Please pardon the mess while a new website is created to better serve you.
In the meantime, you can purchase some Designs by Debi™ products on Poshmark and on Etsy.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
Sign up for my newsletter to receive updates.
Contact me with any questions.
Thank you.

Business and Mailing List
Ordering
Custom Orders
Payments
Shipping
Returns
Charity / Philanthropy
Jewelry
Materials
Privacy Policy
Wholesale

 

~ Business and Mailing List ~

Who or what is Makana Mai Akua, Inc.?

You will notice on my website and packaging it says
Designs by Debi™ is a division of Makana Mai Akua, Inc.
Makana Mai Akua, Inc. is my company and each of my business pursuits is a division of that parent company.
The name itself is Hawaiian and literally translated means
Gift From God.

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What are your business hours?

Orders can be placed on my website and through my ArtFire Studio
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I am available by phone at 1.800.814.Debi(3324)
Monday thru Friday from 10am to 6pm Eastern Time.
E-mail is the best way to reach me. Feel free to contact me by e-mail anytime. I do my best to respond promptly.

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Do you have a retail store?

No. I offer my designs for sale on my website, in my studio on ArtFire.com, at craft shows, via jewelry e-parties, home jewelry parties and at-work trunk shows.

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Do you have a mailing list?

You bet! Sign up for my newsletter to be put on the mailing list. That way you will be among the first to know about new product releases and other exciting news. You'll also be able to receive information about sales and other opportunities only offered to customers on my mailing list. There is a newsletter sign-up box on the right side of every page of the website. You can unsubscribe at any time by contacting me.

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~ Ordering ~

What is ArtFire.com?

ArtFire.com is an artisan marketplace home to independent artists from around the globe designed to bring together those artists and buyers looking for unique, handcrafted items.

How do I buy Designs by Debi items on ArtFire.com?

Buying my items on ArtFire is easy. Click the links to my ArtFire Studio that appear in each product listing (it will open in a new window) and place the item in the ArtFire shopping cart. Once you are done shopping, click on your ArtFire cart and it will guide you through the secure PayPal payment process. I have a verified pro account with ArtFire and a verified business account with PayPal so you do not need to have or set up an account with either one to purchase from me.
Karma and Kudos are ArtFire's form of feedback. Although you can purchase without an account, you need one to give or receive karma/kudos. ArtFire offers free Buyer Only accounts that will allow you to join in this valuable process and all ArtFire members, including myself, appreciate you taking the time to do so.
If for any reason you do not want to buy on ArtFire, contact me and I will work directly with you.

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~ Custom Orders ~

Do you accept custom orders?

Absolutely! As a matter of fact, I specialize in custom designs and that's where most of my business comes from. I truly love creating meaningful jewelry for people and enjoy the challenge. At Designs by Debi you're never limited to in-stock designs. See the Custom Orders page for more information.

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Are custom orders returnable?

Custom orders cannot be returned because they are made to your specifications and may not be saleable to another customer. Due the fact that I walk you through all phases to ensure your satisfaction, this is generally not an issue. I will guide you through obtaining accurate measurements for proper fit. And when precise color matching is required, for matching bridesmaids gowns for example, I will request a swatch of material or other agreed upon method for matching colors because computer monitors vary and colors may not be represented accurately.

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~ Payments ~

What methods of payment do you accept?

Personal Checks, Money Orders, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and PayPal. Personal Checks and Money Orders must be in U.S. currency.

Please note that orders paid for with a Personal Check or Money Order will not ship until payment has cleared and this can take up to 10 business days or longer in some cases.

International Orders MUST be completed through my ArtFire Studio and paid via PayPal. Please understand that you are responsible for any customs fees charged by your country. Designs by Debi™ declares actual items and values on customs forms.

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Do you take credit cards?

Yes. Designs by Debi accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.

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How do I pay for an order with PayPal?

I have a verified business account with PayPal so you do not need to have a PayPal account to purchase from me. The ArtFire shopping cart will take you to the secure PayPal payment page to checkout. You will enter your payment and shipping information there.

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Is my credit card information secure?

Absolutely. Designs by Debi is in compliance with all Payment Card Industry (PCI) Standards.

When you pay for an order with PayPal, merchants never see your credit card or bank information. Your payment is processed by PayPal via their secure server.

When you make a credit card payment with Designs by Debi either in person or over the phone, your credit card information is not stored. It is immediately entered, either manually or swiped, into Designs by Debi's RBS Worldpay Virtual Terminal to be processed. Your full credit card number is not stored in the VT account, only the last 4 digits. So your credit card information is never stored electronically or otherwise by Designs by Debi.

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Do you charge sales tax?

I am required to charge appropriate sales tax on all orders shipped to
Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

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Do you offer coupons?

You can receive private sale coupons and other special offers by subscribing to my newsletter. There is a newsletter sign-up box on the right side of every page of the website.

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Do you offer gift certificates?

Yes! They are available in a wide variety of denominations and if you want an amount not listed, just ask. You can find them here.

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Can I get a gift receipt?

Yes. Just request one at time of purchase.

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Do you offer a payment plan?

Yes. Designs by Debi has a Layaway Plan. You can find all the information here.

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Do you offer ways to earn free jewelry?

You bet! The Designs by Debi Referral Program and Jewelry e~Parties are two of the easiest ways you will find anywhere to earn free jewelry.

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~ Shipping ~

How long does it take for you to ship an item?

In-stock pieces not requiring any size adjustments will usually ship within 1-2 business days of receiving cleared payment.

Custom designs and pieces requiring size adjustments take longer to be ready to ship. If you need your item(s) within a specific time frame, let me know. I'm always willing to work with you.

Please note that orders paid for with a Personal Check or Money Order will not ship until payment has cleared and this can take up to 10 business days or longer in some cases.

Also, shipping times can vary greatly during busy holiday seasons due to the high volume of orders.

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Do you ship internationally?

Yes. I ship Internationally to PayPal confirmed addresses.

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How much do you charge for shipping?

You will see the shipping fee for each item on the right side of the item's page in my ArtFire Studio. Typically they are as follows:

USA ~ 1st item is $2-$3 and each additional item is $1 or less

Canada ~ 1st item is $3-$4 and each additional item is $1 or less

All Other Countries ~ 1st item is $4-$5 and each additional item is $1 or less

Jewelry for Charity pieces always ship for free.

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What if my order arrives damaged?

Designs by Debi jewelry is shipped with insurance. If it arrives damaged, I will email you all the information you need to file a claim with the shipping service.

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~ Returns ~

What is your return policy?

Love it ~ or ~ Return it!

I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are not happy with your purchase, it can be returned (except for custom orders as noted above). Please contact me within 5 days of receiving your order if you wish to return or exchange an item. You will need to use a trackable shipping method and insure the shipment for the full value of the items. I cannot issue refunds for items never received so you will need these documents in order to file a claim with your shipping service. A full refund of the purchase price (minus the cost of shipping) will be issued once the merchandise is received in its original condition.

In order to accommodate the gift-giving occasions of the Holiday season observed by various faiths, any items purchased from November 15th - December 31st may be returned until January 15th of the following year.

Custom orders are not returnable as explained above.

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~ Philanthropy ~

Does Designs by Debi donate to any charities?

Yes, Designs by Debi is deeply committed to philanthropic activities and provides material and financial support to many charitable organizations. You can read all about it on the Philanthropy page.

Designs by Debi has a Jewelry for Charity Program here on the website. Every month I select a charity and create a special one of a kind jewelry piece or set and the sale benefits that charity.

Designs by Debi also offers the option of hosting Jewelry e~Parties for Charity.

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~ Jewelry ~

Is all of your jewelry handmade?

Yes, all Designs by Debi pieces have been handmade by me in my studio here
in Rhode Island.

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What does SRAJD mean and why buy from a SRAJD?

SRAJD means Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer. This designation can only be used by artists who design and handcraft all the jewelry they sell and it means that you are buying directly from that artist.
You can find more information about this here.

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What does it mean when a piece is labelled OOAK (one-of-a-kind)?

Here at Designs by Debi, one-of-a-kind means just that...ONE of a kind ~ I either cannot or will not make another one. It doesn't simply mean "It's the only one I have right now." It means there will never be another one. This often happens when I create pieces using handmade artisan lampwork beads because they are often
one-of-a-kind bead sets. I may make multiple pieces with those same beads, but they will all be different styles.
For you, this means two things: First, if you see something you like and it's labelled OOAK, buy it while you can because once it's gone, it's gone. And second, you can rest assured that when you have invested in a OOAK piece, you will be the only one to ever have it!! I track all of my pieces and once one has been sold as a OOAK piece, I will not replicate it, even if I have the materials to do so.

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Can I get matching pieces?

I usually create my designs with matching pieces because I know most people like to have coordinating sets. I price all items individually, however, so that you are not locked into purchasing complete sets. So sometimes items sell individually and I may not have the matching pieces readily available. If you see something you like and want to have matching pieces made (necklace, earrings, bracelet, anklet, etc), contact me for information and pricing. As long as I have the necessary materials, I will be glad to accommodate your request.

If you see a piece you like that has already sold, feel free to contact me to inquire about having a similar one made for yourself.

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Are Designs by Debi™ products ok for children?

No. Designs by Debi products are NOT intended for children under 13 years of age. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) went into effect
February 1, 2009. This law sets limits and testing requirements for items intended for children 12 and under. Compliance with these requirements is cost-prohibitive; therefore Designs by Debi products have NOT undergone testing to meet the requirements for the certificates of conformity necessary under this law and are NOT meant to be worn or used by children under 13 years of age. If you are interested, you can find out more about this law by visiting www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html.

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How do I care for my jewelry?

See Jewelry Care Instructions. A copy of these instructions is sent with every order.

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Do you repair jewelry?

I only repair jewelry purchased from me. Cost will vary depending on what needs to be done.

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~ Materials ~

What type of crystals do you use?

I only use genuine Swarovski® Austrian Crystals in my work. You can learn more about Swarovski® Crystal here.

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What is lampwork?

You can find this information on the Lampwork Beads page in the Reference Center.

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What is the difference between sterling silver, Bali silver, Hill Tribe silver, Shiana silver and silver-plated?

You can find this information on the Jewelry Metals page in the Reference Center.

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What is the difference between gold vermeil, gold-filled and gold-plated?

You can find this information on the Jewelry Metals page in the Reference Center.

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I'm allergic to nickel. Is the jewelry nickel-free?

Not necessarily. I use many different metals and materials in my designs, which I do my best to include in the item descriptions. You can also find useful information about this in the Jewelry Metals area of the Reference Center. If you have concerns or questions about a particular piece, please drop me an e-mail before making your purchase.

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~ Privacy Policy~

What is your privacy policy?

I take the privacy of my customers very seriously. I do not sell or rent my customer list or email list to anyone, for any reason, period. Your personal information will never be given out. You can rest assured that I will safeguard your personal and sensitive information just as I would wish mine to be.

Any personal information that I collect from my customers is for the sole purpose of processing orders and sending newsletters if requested.

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~ Wholesale~

Do you offer your pieces for consignment or wholesale?

I no longer offer my designs on consignment.

I do sell wholesale, with flexible terms, to qualified vendors, boutiques, gift shops and galleries who operate a physical store. If you're interested in a wholesale account, please contact me and I'll send you a copy of my Wholesale Policies and other helpful information.

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If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to contact me.

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