Welcome to Silks Are Forever, one of the largest eRetailers in the United States for artificial silk flowers, silk wedding flowers, silk plants, artificial trees, artificial palm trees, artificial topiary, silk greenery and silk garland. Open to the public in 2009, our customers range from small wedding planners and homeowners that just need a few items, to multi-billion dollar corporations movie studios and coorporate banks and hotels. We offer quality products, unmatched selection, competitive pricing, and the peerless customer service that you've come to rely on over the years.

We have close relationships with importers from China, Thailand, and other countries who keep our warehouses fully stocked with exceptional products that exceed the expectations of our customers. We're able to offer you direct pricing because we've decided to cut out all the middlemen to bring our products straight into your homes at a price that is fair and reasonable.

It’s our philosophy, attention to detail, and dedication to customer service that has helped us grow to the level of success we enjoy today. We look forward to brightening your home or office, helping you find that perfect gift, and hearing you say “Wow, they look so real!

• Do you offer any catalogs?

• Do you offer material or color samples?

• Can I break a pack and only order 1 item?

• Can they be put outdoors?

• How are your product heights or sizes measured?

• Are your product made out of silk?

• What's the difference between standard and handwrapped silk?

• How do I care for and maintain artificial flowers and plants?

• How long does it take for you to respond to my email?

• How are orders shipped?

• Do you ship internationally?

• How long does it take for me to receive my order?

• Can I track my order after its been shipped?

• What payment methods do you accept?

• What is your return policy?

• Do you charge sales tax?

• Can we use our own UPS or FedEx shipping account?

Question: Do you offer any catalogs? -back to top

Answer: No we do not. We have a current selection of about 12,000 items. Every single day there are dozens of items are discontinued and replaced with new items. A catalog cannot keep up with our inventory.

Question: Do you offer material or color samples? -back to top

Answer: No we do not. We do our best to represent the product by showing a picture of the exact same item you will be receiving. If you require a sample then you will need to place an order for 1 pack and then you may return them if they don't work for your project. This would fall under our return policy.

Question: Can I break a pack and only order 1 item? -back to top

Answer: In order to provide our customers with the lowest possible price our items are sold in pack quantities only. If the item title and/or description of the item states 'pack of ...' then you are obligated to purchase the entire pack. You also cannot mix and match colors of the same product codes to equal pack quantity.

Question: Can they be put outdoors? -back to top

Answer: Although our products CAN be used as outdoor decoration, it is not advised to hang or leave the flowers, trees, and plants in direct sunlight for any significant amount of time. This includes direct sunlight coming in through an indoor window. Most of our products are made out of materials that will eventually fade like any other fabric when left out in the sun. Please note, however, that they will last longer if put in the shade or on a porch where direct sunlight isn't a problem. Heavy rain and wind may also knock the fronds out of trunks or the materials may absorb rainwater causing items to look wilted and/or fall over.

We do stock many product designed for exterior use. Although they do cost more, it's up to you to determine whether the cost of replacing a silk tree every year or two is worth the cost compared to one that is designed to never fade or deteriorate outdoors.

Current title explanations:

• Outdoor and/or Water Resistant in the title = Usually a PVC material that won't absorb water. Not UV resistant and will fade over time.

• UV-Resistant in the title = Usually but not always a PVC material with UV inhibitors that will delay fading for a minimum of 1 year. Depending on materials used will depend whether it will endure the ravages of rain and wind.

• UV-Proof in the title = Usually but not always a PVC material with UV inhibitors that will delay fading for a minimum of 5 years. Designed to withstand the ravages of sun fading, wind, rain, ice, snow, and people.

Question: How are your product heights or sizes measured? -back to top

Answer: In keeping with industry standards, any flower, plant or tree that comes with a pot are measured from the bottom of the pot to the outstretched tip on the top. This simply means if you point the longest leaf or frond straight up, you measure the furthest most measurement. When we say an artificial tree is 6' high we are measuring from the bottom of the container or tree trunk to the top of the tree, extending the longest leaf or frond as we measure. For hanging baskets, for example, the length of the artificial flower or artificial plant is the longest hanging stem measured when it is fully extended. When we specify that a plant is 37" wide we measure the plant with the leaves or stems extended to the sides. Shaping these plants and trees will reduce the size.

Please note that plant and tree heights are approximate. As they are hand made taller plants may vary a few inches in height. Floral arrangements are more exact as these are pre-arranged and do not change shape after being created.

Question: Are your product made out of silk? -back to top

Answer: Please note the definition of the word SILK in the title, if used for this listing, does not mean this item is made out of silk. Keeping to industry standards the word SILK is now used to describe that a flower or plant is artificially made and does not mean that the material used is silk. Materials used may depend on the quality and the final shape requirements of the flower head or leaves and may include but are not limited to polyester, nylon, PVC, latex, rubber, and silk.

Question: What's the difference between standard and handwrapped silk? -back to top

Answer: Most artificially made flowers can be classified as either being a standard silk flower or handwrapped. Standard silk flowers are the most common and vary from your common economical fake flowers to very realistic replicas. Handwrapped flowers, on the other hand, tend to all be very high quality and are usually assembled by hand. The easiest way to tell is that the flower and stem and made together, rather than a plug where the flowers goes into. This tends to make them more realistic, and also harder to cut due to the amount of wire used in the leaves and stem.

Question: How do I care for and maintain artificial flowers and plants? -back to top

Answer: We recommend that artificial floral arrangements and artificial plants be dusted much the same as you dust your home or office. Most artificial plants can be wiped with a moist cloth if necessary.

First test the plant with your tap water - remove one leaf from an inconspicuous portion of your artificial plant and rinse it with tap water then shake it out. After a few minutes, check the leaf to see if it's clean and the shine has returned. After your have tested your leaf, the best thing to do is to take the plant outside and dust it with a feather duster. This will remove most of the dust and prime your plant for cleaning.

Cover your pot and filler with plastic for protection from the water. Make sure your silk plant is on a clean surface near a water hose. Use the spray nozzle on your hose. Spray your plant thoroughly with a light spray. When you're done, shake it lightly to get most of the water off and allow it to dry in the sun for a few hours.

This is a good regimen to be done about ever 3 to 6 months. Between those times, we suggest that you use a good feather duster to keep your artificial plants looking fresh and new.

Question: How long does it take for you to respond to my email? -back to top

Answer: Emails are usually replied within 24 hours, including weekends. Most times you should get an answer back within a few hours though. Your questions and concerns are very important to us and we will do our very best to reply back with a response as soon as we possibly can.

Question: How are orders shipped? -back to top

Answer: Whenever possible, all shipments will be made via USPS Priority, UPS Ground or FedEx Ground. Very few of our large items must be crated and shipped via common carrier.

Question: Do you ship internationally? -back to top

Answer: We currently only accept orders to any country that accepts UPS Canada or USPS Priority. Custom orders can use other shipping methods but they are usually very expensive. Any item marked as Free Shipping cannot be shipped internationally. All international orders are shipped within 3-10 business days and take approximately an additional 6-10 business days to arrive.

Question: How long does it take for me to receive my order? -back to top

Answer: We have many different shipping options and speeds. Our standard domestic shipping can take 5-10 business days up to overnight shipping. Please see our shipping policy page for all shipping speeds or just proceed to your cart and you will be given shipping options after you choose to calculate your shipping costs.

Question: Can I track my order after its been shipped? -back to top

Answer: Most of our orders are shipped with a tracking number that we will send you a link to track. Your account will be updated and an email sent approximately 1-2 business days after your order has shipped.

Question: What payment methods do you accept? -back to top

Answer: We accept payments through PayPal plus all major credit cards: VISA, MasterCard, Discover & American Express. We also accept payments through Bill Me Later which is now called PayPal Credit.

Question: What is your return policy? -back to top

Answer: Please see our return policy page.

Question: Do you charge sales tax? -back to top

Answer: Our headquarters are located in New Jersey so we must collect taxes for shipments being delivered into New Jersey. If you are located in New Jersey and have a sales tax ID please fill out the appropriate form and email it to us. If the shipment is to any other state we do not collect sales taxes.

Question: Can we use our own UPS or FedEx shipping account? -back to top

Answer: Yes. This is usually reserved for larger companies but we would be happy to use your shipping account number. Please just enter in your account number and account details with address in the customer notes field on the checkout page. You will still be billed the shipping charges initially but we will credit them back when your package ships. Please note there is a $10 shipping fee for shipping the package out the same day that will not be reimbursed.

We currently only accept payments through PayPal. You may still make payments using your Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express but it must be made through PayPal. You do not need to create or have a PayPal account to make a payment, plus it's one of the safest online payment methods!

We do not accept payment through any other medium, nor do we accept checks.

Payment is due in full within 5 days. However, if there are extenuating circumstances please contact us, as we pride ourselves on catering to our customer's needs.

Whether you're purchasing 1 item or 50 items, we do our best to charge you exactly what we pay for shipping fees. To accomplish this all shipping fees are calculated automatically by the exact weight of the item(s) shipped to you from our warehouses. To determine your exact shipping fees please add the product(s) to your cart and enter in your state and zip code under our checkout page. If for any reason you feel your shipping total is inaccurate please contact us and we will investigate it immediately.

• Orders received between Monday and Friday by 2:00 pm EST will be processed the same day.

• Orders received on Saturday and Sunday will be processed on the following business day.

• All orders will be shipped via FedEx, UPS ground service or USPS Priority. Some of the items may be shipped directly from the manufacturer and will arrive separately from the other items in your order. We do not ship to PO Boxes.

• FREE SHIPPING products will be shipped separate from other items and will be shipped within 2 business days. Free shipping is only available to the lower 48 Continental United States and does not include Alaska or Hawaii. Shipping fees will be calculated automatically for Alaska or Hawaii.

• Business days do not include weekends or holidays.

• Priority shipments cannot be canceled under any circumstances.

Domestic Orders:

• Standard Shipping:  approximately 5-10 business days for arrival
• Priority 5 Day Shipping:  approximately 1-5 business days for arrival (contact us for shipping cost)
• Priority 3 Day Shipping:  guaranteed delivery by the end of the third business day (contact us for shipping cost)
• Priority 2 Day Shipping:  guaranteed delivery by the end of the second business day (contact us for shipping cost)
• Priority 1 Day Shipping:  guaranteed delivery by the end of the next business day (contact us for shipping cost)

If you need your item guaranteed by a certain date please note it in your order and we will determine whether it's possible with the shipping option you chose. Items shipped to Alaska or Hawaii may take a couple additional days. Priority 3 Day Shipping and faster is not available to Hawaii.

Assembly

Some of our plants and trees require some basic assembly when you receive them.  Most trees come with fronds that are inserted directly into the trunk.  We recommend starting at the top of the trunk and working your way down.  As a general rule, smaller fronds go towards the bottom and longer fronds go towards the top (Areca Palm, Bamboo Palm, Kentia Palm, etc.) Some silk plants and trees, such as Phoenix Palms, may have a single frond “head” which simply plugs into the top of the tree trunk.  It's always a good idea to look at our original photos shown in item listing.  Some larger tree's may also come in a break-down of the trunks.  It's really as simple as inserting them back together, stating from the bottom.  Total heights and widths may differ depending on how you reassemble and shape your tree.

Shaping

Directional shaping is the best method to maximize fullness and create a better silhouette for your silk plants and trees.  Start near the trunk or main stem and work your way to the end of the frond or leaf gently bending as you go creating a slight downward curve on the lower branches of the plant and a slight upward curve on the top branches.  Give your tree a fuller look by slightly staggering the tips around the branch of you silk plants and trees.  Again, referring to the item picture will help in this process. 

Potting Instructions

Although most of our trees and plants come already potted in a weighted base, some will require you to make your own at home.  The listings will be clearly labeled "BARE TRUNK", "BARE STEM", or "POT NOT INCLUDED".

Any smaller plant, bush or greenery can easily be anchored into paper mache or a plastic pot using flora foam.  Larger trees require a heavy base so we recommend using either plaster, concrete or stones.  Please see below for examples.

	Step 1: Materials Needed: Paper mache or plastic container Bag of plaster or Quick-Set Ready Mix Water Stirring Stick
	Step 2: Pour plaster, or Quick-Set Ready Mix, into paper mache or plastic container.
	Step 3: Slowly stir in water. The amount of water varies with the amount of plaster, or Quick-Set Ready Mix. The plaster, or Quick-Set Ready Mix, will take longer to thicken if too much water is added.
	Step 4: Continue stirring until mixture starts to thicken. Stir time is approximately 1 minute, which varies, depending upon the amount water added to mixture.
	Step 5: Set the plant stem, or trunk, into thickened mixture. Hold plant steady for approximately 5 minutes, or until mixture thickens enough to support stems or trunk.
	Step 6: Place the plastered, or Quick-Set Ready Mixed, plant into a decorative container of your choice. Shape the stems, or fronds, to create the optimal desired look for the space that the plant will be occupying.
	Step 7 (optional): If paper mache was used, you may want to cut off the excess or unused material of the paper mache container. This will install easily into a fitted sized pot and will give your planter base a cleaner, more finished look.

	Step 1: Materials Needed: Decorative container. Pictured is a 15" diameter clay terra cotta container. Decorative rocks or stones. Pictured are medium sized river bed stones that are somewhat flat and have rounded edges.
	Step 2: Place trunk or stems into container. To gain extra height from the tree, place gravel or stones in bottom of container before putting in the trunk or stems.
	Step 3: Fill in the space between the trunk and container edge with decorative rocks or stones.

We strive for 100% customer satisfaction on every order and we hope that you are pleased with your purchase. However, if you are not satisfied for any reason, we would be happy to provide a refund. Please note the following:

• We must be notified within 14 days after receiving your item.
• All items MUST be in original condition with tags.
• Refunds will NOT be given for altered or used items.
• Original shipping charges will not be refunded.
• We are not responsible for any return shipping charges.
• Exchanges are considered new orders and must be placed through eBay.
• Any item shipped internationally are non-returnable and not cancelable under any circumstances.

If you received the wrong item or the item is defective/damaged we will exchange it for you at no charge, or refund your payment if the item is not available. You must notify us within 3 days! Any requests after 3 days will be refused. Pictures are required, even if it's with a camera phone. If we determine the damage was caused on your behalf no credit will be given and the item will not be shipped back.

Once we receive your request by email to return an item we will first confirm we received your email, and then send you an RMA# and/or return instructions within 3 business days. We are not responsible for any lost packages so we recommend getting a tracking number and emailing it back to us using the RMA email we approved.

Any unauthorized returns will either be refused or not shipped back and absolutely no credit will be given. Christmas returns will not be accepted after December 15th.

If you have more questions about our return policy please feel free to contact us and we will be more than happy to assist you.