FAQ Ordering

FAQ

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Ordering
Information on placing an order

How do I place an order online?

Ordering online is simple and fast. As you're browsing through the products, when you see something you like, simply click on the button 'Add to Cart'. This will open the page for the product so you can select the color, size or quantity of an item that you want.

Once you have added all the items you'd like to buy click the shopping cart button. Click the 'Checkout' button you will be redirected to the login page. If you have an account with Africa Imports, then you can go ahead and log in.

If you don't have an account, yet you can click on the link that says 'My Account' then the button that says 'Sign up'. Having an account with Africa Imports allows you to save your shipping and billing information online so that we can send you up to date catalogs and send your orders to your correct address.

After you have logged in you will be redirected to your shopping cart. Click the " Checkout" button. You will be taken to page where you will confirm your order, the shipping address, and your shipping options. Click "Continue with Payment" to enter your credit card or PayPal information. Click the "Review and Confirm" button. After you have confirmed the information, press submit and your order will be placed with Africa Imports and you will receive an e-mail confirmation.

I live outside of the US. How is my order processed?

  • We are unable to process credit cards from banks outside of the United States. We can accept wire transfers or any monies sent to us as long as they are in U.S. dollars. We accept Paypal which is usually the most simple payment method for international orders.
  • Unless you choose the shipping company, we will ship the least expensive way. We will tell you the total cost of your order including shipping, but we will not know the exact cost until after your order is packed.
  • We are unable to help you with customs.
    If there are any extra charges by the country to which the package is being shipped, these costs are extra, and are not included in your payment to us. You may have additional costs for customs and for clearing that are not included in your bill from us which you are responsible for. We are also not responsible for any customs delays in receiving your order, this is beyond our control and will not be acceptable as a reason for refusal of the goods sent.
  • We have a 100% guarantee that you will be happy with the goods sent, but shipping costs and customs fees are not refundable.

Do you have a minimum order?

If you are purchasing wholesale, there is a minimum first time order of $100.
All following orders will only have to be $50.

What types of payment terms do you offer?

Credit/Debit Cards: We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover Card.
We also accept PayPal; you can send your PayPal payments to paypal@africaimports.com
Money Order - You can pay by money order by mailing it to us with a copy of your order.

Why do I sometimes see a $1 charge on my credit or debit card after placing an order?

The $1 charge is a temporary authorization hold that is sometimes placed on your credit or debit card to verify that the funds for your purchase are available in your account. Once the transaction is finalized, the $1 hold is removed. The exact time-frame for removal is determined by your card's issuing bank. In the event that your order is canceled, you may contact your bank and request an immediate release of any holds on your account.

What other ways can I place an order?

  • Place your order by phone
    We have friendly customer service representatives waiting to help you with your order. All you have to do is call our phone number: 201-457-1995. We can answer any questions you have, and make sure that your order is processed and delivered to you with the greatest care and quality.
  • Place your order by fax
    You can fax in your order anytime to our fax number: 201-457-1910. Simply write down the products you'd like, your shipping and billing address, and your payment information on a sheet of paper (any kind of paper will do). Fax the paper to the above number and your order will be processed right away.
  • Mail in your order
    You can mail your order to us anytime to the following address:
    Africa Imports
    240 South Main Street, Unit A
    South Hackensack, NJ, 07606 When you mail in your order, please write down all the items you'd like to receive along with the quantities and prices. Also please note your billing, shipping address, and your payment options. You can also mail in a money order or cashiers check. You can also pay by credit or debit card by writing the card number and expiration date on your order form.

Will my order look exactly like the photo on the website?

Many of the items shown in this catalog are hand made. The measurements shown are all approximate. The images will be reasonably similar to any items that you receive; but no two are exactly alike. Most people feel that this adds value to a product of this kind. If for any reason however, you are unhappy with any product that you receive, you can return it for either a full refund, or exchange for a new item of equal value

What guarantee do I have that I will be happy with my order?

We want to do all that we can to see you as a customer again. Even more than this, we want you to be so happy with your purchase that you can tell someone about us. If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason at all (or even for no reason), you can return it for a full refund or exchange; whichever you choose. All returns must be undamaged and returned within 30 days of your purchase for a complete refund. Clothing must not be soiled or laundered. See our full Return Policy Here

How do I change or cancel an order?

Whenever you are needing to change or cancel an order, please call our offices toll free at 1-800-500-6120. Tell one of the representatives what you would like to change, or if you would like to cancel the order. They will look up your order and process the change for you. Make sure you call before 11 AM EST on the day that you place your order to make any changes or to cancel. After that time changes can not normally be made to your order.

How can I place an order without using my credit card?

There are other payment options available at the Online Shop which you can use to pay for an order. Select the option most suitable to you in the "Payment Method" area. For example, if you wish to mail in a money order, select this option to create the order. You may send your money order to our address by quoting your order number. If you need any further assistance, please contact Customer Service at 1-201-457-1995.

Why are some garments out of stock?

Clothing fashions change from one season to the next. Because of this clothing is the most likely type of product to go out of stock.

When we look for African or African-Inspired garments we always try to get as much as possible so that you can always have what you want when you want it. However, some items are very rare or limited in quantity, so we can only offer a smaller number of each selection. Some garments are only available for a one-time purchase from our craftspeople, so once the garment sells out it is no longer available for us to re-sell. We try to purchase garments that we can re-stock, but at the same time we want to give you the biggest variety of choices possible. Because of this, you may find an occasional product that we can not restock.

Get a head start! One of our goals is to give you what you need, without the worry of something selling out. Because of this, you can see the stock quantities on any item you want to purchase online. You can also call in for this so that you can know best what will work for you or your company. The information on or website is 'real-time.' This means that whenever a customer purchases an item, the quantity in stock shown on our website changes immediately. When new stock arrives, it shows up on our website instantly. The quantity in stock for each product is shown directly below the price. You can check available stock of any item easily by typing the item number for the product into the search box to find the item. For products that come in different colors and sizes, you can click again to see the different options along with the quantities in stock for each.

Why isn't everything at Africa Imports made in Africa?

Most of what you find here is made in Africa; but some other products are made in other countries.

The country of origin is shown in the product description for everything we have to offer. So you can always find out where something is made.

There are several reasons why we offer some products made in other places. The main reason is that our customers want many of these items. A significant goal of our business is to help our customers have what they want.

Another reason is that offering some of these products made in other parts of the world helps our wholesale customers get new customers for their business. Even though some things are made in different parts of the world, they can often still communicate the culture and heritage of Africa. Sometimes they are priced lower so that more people can own what is offered and help our wholesale customers to be able to reach a broader audience.

If you wonder how we can sell products from other countries and still have a mission of supporting communities in Africa. The reason this works is simple. It is because selling these products causes us to sell more African-made products that many customers may not notice otherwise. As long as giving customers more options increases sales of the African-made products, we believe that we are meeting our company goals. More African communities will be supported through the sales of the things that they make.

Because not everything offered by Africa Imports is made in Africa, we also support many people and charitable activities with the profits that come from these other products.

We also have very low price mark-ups on some African made products. There are a number of African made products that would lose money if we did not offer non-African made products as well. By offering larger selections, you can order some African made products that would not be available otherwise. Africa Imports exists to help people and communities in Africa prosper. By selling more African-made goods, there are more communities in Africa that are able to grow in their industry; and more craftspeople in Africa can support themselves while carrying on African traditions. Each time you purchase an African-made product, someone in Africa is supported in their work. We appreciate your business no matter what you order, but we hope that you will consider African-made products in a special way, because of the good that results when you purchase from them.

How do you get the smell out of leather?

If you have ever noticed a leather smell coming from your leather bags, don't worry, this is normal. Leather naturally has a strong cow-hide smell, and the dyes used on the leather also have their own scent. You can get rid of the odor with just a few simple step, just click here.

How long until back ordered items come back into stock?

The length of time the product comes back into stock varies and depends on the product. There are some items that do not come back into stock. This is most common for clothing with changing fashion from one season to the next. For most items that are scheduled to come back in stock, you can be notified automatically when they come back in stock. For this, search for the item by item #. A screen that allows you to enter your email address to be emailed automatically will appear. You can also call us on the phone and ask to be contacted when it is in stock.

Do you have a problem with your drum?

We can replace the drum or give you a full refund if this is best for you. There are other things about your drum that it might help you to know first. Click here to find out more.