FAQs
Where'd you get your name?
Our name is inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe short story, “The Gold Bug.” This is a wonderful fictional story about an adventurous search for treasure on Sullivan's Island many years after Poe lived there, stationed on Fort Moultrie. When we first opened GOLDBUG 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 stairs leading up to Mex 1 Coastal Cantina...we are right underneath).
When will I receive my order*?
All GOLDBUG jewelry is handmade to order, so please allow for 7-14 business days. Our jewelry is carefully 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 and we will do our best to accommodate. Rush orders are subject to a fee.
All in-stock items will ship within 3 business days.
International Shipping:
There is a $200 minimum for any orders with a shipping destination outside the U.S. 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.
What is your return policy?
Online Orders: Unused/unworn clothing items and accessories may be returned or exchanged within 7 days of delivery. Jewelry may be exchanged for another item or store credit within 7 days of delivery. Customers are responsible for the cost of shipping returns.*
In-Store Purchases: Unworn clothing may be returned or exchanged within 7 days of purchase. Jewelry may be exchanged for another item or store credit within 7 days of purchase.
We do not accept returns or exchanges on swimwear, eyewear, hats, apothecary items, or sale items whether they are bought online or in-store.
*Please contact us with return inquiries before shipping back your items at shopgoldbug@gmail.com.
If mailing an eligible return, please ship to:
GOLDBUG Returns
2205-E Middle Street
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
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 the 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 before sending a piece for repair: shopgoldbug@gmail.com.
What does GOLD FILLED 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 several 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 a much higher gold content than gold plated (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), or an old toothbrush with warm water and a touch of dish soap. If you'd like to send or bring your piece 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 (zip locks work well). When your items start to tarnish, polish them with jewelry cleaning cloths or wash them 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 that contrasts beautifully next to the 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. We care about choosing brands who not only produce amazing products, but 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 an exciting and ever-evolving selection in the shop so we hope you will visit us often!