Interior decor and gifts - cowhide rugs & ottomans + possum fur throws & possum merino knitwear |
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Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral Questions
Q - Where is your showroom located?
A - *New Zealand customers only* - If you would like to see a cowhide rug in your own home, we can lend it to you for up to 3 days. We will hold your credit card details on file until you decide if it is the one for you or not. There is no obligation and we understand that buying a cowhide can be a large commitment. More info...A - Our showroom is at 23 St Benedicts St, Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. We are inside the St Benedicts Gallery, a dark green building. Ph +64 9 522 1050. The showroom is currently open by appointment please call to book a convenient time. Q - Did you used to be called a different name? A - Yes we used to be called Debandada Cowhide & Possum Fur but we changed it to Gorgeous Creatures because Debandada was dificult to say, spell and remember. Q - What time is it in New Zealand? A - If you need to phone Gorgeous Creatures in New Zealand, remember that we are in a different time zone to most other major countries. Q - Does Gorgeous Creatures belong to a professional organisation or association?  A - Yes, we are current members of the New Zealand Retailer's Association. Cowhide Product QuestionsQ - What are your cowhides used for? A - About 80% of the cow skins we sell are used as floor mats, rugs, coverings. Some people throw them over a sofa. About 20% is used as upholstery to cover chairs, ottomans, footstools and other types of furniture. Q - How do you price your cowhide rugs? A - All our cowhide rugs are priced loosely on their size. The colour does not matter even though some colours are rarer or more in demand. The price range goes from about NZ$695 for small to NZ$1795 for an extra large monster sized skin. The New Zealand dollar is generally weaker than most major currencies. Q - How does your approval service work in New Zealand?
Q - How does your approval service work overseas (everywhere else except New Zealand)?
A - *International customers only* - If you would like to see a cowhide rug in your own home, the only way is purchase a cowhide through the website and if you do not like it when you receive it, notify us that you want to return it within 3 days of it's arrival and return to us within 7 days. The cowhide must be in the same ‘new’ condition as you received it from Gorgeous Creatures. You will need to pay for the return courier to New Zealand with tracking and insurance. Once it arrives, we will then refund the purchase price onto your credit card (not the cost of return freight).
Q - What is your in-house consultation service?
A - If you live in Auckland, New Zealand, Gorgeous Creatures are happy to do a site visit and make recommendations for the perfect cowhide to suit your environment. We can even bring a few with us to try out. Or email us a photo and tell us what you are trying to achieve e.g. soften the room, bring more warmth into the room. We can make recommendations.
A - The overall leather size or 'meterage' is measured at the tannery by a surface scanning machine. This is reported in metres square and written on a sticker on the underside. We also measure the longest dimensions from head to tail and left to right across the hind legs in centimetres and inches so that you can tell if a cowhide will fit into your room space. Remember that it is OK for the legs and other parts that stick out from a cowhide to go under furniture. In fact this works well to anchor a furniture setting. Click here to read more and see a diagram. Q - How do I clean my cowhide rug?
A - Cowhide is easy to maintain and clean. Click here for detailed cleaning instructions.
Q - How long will cowhide last?
A - Cow skin is durable and will last many years depending on how and where you use it. Click here for more information on cowhide durability.
Q - How do cats or dogs react to cowhide? Do they try to eat it? A - This is a tough one to answer because every pet is different. In general, dogs love cowhides and will start sleeping in the middle straight away. I have not heard of trouble with dogs eating cowhide, it is tanned so has no flavour or appeal. However puppies do tend to chew on things including leather shoes so I can't make any promises. Most cats start off very wary of cowhide, the smell and texture is foreign to them. They walk around the edges. After they realise that a cowhide is no threat they either ignore it or start sleeping on it as well. Q - Are cowhides animal and child friendly? A - Yes they are. Cowhides are easy to keep clean and a lot more forgiving than other rug types. Kids love cowhide, they get down on their tummies and 'swim' around on them. I guess this is because of the soft and silky texture.
Q - Were the cows killed for their skins?
A - No, no, no! Cowhides are a by-product of the farming/meat industry. The cows were farmed for meat and milk. The sheep and reindeer are also farmed for food.
Q - How are the hides tanned? A - They are tanned using the chrome technique so the back of the leather is a blue grey colour. This is the best technique for a soft and floppy leather result. They have not been treated with, and contain no residues of PCP, AZO-colouring agents, Chrome VI, formaldehyde and nickel. The tanneries use an environmentally responsible method of waste treatment that exceeds industry standard requirements. Possum Fur Product Questions
Q - Why is this fur good when all other real furs are seen as bad?
A - This is a big question. The short answer is that these animals are an introduced exotic species that shouldn't be in New Zealand. They are doing major ecological damage. Click here for more info... Q - If possums are doing so much damage then why are they in New Zealand in the first place? A - In the old days (1800's) people did not understand what would happen when you added an animals/plant/fish/insect into another eco-system. They didn't know that it would upset the natural order of life and impact native species in a negative way. Click here for more info... Q - Were the possums killed for their fur? A - No and Yes! Primarily the possums are culled because their numbers must be reduced to save the native forests and birds. Most of the possum carcases are left in the bush to rot and recycle back into the soil. However this is not ideal because possums are a carrier of bovine tuberculosis. Recently people have started to collect these wasted by-products and use the leather and fur so that they are not a completely wasted resource. Back to top Ordering, Security & Payment QuestionsQ - How do I order from this website? A - Browse the product catalogues, select the products' you wish to buy and put them into your shopping basket. When you are ready, click the 'checkout' button and follow the on-screen instructions. Fill out your name, address, phone and email information. On the PayPal payment page either login to your existing PayPal account or simply enter your credit card details (no need to make an account). The page is secure. Make sure you click the orange button that says "Return to Passionista Ltd T/A Gorgeous Creatures" to complete the sale and trigger the website to process your order. Q - What currency does this website use?
A - The default currency is New Zealand dollars. New Zealand dollars are generally weaker than most other major currencies so buying from New Zealand can often work out cheaper for overseas customers. To check a price an excellent and easy to use currency convertor is www.xe.com.
Q - What payment options do I have?
A - We take Visa, MasterCard and Amex credit cards through our secure website's payment gateway - PayPal. If you don't like using a website, please email, phone or fax us with your order and credit card details, or alternatively we can supply our bank account details for a domestic bank deposit or international money transfer.
Q - How do I know this website is safe and secure? 
A - PayPal is one of the world’s biggest and well respected payment gateways. Click here to read about our professional website security and to find out what SSL means.
Q - Do you sell to trade customers at special prices?
A - Yes we do sell to pre-approved trade customers. This trade price is not available to the public. Interior Designers, Interior Decorators, Architects and Home Stagers qualify for the trade price. For large orders (20 hides or more) we can negotiate a special price. Click here to contact us and find out if you qualify.
Q - What will it cost me for freight?
A - International and local freight is calculated in the shopping basket based on the weight of the product. You usually have a choice of courier or normal post. More info...
Q - What if I don't like my order when it arrives?
A - No problem, simply return stocked the items as explained in our 7 day return policy for a full refund. Click here for policy details.
Q - Who pays the freight if I want to return a purchase?
A - If you want to return a purchase or approval, you will need to organise and pay for the freight back to Gorgeous Creatures in Auckland, New Zealand using a tracking courier with insurance.
Q - Is my order insured while in transit to my delivery address?
A - Yes, we have insurance to cover items while in transit from Gorgeous Creatures to your home or office. For International couriers a value of $2000 is automatically insurance, after that additional insurance must be purchased. When the courier arrives check the packaging for damage and open the parcel before signing the courier reciept docket to check that everything is OK.Back to top |
Contact Us:09 522 1050E-mail: showroom@gorgeouscreatures.co.nz |
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