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Our goal is to make every customer happy on every order, and we will always do everything in our power to make sure that applies to you! Even though we’re selling bar stools online, we’re not a big faceless corporation. We’re a small business consisting of human beings, just like you. (No Artificial Intelligence here! Just 20+ years of real-world experience.) That being the case, we believe in treating other humans (i.e. our customers) with the utmost fairness, reason and respect. If you do business with us, rest assured that we will always treat you the way we want to be treated ourselves. And we like to be treated well! :-)
Bar Stools? Counter Stools? Which term should I use?
Are we talking about apples and oranges here? Well... From a terminology standpoint, it’s more like “apples” and “macintosh apples”.
In short, when we say the word “bar stool,” we mean any seat that’s higher than a normal “dining chair.” That applies to “counter stools” (with seats that are generally 24” – 26” high), “bar stools” (with seats that are generally 29” – 31” high), and “spectator stools” (with seats that are generally 33” – 35” high). More information about seat heights can be found here.
So… We can say that all counter stools are bar stools, but not all bar stools are counter stools.
Likewise, some people only think of a “bar stool” as a seat without a backrest, but again, we use this term to describe any seat that’s higher than a normal “dining chair,” regardless of whether it has a backrest or not.
Our Bar Stools
All of our bar stools fall into one of the following three categories:
- In-Stock Bar Stools – These are bar stools we stock and ship from our own warehouses. They usually have fewer options than special order bar stools, because they are mass-produced to keep their costs down. In-Stock Bar Stools will always be specifically labeled as "In Stock" on our website.
- Clearance Bar Stools – This category consists of “as-is” bar stools such as overstocks, floor models and scratch-and-dent items. They always ship directly from our own warehouses. Since they are sold “as-is,” we always do our best to document the specific wear and tear that might exist on these bar stools on their product detail pages. These bar stools will always be labeled as “Clearance” on our website.
- Special-Order Bar Stools – Most of our bar stools that allow you to choose your own colors will fall into this category. These items will usually ship directly from our manufacturers’ factories. (This methodology keeps your cost down while minimizing the potential for damage during transit.) Special-Order Bar Stools are made especially for you, in your choice of colors and configurations, so they take longer to ship. But they’re worth the wait! A few extra weeks now will ensure you have the right bar stool in the right colors for years and years to come.
Order Changes and Cancellations
If you need to make a change or cancel your order, we will gladly work with you (and our vendors, when necessary) to honor your request, whenever possible. The rules for changes and cancellations will depend of the type of bar stools you ordered:
In-Stock Bar Stools
All orders for In-Stock Bar stools can be cancelled for a full refund, as long as you notify us of your desire to cancel prior to your order being shipped. Likewise, we can make changes to your order, as long as you notify us of your desire to make changes prior to your order being shipped. Most In-Stock orders ship within two business days (Mon-Fri, excluding some holidays). Click here for instructions on how to initiate a change/cancellation request. Please note that after your order has shipped, we are unable to cancel or change your order. Of course, you can always add to your order by simply placing a new order for the additional items.
Special-Order Bar Stools
Because Special-Order Bar Stools are made-to-order specifically for you and shipped directly to you from our vendors, the cancellation and change policies for these items are governed by our vendors. Currently, all of our special-order vendors observe an industry-standard two day change/cancellation window. Therefore, all orders for Special-Order Bar Stools can be cancelled for a full refund, as long as you notify us of your desire to cancel within two business days (Mon-Fri, excluding some holidays) of placing your order with us. Likewise, you may make changes to your order, as long as you notify us of your desire to make changes within two business days of placing your order with us. Click here for instructions on how to initiate a change/cancellation request. Please note that after two business days, we are unable to change or cancel your order, as per our vendors’ policies. Of course, you can always add to your order by simply placing a new order for the additional items.
Clearance Bar Stools
All orders for Clearance Bar Stools can be cancelled for a full refund, as long as you notify us of your desire to cancel prior to your order being packed for shipping. Most Clearance orders are packed within 1 business day. After your order has been packed, we are unable to cancel your order. Given the nature of Clearance bar stools (there’s a finite number available, they’re sold in pre-set quantities, and they don’t have customizable options), we can’t make changes to your order after you click “Submit Your Order.”
General Shipping Info
We keep it simple and ship every order free of charge, right to your door. Naturally, we're paying our carriers to transport the products, but we absorb these costs for you. No guesswork or annoying calculators to worry about on your end!
The time it takes to process and ship your order will depend on the product you're buying. This lead time is clearly listed on every product page, right above the ADD TO CART button.
The transit time (i.e. the time it takes the carrier to deliver the product to your door) will depend on a variety of factors, such as your shipping location, weather conditions, etc. If, for instance, you live in Delaware, and your order is shipping from our warehouse in Pennsylvania via UPS, you'll probably receive your bar stools in a day or two. If, however, you live in Maine and your order is shipping from one of our factories in Southern California via freight truck, it might take several weeks to make that trek. Whatever the case, we will send you tracking information once your order ships. Our carrier's websites will usually provide detailed shipment information and expected delivery dates. If you ever have any questions or concerns about your shipment, or even if you want to get a lead-time estimate before placing an order, don't hesitate to contact us. We're always happy to help!
Shipping & Handling Damages
In the unlikely event that your bar stools are damaged in transit, don’t worry. We’re here to help! All of our shipments are fully insured. Simply send us an email with your order number and pictures of the damaged item (and the box if it was also damaged) to service@nationalbarstool.com. We'll file a claim with the carrier on your behalf and process a replacement order. It’s very important to contact us within 24 hours of receipt of the shipment. Contacting us after 24 hours of receipt greatly reduces our chances of filing a successful claim with the carrier.
Manufacturer Defects & Warranty Replacements
In the unlikely event that your bar stool has a manufacturer defect, we’ve got you covered! All of our bar stools come with warranties against defects in construction and workmanship under normal household use. Please note that no furniture manufacturer warranties against issues related to wear and tear, accidental damages, etc. Visit our warranties page for detailed manufacturer-specific warranty information. If you notice an issue that’s covered under your manufacturer’s warranty, email your order number, a description of your issue and if possible, pictures of the issue to service@nationalbarstool.com right away, so we can work on getting replacements ordered for you ASAP.
Returns & Exchanges
If you need to return or exchange your order, we will gladly work with you to honor your request, whenever possible. Our return/exchange policy will vary based on the type of bar stools you purchased:
In-Stock Bar Stools
If, for any reason, you don’t like the In Stock bar stools you purchased from us, you may return them within 10 days of delivery for a refund (minus a restocking fee) or an exchange (no restocking fee). Please read our detailed Return Policy for more information and instructions.
Special-Order Bar Stools
Because Special-Order Bar Stools are made especially for you, they cannot be returned or exchanged. However, rest assured that we will work with you to resolve any mistakes, defects or freight damages related to your order as fast as possible, at no cost to you. We won’t rest until you receive all your bar stools, as ordered, and in good condition!
Clearance Bar Stools
All Clearance Bar Stools are sold as-is, on a first-come-first-served basis, so they cannot be returned or exchanged. However, if your bar stool is damaged in transit, we will help you by filing a claim with the shipping company to seek reimbursement for the damage.
Payment Security
We accept all major credit cards, and your payment information is fully encrypted with the highest level of security available. When you place your order, the full amount of the purchase price will be charged to your card. If you need to cancel your order, please refer to our Cancellation & Change Policy above. Successfully cancelled orders will be refunded to your card issuer within one business day. Please note, the time it takes for the refund to reflect on your card will vary, depending on your card issuer (usually 3-5 days).
More information about our site security can be found on our secure payments page.