Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: I placed an order. How long will it take to ship?

A: Order processing times can vary greatly, as we are a small company and produce many items on demand as orders come in. During rush seasons (most notably from June through August), we sometimes get backlogged or run short on material stock. Most all orders will ship within a week, sometimes two. Occasionally if our parts suppliers are back-ordered or there are additional unforeseen delays then it may take more than 2 weeks, but in these cases we will contact you to let you know.

 

Q: But what if I need my order by a particular deadline?

A: No problem, you just need to let us know. We can usually reprioritize orders and/or step up production, when necessary to make sure a belt arrives in time as a gift, for a festival, etc. You can include your deadline requests in the "Notes" box when you order, or drop us a contact after your order has been placed.

 

Q: Where do you ship from?

A: Los Angeles

 

Q: Where in LA are you located, and can I visit your workshop to purchase my belt?

A: Yes! We're at the Brewery Arts Complex, north of Chinatown. Please contact us to set an appointment.

 

Q: I don't do paypal, is there any other way I can pay for my order?

A: Sure, we can also take credit cards by phone or checks by mail. Just contact us, let us know how you'd like to pay, and we'll email further instructions on how to place and pay for your order.

 

Q: I'm confused about the sizes, can you help?

A: Human sizes are diverse and clothing sizes are confusing, especiallly when it comes to hips, waists & belts. So much so that we created an entire page to explain our sizing. If you're still confused please feel free to contact us, let us know whatever you can about your pants size, belt size, waist measurement and hip measurement, and we'll help you figure out what size you need.

 

Q: Can you make a custom length?

A: No problem. Simply order the largest/smallest size we have and put the following in the merchant notes of the paypal form: CUSTOM SIZE= XX inches. Remember to read our belt size page, and submit your size based on taking a direct measurement as explained there. Custom sizes CANNOT be exchanged.

 

Q: Can you make a custom color or belt width?

A: At the moment, we can only make our belts in one and one-half inch width (that's 1.5" for you math geeks, or 3.8 cm for the metric-minded), and standard belts and pouches are only available in black. That said, we do occasionally create some one-off variations from upcycled materials, so if there's something you really have your heart set on feel free to ask via our contact page.

 

Q: Do you do take any other kind of custom order?

A: Absolutely, although our ability to fulfill your request depends on a number of factors; some modifications or custom ideas are easy for us to produce, others impossible, and most somewhere in between. Contact us with details of your special order and your request will be auto-magically passed through our D9000 Production Evaluation Program, and we will respond as soon as we can to let you know your options.

 

Q: My friend got something from you at some event, but I don't see it on your website, is it still available?

A: We do frequently sell prototypes, limited runs and one-off designs at vending events. It's very possible that we still have a few of whatever it is you're looking for, or may be able to produce one for you on demand. Contact us!

 

Q: What is your return policy?

A: We accept returns for exchange or pod credit only. If you ordered the wrong belt size, aren't completely happy with your pod choices, or if there's anything wrong with anything in your order, we are happy to exchange what you have for what you need. Just drop us a note to explain the situation and we'll email return instructions to you. If you wish to return any item(s), you must contact us within 7 days of receipt, so please check your entire order as soon as you can. All returned items must be clean and unused.

 

Q: Who can I blame if something goes terribly wrong?

A: As our D9000 Production & Shipping System is highly complex, occasional errors are to be expected and thus blame cannot be cast. We also discourage you from blaming yourself, so instead we recommend that you stomp your feet, curse three times, then click here to contact us and tell us exactly what the problem is. We'll do our best to rectify the situation as quickly as possible.

 

Q. Why "Pod"?

A: It was 2004. Why not 'Pod? Everyone was 'podding, and the word itself lends itself to neologisms and verbification: podable, podded, podify, podifier, podification.... We had no idea at the time that "pod" was going to become so over-used and cliche, but hey, at least people know exactly what we mean when we say "PodBelt".

 

Q: How did this whole thing start?

A. Once upon a time in a magical city deep in the Black Rock desert, an artist named Isa Gordon lost a number of necessary survival items in the dust. The following year, while planning to return home once again, she came up with a better way to carry and organize her gear. She solicited the experience and skills of Corey Busboom from Strange Pursuits (purveyors of fine vegan punkrock belts), grabbed some pouches from her local military surplus store, and on August 25th, 2002, in the Black Rock desert of Nevada, the first PodBelt was born. Isa found the system so useful for keeping track of her stuff in the chaos and dust of Black Rock, that she continued to use it daily after she returned to the default world, and everywhere she went people commented on its usefulness and style. In January of 2004 she decided to setup a simple online store to sell the belts, consulted again with the folks at Strange Pursuits, engaged the services of D9000 (our integrated production management and shipping entity), tracked down suppliers, built a workshop and a web store, and premiered just in time for her fellow citizens of Black Rock to begin buying PodBelts in droves in June 2004.

 

Q: So what's the deal with this Burner discount, and how do I get the code?

A: It's our way of saying thank you to the burner community for the many years of enthusiasm and encouragement. If you call Black Rock home, then you can probably find the password easily, on the community's website or newsletter, or by asking around on email lists or such. If you still can't find it, drop us a contact and tell us where you camp (or have camped, or plan to camp), and we'll email the password to you.