Q. How long does it take for me to receive my shipment once I place an order?
A. Your order will almost always ship within 24 hours! Orders are filled Monday-Friday; orders placed on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday are shipped on Monday. If you choose regular UPS ground, while UPS does not guarantee the exact arrival date for shipping, please allow 1-6 weekdays depending on your area of the country.
Q. How do I determine what the shipping and handling cost will be?
A. Shipping will generally cost between $2 - $12 per item. Orders shipped via 2nd Day Air will generally cost between $9 - $30 per item. To find out the exact shipping cost, visit our Ordering and Shipping Information page.
Q. I have an online Gift certificate that I would like to redeem. What should I do?
A. Our Gift Certificates are a terrific way to give the gift of choice to those you care about. They are simple to redeem. Simply enter the Gift Certificate Code during checkout and the amount of the Gift Certificate will be automatically deducted from your total. If you have a balance remaining, you can save the Gift Certificate for the next time you shop with us.
*If you have a Gift Certificate purchased prior to June, 2004 and you would like to redeem it, please call our toll-free # (1-800-505-4410) M-F, 9-5 PST. Because we launched a new and improved website in June 2009, all Gift Certificates purchased from our old website are not redeemable on our new website. You can still redeem your Gift Certificate, but in order to do so you need to contact us for assistance.
Q. Do you offer bulk discounts?
A. If you are planning to purchase a large quantity of items (20 or more items) you may be eligible to receive a discounted rate. Simply call our toll-free # to inquire (1-800-505-4410).
Q. Do you sell Fair Trade crafts at wholesale rates?
A. Yes. Please visit our Wholesale Page for details.
Q. Do you offer Fair Trade chocolate to schools and organizations to sell for fundraisers?
A. Yes. Please visit our Fundraising page for details.
Q. When I place items into my Shopping Cart and continue shopping on your site, once I return to my Shopping Cart the items I've placed in my Cart are no longer there. What do I do?
A. If you return to your Shopping Cart that you filled with items, and your Shopping Cart is empty, most likely your cookies are not enabled. "Cookies" are what tell your computer to remember things. Visit our "Enable Cookies" page and we'll be glad to help you enable your cookies.
Q. What is Fair Trade?
A. Fair trade means that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect. Therefore, farmers, workers, and artisans:
1. Receive a fair price under direct long-term contracts
2. Are small-scale producers in democratic co-ops or workers on larger farms who receive a living wage and can bargain collectively
3. Don't use abusive child labor or forced labor
4. Are guaranteed national health safety and minimum wage
5. Use ecologically sustainable methods and conserve natural resources
Q. How do I know if a product is Fair Trade?
A. Fair Trade products bear the "Fair Trade Certified" label and the "Fair Trade Federation" logo, which is the only guarantee that every step of a product's production has followed international fair trade criteria. For the specific guidelines, visit the Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International or the Fair Trade Federation sites for further information.
Q. Why is Fair Trade important?
A. Fair Trade brings the benefits of trade into the hands of communities that need it most. It sets new social and environmental standards for international companies and demonstrates that trade can indeed be a vehicle for sustainable development. Revenue from Fair Trade cooperatives is used on a variety of community projects, including training of producers in organic and sustainable farming techniques (i.e. composting), building houses, schools and clinics and guaranteeing health care for the whole community, among others.
Unfortunately, the benefits of Fair Trade are not reaching all Fair Trade farmers because of insufficient demand for their crops. Producers sell an average of 20% of their crop at Fair Trade terms; the rest goes through the world market at much lower prices. The same story goes for artisans. That is why we need to build a market for Fair Trade in the U.S.!
Q. If one company's product bears the "Fair Trade Certified" label, does it mean that all of its products are Fair Trade Certified?
A. No. Only products that actually bear the label were purchased through Fair Trade criteria. The label on one product does not guarantee that a company practices Fair Trade in all its purchasing.
Q. What kinds of goods are available through Fair Trade?
A. In North America, Fair Trade products have been primarily craft products - decorative home accessories, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, etc. Coffee, tea and chocolate are also available. In the European market, commodities such as bananas, tea and honey, have been the primary focus.
Q. Do Fair Trade goods cost more than comparable non-fair trade goods?
A. Generally, fairly traded crafts don't cost more than other goods because the large percentage taken by middle people is taken out. The cost remains the same as traditionally traded goods but the distribution of the cost of the product is different. In some cases, like coffee, the producers receive a significantly higher price per pound, so the price is higher than grocery store coffee, but comparable to gourmet coffees.
Q. Is the quality of agricultural goods comparable to commercial products?
A. In some cases the quality is higher because fair traders factor in the environmental cost of production. In the case of coffee, for example, fairly traded coffee is usually organic and shade grown, resulting in a higher quality
Q. If a product doesn't have the Fair Trade Certified label or Fair Trade Federation logo but the package talks about fair trade, is it considered Fair Trade?
A. Unless you see the Fair Trade Certified label or Fair Trade Federation logo on a product, you can't guarantee any claims about fair trade status. Unfortunately, some companies use fair trade language to appear more ethical and increase the appeal of their products. If you encounter such language, contact the company to ask about their purchasing guidelines.
Q. Are Fair Trade products also organic or shade-grown?
A. Not necessarily. Fair Trade offers an extra premium for organic production. Most Fair Trade coffee and cocoa are shade-grown and organic because these are the traditional methods used by small farmers.
Q. What about agricultural products from the USA?
A. You can support fairness for US family farmers by buying local organic produce sourced directly from family farmers. To ensure fair wages for farm workers, look for union labels. Farmers' markets, natural foods stores, grocery coops, and Community Supported Agriculture are the best places to find these. Ask local stores to carry these products, and lobby managers of campus and workplace eating facilities to use them along with Fair Trade Certified and Fair Trade Federation member's products.
Q. How can I support Fair Trade?
A. You can purchase Fair Trade products whenever possible, and you can demand Fair Trade from corporations that sell Fair Trade applicable products. You can also ask local businesses such as stores, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants to sell and use Fair Trade Certified and Fair Trade Federation members' products. If you're in a school, university, faith-based or community group, switch your purchases and fundraising programs to Fair Trade.
Q. Where can I purchase Fair Trade products?
A. Well, Grocery co-ops and natural foods stores are the best places for Fair Trade coffee and chocolate. There are also a growing number of Fair Trade retail stores opening around the country. In addition, the Global Exchange Stores carry a variety of fairly traded clothing, home and garden products, crafts, coffee and chocolate. There are other stores and sites that also carry Fair Trade products. You can find a complete listing at the Fair Trade Federation and Transfair USA.
Q. What is Global Exchange?
A. Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting political, social and environmental justice globally. Since our founding in 1988, we have been working with communities across the world to build a greater awareness of global trade issues and translate that awareness into Fair Trade activism.
Q. When did Global Exchange open its first store?
A. Global Exchange's San Francisco Store was the first to open in 1988. Today, we have four Fair Trade stores in total; three brick and mortar stores (in San Francisco, Berkeley, CA and Portland, OR) and our Online Store.
Q. What is your store's philosophy?
A. Since the beginning, our stores have taken a purposeful stand in offering customers Fair Trade products �this decision has proven that profits and socially and economically responsible working conditions are a feasible combination.
Q. What is the goal of your stores?
A. The goal of Global Exchange Fair Trade Stores is to show that a humane alternative to exploitative corporate-based retail not only exists, but also can compete and succeed in the mainstream market. In fact, all of our stores are continuing to grow in revenue year after year. We make our Fair Trade mission very clear to our customers, but we do not rely solely on this to sell our crafts. For Fair Trade to work, products we carry must sell on their own merits at a price comparable to other retailers.
Q. Are all of the products you carry Fair Trade certified?
A. Some products we carry are certified Fair Trade by Transfair or in some cases, the Fair Trade Foundation. Other products we carry are from a member of the Fair Trade Federation. The remaining products we carry are from producers who went through Global Exchange's own stringent application process.
Q. What are your store's purchasing guidelines?
A. Every item we sell has been carefully selected to meet Global Exchange's high quality standards as well as stringent international Fair Trade certification criteria. If you or someone you know has a Fair Trade product that you would like to see us carry, visit our Potential Vendor Information Page to learn more about our purchasing guidelines and other useful information.
Q. Who makes the products Global Exchange Stores carry?
A. Global Exchange offers fairly traded crafts and food items from a network of importers who are members of the Fair Trade Federation, TransFair and other certification groups. These importers work directly with Fair Trade artisans and farmers from around the world. Approximately once a year, Global Exchange will travel to a specific region to work with and purchase directly from craft producers.
Q. Why don't Global Exchange Stores purchase all of the products directly from producers around the world.
A. There are many reasons why this in not feasible. The most basic answer is that because we are retail stores, we sell a smaller amount of lots of different items. To finance the cost of travel expenses for direct buy trips, and shipping and importing charges to get product into the U.S., we would have to purchase a larger quantity than we are able to sell. For this reason, the majority of our products we acquire from Fair Trade importers.
Q. Does Global Exchange offer wholesale rates for the products they carry?
A. All Global Exchange Stores are strictly retail business operations at this time. While this may change in the future, we do not currently have wholesale rates. For a list of Fair Trade wholesalers, please visit the Fair Trade Federation and Transfair USA.
Q. Are the stores staffed by paid employees or volunteers?
A. All of our stores have full-time paid staff. Global Exchange has a terrific internship program, and our Online Store usually has at least one intern working with them on various store-related projects. Volunteers are always welcomed, as well.
Q. What are the stores' profits used for?
A. Profits from all Global Exchange Stores are recycled back to the main organization to help fund the important work that they do, in addition to funding the growth of the stores themselves.
Q. If I am interested in volunteering or interning with Global Exchange, what should I do?
A. Global Exchange has a terrific internship program. If you or someone you know is interested in interning or volunteering with our organization, please visit our Intern or Volunteer page for more information about our program. If your specific area of interest is our Online Fair Trade Store, make sure to note that on your application.
Q. Do you offer a paper catalog of the items that you carry in your online store and brick and mortar stores?
A. We offer our Wholesale Catalogue in an electronic, pdf version only. Our Wholesale Catalogue is a PDF containing product information, wholesale pricing, terms & conditions, and more. If you would like to receive one, simply email your Catalogue Request with the phrase �wholesale information� in the subject line of your email. You will receive a PDF version of our Wholesale Catalogue via email within 3-5 business days.
to Global Exchange Fair Trade Program
