FAQ

120 day money back guarantee from Afghan-Carpets.com

You can return your carpet within 120 days and get your money back. The carpet has to be in unaltered condition and should not have been used. You have to package the carpet the same way as it was when you received it.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

COVID-19 info

Am I still able to place an order?

Yes under all circumstances.

I live in a currently restricted zip-code, can I still make an order?

Yes without any problem.

Can a carpet carry the Coronavirus?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus will not spread through objects.

Will there be delays in the delivery?

No.

Do you buy carpets directly from Afghanistan ?

Yes. All carpets are directly from Afghanistan. 

Are you taking precautions within your company to avoid spreading the Coronavirus?

Yes. We value the safety of all our workers and those who can are currently working at home. Our warehouse personnel who cannot work at home, have been given extra protective gear to help minimize the risk of spreading the virus. To date, we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

About carpets

How thick is the pile of a carpet?

The thickness of the pile varies depending on the style of the carpet.

When should I use under-padding?

We recommend under-padding (Super Stop) for thinner carpets since it prevents the carpet from slipping and helps it stay in place. It also provides more cushioning, thus prolonging the life of your carpet by preventing pile crush, and protects the carpet from the effects of sharp objects like heels.

What is a fringe?

A fringe is the extension of warp strands; they are knotted at the ends to ensure that the wefts and the knots do not unravel.

Why do the fringes of a carpet vary?

The exact length of the fringes depends on the weaving of the carpet and who made it. Fringes are sometimes trimmed short, sometimes long, and in older carpets they may be braided or non-existent. The type or length of the fringe of a carpet has little to do with its value or quality.

Why do handmade carpets have some imperfections?

Handmade carpets have imperfections since they are handmade, and this adds to the value, interest and characteristic of the carpet. In nomadic carpets, most variations are not intentional, but simply due to the fact that it is much harder for nomadic weavers to manufacture the carpets, than it is for workshop weavers. The looms used in rural areas are usually very basic horizontal looms placed on the floor, which makes it much more difficult to knot a perfectly symmetrical rug.

My carpet has different shades/nuances, is there a fault or defect in the carpet?

This is not a fault in the carpet. What you see is known as an Abrash. An Abrash is a Turkish word meaning partly coloured. This difference in nuances is commonly found in nomadic carpets, and it occurs when a weaver uses yarn from a dye that was not done in the exact same shade as the previously used. The Abrash, therefore adds more character and charm to the carpet and also reminds us of the working conditions of the carpet weaver.

Are the photos of your carpets close to reality and how can I be sure that the colour I see on the screen is the real colour of the carpet?

The photos of our carpets are taken professionally with a high resolution digital camera in a color-temperature controlled environment and the photos are then processed using Adobe Photoshop. The photos of the carpets are therefore, as close to reality as the real carpets. However, it also depends on the type, quality and age of the screen one uses to view the carpets and this can affect how the photos and colors are displayed on your screen.

Are your carpets manufactured using child labour?

We have buyers who continuously visit and inspect the villages, workshops and resident nomads where some of our carpets are produced. They monitor the production of these carpets and also check the working conditions and that no children are involved in the production. It had previously been common that child labour was part of the culture in the making of hand knotted carpets, but this has since changed over the years due to the pressure and awareness that has been raised on the issue of child labour worldwide.

Bargain (seconds)?

We sell no second-hand carpets.

What's the fluff in my carpet?

 

It is not unusual for a new handmade carpet to fluff. During the first few weeks surplus wool that has been trapped in the pile begins to surface and is gradually released. In Persian carpets this often disappears after 1-2 vacuum sessions, but in Indian-made carpets it can take a bit longer. The best ones are the ones we sell directly from Afghanistan.

There is nothing to worry about and trying to speed up the natural process will only cause extra wear and tear to your carpet. The best advice is to be patient and with general use you will see that the fluffing gradually slows down and eventually ceases.

Purchasing

How is it possible to sell luxury carpets with very cheap prices?

There are four main reasons. The first is that while we sell carpets around the world but we do not own a retail store anywhere. The second is that we sell products in large quantities and we can offer products at the lowest prices. We do not invest in expensive advertising campaigns. The carpets are directly from the producers.

Do you have a store or exhibition that I could visit and view a carpet?

No, unfortunately we do not have any store or exhibition where one can view the carpets. We only sell our carpets in our web shop on the Internet, and you can only view them on our website. If you are interested in purchasing a more exclusive carpet (value of 5000€ or more) it is possible to arrange for a visit to our exclusive showroom to see the carpet before making your decision.
Contact us on Afghanistan-carpets@protonmail.com

Do you have a catalogue for your carpets?

No, we do not have a catalogue since all our carpets can be viewed on our website. By having all our carpets on the website it is easier for us to constantly update the information on our carpets, therefore providing more accurate and current information to our customers.

How do I purchase a carpet from your website?

Begin by selecting the carpet you want to buy. Click on the carpet for more detailed information. On the right-hand you will see the price of the carpet. If the carpet is not sold or reserved, there is a button under the price with the text: “Buy”. Click on the ”Buy” button to place the carpet in your shopping cart. The same procedure can be repeated as indicated above to add several carpets to your shopping cart.

The next step is to go to the checkout counter. You do this by clicking on the link "Proceed to Checkout" that is visible under the carpets in your shopping cart.

The final step is to choose your payment method. You can pay with a credit card or by PayPal Click on the alternative you wish to use and follow the instructions given. Bank transfer on request by emailing us to afghan-carpets@protonmail.com.

How does your pricing work?

Putting a price on a handmade carpet is very difficult. The price can be decided depending on the quality of the wool, the colours used, the design of the pattern, but of course also if it is an old carpet or a carpet that is hard to find these days. Nomadic carpets for example are much harder to find nowadays making the prices higher on them. It also depends on the skill of the workers and the tribal region where the carpets come from. All our carpets are made in Afghanistan.

Can I borrow a carpet to see if it fits in my home?

It is not possible to borrow a carpet. If you purchase a carpet and find that it doesn’t fit in as expected you can return it within 120 days.

Payment and Security

How secure are the transactions I make?

The transactions on our website are very secure and we co-operate with PayPal which handles all our Internet payments. All payments are made on a safe encrypted connection for your security and to protect and prevent our customers from fraud. All payments are authorized with a technique know as 3D-Secure. All payments are also controlled manually for your safety. You benefit also from the Paypal buyer buyer protection system.

What payment methods do you accept?

We offer two methods of payment by credit card or by PayPal directly. Bank transfer on request by emailing us to afghan-carpets@protonmail.com.

 

What is 3D Secure?

3D Secure is an umbrella term for a security technology that has been developed by VISA and MasterCard in collaboration. The idea is that the cardholder must identify himself/herself by typing a personal code when purchasing online. The customer obtains this code from their bank. When using this technology the bank that issued the card assumes responsibility to cover the economic risk in connection with potential fraud. This technology which was put in place to protect the customer is often referred to on websites as Verified by VISA and MasterCard SecureCode. We utilize this technology when a payment is made with a card for which this technology has been activated.

Orders

How do I view my orders?

You can view your orders by clicking on “My account” which is located on the top of the page and then logging in with your email and password. Here you can view your current and previous orders, and you also have the possibility to track your current shipments.

How do I cancel an order?

If you want to cancel an order, please send an email to afghan-carpets@protonmail.com and we will cancel the order and confirm it for you. You can also log in to your account and cancel the order by yourself.

How can I change my order?

If you want to change an order then send us an email to afghan-carpets@protonmail.com and let us know what carpet you would like instead of the one ordered. Please note that we can only change orders that have not been sent out.

Shipping and deliveries

How much does the shipping cost?

We always offer  free shipping alternative worldwide.

How long does the shipping take?

The normal delivery-time 2-8 workdays worldwide.

Do I need to be home to receive my carpet?

Yes someone needs to be home when the delivery arrives. You can contact UPS/FedEx/DHL for further information about the delivery-time or for help changing the delivery address.

How do I track my order and shipment?

After you have placed your order and it has been packed you will receive a confirmation email from afghan-carpets@protonmail.com. This email contains shipping information and tracking information. You can use this information to track your order through the UPS/FedEx/DHL website at www.ups.com / www.fedex.com / www.dhl.com. Do you ship to P.O. Boxes?

No, we cannot ship to P.O. Boxes, since the package needs to be signed for.

Returns

If I don’t like the carpet can I return it?

Yes, you can return your carpet if you do not like it. You have a 120 day money back guarantee. How do I make a return?

To make a return you have to personally contact us via afghan-carpets@protonmail.com and let us know that you want to make a return. We will then send you a return dispatch note by ordinary post which contains packing labels and instructions on how to deal with your return.

What do I do if my carpet is damaged on arrival?

If your carpet is damaged on arrival please contact UPS/DHL locally and report the damage to them and then let us know immediately by contacting us either by phone  or email us at afghan-carpets@protonmail.com.

How do you package the carpets and ensure that they are safe to ship?

All our carpets are packed according to instructions from UPS/FedEx/DHL. The carpets are folded and placed in a thick protective plastic bag that is sealed together using heat. Runners are rolled.

Do I have to pay for the shipping when I return my carpet?

No.

Carpet Maintenance

How do I get rid of fold and creases in my carpet?

Folds and creases can be remedied by simply placing something heavy (but safe) like a stack of books on the affected area. After a few days you should notice an improvement and the rug will lay flat on the floor. Creases on a rug will gradually disappear with regular use.

How do I get rid of stains?

There are a number of ways to get rid of stains depending on what kind of stain it is. For best reusults it’s best to deal with the stain immediately and remove as much of it as you can. 

Can I wash my carpet myself?

We strongly advise you to contact a professional rug cleaner who knows how to properly clean your rug. Attempting to wash your rug yourself can cause irreversible damage to your rug.