How long does it take to process and ship orders?
Your order will normally be shipped within 1 to 3 business days. During periods of peak activity such as Christmas you should allow an additional 2 days for processing and mailing.
How will my order be shipped?
Most orders are shipped via UPS from our warehouses in North Carolina or Georgia. You should allow 7 days for ground shipments to the West Coast while orders on the East Coast or in the southern part of the United States may arrive overnight by UPS Ground.
We offer shipping via UPS Ground service at 50% of the normal rate until June 30th. You can specify expedited shipping at our normal rates. Feel free to call if you have any questions on how to handle this.
When will my credit card be charged?
We do not charge your card until the order actually leaves our warehouse. We will noitify you at that time of shipment and give you a tracking number. Pay Pal works like a debit card in that the payment is captured immediately.
What if my skates don't fit?
We will take back unused skates that do not fit properly. Just be sure to test them in the house, preferably on carpet, until you are certain that you will not be returning them. Once worn on the street or the rink we cannot accept them back for full credit.
Most domestic orders will be shipped UPS although you can request FedEx or USPS. We ship only to the United States and Canada at this time.
What size skate should I buy?
Proper fit is essential in the selection of a skate and your skate should fit your foot like a good fitting pair of shoes. We recommend that you buy children's skates one size larger than their current shoe size unless they are skating competitively to allow for future growth. You can fill out the boot with socks. Adults should allow approximately 1/4" and a young adult should allow about 1/2" if their feet are still growing. Some skates are available only in men's sizes and women may want to drop down one size. Be sure your skate fits before you skate in it so it can be returned for exchange if necessary. Once you skate in your skate it cannot be returned.
What is the ABEC rating?
ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee and it is a scale used to classify the different accuracy and tolerance ranges for bearings. In actuality, the ABEC rating will have little impact on the speed of your skate unless you plan on skating at over 330 miles per hour.
Should I buy the skates with leather boots or the less expensive man-made materials?
Novice skaters, especially children, may want to start with a budget skate and then transition into the more expensive models as their skill level progresses. Many man-made materials are very good and for certain applications preferable but, as has always been the case, a good leather skate is durable and comfortable.
Is skating dangerous?
Surprisingly enough skating is very safe. As an example, it is twice as safe as a playground, three times safer than football or baseball, four times safer than basketball and five times safer than bicycling.
