Our customer service staff is available
8:00am to 4:30pm (Central Time)
Monday - Friday (except holidays)
Phone:
1-800-854-2151(toll free-continental US only)
1-972-709-7400 (Desoto, TX)
FAX:1-972-709-8849 (available 24 hours)
US Mail:
Puppet Productions
P.O. Box 1066
DeSoto, TX 75123-1066
E-Mail:
Order Questions
Product Questions
Website/Puppetry Questions
Workshop/Tour Questions
Briefly:
Who Are We?
Read
Our Customer Comments!
To
Order: |
Click
here to order online, OR call,
write, or fax us with the complete item name and numerical
order number for the item you would like to purchase.
   
For
FAX and MAIL orders:
1.Write down the product description (puppet name
or product name) and its corresponding order number.
2. Print and fill out a fax form and figure in the shipping
charges from below, and fax or mail in your order.
-or-
3. Call us with your order.
PRINT
AN ORDER FORM |
Payment methods:
We accept personal, government, and corporate checks, Money Orders, MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover and other NOVUS Network cards, and PayPal.
NOTE: Orders through PayPal cannot be expedited. If you plan to use PayPal, plan ahead.
Shipping Charges:
Shipping charges (within the continental United States) are a minimum flat fee of $5.50 for any order regardless of size,
weight or quantity on orders up to $75. Orders over $75 have a 7% shipping/handling fee. All orders shipped
outside the continental United States will
have additional charges due to the cost of international shipping. We will not process international online orders or charge credit cards until these additional charges have been computed and the customer has been contacted and informed of the additional cost.
Shipping Time
All orders are received and processed within 24 hours of your submission, or on the morning of the next business day. Orders will be shipped as soon as possible after that. We wish we could ship your puppets the day you order them, but that just isn't possible... or realistic. Since all puppets, Puppetumes™, and stages are made to order at our factory near Dallas, Texas, there could be a bit of a wait for your order - depending on how many folks order ahead of you and whether or not our suppliers get us the materials we need on time. Sometimes we can ship in under 2 weeks. Sometimes we can't. You can check our current puppet ship time below:
*** 2 WEEKS
***
That's the time it takes to get your puppets made and out the door. It doesn't account for shipping time. Rush orders are not available right now. Please allow up to 6 weeks for stages. Puppet Productions reserves the right to refuse any order.
*Puppetumes™ may take up to 7 weeks.
Puppet Productions reserves the right to refuse any sale.
Policies:
Sales Tax:
Puppet Productions does not charge sales tax in 49 states. Sorry, Texas residents, state law requires us to collect sales tax on products shipped to a Texas address. Texas residents or organizations must include 8.25% with orders or include tax exempt certificate or number.
Bonus Puppets:
Bonus offers for free puppets based on purchase totals assume that the qualifying purchases will have been puppets, stages, and programming. Purchases consisting of other product, (including, but not limited to: sound systems, handbells, clowning supplies, books, accessories and illusions) are not eligible for free puppet bonuses.
Returns:
If within 30 days from the date of receiving your purchase, you are not 100% completely satisfied with your product*, you may return it for exchange, credit or refund** provided it is returned with all accessories and is in the same condition in which it
was received. If you need to return your order, please call us at 800-854-2151 (continental US only) or 972-709-7400 to obtain return authorization and instructions first. Unauthorized returns will not be accepted.
Any item returned (other than manufacturing defect***) may be subject to a 10% restocking charge.
*CustoMations™ may not be returned.
**Videos and programming (pre-recorded or script) may be returned for future purchase credit only. No refunds.
***Items returned for unnecessary repair will be shipped at the purchaser's expense both directions.
There's some confusion in the minds of many of our custo-
mers. It seems that some do not know if Puppet Productions
is a full-time Christian ministry, or just an out-and-out business that happens to sell to churches. Some even still think that we manufacture the Muppets (we don't). To clearly answer the question, here's what we are:
Puppet Productions is a privately owned and operated
business. It was founded in 1971 and incorporated in 1973 by Bill Hawes, president. Bill is a former music and education minister who saw the value of puppetry as a teaching aid. He incorporated puppets into his ministry and saw tremendous results. Other churches noticed as well and began asking
where they, too, could obtain similar puppets. However, the source from which Mr. Hawes purchased his first professional quality puppets was not interested in manufacturing puppets
on a large scale. As a result, Puppet Productions was born.
The primary goal of Puppet Productions is that of providing churches with professional quality puppets (not cheap toys)
and puppet skits, plays, songs, musicals and other programming for use in ministering to children.
Puppet Productions is the originator of the modern church puppet ministry. In addition, we produce puppets and materials that can be used by a church to minister to the community. And, yes, it's true that we sell these things for a profit so that we may continue to make them -- just like the companies that sell choir robes, inspirational music, hymnals and Bibles.
Is everyone at Puppet Productions a Christian? Probably not. As a responsible and law abiding business, we hire people according to their ability to do the job well. As Christians (and many of us are), we share our faith with fellow employees through both our speech and our conduct and as we work together. But something we all are is enthused--enthused about being part of Puppet Productions and doing the best we can to provide you with the highest quality in puppets, stages, costumes, programming, training, and accessories for your ministries.
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Here we address those questions that
we hear in "customer service" the most.
Q. Do you give discounts to churches or certain ministries?
A. Yes and no. Basically ALL of our clientele are churches. Many of our customers are
also some sort of public-service organization like Police or Fire departments. We are
often asked if we can give discounts because "so and so" is going overseas; or is
a missionary; or is part of a small church. However 98% of our customers are involved with
either doing active gospel messages or teaching wholesome values or doing child education
on some level. We would be taking unfair liberties to try to determine whose ministry
or organization deserves a discount and whose doesn’t. To that end, we have
continually kept our prices as low as possible in order that ALL our clients
ministries’ can get equally good deals.
Q. Do you make all of your own puppets?
A. Yes. In fact, we are proud to say ALL puppets, ALL Programming, ALL
scripts, ALL literature, and ALL stages are manufactured here at Puppet Productions, under
one roof. With the exception of our clowning supplies and a handfull of accessories, we make
everything in our catalog from start to finish in our workshop, duplication center,
recording studio and print shop.
Q. How soon will I get my puppets?
A. Glad you asked. There are a lot of variables. The general rule of thumb answer to that question is, "Depends on what you order and when you order it." You should always allow up to 4 weeks for delivery of puppets and programming; 6 weeks for stages and Puppetumes™. We almost always ship quicker than that.
Often in just a day or two. But sometimes we get a little backed up. If you need your item in a hurry, be sure to mention that to the cheeerful and helpful customer service representative on the phone when you order.
By the way, We ship ‘UPS ground’ (in the continental United States) , unless otherwise requested. Keep that,
and your distance from Dallas, Texas in mind.
If you really, really , really have to have your item (assuming it is in stock*) for a nominal fee we will RUSH your order. This does not mean it travels any faster once it has been shipped. It is simply an
in-house charge for letting your order skip to the front of the line for shipping.
If you want your order to travel faster, just tell the exceptionally considerate and friendly customer service rep.
We'll be happy to send out your order 2nd Day Air or Overnight or whatever speed you want from UPS.
Prices vary on that, so be sure to listen carefully when your exemplary Customer Service Rep explains your options.
*Rush order are not possible on Puppetumes or Sale Items.Always allow 8 weeks for Puppetumes.
Q. Why does it vary so much?
A. Well, just like when you were in school, some characters are more popular than others. As a result,
we often get more orders for those characters than we have in stock. That forces us have to adopt the We-don’t-make-it-until-you-order-it philosophy as a way of life.
If, on the other hand, you order one of our less frequently selected characters, he/she may actually be in stock and simply waiting for you to realize that you can no longer live without him/her. In those cases, it is only a matter of
processing your order and your new friend will go out in just a few days.
Still other times it's like going
out to breakfast with a few friends and everyone orders pancakes except one guy, who
decides to get steak and eggs. Everyone has to wait on the steak - even though the pancakes are already done.
In other words, if you order a number of puppets and one puppet needs to be made, it could
take the full 4 weeks. (It can, and likely will, be less) If you are extra nice we can split orders and get certain items out quicker if needed.
Denny’s will do this too if you are extra nice to the waitress.
Bottom line: If you have a show on the 30th, calling on the 23rd to
place an order for the programming and puppets is a really rotten idea. Sometimes time
isn’t on your side, we understand, but expecting results without paying a significant
amount in rushing and shipping charges is rarely possible. Time and time again we see
people spend twiceas much on programming (for example) as they might otherwise because they waited until the last minute to
purchase a CD. Do your team a favor and make time not only to order the
puppets early enough, but time to rehearse with them too!
Q. I want to make my own puppets, where do you get your fabric?
A. We are glad you want to make your own puppets, and wish you the
best. However, being that it is our livelihood to make puppets, information on the
construction and ingredients to our copyrighted product is not available to the public. In point of fact, much of our fabric is made specifically for us and to our specifications. And unless you want to buy hundreds and sometimes thousands of yards at a time, you couldn't get it anyway. So, a
good start for you would be to head on down to a fabric store and do some shopping around.
This goes for blacklight fabric too. We can assure you that any fabric store would love to
help you find comparable fabric for your use.
Q. I want to make my own puppets, do you sell patterns?
A. Nope. But many places do. Do a search on the internet to find companies and individuals
who make some nice patterns. As a side note, it is interesting that some people have told
us that by the time they purchased the patterns, fabric and foam, and spent all the time
to make the puppet, they could have used that money and time to just buy a professional
one. So unless you have time to spend on the trial and error of amateur puppet building,
you may find that your best bet is buying some great looking ones from us instead. Its
your call, have fun.
Q. Are you a Christian company?
A. Yes. Our company began because of the desire to help churches begin to use creative ministries in their discipleship and outreach programs. We are proud to say that our staff is mainly comprised of
people who are practicing Christians. As a Christian company we provide mostly
programming geared towards Christian education and outreach. We also fellowship together
in conversation and workplace interaction. As a company who abides by the laws of our
nation, we do not require that employees are Christian. It also means that, against the
wishes of some of our customers, we do not allow free copying and distribution of our
ministry products, despite the argument: "because ministry should be
‘free.’" We do not give away proprietary information about the construction
of our products or give discounts to certain ministries arbitrarily.
See our "About Us" section for
more details.
Q. Is this "The Linguistics Center?"
A. No. You should dial 709-7400 instead of 708-7400.
Q. Are Short Orders scripts pre-recorded on CD?
A. Nope. Short orders are compilation of text only scripts written and submitted by
customers. See 'em HERE.
Q. Do your pre-recorded programs come with scripts?
A. Just about every one of them do. It's nice to have pre-recorded scripts to lip sync to, its
even better to have something to read from to memorize with. It will always be noted if a
given program does not come with a script. Usually tapes and CD’s that are
"music-only" won’t. We are in the process of eliminating old fashioned "scripts" by updating our CD masters to include a script file that you can use to print out as many copies of the scripts as you need.
Q. Do your puppets come with arm-rods and wristbands?
A. YES! Well, not quite all of them. Nearly all of our puppets that use rods have a sewn in velcro tab that eliminates the need for wristbands. Crayonets have no arms, so it would be silly to send rods with them. Human arm puppets don’t have rod arms...so that would be silly too,
but they do come with the appropriate color gloves. Oh! yeah, and animals with paws, like
dogs and lions, or no arms, like donkeys and lambs, don’t have ‘em either
because that would be extra silly. But every puppet that uses rods and has two arms, comes with two rods. Because including less than two would be completely silly.
Q. We are just starting out and don’t know what we should
do. What should we do?
A. Ask yourselves what you want to do first. Solo shows? Team shows?
Churches? Schools?
Outline your goals, who you want to reach, entertain, or recruit.
Going solo? Get a puppet with legs and some solo programming.
Starting a team? Get a starter set that will give you the
flexibility you need.
Performing in churches? Find programming that relates, get exposed via
Sunday school, or mission conferences or have a team do a sketch Sunday morning. Get
funding with a simple adopt a puppet program or other basic fund-raisers. Get the complete
puppeteer, and a training video!
Start rehearsing.
A lot.
Attend a Puppet Productions Training Workshop in your area as soon as possible, because it is
the best learning experience you will probably ever have to help you get started in a
puppet ministry or otherwise.
Q. Do you bill churches?
A. Nope. Used to. Lots didn't pay their bills. Sorry. All orders are pre-paid. You can call with a major
credit card, or send in a check or money order. Most folks nowadays order with a church
credit card, or order with their own card, after getting approval from the church, then
submit the receipt to the church for reimbursement. |
