QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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Q: Why does every item in the Store show as "1 available" ?

A: That's because the photos showing the feather/s are not samples. They are the actual feather/s you will receive when you order. 1 item means 1 packet (or pack) and the one pack will contain every feather which is in the photo. If you see the photo with one feather then obviously it's just that one feather in the packet, but if you see the photo with a pair (2 feathers) or several feathers then the term "1 available" means that 1 packet is available and the packet will contain all the feathers shown in the photo. Examples below:

"1 available" means one packet, which contains just the one feather you see in the photo.

"1 available" means one packet, which contains all the 12 feathers you see in the photo.

"1 available" means one packet, which contains the pair of feathers you see in the photo.

The price is for each item / packet, not for each feather. E.G. If a photo shows 10 feathers then the price is the total for the 10 feathers, which are all together in the one packet.

Q: Which currency is used on the FeatherExchange.com website and store?

A: Australian Currency only is used (A$ or AUD). A$1.00 = approximately USD 0.75.
Example: If the order was for A$100.00 the customer's credit/debit card or PayPal account is charged approximately USD72.00, approximately EUR66.00 and approximately GBP52.00.
Currencies fluctuate throughout the day and a few points up or down is expected, so please only use this information as a guide. You can also use this Currency Converter on the day you are ordering to get a better idea on the approximate cost in your currency.

Q: If my shipping address is in Australia then can I still order items with an "(EX)" in their title?

A: Yes. Every item in our store can be shipped within Australia. 

Q: Why aren't any White-tailed Black-Cockatoo feathers available to export outside of Australia?

A: White-tailed Black-Cockatoos are an endangered species. Under Australian Federal law, their feathers cannot be exported due to this reason. Even though all the White-tailed Black-Cockatoo feathers we stock are naturally moulted feathers from legally held captive birds, the law in Australia doesn't differentiate and therefore the Australian Federal Government will not allow feathers from this species to be added to our export licensing. No one in Australia can get licensed to commercially export feathers from this species.

Q: Why are there Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo feathers that can be exported outside of Australia, while others from these species cannot be exported? 

A: This is due to supplier agreements and complex reasons related to licensing and the law.

Q: Why are there feathers from Macaws and other protected Parrots that can be exported outside of Australia, while others from these species cannot be exported?

A: Supplier agreements, so same as the answer above - however feathers from a few species such as the Scarlet Macaw, Red-fronted Macaw, African Grey Parrot and Moluccan Cockatoo can never be exported as they are CITES Appendix I listed, so banned from commercial export worldwide.

Q: Why cant any Peregrine Falcon feathers be shipped outside of Australia?

A: The Peregrine Falcon is a CITES Appendix I listed Raptor species and due to this it isn't possible to include their moulted feathers on our export licensing. Their feathers are banned from international trade, so for now we can only ship them within Australia. During the last CITES Conference in Johannesburg (CoP17) there was a good argument to put the Peregrine Falcon back to a CITES Appendix II level, which would then make their feathers legal for export (with a CITES Permit of course) - but it didn't happen. There is a likelihood that at the next CITES Conference in 2019 that the Peregrine Falcon status will change to Appendix II and if that happens then we will eventually be able to ship Peregrine Falcon feathers outside of Australia.

Q: How do I know that feathers I buy from FeatherExchange.com are humanely sourced?

A: All feathers we export include a copy of the CITES export certificate and the original CITES export permit. The customer will receive these documents with the shipment. To be able to get CITES licensed in the first place meant that the Australian Federal Government had do its own investigations and be satisfied that all of the State licensing was in place and that we will always have solid evidence that every feather was sourced legally and humanely. Australia has the reputation of having the strictest laws in the world when it comes to wildlife trading, including wildlife parts - such as feathers. 
​When you buy feathers from FeatherExchange.com you are always receiving 100% legally and humanely sourced feathers. It's not a maybe or a most likely... but it's a definite. 

Q: Could Border Protection Authorities in my country seize a shipment coming to me from FeatherExchange.com. 

A: Not in most countries. These enforcement authorities must act according to the law and feathers we export are legal to enter most countries because they include the appropriate export documentation, a CITES certificate and a CITES permit. The United States Wildlife & Fisheries Department and the USDA (United Stated Department of Agriculture) have already verified Marks Products & Services (trading as FeatherExchange.com) as a legal feather exporter from Australia and we already experienced that customers in the United States will always receive feathers from us without any problem. 

In the highly unlikely event that a package for a customer was permanently seized by customs / border protection while in transit to them for any reason (other than requiring to pay import tax) then we will compensate the customer with a full refund or a credit, whichever the customer prefers. There is no financial risk to our customers in relation to a situation like this.