Frequently Asked Questions

All credit card transactions on this site are processed using Eway, a secure online payment gateway which encrypts your card details in a secure host environment. At Bowerbird we don't hold your credit card details on the website. To help ensure that your shopping experience is safe, simple and secure, Bowerbird uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. This encrypts and protects the data you send to us over the internet.

Do you accept money orders or personal cheques?

We will not accept personal cheques but money orders are o.k. You can purchase these at your local post office. If you are planning on paying with a money order, please email us with what item(s) you are interested in ordering. We will send you your total amount and we expect money orders to be received within five business days. Upon receipt of your money order we will then forward your item.

Sorry, we do not accept cash in any form nor do we accept international money orders.

Can I make changes to my order?

Since orders are shipped out on the next business day, we only accept revised requests up to 12 hours after your original transaction. Please contact us ASAP if you need us to cancel an order, add something, or just switch an item. We will be happy to do this for you if it's within 12 hours. Once an item is shipped, no revisions can be made.

Do you do returns and/or exchanges?

Yes we do! But only on full priced clothing. We don't accept returns on SALE items, jewellery or gifts and you will need to follow our Returns Policy instructions very carefully. Unless the steps are followed correctly we will not accept an item back and it will be posted back to you without a reimbursement.

How do I know for sure if an item will fit?

Check out our comprehensive sizing section for vintage clothing measurement information. We try to give exact measurements for the garments we sell, so please review that information closely. Check out the measuring guide first and then measure yourself and compare each of them.

Do you put merchandise on hold for anyone?

Yes, we will hold your item for 48hrs. If you are interested in having an item held, please email me us and let us know what item(s) you want. You will then need to send a follow up email within 48hrs to confirm that you want to go ahead with the transaction. If we do not hear from you within 48hrs we will take the item off of hold without contacting you.

How often do you get new stock?

We update our website atleast once a week. We have a huge amount of wonderful vintage clothing. vintage evening wear and other goodies in our warehouse that we have been collecting for many years and Joanna is out and about sourcing new treasures all the time, so check back regularly for fresh updates!

Remember though if it is vintage clothing, then it’s generally a one off and we only carry ONE OF EACH item, so once an item is sold out, it's sold out for good! Of course something equally fab always replaces it so sign up for the newsletter or click on the What’s New! tab on the Home page.

How do I know what condition the vintage clothing is in?

The vintage clothing we sell is thoroughly checked for age spots, tears, stains etc. Although we try to only list quality garments, due to the age of some garments there will sometimes be pieces that are not in 100% top condition. However, if we think that a damaged item of vintage clothing is still a fabulous piece and deserves to be listed then we will try to give an accurate and honest description of its flaws along with photos where possible.

Also, all our vintage cltohing is subjected to our vintage clothing quality rating system (which is found underneath the description). Please check out the descriptions for each rating under Vintage Clothing Rating System

And remember, each peice of vintage clothing is a little treasure that tells a story or links back to a certain period in history. Small flaws often add to the garments unique story. Be gentle with your little piece of history and ultimately it will stand the test of time.

ORDERING

Ordering online is the fastest and most convenience way for customers to shop. When you order on line you will receive an order confirmation number at the conclusion of your order process as well as a confirmation email, including order number and an approximate total amount to be charged.

We also accept money orders and very soon we will have gift certificates. For verification purposes, every purchase made with a gift certificate also requires you to enter a credit card number. It will only be charged if the order total exceeds the amount on your gift certificate, and will only be charged the outstanding order balance. The information on your credit card will not be used for any other purpose.

If you are not comfortable with ordering on-line you can place an order over the phone by calling us on 0427 120 972 between 9.00am and 10.00pm seven days a week. We do not accept faxed or mail orders GST: Each item for sale on the Bowerbird Vintage website is GST inclusive and no additional charges will be incurred. The only time additional costs may be incurred is if the shipping charges are more than usual due to the weight of an item. You will be notified prior to final payment of any additional charges.

Bowerbird is not responsible for pricing errors caused by system malfunction.

SHIPPING

All items are wrapped up like littel presents! Then securely packaged and mailed on the next business day through Australia Post.

Postage cost are calculated at a flat rate of $7.50 to any destination in Australia.

Arrival dates vary on location, but are usually received within 2-5 business days within Australia. Shipping costs include packaging, PayPal fees, and actual shipping cost. Bowerbird is located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

On some heavier items there may be extra shipping charge noted on the item description page in order to cover shipping fees. This amount is already included in the price.

International shipping:

There is a flat shipping cost of $15.00AUD world wide on a standard size parcel. On some heavier items there may be extra shipping charges applied. You will be notified by email of any further costs associated with shipping to your country. You can contact us for shipping quotes on heavier items. Please state what items you are interested in and what country your order will be shipped to. All international customers have the option of what shipping method they wish to use which may also affect the total cost of your shipping. We will reply to your inquiry within 24hours.

RETURNS

We accept returns for any reason at all on full priced vintage clothing only. However, if you are going to return an item you will need to follow the steps below very carefully. Failure to do so could mean that you will end up having to keep the garment and not being reimbursed. If you are not happy with the item you may return for refund of money minus a 10% restocking fee as long as the item(s) are in the mail within 2 days of your delivery date & are in the exact same condition we sent them in & all of our rules & policies are followed.

Also, Items sent back without prior notice will be rejected & you will have to pay for shipping to get them back.

Here’s what to do:

Email us immediately at info@bowerbirdvintage.com.au and state that you need to return an item. We receive returns for any reason at all. However it is essential that you notify us first with the specific reason. Also make sure you note the invioce number in your email.
You will receive a reply ASAP, confirming your return and giving you a timeframe within which to send the item back and a return authorization number. Mark this number clearly on the outside of your return package, below your return address. Packages shipped without this authorization number will not be processed.
After you have received the confirmation email, send the package by any insured method of shipment to our PO BOX address. You must pay for the cost of the returned items yourself.
The returned item must be in the same condition stated previously online or by email, and postmarked within the timeframe. Any tags or affixed items (belts, brooches, etc) must be present and in same condition.
You will receive an email regarding reimbursement when the return has been received and inspected. We process returns every Friday. Every order returned will be subject to a 10% restocking fee, except orders returned to be fully or partially used toward another purchase (either by store credit or exchange). The exchanged item cannot be returned. Shipping cannot be reimbursed.
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: We can only accept exchanges from overseas orders. Don't see anything you like right now? No worries. Your credit is good forever. All shipping, customs, duty fees, or any other charges related to shipping & taxes are the customer’s responsibility.

Returns may not be shipped back if:

The package would be postmarked for return after the given timeframe
We have not emailed you written consent to return the package
The item(s) were sold on sale, via auction, or with any type of discount
We believe you are abusing our return policy by purchasing items for copying/rental purposes, and then returning the goods. Customers who we suspect are doing this type of activity are not eligible for return, and this decision is entirely at our discretion.

Any items shipped to us without following the above instructions will be either: (1) marked returned to sender, (2) the value will be eligible for store credit, or (3) the value will be reimbursed with a 25% restocking fee, at our discretion.

Unfortunately we do not accept returns on any SALE items or jewellery.

SIZING

These charts are provided as a guide only. Not only are vintage clothing sizes different from modern sizes, but they also vary from manufacturer to manufacturers. In fact, did you know there is no standard for sizing in today’s clothing industry either?

At Bowerbird we consider the size labels in our vintage clothing garments to mean very little at all and we always use modern sizing – never the old size, even if it’s on the label!

The very best way to know if something is going to fit you is to measure yourself and then compare them to the measurements next to the vintage clothing garment you are interested in.

The most accurate way to get the best fit when buying vintage clothing is to obtain your measurements by following these simple steps

Measuring Tips to Ensure the Best Fit

Keep tape firm, but not too tight or too loose.
When measuring, if possible, wear the undergarments that you plan to wear with the outfit.
If possible, have another person measure you.
If you are between sizes, select the larger size.
Select the size that fits the largest part of your body.

BUST:

With arms at your side, place tape under your arms and run it around the fullest part of the bust line and across the shoulder blades.

WAIST:

Find the natural crease of your body by bending to one side. Run tape measure around your natural waistline, keeping one finger between the tape and your body for a comfortable fit.

HIPS:

With feet together, run tape around the fullest part of your hips, about 20cm (8 inches) below your waistline.

If you are still unsure about sizing by all means send us an email with your questions and we can provide further information or addition measurements of the garment

How we measure our garments:

We try to be as accurate as possible. We measure the garment when it is laying flat and un-stretched:

BLOUSES, TOPS & COATS:

Arm length is measured from shoulder seam to wrist hem.
Bust/chest measured from underarm, across the chest to the other underarm, and then measurement is doubled.
Length is measured from shoulder to hem, or straight down the back not including collar.
Waist is measured across where a normal waist would fall and then doubled.
Back is measured from shoulder seam across to other shoulder seam (see diagram below).

REMEMBER: ALWAYS MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR COMFORT WHEN TAKING MEASUREMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION

Skirts and Dresses:

Dress length is measured from shoulder to hem.
Waist is measured across where an average waist falls, then doubled.
Skirt length is measured from waistband to hem.
Hips are measured across where an average hip falls, then doubled.

CARE OF VINTAGE CLOTHING

Because vintage CLOTHING has quite possibly been around longer than you have, it is really important to make sure that you treat it with respect! Follow these simple rules and your fab new frock will probably last another 50 years!

Where possible also try to clean an item of vintage clothing immediately after wearing to avoid stains like perspiration from setting
Use a gentle liquid detergent instead of powder if you are going to hand wash. I always use a good quality eucalyptus wool wash on my vintage clothing as it’s the most gentle cleaner and the eucalyptus scent is excellent for removing those musty smells.

Always dry clean if in doubt about washing certain vintage fabrics

Never store vintage items in a plastic bag; they need to be able to breathe

Fold or store vintage knits in a drawer - hanging them will stretch them out

Store fragile items (i.e. rayon, silk) flat or folded as hanging will cause shoulder 'humps' and can tear fragile fabric

Keep vintage clothes away from light; light will cause fade and/or deteriorate fabric over time

Use lavender to keep away pests; Moth Balls smell BAD!

Try not to stack heavy folded vintage clothing items as this will cause creasing and fold marks that you may not be able to iron out if left for a long time

Try not (ie: NEVER) to put your vintage clothing in the washing machine but if you do always check for weak seams, holes or frays beforehand

Use cool to warm water to avoid fade or running of garment dyes and spot clean first before washing

Never use wire hangers on vintage clothing or vintage evening wear! They can rust - always use padded or wooden hangers and hang your fragile items inside out or fold them carefully instead of hanging

Suggested fabric care:

Silks - washable but use cold water. If crepe, raw silk or a lined garment dry clean only
Rayon - can be washed in cold water although dry-cleaning is best. Always dry clean rayon and crepe.
Wool - don't wash, dry clean it! Wool will shrink if washed.
Velvet - dry clean only! If it's silk velvet, then even dry-cleaning can ruin it. Spot cleaning is your best chance. ie: wear on special occasions only!

If you are at all worried about a garment email me – maybe I can help!

VINTAGE CLOTHING QUALITY RATING SYSTEM

Our Vintage Clothing Rating and Condition Chart is provided as a guide for our customer. Bowerbird uses a rating system as it’s the easiest way to give our customers an honest and accurate account of the condition of a vintage garment at a glance.

If you have any questions regarding this rating chart or the condition of any vintage clothing listed on our website, please use the Contact Us link!

It is important that you take the condition of vintage clothing and vintage evening wear into consideration when purchasing.

Pristine:

Vintage clothing is as perfect and pristine as when it was made and show NO signs of wear and tear

Excellent:

Vintage clothing is showing only the slightest signs of wear. Still in great condition with no visible flaws

Very Good:

Vintage clothing is showing some signs of aging but still in very good condition

Good:

Vintage clothing is still in good, wearable condition but is showing signs of aging and may need to be treated delicately.

Fair:

Vintage clothing is showing signs of aging and may have been mended

We will NEVER sell an item of vintage clothing that is not wearable at Bowerbird and we will always take great pains to be honest and open about the condition of a vintage garment. If you need further assurance or clarification of any of the vintage clothing for sale please do not hesitate to contact us.

GIFT WRAPPING

Are you buying a gift for someone special? If so, we offer a personalised and quality gift wrapping and gift card service. We’ll ensure that your gift is beautifully wrapped and a hand written special message gift tag attached.

Just send us an email immediately after you have checkout and include the invoice details details so that we know exactly which item you are referring to. Also, tell us the special message you would like us to write in the card. Our gift wrapping service is free of charge!