On-Line Ordering
Info and Help
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On-line ordering FAQ
Why am I having a problem placing an order or my shopping cart is empty ?
Is there another way to place an order other than on-line ordering ?
What's the deal with free shipping?
What's the easiest way to find what I want & navigate through the store ?
How long will it take for me to receive my order ?
Is ordering on-line really safe ?
Do you charge sales tax ?
Why am I having a problem placing an order
or my shopping cart is empty ?
If you're at work and behind a firewall you may not be able to access
https type URL's (there are also other ordering options
below).
When you add an item to your basket you're presented with a
window asking in you'd like to view your shopping cart. In most cases clicking
"OK will display your cart, however, if you're at work and/or behind a firewall you may not be able to access
https type URL's and you'll get a message saying your cart is empty. If this
happens, click where it says "HERE" and you should get rerouted to
your shopping cart.
Some very old browsers may have a different problem that can
be corrected by following the the instructions below.
MSIE 3.x and
Netscape 3.x users
This web site uses a secure certificate issued from Thawte.
Internet browsers contain a variety of "root certificates" to allow these secure
certificate to operate properly, however these "root certificates" do have an
expiration date. Thawte's "root certificate" that was shipped with Navigator 3.x
and MSIE 3.01 was valid from 1996 till July 1998 (the "root certificate"
shipped with newer browsers, including all 4.0 browsers and later, are valid from 1996
till 2020). This means that if you're running a 3.x generation browsers you'll need
to upgrade your security to the same level as that supported by 4.0 generation browsers by
simply replacing the Thawte "root certificate" in your browser with the same
"root certificate" as is shipped with the newer browser. The process takes
about 2 minutes and ensures that your browser works with the tens of thousands of Thawte
certified secure servers out there, well into the next century (if you're uncomfortable
making this upgrade you can still order on-line through unsecure ordering, or by phone or
fax).
Netscape Navigator 3.x
You need to delete the old root, and install the new one. Choose Options, Security
Preferences. Find the entry marked "Thawte Server CA". Delete that
certificate. Now point your browser at http://www.thawte.com/serverbasic.crt and
accept the new root certificate. This certificate is identical to the last one,
except that it is valid till 2020 and is the same as the certificate in Communicator 4.x.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x
This only works on IE 3.x on Windows95 or NT 4.0. Choose View, Options, Security,
Sites. Look for the entry called "Thawte Server CA". It may or may
not be there, depending on your precise browser version and upgrade history. If it
is there, click on it, then click on "Delete". Click on OK. Now
point your browser at http://www.thawte.com/serverbasic.crt.
Choose "Accept and Enable" and press OK. Restart your browser. You should
now have a "Thawte Server CA" entry that is valid till 2020.
Is there another way to place an order other than on-line
ordering ?
Absolutely ! Almost 35% of orders are place by phone. Feel free to call in your order
to (800) 735-5290, between 9am - 5pm PST, Monday - Friday. Orders can also be faxed. To
fax an order, simply print out a copy of your shopping basket when
you're done shopping, and fax it to (510) 234-7910. You can also
snail mail the same printed order form with a check to:
Robert's Hot Tubs
2343 Welcome Ave.
Richmond, CA 94804
What's the deal with free shipping?
We offer free shipping and handling on most orders that are over $75.00 and
are shipped via UPS to the contiguous US. The few things we offer that are too
large for UPS, including complete hot tub, are shipped via common carrier (tractor
trailer), and the shipping costs are additional. For UPS'able orders under $75
there's a $9.98 shipping charge added to the final order. Orders outside the
contiguous US will be contacted with a shipping quote before their order is
processed.
What's the easiest way to find what I want & navigate
through the store ?
The store is broken down into main categories listed in the Store Directory. Clicking on a link
there will take you to another, more specific list of pages. Also at the bottom of each
page in a navigational menu or 'Drop Down Link Menu' (see picture below). By clicking on
the drop down arrow (A), a menu of all web pages in
the store (B) will appear. Clicking and holding the
arrows (C) will scroll through the entire list.
Clicking on a page name in the menu, then clicking the "Go There"
button (D ), will take you to that specific page.
How long will it take for me to receive my order ?
Once you place your order you should receive an e-mail confirmation from
us. If you don't receive confirmation within 24 hours please let us know (I still have an
order on my desk from someone that omitted their name, address, phone number and e-mail).
Most orders are shipped via UPS within one day, although occasionally it
may be two days. Custom made items and unusual special orders may take a bit longer.
Covers take approximately two weeks in production and one week for shipping.
Below is a "shipping time chart" provided by UPS that shows
the approximate shipping time for US orders, Canadian and international
orders may take longer.
 Approximate
shipping time in the US for orders shipped via UPS |
Is ordering on-line really safe ?
Although no one can guarantee it, we believe on-line ordering through a secure web site
is very safe. The secure ordering process encrypts your personal information and ensures a
direct path from your computer to our web server thereby preventing anyone from
intercepting that information.
Credit cards are probably the safest way of doing business. If any charge ever shows up
on your statement that you didn't authorize, it's usually quite simple to dispute the
charge with the credit card company and have it removed. At most, you may be responsible
for the first $50. Personally for myself, the slim risk more than makes up for the
convenience of internet shopping. I don't have to drive somewhere, find parking and fight
the crowds only to find out that the store doesn't carry, or is out of what I need.
If you're still uneasy about ordering on-line think about this; how many times have you
given your credit card to a restaurant waiter who's walked away with it, or a minimum wage
gas station attendant ? Still feeling uneasy ? We're more than happy to take orders
by phone, fax or regular old snail mail.
Do you charge tax ?
We are required by the state of California to charge sales tax on any orders delivered to anywhere within the
state of California, only. As such our published prices include any applicable California sales taxes for
any orders placed online and shipped via UPS to a California address.
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