is used to affix the hardware to the plaque or carton,
2. Open the carton FLAT and look on both sides. The hardware may have stuck to the carton in the tape,
3. Unwrap the plaque. Remove the clear wrapper from the plaque. Go through the clear wrapper. Clear cellophane tape can hide the hardware,
4. Carefully turn the plaque over and look on the back. Most of the time, the hardware is taped to the back of the plaque.

I JUST GOT MY PLAQUE AND IT IS DAMAGED. WHAT DO I DO?

Damage can occur in shipping, but rest assured that we will repair or replace any plaque that has been received damaged. We need to know the specifics of the damage so we can determine the best and fastest method of correcting the problem. If you own a digital camera, please take a picture of the plaque and a close up of the damaged area and email these to us. If you have a ceremony shortly that requires the plaque, if possible, use the damaged plaque for the ceremony and return it after the ceremony.

Most importantly, KEEP ALL SHIPPING MATERIALS.

If we instruct you to return the plaque, KEEP ALL MOUNTING HARDWARE.

I JUST GOT MY PLAQUE AND I DISCOVERD AN ERROR. WHAT DO I DO?

Hold onto the plaque and all packing materials. Then call us or email us describing the error. DO NOT RETURN A PLAQUE WITHOUT A RETURN AUTHORIZATION.

There are many options available for correcting errors on bronze plaques, but almost all require grinding off letters, casting and soldering on new letters, sandblasting off the finish and totally refinishing the plaque. This is a labor intensive process and can cost half the price (or more) or casting a new bronze plaque. (Aluminum and etched plaques can not be corrected in this manner).

If we made the error, we will correct it at our cost. If it is an error made by the purchaser, we can only offer a refund of the scrap value of the metal if the bad plaque is returned to us. On larger plaques an additional discount on recasting the same design, with the corrected text may be offered.

We enjoy designing and selling cast plaques BUT we get no pleasure out of selling a replacement plaque. PLEASE - check all details before placing the order or approving the final proof.

The design wizard makes the plaque too large.

The wizard was created to design the SMALLEST practical cast plaque. You can achieve the smallest plaque by using all UPPERCASE letters (harder to read) and setting the size to 1/4". If the wizard will not make the plaque smaller, it is unlikely one of our designers can make it smaller.

The wizard does not allow me to add graphics to the plaque.

The wizard was created to allow customers to design cast plaques with text only. Adding graphics can be tricky since line widths and spacing are VERY critical. Therefore, graphics requires the assistance of one of our designers.

HOW LONG WILL YOUR PLAQUE HOLD UP UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS?

Our plaques hold up for many years under ALL conditions. Our plaques are located every where from Iraq, to Alaska, to underwater reefs, to the beach in Puerto Rico. Clear coat finish comes down to personal preference. In most outdoor locations, I would recommend the high gloss polyurethane clear coat. This will protect the plaque and it will maintain its 'like new' finish for years. Low gloss lacquer is available, but does not withstand the elements nearly as well as the polyurethane clear coat.  For salt exposure locations such as the beach or undersea, my personal preference would to have NO FINISH (OR BACKGROUND COLOR) AT ALL on the plaque and let the salt air turn it green (patina) over the years (it is 88% copper). Periodically, you can restore it to bright bronze by using copper cleaner. Either way, 100+ years is reasonable for the plaque itself.

WHAT IS YOUR PRODUCT WARRANTY?

Our products are warranted to be free from defects in craftsmanship and material for life. The warranty on coatings is 1 year. Our obligation under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement, at our option. No other warranty expressed or implied is granted. We are not liable for any incidental or consequential damages associated with use, removal or installation. We shall not be responsible for any costs or damages caused during installation. We will not pay for the removal and installation of plaques returned for warranty.

WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF YOUR BRONZE ALLOY?

Our bronze alloy is equivalent to "Copper Development Association Alloy C92200" which is 88% copper, 6% tin, 4% zinc and 2% lead.

DO YOU ACCEPT PURCHASE ORDERS?

We only accept purchase orders from the Federal Government (typically using SF1449).  We prefer payment using government purchasing card (IMPAC) as opposed to WAWF. 

WE ARE A STATE OR CITY AGENCY, WILL YOU ACCEPT OUR PURCHASE ORDER?

Most state agencies, etc. have access to purchase cards - please ask your purchasing agent. If this is not available, we will invoice you for the order and commence production upon receipt of payment - you can mail a check of call with a credit card.  If your organization is concerned about fraud, we recommend you use a credit card as credit card companies offer 100% protection to the purchaser.

WHY DO YOU NO LONGER ACCEPT PURCHASE ORDERS

Purchase orders are expensive for us to process partly due to bureaucratic paperwork imposed by some organizations.  We have experienced delays of 60, 90 and 120 days in receipt of payment.

DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?

YES. We accept Visa, Master Card and AMEX.  Credit cards protect you (the buyer) from fraud.

DO YOU COLLECT SALES TAX?

We only collect sales tax on orders shipped within The Commonwealth of Virginia.  For shipments outside The Commonwealth of Virginia, your state or municipality may require payment of Sales or Use Taxes by you, the consumer.  In purchasing from us, you agree to be responsible for reporting and paying taxes on these purchases directly to your state tax department, if required.

WHAT ABOUT IMPORT DUTY?

Import duty and / or VAT on orders shipped outside the U.S.A. are the responsibility of the purchaser.  We are not responsible for delays caused by customs officials delaying shipments pending payment of Duty and VAT.

CAN YOU SEND ME A CATALOG?

Not any longer. We consider our company "environmentally responsible" and do not send out hard copy catalogs. Our web site accomplishes what printed media can not accomplish; it is updated in real time and does not add to global pollution.

I NEED A QUOTE. HOW DO I GET ONE?

If you need a price quotation, please fill out our on line form or send us an email ( see our ContactUs page) describing what you want.  If you want a small plaque, try your hand on our design wizard where you can design your own bronze plaque and purchase it on line.

DO YOU HAVE STANDARD ITEMS FOR PURCHASE?

Yes. You can see them with prices at our on line store. When at our store, just click on the links on the left navigation pane to see specific items and prices such as memorial plaques, veterans plaques, service emblems, etc.

I DO NOT SEE THE TYPE OF PLAQUE THAT I WANT. CAN YOU HELP?

ABSOLUTELY.   All our products are custom designed. Just give us an idea of what you want. It is always a good idea to have a budget range in mind so check out the products on our on line store for some idea of prices.

WHY CAN'T YOU CAST WHAT I LAY OUT IN MY WORD PROCESSOR?

Our products are produced using a sand casting process. In this process, molten bronze is poured into a mold. Sufficient room must be left around letters to permit the mold to remain intact as the molten bronze is poured. Look here for more technical information about our artwork requirements or try our design wizard which is 100% accurate.