POST & PACKING: We ship only via the United States Postal Service. Transport and other limitations on our part preclude utilising UPS or FedEx - as there can be no exceptions, please don't ask. We will ship most items anywhere in the world and use the following classes of US Mail: domestic First Class post (for flat or light items, mailing tubes, CDs, and cassette tapes); Priority Mail (for most items and fragile music recordings such as 78s); Parcel Post (for anything heavy that must be shipped in a box, except music), Media Mail (used for books when weight is substantial and LP albums), First Class International post (for anything going overseas and cross-border that weigh less than 4 pounds), and Priority Mail International post (for anything going overseas or cross-border that weighs more than 4 punds). We may utilise other classes of mail in unusual cases or by request with the appropriate rate being charged. NOTE: Our post & packing charges are both reasonable and appropriate for the specific merchandise to ensure safe and reliable delivery and always include USPS Delivery Confirmation. We assess no surcharges for "handling" or packing materials! All packets are calculated at - or reasonably close to - the actual postage rate. We do not believe in profiteering from post & packing charges! Also note that Priority Mail is the best option for most of our merchandise as it offers swift, efficient, damage-free, and reliable service from coast to coast. Parcels can be tracked by seller and buyer alike and all packaging carries USPS's own Priority Mail branding for additional security and timeliness. Media Mail packets cannot be tracked enroute nor traced should they go missing in transit and they are not handled gently by postal sorters!

THE SHIPPING FORECAST: Our eBay parcels posting is done as payments are received and cleared, even on the same day if the postman's not yet been 'round. All packets are collected directly from our Home Office letterbox or porch and will ship as quickly as they can be made ready to go. Thanks to USPS / PayPal "Click & Ship", we are no longer at the mercy of either foul weather or our lack of motorised transport!

WILL-CALL MERCHANDISE PICK-UP: Our Home Office is located in Laurel, Maryland USA. Buyers within a reasonable distance are invited to arrange for a "will-call" pick-up of their merchandise to save on post & packing. An appointment is required - please contact us via eBay's internal contact system to request a visitation.

POSTAL SERVICE DELAYS & TARDINESS: Over time, a number of our customers have reported that Parcel Post and Media Mail parcels have taken anywhere from two weeks to longer than a month to arrive. It was explained by a local Postmaster that this is due in large part to the shift in parcels shipment from Amtrak trains to private-haul lorries. It appears that the American trucking system has been unable to absorb all the parcels that once travelled efficiently aboard speedy passenger trains. USPS have also enacted - at least on a localised basis - a policy of not sending out a parcels lorry trailer until it's been filled completely. If such is indeed the case, the delay potential for certain remote destinations is quite sobering! NOTE: Please do not enquire about the status of a Parcel Post or Media Mail shipment until thirty days have passed since the despatch date shown in our original E-mail shipping notice. The USPS will not initiate a mail trace on a Parcel Post packet until it has gone missing for sixty days! They will not trace missing Media Mail packets at all! Do not fear the Postal Abyss, however - we have seldom ever had a shipment lost - they nearly always turn up eventually!

ACROSS THE POND: As already stated, we will sell to buyers in nearly any country eBay allows us to trade with under American and British law (dual-citizenship is a wonderful thing!). We have, unfortunately, had to impose a few restrictions on our good overseas customers to avoid recurring problems and losses. Due to difficulties encountered with US, Canadian, and European Customs, we will not artificially-lower valuations to lessen import duties - the sale price is the declared value. We cannot ship anything that may be considered contraband and seized by Customs agents (ie: goods originally produced in Canada, Great Britain, or France, for export or otherwise). NOTE: There may be special exceptions to our worldwide sales policy due to legal issues involving the importation of certain types of goods. For personal and political reasons, we will not do trade with anybody residing in Israel. We do, however, have a "don't ask - don't tell" policy on worldwide sales arranged through third-party goods brokers: where, with whom, and for what purpose our merchandise ultimately ends up after a transaction is completed is of no further interest or concern to us!

FEEDBACK EQUALS "BOB'S YOUR UNCLE!": We will leave favourable feedback upon receipt of payment and would request that the buyer do likewise upon delivery of the merchandise. The previous paragraph applies and it is hoped that an unhappy buyer would contact us to resolve any problems prior to leaving feedback, favourable or otherwise. We are quite proud of our exemplary eBay feedback record and wish to keep it "sunny side up"! A quick word from the "Bureau of Redundancy Bureau" - when leaving feedback for multiple items, it's really not necessary to compose a completely different message for each item - a single kind testimonial works just as well for six items as for one!

HOME OFFICE WORKING HOURS: We are at your service seven days per week and we'll often work through American bank holidays as well.

OI!  GIVE US A SHOUT THEN, YEAH?: You lot are always welcome to write us via eBay's internal contact system and we will be only too happy to direct you us personally! You may wish to discuss our auctions, your transaction, or you might fancy a lively discourse on some of our favourite subjects: cats, railways, British brass bands, fire brigades, cats,  Billy Cotton & His Band (WAKEY! W-A-A-A-A-KEY!), Penna. RR GG1 electric locomotives, cats, German U-boats, the Bluebell Railway, cats, Sir Winston Churchill, New Jersey Diners, Prince Harry (our Royal hero!), cats, LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman, Victor "scroll" 78 rpm. gramophone records, more cats, steam locos, Blackpool Tower, the B&O Railroad, and The Doctor's TARDIS. Oh, and we mustn't forget about cats, must we?! For business E-mails, we'll respond as promptly as possible - for all others, we'll soon get them all sorted out in good time. Right! Well don't think too hard on it, you might strain something! Are you still here?! . . . Off ye go then . . .  there's a good chap!

OUR SERVICE PLEDGE: We endeavour to serve you honestly, quickly, reliably, and efficiently. Our merchandise is presented in accurate detail and pictured in a manner that will give a true representation of its appearance. Any flaws an item may have will be duly noted within its description, especially if not readily apparent amongst the listing pictures. Please contact us with any questions you may have before bidding and we shall do our best to answer your query straight away. Mind you, with many of our auctions involving consignments, we mightn't actually have a working knowledge of everything we're selling, but ask away and we'll give it a go. We thank you kindly for your interest in our eBay auctions and sales and eagerly await your custom!

CHEERIO & GODSPEED EV'RYBODY!  from "Blackpool Bertie" and our Industrious All-Feline Staff here at Catford Manor House (aka: "The Many Cats of Nasty Acres"): "Honey Bun" (aka. "The Bunster"), "Sweet Pea" (aka. "Chunky Monkey"), "Miss Kitten" (aka. "Little Luv"), "Moggy" (aka. "Mog the Merciless"), "Sir Winston" (aka. "Winnie"), "Millicent" (aka. "Millie-Millie-Meow"), "Toby" (aka. "Tobyola"), "Beatrice Kitty" (aka. "Baby Bea"), "Chessie" (aka. "Chesney McTabby"), "Mama Kitty" (aka. "Patches"), "Sweetie Face" (aka. "The Sweetster"), "Little Grey" (aka. "Lady Grey-Hampton"), "Lucky Seven" (aka. "Baby No. 7"), and our most massive cat-ly apprentice, "Big Boy" (aka. "Pop-Pop").