Greenbarn Potter's Supply Ltd.

ORDERING – How do I place my order?
You can place an order through email or over the phone. We will request your name, phone number, and credit card details for a pick-up order, and we will also need your address for shipped orders. It will help enormously for you to please have a list of what you would like to order ready, prior to calling in. Try to specify the item's code or part number where possible, rather than a color name. For example, there's a confusing amount of crossover in color names between various supplier companies, and ordering "501 Spectrum White" instead of "White Underglaze" helps us to get the correct item for you.

ORDERING - Can I place an order ahead of time and then pick it up in store?
Yes, for sure. This is a great option, especially if you need a lot of smaller items or glaze ingredients, because we can get them assembled, and packed up ahead of time. We do ask that you give us at least 4 hours to get an order ready because we can get pretty busy during peak times. Please note that we don't have the physical space to assemble, and then hold, larger items like clay and bags ahead of time. Our staff will wait to gather those boxes of clay until you arrive at the store. If you're worried we'll run out of stock of your favourite clay, then you are welcome to call and confirm current clay stock levels, so that we can make sure that your trip is worthwhile!

SHIPPING – How Much does shipping cost?
We contract out all shipping to our local couriers so that we can take advantage of their shipping advantages. Greenbarn doesn't have its own trucks and so please understand that freight rates are dictated by external factors. In general, shipping is calculated based upon location, distance, weight, and extra services. If you need a shipping quote, please ask us at the time of your order and we can get one for you. Please note that freight carriers offer a basic rate to us, and that options like door to door, residential deliveries, inside deliveries, power tailgates, call for delivery, and extra unload time, and failed delivery attempts, will add surcharges to your final freight charge. These fees will be assessed by the carrier and passed along to Greenbarn, and to the end user, at the discretion of the carrier. Greenbarn does our best to foresee these costs in advance so that customers aren't surprised, however the final rate is variable, and is dependent upon the carrier's experience at the delivery site.

SHIPPING – Does Greenbarn create backorders?
We try our best to keep everything in stock, but for various reasons we can't guarantee that stock will always be on hand. Our staff do attempt to make judgment calls and then offer a warning to customers if we're missing a significant amount of your order, but please understand that this is a subjective process. Please inquire directly with us if certain items are critical for your order, and we can work with you. Otherwise, we'll ship what we have in stock, create backorders, or we may ask you to reorder. We'll note these specific details upon your final invoice so that you know what to expect.

SHIPPING – why was my freight charge more than expected?
Please note that factors like residential deliveries, inside deliveries, and extra time may add more fees to your freight charges. Greenbarn does our best to foresee these costs in advance so that customers aren't surprised, however the final rate is variable, and is dependent upon the carrier's experience at the delivery site. If you think you were overcharged, please let us know and we can contact the freight company on your behalf.

SHIPPING – Items are missing from my order but why have I been charged?
In the top right corner of your paperwork you will see either the word “Invoice” or “Sales Order”. If it says “Sales Order”, then this paperwork is not a final invoice, but rather it is considered to be the packing slip. This “Sales Order” is the list of items which was created for our warehouse staff to follow when they are assembling the goods. Some items may be written up on this paperwork, but which were not in stock, and which were not shipped. Please check any missed items by referring to the “Sales Order” and looking to see if shipping placed a hand marked “0” beside it. If this is the case, it indicates that our warehouse staff knew to include the item in the order, but were unable to supply the quantity requested due to low stock. These short-shipped items will be removed from your total as your “Sales Order” proceeds through our process, and to our front office for final invoicing. If your paperwork says “Invoice” at the top right corner, then this is generally the final list of items which you are being billed for. If you have a charge for an item on the final invoice which you did not receive, then please contact us.

SHIPPING – How can I lower my shipping costs?

Greenbarn ships all over BC, and we know that some carriers are better suited to certain routes, and that other carriers are better suited to certain volumes of goods being shipped. In our experience, shipping costs can be significantly higher in rural communities, based upon the distance traveled, and the volume of freight that currently travels to that region. Greenbarn currently has partnered with several trusted carriers to negotiate discounted rates. However, since shipping rates are determined by the market and the carriers that service those regions, then Greenbarn is unable to offer any further discounts on shipping costs, but here are a few ways to get the most value for your shipping dollar spent.

1. For clay purchases, the total weight has a significant impact upon the freight charges. In our experience, shipping fewer bulk loads (of 500 lbs or more) rather than many smaller loads, tends to lower the freight cost per box. With this in mind, we suggest purchasing at least 10 boxes. This weight intentionally allows you to double dip by earning a volume discount with Greenbarn on your clay, but which also is the entry point to reduce your freight cost per box with the carriers. The freight cost per box continues to decrease with increasing weight.

2. If 500 lbs seems like a lot, then another suggestion is to combine your purchases with another potter, or two, and to make a single, larger order. Shipping more clay at once will save considerable freight costs compared to getting one or two boxes at a time. Note that this savings will scale well for clubs and guilds because there are further clay discounts when you buy 40+ boxes, and also the carrier freight cost per box will continue to drop.

3. Lastly, please inquire about getting clay shipped to your closest freight depot, and then picking it up there with your own vehicle. By picking up your load at the closest depot, instead of shipping door to door, then you can decrease the freight costs by saving the carrier some effort. This can be tricky as depots will also charge storage fees for every extra day that the load is left unclaimed. However, if this works for your schedule, then you can usually reduce your overall freight cost.

SHIPPING – Can I have kiln shelves shipped?
Shelves are fragile and they are not great at traveling on their own. We highly recommend getting any shelves you need at the same time you're getting clay. In this case, Greenbarn can stand the shelves vertically between boxes of clay to maintain the strongest position during transport. Alternatively, Greenbarn can ship shelves alone but this requires significant packing material, and we advise against this action. Shelves shipped alone are at high risk of breakage and the customer accepts all risk. Greenbarn will do our best to ensure safe travel, but an extra charge will be placed on your invoice if additional packing is required.

CLAY - How long does clay last?
Clay can stay moist and workable for a long time as long as it doesn't freeze. We usually recommend using any clay within 2-3 years of buying.

CLAY - My clay is stiff. How do I fix this?

White clays are pugged stiffer than others. This is because whiter clays have a higher kaolin content, which makes them thixotropic, or that they loosen much more when wedged and worked than other clays do. Whiter clay are deliberately pugged a little stiffer so that they fall back into the preferred work-ability range once they have been agitated.

If your clay is stiff for any reason (age, hole in the bag, etc), then you could add some water to the bag, wait a couple of days and try it again. Sometimes banging a full bag of clay on a hard surface, such as the floor or a work table, will start loosening a clay up for easier wedging. You might also consider wedging your clay together with softer batch, if this is on hand.

For Porcelain in particular, banging a full bag of clay on a hard surface, such as the floor or a work table, will start loosening a clay up for easier wedging.

CLAY - Is this clay for Hand Building or Wheel Throwing?

Clay characteristics can be very personal, and some people will love one clay for throwing and others will prefer to handbuild with it. Generally speaking, if the clay has a rougher texture, then it may not be as comfortable on your hands for Wheel Throwing. Coarser clays may be preferred for larger works on either the wheel or slab construction, because the added texture can help with structural issues, but we encourage people to experiment and find their preferences.

Some specialty clays like porcelains, black clays, or highly speckled ones, may offer a trade off. For example, a porcelain may have a higher glass content to offer extra translucency, however this feature comes at the cost of work-ability. Various clay s have pros and cons based upon the raw materials within their recipe. Please inquire if you have questions.

CLAY – Which clay did I order previously?
We have many clays in stock, and they often have similar boxes and raw colors. For these reasons, it can be challenging to identify a clay that you have purchased previously from your rough description. We will assist as best that we can, however we suggest that you please keep a record, or a picture in your phone, of which clays and materials you frequently use in your studio.

GLAZE – Is making my own glaze difficult?
No, making a glaze is easy, but understanding how to improve your glaze is more involved. Making your own glazes gives you control over the strength of your work, lowers the cost of making pottery, and opens up infinite possibilities for color and texture. To get started, all you need is your recipe, ingredients, a couple of buckets, a scale, a sieve, and a spatula. At its simplest form, glaze making is as easy as baking a cake, but less delicious. Together, our staff and reputable websites such as Digitalfire are there to support you as you learn to love the freedom that glaze making offers.

GLAZE – Will Greenbarn make a glaze for me?
Thank you for asking, but no, that's not currently something we offer at Greenbarn. Greenbarn does have some excellent pre-made, dry glazes available as starting points though, and we can direct you to resources which will help you to learn to modify them if you wish to take them further.

GLAZE – Should I make my own glazes?
There are so many benefits! To name a few, you can make large batches, it saves you money, you have better control of how your glaze is acting, you can increase the strength or your ware, and you have the convenience of simply making more if you run out. Relying upon commercial glazes can be easier in some ways, but is is more expensive, and less reliable. Making your own glaze puts you in control of the process and while it requires initial effort to perfect your combinations, it is well worth the effort. Greenbarn does have some excellent pre-made, dry glazes available as starting points though, and we can direct you to resources which will help you to learn to modify them if you wish to take them further.

SERVICES – Does Greenbarn offer clay firing services?
No, but you there are some local resources that you can contact. At the time of this writing, commercial firing options includes the Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby, the Clay Warehouse in Port Coquitlam, or through online services such as KilnShare.com

Greenbarn Potter's Supply Ltd., 9548 - 192nd Street, SURREY, BC V4N 3R9
Phone: 604-888-3411, FAX: 604-888-4247, Email: sales@greenbarn.com

Greenbarn Potter's Supply Ltd.

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Underglazes

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