FAQs

Where'd you get your name?

Our name is inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe short story, The Goldbug. This is a wonderful fictional adventure story about a search for treasure on Sullivan's Island many years after Poe lived there, stationed on the island's military base, Fort Moultrie. When we first opened our retail shop in 2016, we were in 80 square feet of space, and the shop felt just like a tiny little bug. So, being that we sell mostly gold jewelry, and are located on Sullivan's Island, we thought GOLDBUG was the perfect name.

The other famous reference to our name is Richard Scarry's tiny and elusive animated character, Gold Bug, whom many kids know and love from searching for him on every page of Scarry's book Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. We love this association too, as our shop can be a little hard to find if you've never been there before! (Look for the upstairs restaurant 'Mex1'...we are right underneath).

 

When will I receive my new GOLDBUG jewelry? 

All items are handmade to order, so please allow 7-10 business days prior to item being shipped unless otherwise noted. All GOLDBUG jewelry is packed in a cotton-lined jewelry box or a stamped canvas bag. Items will be shipped via USPS priority mail and you will be notified via email with a tracking number once your order has shipped. Please email us at shopgoldbug@gmail.com if you need a rush on your order. We will do our best to accommodate. Rush orders are subject to a fee. 

International shipping: your order may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once a shipment reaches your country. You will be responsible for paying additional charges for customs clearance, we have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they may be. There may also be additional shipping fees charged once the package arrives in your country to facilitate delivery to you. Customs policies vary widely from country to country; please contact your local customs office for further information.

*GOLDBUG is not responsible for things lost or stolen in the mail.

 

Do you accept returns? 

Yes, items bought online may be returned or exchanged for up to one week after items are received. Items must be unused and in original condition. Customer is responsible for shipping costs and will be credited in full minus initial shipping cost. If you are not completely satisfied with your GOLDBUG purchase, please contact us: shopgoldbug@gmail.com. 

If you purchased your item in our retail shop, we do not allow returns on our jewelry. We will, however, allow you to exchange your item for another item, or for store credit within 7 days of original purchase.

Our return policy on other items in our shop varies. We do not accept returns or exchanges on swimwear or apothecary items. Other clothing items may be returned for full refund within 7 days of original purchase. 

Please contact us prior with return inquiries.

If mailing an eligible return, please ship to:

GOLDBUG

c/o Ashley Martin

718 Sawgrass Ln.

Mt. Pleasant, SC

29464

 

If a piece of my GOLDBUG jewelry breaks, can you fix it? 

We will gladly make reasonable repairs to our jewelry within 90 days of original purchase. Beyond 90 days, repairs may be subject to a fee. We do not do repairs on jewelry other than our own.  All GOLDBUG jewelry is completely handmade and should be treated with special care. Please contact us prior to sending a piece for repair: shopgoldbug@gmail.com. 

 

What does GOLD FILL mean? 

Most of our jewelry is made using 14k Gold Filled materials. We have found this material to be the highest quality and longest lasting form of non-solid gold, giving our jewelry the look and feel of real gold at a fraction of the cost. Gold filled jewelry is composed of a number of layers wherein a gold alloy is permanently bonded to the brass core with both heat and pressure. Because of the permanent nature of gold filled jewelry, and its much higher gold content than gold plate (over 100 times more gold than traditional gold plating), this material is much more expensive than plated or vermeil jewelry but should not be confused with solid gold jewelry. If treated with care, your gold filled jewelry should last a lifetime.

 

How do I care for my GOLDBUG jewelry? 

To prolong the life of your gold filled pieces, we recommend removing your jewelry when doing the following:

• swimming (chlorine and salt can affect the finish over time), showering, or washing your hands

• applying lotions, oils, perfumes, etc.

• cleaning, especially with harsh chemicals

 

The beauty of gold filled items is that they rarely need to be cleaned. If you feel your piece needs a quick polish, you can use a jewelry polishing cloth (we prefer the Sunshine brand--available for purchase in our shop), or an old toothbrush with warm water and a touch of dish soap. If you'd like to send or bring your piece in to us, we are happy to polish it for you for a small fee. Thin chains can get dirty over time and we stock replacement chains if you would ever like to purchase a new one.

To care for Sterling Silver items, please note that Sterling has a high rate of oxidation, meaning it will tarnish (turn dark) fairly quickly. To retard the rate of oxidation, store your Sterling in airtight containers (ziplocks work well). When your items start to tarnish, polish with jewelry cleaning cloths (we prefer the Sunshine brand), or wash in warm water with an old toothbrush and a touch of dish soap. We do not recommend the liquid jewelry cleaning 'dips' for your jewelry.

On our mixed metal pieces, the sterling silver is purposely oxidized to create a dark finish which contrasts beautifully next to gold. Sometimes this oxidation can wear off over time. We are happy to reoxidize your piece for you for a small fee.

 

What brands do you carry in your shop? 

We love supporting other small, independent, thoughtful brands. Many are local and many are women-owned, but all have a story and a soul. Some of our favorites are Natalie Martin Collection, ABLE leather goods, 42 Pressed, Tatine Candles, Electric Women's Sunglasses, and Everyday Oil. We care about choosing brands who not only produce amazing products, but who also run clean businesses, which to us means doing the right thing by their employees, and by mother Earth, so you can feel good about your purchase in every way. We try very hard to offer and exciting and ever evolving selection in the shop so we hope you will visit us often!