Our Mailbox

Q: How long will it take to ship my order?

A: Please notice the expected lead time listed on each product page. We strive to ship orders promptly, usually within 1-3 business days from when the order is placed, whenever all tools in an order are in stock. We often ship 2 days per week during the slower seasons, and daily during busier times and holidays. If you choose the Flat Rate shipping option, once all the tools in your order are made, we will ship your order on our next regular shipping day via the carrier (UPS, USPS, or FedEx) of our choice. If you are ordering a long handled tool, expect shipping 1-2 weeks after you place the order (unless otherwise noted). Please make sure you give us an address (or an address and an alternate address in the Additional Information box at checkout) that can receive orders from multiple carriers. At times of extreme demand (late spring/summer and holidays) it can take a few days or more to ship your order. If we are out of stock of one or more of the tools in your order, we will have to make the tool to ship you. We make our tools by hand here in Oregon, and sometimes we run out of the stock we pre-make over the winter to have on hand for spring and summer. If you order something that is out of stock and the shipping delay will be more than 1-2 weeks, we will let you know via email of the delay and anticipated wait. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Q: Help! Tracking says my package was delivered but I never got it. What can I do?

A: First off, thanks for ordering from us and we're sorry something went awry after we passed it on to the shipping carrier. In most cases when this happens, the package will in fact turn up within the next 1-2 days. We've noticed in the past couple of years that packages are sometimes scanned in bulk, rather than individually at the point of delivery (especially within the US Postal Service). If your package does not show up, we will help you resolve the issue and file an insurance claim with the shipper and we will remake or reship your order. Having said that, you will need to take some action to make sure we are able to help. Usually, we need to have heard from you of the issue within a week of the date the package says it was delivered. The best process to follow is this: 1) look carefully around all the doors, porches, places where boxes may have been set by the delivery person in your area; 2) check with close neighbors (it is not uncommon for a box to accidentally be delivered to a nearby residence...as you, like us, probably have experienced!); 3) check your tracking email and call/chat/email with the carrier or try to catch the local delivery person next time you see them -  UPS will notify drivers of a potential mis-delivery and, if shipped via USPS Priority Mail, your local PostMaster is a great resource (we recommend using the Find Missing Mail service on usps.com under the Help header - we've always had good responses within 1-3 business days); 4) let us know there was a problem and you are working on it; 5) if your package does not show up within a week, let us know and we can file an insurance claim with the shipper and begin remaking/reshipping your order. 

Q: How much will shipping cost?

A: Depends on where you live and what you've ordered...to make it easy for everyone across the country we offer a Flat Rate shipping option (currently $8.99 or $11.99 per order) to the lower 48 states. Alaska and Hawaii residents, unfortunately, will need to pay the full price of shipping via UPS or USPS as quoted on the website. If you order an odd size or extra heavy tool, or a long handled tool or custom tools, there may be additional shipping charges that aren't covered by the standard flat rate (in such cases you will be notified prior to shipments). You are always welcome to click the Get Rates link that is below the Flat Rate shipping option to get a real time quote for USPS Priority Mail or UPS based on the weight and estimated tool dimensions and to see what it will cost to ship to your address by the carrier of your choice. Long handled tools can be expensive to ship, especially if the tool is not able to be shipped flat in a thin box no more than 2-3 inches tall. We don't mark up shipping or make money on shipping. In fact, we often subsidize shipping. Consider that shipping carriers charge us: 1) by zone (where you are in relation to us in Oregon, often with different rates for rural settings compared to urban one), 2) by dimensional weight (essentially the volume of the box...so a box that is 14 in x 14 in x 14 inches that has a piece of paper in it will be charged the same as if it had several pounds in it based on a calculation of length times girth), 3) by residential versus business (there is a flat fee associated with shipping to residential addresses that is higher than when shipping to a business address, if we use any carrier other than USPS), and 4) by longest side of the box (it is currently around $15 on top of the other fees to ship any box at or above 48 inches that goes via UPS or FedEx). 

Q: What is your return or exchange policy? 

We want you to be happy with the tools you have purchased from us. We will make every accommodation possible to enable you to exchange or return for a refund tools you decide are not right for you. For local customers, it is as simple as emailing or calling to schedule a visit to our workshop to conduct the return or exchange in person. For items still in new condition, you will get credit or a refund for the full price of the tool(s) you have opted not to keep. For customers who have had us ship their order to them (whether locally, nationally, or internationally) we ask you to contact us in advance of sending an item in for a return or exchange so we can help you figure out what your refund/credit will be. Unfortunately, we are not able to reimburse you for shipping charges or pay for shipping on orders that are being returned. You will be paying the cost of shipping to return the item(s) to us and, if exchanging items, to re-ship the new item(s) back. If you opted for our of our Flat Rate shipping options on the original purchase, in many cases you will have paid less for shipping than the carriers charged us. The difference between what you paid for shipping and our actual cost will also be deducted from any refund amount. For exchanges you will get full credit for the price you paid for the tool. For orders of certain hand tools and all long handled tools shipped outside our home region (Oregon, Washington, and some parts of California) the actual cost of your shipment is often $10-$20 higher than the rate you paid for our Flat Rate. To help you understand how our return policy impacts the amount your refund might be, here is an example: Customer A buys a long handled hoe for $125 and pays $11.99 for our Flat Rate option. The total paid by Customer A is $136.99. We pay $28.79 to ship to Customer A, who lives in Connecticut. When we calculate a return for Customer A, they will be refunded $108.20 ($136.99 they paid us minus $28.79 in shipping charges we paid). Customer A will also pay to ship the tool they are returning back to us. This is just a general example, an in. many cases and especially for hand tools, what you pay us for shipping does cover most or all of the actual cost of shipping. In these cases, your refund will be for the full amount of the tool. We do wish there was an easier and more effective way of dealing with returns for large tools shipped long distances, but unfortunately shipping is expensive and UPS, USPS, and FedEx set the rates we have to live with. If the return/exchange is necessary due to an error we made in shipping (shipping you the wrong tool, for example) or in manufacturing the tool, then we do cover all the costs of return shipping and re-shipping the correct tool to you.

Q: Are your tools covered by a warranty? 

We stand behind our work, and intend to make and sell tools that will last a lifetime if properly maintained and cared for when used for its intended purpose. A digging tool, for example, is meant to dig with not for use as a prying tool...though we've all taken that short cut when a trowel is at hand and we encounter a rock we want to pry out of place, that isn't the intended use for the tool and damage caused by such activity does not qualify for free repair or replacement.  We will do our best to provide a fair and equitable solution to any problems you have with our tools. Typically, in a year, out of every 5,000 tools we ship, we will get back 1-5 total items and in most cases this is due either to damage that ocured during shipping or because the buyer expected the tool to be smaller/larger/lighter/heavier than what they got. 

If a tool we've made breaks or is damaged due to a defect in the way we designed or built the tool for its intended use, or from a defect in materials, we will replace or repair it. We rarely encounter this, in fact most years there are no cases of this. It is most likely to happen when we have just launched a new tool design or switch suppliers for a material. For all other situations, the way our warranty works is that if a tool we made is well-maintained and cared for, and if it breaks or is damaged under normal, appropriate use conditions for the tool, we will repair it at no charge or, in some cases, offer a replacement. Regular wear from use is not covered by any implied guarantee. For a small fee, we will re-handle and repair tools that have been neglected or damaged and can be returned to use, in many cases to near new condition. Tools not made by us are subject to the warranties offered by those manufacturers. The customer is responsible for any shipping charges related to replacement/repairs. General care and on-going maintenance of the tool, and using the tool within the scope of what it is designed to do is the responsibility of the customer. Normal wear and aging of a tool and damage from misuse are not covered. Wooden handles are not covered under the warranty, except for the first 30 days after shipping, because a defective handle will break on the first use. Our tools do tell a story, and we can almost always tell by looking at a tool how it has been cared for and if the damage was caused by a defect versus misuse.

Q: I loved the last tool I bought from you and want to buy another one. I know every tool you make is one-of-a-kind, so how can I be sure my new one will be a close match to my older one?

A: First of all, we're so appreciative you liked the tool enough to come back and buy another one from us. Now, it is great you are asking us this question before placing your order, because we are always testing and modifying our designs to improve them based on what we hear from customers and from our own use. The chances of getting an almost exact match to the tool you got from us last time is around 50-50. We are happy to match your tool, if we know about it in advance of shipping. So, you can go ahead and place your order for the tool online and in the Additional Information/Order Notes box on the checkout page, let us know that you would like to match one of the tools we sent you in a prior order. Then, depending on how close of a match you need, it is a good idea to email or text a photograph to us with your order number and some measurements noted and any other information you'd like us to consider. We'll pick out a close match when we ship your tool if we have one, or we'll make one for you. If you forget to do this and receive the tool and are surprised that it is different, we're happy to exchange it for you, but you will be asked to send it back to us and pay for re-shipping the new tool.

Q: Do you do custom work?

A: Absolutely! You’ll get the exact tool you're looking for, even if we have to make it from scratch. If you're looking for something special, just let us know and we'll see what we can do for you. Of course, all our work is done by hand, and with custom work we are working to approximate standards to save us time and save you money. If you need a tool made to nearly exact specifications, the cost may be higher than what we would quote for a tool where you can accept some small variance from the exact dimensions. Let us know if you want something exact matched versus something that is just closely matched. 

Q: Do you make and sell long-handled tools and specialty tools that are not shown on your website?

A: Yes, many! Our online store is just a portion of our product line! If you have something in mind that you are looking for, send us an email or give us a call.  If you live in the area, just make arrangements to stop on by!

Q: We want to buy a long-handled tool, and will share the work between a us (2 or more people). How do we choose the right handle length if we are of different heights?

A: Good question...no perfect answer. For most of our weeding hoes in particular, a total tool length around the same height (+/- 2 inches or so) as the person who will use it most often is the most ergonomic size. This means you will be able to do the work without bending or hunching over, reducing or eliminating the chance that you will experience lower back strain or pain. If the work will be split evenly, choose one at the lower end of the range for the tallest person...in most cases, it is easier for a short person to choke up on the handle than it is for a tall person to bend over. If the work won't be split evenly, choose one on the higher end of the height range for the person who will do most of the work (or at the shorter end one handle size up). In the order notes, you can tell us the heights of the two users and who will use it most, and we'll try to match you with something that is an acceptable compromise.

Q: Can I still find Red Pig Garden Tools at your former store in Boring, Oregon?

A: Unfortunately not. The former store in Boring is closed. Our tools are available 24 hours a day through this website, by phone most week days Pacific Time 9:30am to 4:30pm, and increasingly in independent retail stores throughout the country. You are welcome drop by our workshop in West Linn, or better yet plan a visit and schedule an appointment with us to visit our showroom and shop to pick up orders, get a feel for a tool you are considering buying, or to drop off tools for repair, sharpening, re-handling, or restoration.

Q: Will you repair, re-handle, sharpen or restore tools that are not made by you?

A: Sure will. We do it a lot, actually. Now, some tools are not worth the cost of restoration, and we'll let you know that prior to doing any work on it. There are a lot of great old tools you'll find rusted and without a handle, but otherwise sound...and we love to give them new life. Even if your tool isn't a great quality tool but it has sentimental value or is of good enough quality that it can be cleaned up and made almost new again, we'll do the work.

Q: How can I view the status of my order?

A: Go to the Customer Service, Account Information page. Once logged in, this page lists all your orders. Click the date of the order whose status you wish to view.

Q: What are your shipping costs?

A: Shipping long distances and to more rural areas is expensive. There is no way around it. We are now able to offer the option of flat rate shipping (currently $8.99 or $11.99) for orders of small hand tools shipping to most locations in the USA. Unfortunately, if you live in Alaska, Hawaii, or outside the lower 48 states, we are not currently able to offer the flat rate shipping option and you will have to pay the actual shipping cost. If you live in Alaska or Hawaii and are buying only smaller/hand tools, feel free to give us a call to place your order and we will do our best to figure out if your order can fit in a flat rate box to ship at a lower rate that what the website estimates. Our flat rate shipping option means you can buy 1 hand tool or buy 5 and the shipping cost to you will be the same. Longer handled tools and custom tools that require special packaging may have additional fees, but most of them will qualify for our Flat Rate shipping option. If you choose Flat Rate and your order included a long handled tool or tool that requires special packaging, you must be able to receive shipments by both UPS and USPS. If you can only receive packages via one carrier, you will need to choose the shipping option for that carrier.

If you use different addresses for UPS and USPS, please enter your preferred address as the ship to address, and then include your other address in the order notes/additional information box on the checkout page. You can also select UPS or USPS Priority mail instead, if the real time quoted rates from the carriers are better than the flat rate option. This doesn't happen regularly, but it can be the case. We are only able to offer flat rate shipping when we have the option will be sent by the least expensive, trackable method we can find, through UPS or USPS Priority Mail.  Final estimated shipping costs will be displayed on the order checkout page and invoice you see before confirming your order. We try to be as accurate as we can. Long handled tools usually ship out as oversize, and keep in mind that UPS charges us fees of $5-$15 to ship to residential addresses and for boxes 48" long and bigger. UPS, FedEx, and USPS also all charge shipping based on dimensional weight, which means a lot of tools we make regularly do not make it to the website because the cost of shipping can be quite high. 

Q: How long does it take to ship an order?

A: We strive to ship order promptly, within 1-3 business days from when the order is placed when we have all the tools in your order made and in stock. During most of the year, we ship every week on Tuesdays and Thursday. Leading up to holidays, we often add 1-2 more days of shipping for the 2 weeks leading up to the holiday (Thanksgiving-December 21, Mother's Day, and Father's Day). There are times when we may be closed or taking days off, in which case shipping may be delayed until the following Tuesday or Thursday. If we have to make one of the tools in your order, expect 1-2 weeks plus or minus a few days for shipments to leave our shop, unless otherwise noted on the product page.  At times of extreme demand (late spring/early summer) it can be longer. We make all Red Pig and Piginor tools by hand here in Oregon, and sometimes we run out of the stock we made in advance. If you order something that is out of stock and that will take us longer than the regular estimated lead time (shown on each product page), we will let you know via email of the delay and anticipated wait time. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

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