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About Us
I’m Mads and I’ve been running Bad Times Designs since 2020.
BTD was a lockdown hobby that turned into a business because I'm neurodivergent can’t sit still! We started off as Lil Leafy Shop and had a small collection of polymer clay earrings. I’ll be the first to admit they weren’t great, but they helped to get my creativity flowing. I tried (and failed) many styles and techniques over the years and eventually curated the gothic and alternative collections we have today. I've been running this shop full time since July 2022 which has been a struggle at times (especially with the current state of the economy) but I've loved every second.
BTD is a safe space for LGBTQI+ individuals. I myself am a queer woman and have always believed that fashion shouldn’t be gendered. We don’t cater to a specific demographic, instead we encourage people of all ages, genders and walks of life to wear what they want to wear. If that happens to be our accessories then we’re super happy!
3 random facts about me: I still play the Sims 3, I love documentaries about supermarkets and I can name every country in the world. I also have a gaming youtube channel for Cities: Skylines content!
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Can I customise my order?Of course! Leave us a message on your order if you’d like different colour findings or to swap out hooks for hoops. We may need to follow up with an email if we need to clarify anything or can’t provide what you’re asking for. If requests are made after the order is placed we can’t guarantee we will be able to carry out your requests but we will try our hardest! Please note requests for real gold or silver findings will need to be made as a separate order as these will be slightly more expensive.
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Can I order custom jewellery?Absolutely! Drop us an email or DM us on Instagram and we can have a chat about your ideas! It’s a very fluid process and we’ll keep you informed of everything along the way. Custom orders will require communication from the customer as we will be unable to proceed without confirmation on design, cost and timeframes.
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How soon will my order get shipped?In general, please allow up to 4 working days processing time before your order will be shipped. Parcels are generally dispatched on Tuesdays and Fridays, however additional dispatches may be made during busy periods. Depending on what you’ve ordered and what time you place the order, your parcel may be shipped the same day! Some of our products are made to order (e.g. chainmail) so please allow a few extra days of processing time for these. Larger orders may also take longer to process. Any potential delays to processing time will be publicised.
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How much does shipping cost?All orders are sent with tracked shipping. Standard delivery (48 Hour tracked) costs £2.50 on orders up to £50 and is free on orders over £50. Upgrades are available for 24 Hour Tracked shipping for £5 on orders up to £50 and £2 on orders over £50. Please note that we will try our best to ship your order as soon as possible but processing time remains 1-4 working working days (on average). See the FAQ above for more info regarding processing times.
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Do you ship internationally?We currently ship to the US via Etsy but unfortunately not on here. Each country and state (and in some cases counties) have their own import laws and taxes and they’re constantly changing. If we got something wrong on here there could be consequences for us and for you and we want to avoid that at all costs! Luckily sales taxes are built in on Etsy, hence why we have shipping open to the US.
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Do you have any markets coming up?Yes! We will have a stall at the following markets in 2023: 6th August - The Pink Toothbrush SS6 7EW, 11am - 3pm 21st October - Bedford Corn Exchange MK40 1LE, 5pm - 9pm (hosted by Nightfair) 1st & 2nd December - St Andrews Hall NR3 1AU, 4pm - 9pm (hosted by Nightfair)
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Are you stocked in any shops?Yes! We are currently stocked Twisted Treats in Colchester! Twisted Treats make the most amazing cakes, brownies, milkshakes, pastries and more, and they've recently opened their new shop in Colchester. We have also previously stocked at Love Local in Colchester, and the Pop-Up Club in Chelmsford and Westfield London. If you run a store and are interested in stocking us, please feel free to drop us an email. We would request that you provide some form of verification of your place of work as we unfortunately get a lot of spam emails!
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What do I do if I'm not happy with my order?If this is the case, we’re so sorry! We want everyone to have a great experience with us and are committed to fixing any problems you may have. Please get in contact with us if your order is damaged or something is missing on arrival, or if it doesn’t arrive at all. We will do everything we can to make sure you receive what you paid for. Pieces which are marbled or from a slab (i.e. marble homewares, CRYPT snake print studs) look different each time they’re made so the item you receive may not look exactly like the one pictured on the listing. We try to ensure the photos on our website and social media sites are representative of our products. This may involve editing the photos to combat unflattering lighting or to balance the colouring. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to our products through shipping or negligence. Our products are durable and are stress tested to ensure a long life, however there are limits to what they can withstand in regards to pressure, impact, heat and oils. Check our care page for more info on how to look after your Bad Times products.
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Can I return my order?We cannot accept returns for pierced jewellery or clips-ons due to hygiene reasons. All other items can be returned within 30 days of purchase. Refunds will be processed once the item has returned to our HQ. It is the buyer’s responsibility to pay for the shipping for the item to be returned. Items must be returned in their original condition, i.e. no damage caused by the buyer, and in original packaging where possible. If original packaging is not available, please ensure the new packaging provides adequate protection for the item. If the item is damaged in transit and it has not been adequately packaged, the refund may not be approved. Find out more on our Shipping and Returns page.
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My made-to-order jewellery doesn't fit anymore, what do I do?Please contact us via email if your made-to-order bracelet or necklace does not fit. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the correct measurement is supplied to us when ordering, however we understand bodies may change shape and size over time. Adjustments will be considered on a case by case basis, taking into account the item in question, the date of purchase and the size of the adjustment needed. Some requests may be denied, i.e. adjustments which turn a bracelet into a necklace. It is the customer’s responsibility to pay for postage for both directions if requesting an adjustment. Please note that necklaces on a chain (i.e. NORTH, ARIES etc) may incur additional charges for adjustments as the chain cannot be made longer without recutting from the spool.
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Can I collect my order if I live local to Chelmsford?Yes! Drop us a message before you checkout if you live local to Chelmsford or if you happen to be passing through in the near future and we will send you a custom code to remove shipping fees from your order. We don’t have a physical shop so we can arrange a date/time and location, i.e. somewhere in the town, for the handover. In some circumstances we may reach out to you and offer to hand deliver your order if you live nearby, however you are welcome to reject this and either collect or pay for shipping instead.
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