Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
DP paper (also called Designphil Pocket Book paper) is an original proprietary paper designed to be thin while maintaining its strength. The smooth surface allows for a good writing experience with all kinds of writing instruments, even fountain pens and ink. It does not feather or bleed-through easily.
The rings are made by Krause, known for their superior metal hardware. The “PLOTTER” backplates are original brass hardware made in Japan
For instructions on how to care for different kinds of leather materials from PLOTTER, please refer to these articles:
Maintaining Liscio Leather
Maintaining Pueblo Leather
Maintaining Shrink Leather
The name customization service is currently only available in Japan.
Learn more about PLOTTER Leather Binder sizes with the PLOTTER Size Guide.
At PLOTTER, we embrace the irregularities, wrinkles, and scratches that occur on natural leather as the charm of leather. Leather is a natural material that comes from animals, so it may have scratches from lying on the grass or scratches left by animals themselves. There will be blood vessels, small scratches, linear wrinkles, or uneven color bands, and each piece of leather can vary from part to part. These slight imperfections are what make leather so unique from other synthetic materials, and we invite you to enjoy the way leather materials (and these small marks) change over time.
It is completely normal and it makes your ring leather binder more unique and truly one-of-a-kind. To ensure an even thickness throughout the piece of leather, the craftsmen repeatedly use a skiving blade to shave off the useless hairy patches to create a smooth leather with a natural texture, not only on the surface but also on the reverse side. The strain marks on the backside are proof of the authenticity of the leather, which has been carefully crafted piece by piece. The inside of a PLOTTER Leather binder is also not treated in any special way, the original scratches, wrinkles, dents, and other expressions of the leather are used to its fullest. This is part of our philosophy of honoring the leather piece and enjoying it in its natural form.
PLOTTER Leather binders in A5, Bible, and Narrow Size utilizes special backplate with a hook that secures the leather through the midsection. The design is intentional to maintain the integrity of the leather against the entire length of the backplate. A slit in the leather in the middle of the spine is necessary for this design. The “bump” is the natural curvature that happens where the slit is made on a fresh piece of leather, and as you use the leather more, the tension will resolve over time.
Repair of PLOTTER products is dependent on the condition of the product. PLOTTER provides 1-year warranty on PLOTTER ring hardware for orders from authorized PLOTTER distributors in the US/CANADA region. Warranty is void if any cosmetic customization is made to the PLOTTER Leather Binder outside of official PLOTTER customization events. If you wish to have it evaluated and repair, please contact support@plotterusa.com. Repair and exchange services are only available within US and Canada region.
The binder (ring) metal fittings of the leather binder (notebook) are designed to be removed so that they can be replaced so that customers can use them for a long time. This is a mechanism that can be repaired when the metal fittings are not properly engaged due to factors such as binding a large amount of refill paper, or when the metal fittings are distorted due to dropping. Therefore, the binder metal fittings may come off regardless of the normal usage range and years of use.
The cost of hardware replacement (not including shipping) is below:
Liscio A5 – $32; Bible / Narrow / Mini / Mini 5 – $22
Pueblo A5 – $30; Bible / Narrow / Mini / Mini 5 – $20
Shrink A5 – $20; Bible / Narrow / Mini / Mini 5 – $15
The Shipping fee for repairs will be $8
There are various possible causes, such as “You are using an address that you cannot reply to” or “cannot receive mail”. Other possible causes are below.
1. Customers who use symbols (such as “.”) in their email addresses for special purposes
2. Customers who use free mail – some free email services are more reliable than others. We recommend using Gmail as a reliable free email administrator.
3. Customers using carrier emails of mobile phones and smartphones – sometimes sending messages or emails on the fly may have dropped service during your reply. You should have an error message in your inbox if this is the case.
4. Our replies may have automatically gone to your junk or spam folder so please double-check before reaching out.
* For details on the setting method, check the websites of mobile phone companies or contact the retailer where you purchased your mobile phone or smartphone.
5. Other possibilities
- Incorrect email address entered
- Security software and antivirus software settings
- Use of email blocking services
- Mailbox capacity over the limit
*If none of the above apply, please contact us again using a different email address.
Shipping
Not available at this moment.
To maintain the quality and packaging of PLOTTER products, we have opted for the best shipping options for that purpose. We thank you for your understanding. Please note that our operations are paused on weekends and will resume during the weekday.
The cost of shipping your order will vary depending on the destination of your shipping address and chosen method of shipment. All shipping costs are calculated at check-out. Free shipping on any orders over $185 (excluding tax)
(1)Standard: 2-3 days for processing order + 5-7 business days for transit
(2)Priority: 2-3 days for processing order + 2-3 business days for transit
**As more locations are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic shipping times may be extended by 2-3 days to allow our couriers the extra time to safely deliver your order.
According to USPS – Service Alerts, they are experiencing minor operational impacts for domestic mail. We are able to continue providing shipping within the United States, but at this time we cannot guarantee shipping times and delivery delays are expected.
To maintain the quality and packaging of PLOTTER products, we have opted for the best shipping options for that purpose. We thank you for your understanding
International Shipping is currently only available for customers in Canada
The cost of shipping your order will vary depending on the destination of your shipping address and chosen method of shipment. All shipping costs are calculated at check-out. International shipments may be subject to customs duties which are levied by and paid to your local customs office. Please see section “Customs Duty Tax”.
International Priority (FedEx): Shipped next business day + 2-3 business days for transit (orders with customs delays may add an extra 1-2 business days)
** As more locations are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, international shipping times may be extended by 4-6 days to allow our couriers the extra time to safely deliver your order.
Customs Duty Tax
Customs duty tax or tariff is a fee imposed on goods when transporting across international borders, it is a charge from the foreign country rather than PLOTTER USA. Customs duty tax is a legal requirement that must be settled by the purchaser before a shipment can clear customs and be delivered. Customs duty tax is payable to your local customs office. Shipments without customs clearance may be held and later returned to the sender.
The customs duty tax amount will vary depending on certain variables, such as your destination country’s tax and duty percentage, category of goods and its value. As such, PLOTTER USA cannot provide any estimates for the tax amount.
Once an order has been received in our system, our team then has it processed as quickly as possible. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any address corrections or order modifications be made to your order unless confirmed by our shipping team. If you have mistakenly entered an incorrect shipping address during check-out, we ask that you contact us immediately.
Please email us at support@plotterusa.com with your full name, 4-digit order number, and the correct shipping address and we will do our best to update your information before it is processed to ship.
Unless specifically exempted, you must pay the 5% Goods and Service Tax on items you import into Canada by mail. The Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) calculates any duties owed based on the value of the goods in Canadian funds. When your order reaches the border, the CBSA will reach out to the contact info listed on the order for a payment request. Once payment is complete, the CBSA will release your order for final delivery.
Returns
Unopened products purchased from plotterusa.com within the continental United States may be returned for a refund within 30 days. Refunds are limited to regularly priced items. Items shipped to an address outside of the continental United States are not eligible for a return.
• Original shipping costs are non-refundable.
• Customer is responsible for the return postage (except for defective items).
• Refunds are issued via the original payment method of the order. It may take time before your bank posts your refund. Usually, the funds will show up in 5-7 business days.
• Exchanges are processed as a return and a new order.
Please submit a request for return by sending an email to support@plotterusa.com with the subject line “Return [#order number]”. We do not accept returns without return authorization.